Summary

King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay is releasing the following statement concerning passage of the latest congressional relief bill

Story

King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay is releasing the following statement and is available for interviews concerning passage of the latest congressional relief bill. The package includes stimulus checks for millions of people living in King County and an extension of unemployment benefits.

“All around King County, I’m seeing people struggle on a level I haven’t seen in my 30 years here. I get countless emails and calls from people telling me they can’t afford their rent and they’re on the verge of eviction once the moratorium ends. The number of people living on the streets is growing every day. Advocates are telling me their neighbors don’t have enough to eat. Workers are losing their jobs as small businesses close shop.

“We needed our federal government to act quickly and boldly to address this economic crisis in a powerful way. The direct payments of $600 they agreed to aren’t enough to cover even one month’s rent in our region, let alone to make up for being out of work and struggling for nearly a year. Republican obstructionism in the Senate has failed the American people and meant local governments are going without the resources needed to help people stay above water.”