Office of the Mayor
City of Santa Rosa
100 Santa Rosa Avenue, Room 10
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
January 20, 2022
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi The Honorable Kevin McCarthy Speaker of the House Minority Leader
United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives U.S. Capitol Building, Room S-232 U.S. Capitol Building, Room S-204 Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Chuck Schumer The Honorable Mitch McConnell Majority Leader Minority Leader
United States Senate United States Senate
U.S. Capitol Building, Room S-221 U.S. Capitol Building, Room S-230 Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McCarthy, Leader Schumer and Leader McConnell:
On behalf of the Santa Rosa City Council, I am writing to thank you for passing the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which is delivering critical financial assistance to families, schools and small and large businesses in Santa Rosa. Because of the action taken by Congress and the Administration, including passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, our community is positioned to build back better. However, much like our efforts to recover from the devastating 2017 wildfires, we know all too well that to ensure a strong and sustained recovery we must scale up our response to COVID-19 and continue to take bold and immediate action to invest in our recovery.
Santa Rosa’s hospitality industry, including local lodging and food related businesses, still need federal support to remain open or prevent future closures. I respectfully request that you provide additional funding for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. Ninety-one restaurants and eligible applicants with Santa Rosa addresses received $21 million as part of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. Restaurants and other food-related businesses are still struggling with the ongoing pandemic. Santa Rosa has developed a reputation as a tourist destination with unique lodging and food establishments and bars, which employ local residents.
Furthermore, additional COVID-19 related measures are needed to support our residents and businesses. Currently, obtaining a COVID-19 test is incredibly difficult. Local pharmacies are struggling to stock over-the-counter rapid tests. Residents tell me that obtaining tests through their medical provider may take days and even weeks. This testing shortage directly impacts the ability of our businesses, local governments and schools to have enough staff to operate. We
Office of the Mayor
City of Santa Rosa
100 Santa Rosa Avenue, Room 10
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
applaud the Biden Administration’s recent announcement to increase testing and masking supplies. Please prioritize additional federal funding to send tests to our communities, including local healthcare providers, schools and local health departments.
In addition, our community, like many across the country, is working to address affordable housing and homelessness challenges. I request that Congress support housing assistance included in the Build Back Better Act (HR 5376), which provides robust investment in programs like Section 8 vouchers, Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership Program. This fundin g will help ensure households with the greatest needs have a stable, accessible, affordable home and vulnerable populations have access to shelter and services.
Lastly, with the ongoing surge of cases, there are over 18,000 active cases in Sonoma County, I would ask that you appropriate funding for paid sick and family leave for our local employers.
Right now, due to funding shortages and the expiration of state legislation, we are facing immense challenges with employees not having enough sick time and thus are often showing up to work feeling ill. Family members are unable to stay at home to care for their own families because they cannot take time off from work.
Thank you for your consideration regarding these important COVID-19 relief measures.
Sincerely,
Chris Rogers
Mayor
CC: Senator Dianne Feinstein
Senator Alex Padilla
Representative Mike Thompson
Representative Jared Huffman