Contact: Nils Robbins
Tel: 202-770-8053
Email: Nils.Robbins@NationalDMO.org
For Immediate Release

MAJOR CITIES CALL ON FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE WATER ACCESS FOR THOSE MOST IN NEED DURING CORONAVIRUS

Elected Democrats from cities across the country have signed on to Democratic Municipal Officials’ resolution calling for federal support of water access to combat COVID-19

Detroit, MI, May 11th, 2020 –

Elected officials from major American cities have joined the Democratic Municipal Officials’ (DMO) campaign calling on the federal government to provide essential water access during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Officials from Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Savannah, and the District of Columbia have signed on to the effort, which asks Congress to establish a fund to ensure that a lack of ability to pay your water bill should not result in a discontinuation of service. This call to action comes at a time when sanitation, especially hand washing, is essential for preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

The campaign, inspired by DMO President and Detroit Council Member Scott Benson, recognizes the need for continuity of water service as a necessary component of community health. The DMO resolution calls on Congress to fund a national water affordability program, pointing to the existing Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as a successful model. The resolution further calls for federal support to update building units to prevent water loss and make water delivery more efficient.

In any given month, 1 out of every 100 households are unable to pay their water bills. Those most frequently unable to afford water include the elderly, the disabled, and low-income families. The resulting fallout includes everything from compounding late fees to complete water shut off. At a time when Americans are struggling to pay the bills due to layoffs and reduced hours, and public health policy necessitates hand washing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, maintaining steady access to water regardless of temporary inability to pay is essential. And even after the pandemic has abated, temporary inability to pay should not have long term impacts on households’ access to water for drinking and cleaning.

DMO President Scott Benson spearheaded the campaign, basing it off his own water security efforts locally. “This a great opportunity to ensure water security for all of our residents throughout the United States. As city leaders, we want to make sure that Congress includes local services like water, the basic ability for people to wash their hands and clothing, in the bigger picture of coronavirus recovery efforts. Our people are hurting right now, and a family should not have to choose between keeping their water on and paying other bills.”

Council Member Bob Blumenfield introduced the resolution in his own city of Los Angeles. “With California consistently on the verge of the next drought, water security is always top of mind. On a local level I’m proud to have advanced conservation efforts like gray water usage, championed our parks and LA River, and increased funding to improve our urban tree canopy. It’s critical that we galvanize cities large and small to join DMO and Los Angeles in calling on the federal government to create a national water affordability program. Water is a basic human necessity and we need to do everything we can so that the most vulnerable in our community has easy and affordable access.”

“At a time in our lives when many of the essentials are in short supply, water cannot and must not be one of them,” said Philadelphia City Councilmember Derek S. Green. “I’m championing water security for the health, wellbeing and longevity of each and every person in our city, as well as in our country.”

Dozens of local elected officials have signed on in support of the DMO resolution, and others have been inspired to introduce similar legislation in their cities and states. Democratic Municipal Officials will continue advocating for water security not only at the local level, but in their urgent request to Congress to include these provisions in upcoming COVID-19 recovery legislation.

DMO is the Democratic National Committee (DNC) association for municipal elected officials who personally identify as members of the Democratic Party. The organization holds three seats on the DNC, and advocates for the tens of thousands of local elected Democrats across the United States.

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For more information, please call 202-770-8053 or email Nils.Robbins@nationaldmo.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Nils Robbins

Phone:  202.770.8053

E-mail: Nils.Robbins@NationalDMO.org

DMO Maryland State Chapter leaders Mitchell and Sayles chosen for anti-bigotry leadership council

MARYLAND, April 7, 2020  –

College Park Council Member Denise Mitchell and Gaithersburg Council President Laurie-Anne Sayles have both been chosen to be a part of the Public Leaders for Inclusion Council class of 2020. The program focuses on challenging anti-Muslim bigotry and other forms of hate while building inclusion and social resilience in communities. 

Participating leaders will attend briefings on the religious and cultural landscape of their communities as well as on local incidents of hate and discrimination targeting Muslims.  They will be a part of six-monthly virtual seminars with leading anti-bigotry organizations.  Additionally, they will attend a two-day summit in Washington, DC featuring trainings and workshops with civic organizations at the forefront of building inclusion in public policy.

“To me, confronting the ugly reality of racism, prejudice and ignorance while working to build more inclusive communities is a big part of what it means to be a public servant. I look forward to strengthening my leadership skills as part of the Public Leaders for Inclusion Council,” explained Council Member Mitchell.

“Today’s leaders have the ability to lead by example and use their platforms to model tolerance. When we focus on what unites us rather than what divides us, that’s where the magic happens, and communities can thrive. Through this leadership program, I hope to use my platform to create a safe and inclusive environment for our diverse residents to comfortably discuss cultures that are different from their own.” said Council President Sayles.

