URGENT NEED FOR COVID-19
EMERGENCY STIMULUS 

Washington’s economy is in freefall. As consumer demand collapsed overnight, small businesses and restaurants across the state were forced to shutter. More than 1 million Washington workers have filed for first-time unemployment insurance, as hundreds of businesses have closed their doors forever. This is the most serious economic crisis since the Great Depression.

Small businesses in this state are at risk of permanently closing because of the significant decrease in revenues caused by the Covid-19 public health crisis.  Restaurants and childcare providers are particularly at risk because their business model does not work at 50% customer capacity. 

Families are at risk of losing their life-savings and all of their property due to lack of income during this crisis. Parents returning to work are going to find fewer childcare providers to watch their children, and are going to have to stay home from work.  School districts are going to shrink school schedules to one school day a week per child to accommodate social distancing, and will furlough staff because of the reduced schedule.  Families will be evicted from their homes when the moratorium on evictions expires.  Families will have vehicles repossessed and homes foreclosed on when federal and state unemployment benefits expire, state workers are furloughed and construction projects are delayed.

SMALL BUSINESSES AND FAMILIES CANNOT WAIT UNTIL JANUARY 2021 FOR RELIEF.   

The Governor and the State Legislature MUST immediately pledge to implement this 5-point plan (“SAFE-T”) and call an emergency session of the State Legislature in the next 30 days and authorize a $1 Billion SAFE-T Plan funded by the Budget Stabilization Account (“Rainy Day Fund”).

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  1. Save Small businesses (especially restaurants and childcare providers)

  2. Provide Assistance for rent  and mortgage payments  to individuals and families impacted by the Covid-19 crisis.

  3. Finance childcare resources for parents returning to work during the summer and next school year.

  4. Extend unemployment benefits for working Washingtonians including gig workers impacted by the Covid-19 Crisis. 

  5.  Provide free Covid-19 Testing sites and medical care (especially in communities of color which have been disproportionately impacted by the Covid-19 crisis). 

We cannot afford the economic fallout of failing to provide support for our communities. Without help, thousands of businesses will close and tens of thousands of families will be disrupted. If we do not act NOW, our communities will face irreparable damage.