{"id":2046,"date":"2021-07-22T14:12:15","date_gmt":"2021-07-22T14:12:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/?p=2046"},"modified":"2021-07-22T14:13:04","modified_gmt":"2021-07-22T14:13:04","slug":"toledo-recovery-plan-ready-for-community-input","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/2021\/07\/22\/toledo-recovery-plan-ready-for-community-input\/","title":{"rendered":"Toledo Recovery Plan Ready for Community Input"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz requests community input for Toledo Recovery Plan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sojourner\u2019s Truth Staff<\/p>\n

\u201cToledo is receiving $180.9 million from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act and all Toledoans will be asked their thoughts on how that money should be spent under our local program \u2013 the Toledo Recovery Plan,\u201d said Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz last week. \u201cWe have a great opportunity to make infrastructure improvements, including a lead line replacement program and we are eager to hear creative ideas from the public as we go through this process.\u201d<\/p>\n

In order to plot out the best ways to spend the American Rescue Plan funds \u2013 half of which was received in May 2021, the other half will come in May 2022 \u2013 the mayor and City Council have organized a task force that includes members of the administration and three city council members \u2013 Katie Moline, Vanice Williams and Sam Melden.<\/p>\n

The Task force has scheduled six community meetings so that the public can weigh in with their suggestions of allocating the funds.<\/p>\n

The money \u201cmust be spent,\u201d noted the mayor during a press conference last week in front of One Government Center that he held with city council members and the city\u2019s Safety Forces leaders. While the federal government has not yet issued complete guidelines about spending the funds, they have told local leaders that there are certain ways in which the funds cannot be used. The money cannot go into a \u201crainy day\u201d fund or cannot be used to lower taxes, for example.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all have ideas on areas where this makes sense,\u201d said Kapszukiewicz. \u201cWe need to know what the public thinks.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mayor\u2019s thoughts were echoed by the city council members in attendance.<\/p>\n

Moline observed that the task force had three primary responsibilities \u2013 to ensure accountability of the funds, to ensure city council has a voice in the process and to obtain community input.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a once in a lifetime deal,\u201d said Williams. \u201cCommunity engagement is important for the process. I urge participation \u2013 we can really make an impact. I always say \u2018don\u2019t do anything for me, without me.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is another opportunity to use our voices to inform how we come together to forge a path for the common good,\u201d added Melden.<\/p>\n

So far, without knowing the exact guidelines coming from the federal government, the task force has focused on five areas of investment in the Toledo Recovery Plan: youth, recreation and parks; safe and livable neighborhoods; job creation and economic development; green and healthy housing; avoiding cuts to city services.<\/p>\n

The public meetings will be held as follows:<\/p>\n