Lewisboro is getting $1.37 million in federal funds as part of the American Rescue Plan. It was announced in Washington back on March 8th.
“This is good news,” says Alison Biddle, candidate for Lewisboro Town Council. “Why isn’t the Town Board shouting it from the rooftops?”
Biddle, making her first run for public office, has another concern. “Why isn’t the Town Board more transparent about this money being made available? And why aren’t they taking the time to ask local residents what these funds should be spent on?
Biddle noted that this $1.37 million has been known to political insiders since at least March 8th, when Senator Schumer announced the funding available to New York. She added, “Our Town Board sat on this for weeks. Did they think we wouldn’t notice? Or did they have plans of their own that the public wasn’t supposed to learn about?”
The American Rescue Plan allows the funds to be used for costs associated with responding to the COVID-19 public health emergence and its negative economic impact, including assistance to households, small business, nonprofits, and aid to impacted industries like tourism, travel and hospitality. The funds can also be used to make needed investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.