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To urge the city of Richmond’s small businesses, real estate companies, and landlords, who receive governmental financial assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, to share the benefits of such financial assistance with the employees and tenants of such entities, as applicable, to minimize employment terminations and housing evictions within the city of Richmond.
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WHEREAS, upon information and belief of Council, the federal stimulus program entitled the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act,” known as “the CARES Act,” which was enacted by the 116th Congress of the United States on March 27, 2020, provides more substantive emergency assistance to small businesses, real estate companies, and landlords than to individuals; and
WHEREAS, the Council believes that it would be counterproductive to COVID-19 pandemic relief efforts for businesses who accept governmental financial assistance to nevertheless terminate employees or not offer payment plans or eviction preventative services to tenants in order to maximize their own financial savings during the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, the Council believes that it is in the best interests of the citizens of the City of Richmond that the small businesses, real estate companies, and landlords within the city of Richmond receiving such financial assistance provide additional aid to the employees and tenants of such entities who might otherwise experience employment terminations and housing evictions;
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND:
That the Council hereby urges the city of Richmond’s small businesses, real estate companies, and landlords, who receive governmental financial assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, to share the benefits of such financial assistance with the employees and tenants of such entities, as applicable, to minimize employment terminations and housing evictions within the city of Richmond.