Council Member Mitchell also serves as Democratic Municipal Officials, Maryland (DMO MD) State Chapter Chair while Council President Sayles is part of the executive board of DMO MD.

“DMO congratulates Council Members Mitchell and Sayles on being chosen for this leadership program. We are also proud of Somerset Mayor Jeffrey Slavin who served in the 2019 class. Inclusion and diversity are one of the strongest values of the Democratic Party. Our local leaders place a high priority on these values and are using their experiences and talents to create strong cities and towns,” said Ian Baltutis, Mayor of Burlington, North Carolina and DMO Council of State Chapters Chair.

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Democratic Municipal Officials is the largest network of elected officials within the Democratic Party. The organization is an association of the Democratic National Committee, and advocates for America’s 40,000 mayors, city council members, and other elected leaders serving our municipalities.

For more information, please call 202-770-8053 or email Nils.Robbins@NationalDMO.org

www.NationalDMO.org

Facebook.com/NationalDMO

Contact: Nils Robbins
Phone:  202.770.8053
E-mail: Nils.Robbins@NationalDMO.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nation’s Democratic mayors and city council members call on federal government to take immediate action to provide financial support and critical health care equipment to stop the spread of COVID-19 in cities, towns

WASHINGTON, DC, March 25^th, 2020 –

Democratic Municipal Officials (DMO) called on the President, the House, and the Senate today to take immediate measures to provide the resources necessary for local elected officials to reduce the spread of the devastating coronavirus. This includes a stimulus package that would provide robust general grant assistance to states and municipalities, as well as critical health care materials such as tests for COVID-19, gloves, masks, and hand sanitizer.

“We are asking all mayors, council members, and other local elected leaders to call their representatives in Congress and the Senate and urge them to provide us with the resources we need to keep our cities and towns running. There are bills in the Senate right now that are being considered, but those will only provide relief at the state level. We need the federal government to provide each state with a grant equal to seven percent of combined state and local government revenue collected last fiscal year, an estimated investment of $175 billion in our nation’s public health,” explained DMO President and Detroit City Council Member Scott Benson.

“The failure of the Trump Administration to lead in this time of crisis is placing a high burden on local officials to keep local government functioning while also protecting constituents and workers. We are aggressively working to respond to the needs of all those who are on the front lines of the pandemic, and keep communities safe, strong and calm,” said Derek Green, DMO Labor Chair and Philadelphia At-Large City Council Member.

“We are driven to ensure that city leaders, who are familiar to and trusted by voters, are heard at the national level,” said Ian Baltutis, DMO Council of State Chapter Chair and Burlington, NC Mayor.

DMOs are calling for these economic needs to be meet immediately:

• Municipal grants such as Community Development Block Grants, Surface Transportation Block Grants, and Social Services Block Grants, and suspension of the 15% cap on CDBGs
• The federal government to urge all governors and mayors to mandate the closure of all restaurants and bars, and immediately guarantee or directly pay for business interruption coverage for retailers, restaurants and other tenants, as well as landlords
• Federal dollars sent immediately and with little red tape to those in need with no means-tested restrictions
• Banks and courts not to process evictions or foreclosures during the crisis, and rent forgiveness for those unable to earn adequate income due to hardships created by the pandemic
• Utilities and telecommunications providers to not suspend service due to non-payment
• Urging state and federal governments to work with us in developing assistance plans that support small businesses
• Direct the FCC to assist local governments by increasing greater access to the internet, easing restrictions, removing data caps, refusing to cancel service due to non-payment, bringing in cells-on-wheels to areas with sub-par coverage, and to amplify telehealth funding and opportunities
• Insurance companies who have been collecting premiums on business interruption claims to pay out to businesses who have been forced to cease operation due to government mandated closures

In order to prevent the further spread of disease, our municipalities need:

• Gloves, masks, soap, and sanitizer for our hospitals and first responders
• Increased testing, which must be free, and accurate information on how to receive it
• Financial aid and strategies for treating our homeless populations
• Access to respirators and immediate training for medical professionals to use them
• Employers to mandate that their employees work from home if at all possible
• All people to be able to seek treatment for COVID-19 without the fear of crippling costs

DMO has called on allies at the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Democratic Governors Association (DGA), Democratic Attorneys General Association (DAGA), Democratic Secretaries of State (DSSA), and National Democratic County Officials (NDCO) to join our demands for immediate action. They have also been working with their network of partners in organized labor and other national partners to spread factual information and provide essential resources during the crisis.

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Democratic Municipal Officials is the largest network of elected officials within the Democratic Party. The organization is an association of the Democratic National Committee, and advocates for America’s 40,000 mayors, city council members, and other elected leaders serving our municipalities.

For more information, please call 202-770-8053 or email Nils.Robbins@nationaldmo.org

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