Support Excluded and Essential Workers in Scott County - Action Alert
Thursday, February 17th to March 17th
Dear Friends and Workers,
All of us have been hit hard by the COVD-19 pandemic. And every day over the past 2 years, thousands of essential workers risked their health and safety to make sure we got food, healthcare, transportation, education and shelter - all the things we need to live.
Many of these frontline workers, though, have been excluded or left out of pandemic relief measures. We can change that!
Scott County has received over $33 million - through the American Rescue Plan - to help people recover from the pandemic. This includes people - like essential workers, immigrant workers - who've been hurt the most and risked the most to keep our communities going.
But our Scott County elected officials are not prioritizing essential workers who bore the weight of the economy on their shoulders. Scott County has the perfect opportunity to invest back into the very people that invested so much time, sweat, and tears into Scott County with their labor during this world-wide pandemic.
The Board of Supervisors plans on voting on how to spend ARPA funds on Thursday, March 17th. We must take action now! For Scott County to listen, it will take hundreds of our allies’ voices. Your voice as an ally of low-wage workers and immigrants in Scott County is critical.
How You Can Take Action
SHOW UP:
CALL and EMAIL:
Email him. Here's an example email to consider sending:
Hello Supervisor Beck,
My name is (YOUR NAME) and I live at (YOUR ADDRESS). I am a (AFFILIATION member of Quad Cities Interfaith, Faith Institution, constituent of Scott County, etc.) I am writing to you today to express my support for Scott County to invest $20 million from the American Rescue Plan Act in Excluded and Essential Workers by
1. PROVIDING IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO lOW-WAGE WORKERS EXCLUDED FROM PANDEMIC RELIEF by allocating $10 million of ARPA funds for direct aid in the form of stimulus checks of $3,200 for every low-wage worker in Scott County who was excluded from previous rounds of pandemic relief.
2. PROVIDING PREMIUM PAY FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS by allocating an additional $10 million in Premium Pay for low-wage, essential workers who performed essential work in Scott County throughout the pandemic.
Over the past 2 years, essential and excluded workers did not have the luxury of working from home. They showed up to work knowing there may not be enough PPE, no sick leave, no hazard pay, no federal pandemic relief of any sort because they had to. Excluded and Essential workers kept our economy running, while risking their health so we could protect ours. It is time that we invest back into these workers that showed up everyday. These workers are certified nurses assistants, delivery drivers, cleaning and sanitation, grocery store employees, restaurant workers, construction workers, nurses, hospitality workers, the list goes on. They were and continue to be ESSENTIAL workers.
Counties like Johnson County, IA and states like New York and New Jersey have invested in excluded and essential workers. Scott County has the perfect opportunity to invest back directly into the people that were impacted the greatest.
Once again, I am asking you, as your constituent, to support Excluded and Essential Workers through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Sincerely,
(YOUR NAME)
What we do with American Rescue Plan relief money can redefine our communities for years to come. Make your voice heard!
Can you drop us a note after you've made your calls or emails and let us know how they went?
In Solidarity,
Quad Cities Interfaith
Alta Price
All of us have been hit hard by the COVD-19 pandemic. And every day over the past 2 years, thousands of essential workers risked their health and safety to make sure we got food, healthcare, transportation, education and shelter - all the things we need to live.
Many of these frontline workers, though, have been excluded or left out of pandemic relief measures. We can change that!
Scott County has received over $33 million - through the American Rescue Plan - to help people recover from the pandemic. This includes people - like essential workers, immigrant workers - who've been hurt the most and risked the most to keep our communities going.
But our Scott County elected officials are not prioritizing essential workers who bore the weight of the economy on their shoulders. Scott County has the perfect opportunity to invest back into the very people that invested so much time, sweat, and tears into Scott County with their labor during this world-wide pandemic.
The Board of Supervisors plans on voting on how to spend ARPA funds on Thursday, March 17th. We must take action now! For Scott County to listen, it will take hundreds of our allies’ voices. Your voice as an ally of low-wage workers and immigrants in Scott County is critical.
How You Can Take Action
SHOW UP:
- This Thursday, February 17th at the Scott County Administrative Center during the Board of Supervisor's meeting at 4:45 PM and speak in support of Excluded and Essential Workers during public comment.
CALL and EMAIL:
- Scott County Supervisor Chair Ken Beck at
563-499-1619 and ken.beck@scottcountyiowa.gov
- Scott County should put at least $20 million in an Excluded and Essential Workers Fund - direct aid and premium pay should go to the essential, frontline and excluded workers who have risked their health to keep our communities going during the pandemic.
Email him. Here's an example email to consider sending:
Hello Supervisor Beck,
My name is (YOUR NAME) and I live at (YOUR ADDRESS). I am a (AFFILIATION member of Quad Cities Interfaith, Faith Institution, constituent of Scott County, etc.) I am writing to you today to express my support for Scott County to invest $20 million from the American Rescue Plan Act in Excluded and Essential Workers by
1. PROVIDING IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO lOW-WAGE WORKERS EXCLUDED FROM PANDEMIC RELIEF by allocating $10 million of ARPA funds for direct aid in the form of stimulus checks of $3,200 for every low-wage worker in Scott County who was excluded from previous rounds of pandemic relief.
2. PROVIDING PREMIUM PAY FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS by allocating an additional $10 million in Premium Pay for low-wage, essential workers who performed essential work in Scott County throughout the pandemic.
Over the past 2 years, essential and excluded workers did not have the luxury of working from home. They showed up to work knowing there may not be enough PPE, no sick leave, no hazard pay, no federal pandemic relief of any sort because they had to. Excluded and Essential workers kept our economy running, while risking their health so we could protect ours. It is time that we invest back into these workers that showed up everyday. These workers are certified nurses assistants, delivery drivers, cleaning and sanitation, grocery store employees, restaurant workers, construction workers, nurses, hospitality workers, the list goes on. They were and continue to be ESSENTIAL workers.
Counties like Johnson County, IA and states like New York and New Jersey have invested in excluded and essential workers. Scott County has the perfect opportunity to invest back directly into the people that were impacted the greatest.
Once again, I am asking you, as your constituent, to support Excluded and Essential Workers through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Sincerely,
(YOUR NAME)
What we do with American Rescue Plan relief money can redefine our communities for years to come. Make your voice heard!
Can you drop us a note after you've made your calls or emails and let us know how they went?
In Solidarity,
Quad Cities Interfaith
Alta Price
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