allocated and they were told how to apply for that funding. Herself and
other organizations that are here have been sitting here waiting to be able
to apply for these funds. Now, they are hearing that it was sitting there
collecting dust and now being reallocated which isn't correct. It causes
them as the public to not trust you guys. She stated that she would like that
to change. That is something that she is working on her side, across the
street. She would like this to change here as well. The word is the word.
She understands in business, things change. She understands that you
have to make different business decisions. When you are dealing with a
public that is dealing with the struggle to trust this dais, you have to make
decisions that work for the public and listen to the public. The public said it
needed $1.2 million to put into the streets to support what is happening
right now. She stated to do right by the public.
Ms. Phoebe Harris, 1817 17th Street SW, stated that ARPA - The
American Rescue Plan is federal money, correct. How can you take
federal money that is for one thing and then put it in the general fund. She
knows for herself at the school district, they cannot take federal money and
put it into the General Fund. She stated that they just can't do it. She is
trying to figure out how you can possibly do that. When Covid hit, there
were organizations and nonprofits that hit the streets. She was part of it.
She was a volunteer from 2019 to 2022 with the Ortiz Ark Foundation.
They were outside feeding the community. The Allentown School District
had to keep their numbers up for lunch programs and breakfast programs.
They fed on Fridays so they can get that extra money to keep the money
coming in from the federal government lunches. They made sure that
families, 600 - 1,000 families were fed every Friday. Usually, these lunches
and breakfasts were done for the whole weekend. She stated that they
thought that the $1.2 million was going to come back to those nonprofits
that were on the ground, not sitting, not closed because some nonprofits
were closed and not people sitting in their houses, but out there doing the
job. They had nonprofits checking on children so that the parents can go to
work. They were knocking on doors. They did not go in, but they checked
on those children to make sure they were safe, they had something to eat,
and they were doing the work. Then they bought desks because kids did
not have anywhere to do their homework. Then the community started
building desks for them. Just for Allentown. The Allentown School District
gave out desks. This was boots on the ground and thinking outside the
box. Why are you taking that $1.2 million and taking it somewhere. She
stated that she understands the housing study. That's fine. However, those
small nonprofits that were doing the work needs to be reimbursed. They
need to be reimbursed. She is no longer with any nonprofits except
Doleman Black Heritage Museum and that is in Hagerstown, MD. She is
asking and begging Council to please consider those nonprofits that really
did the work, didn't only show up for news programs or just to show off. The
ones that did the work behind the scenes and made show that their children
and parents and even when it came to the rent rebated and the rental
assistance and the moratorium for the mortgage. They got those