Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutJeremiah Flores - 2020 Annual Action Plan_RedactedFrom:Jeremiah Flores To:Public Comments Subject:Public Comment Date:Tuesday, August 18, 2020 5:26:14 PM Hello my name is Jeremiah Flores and I live in the city of San Bernardino. I work for a property management company that provides service to the Inland Empire including several properties in the city of San Bernardino. I find myself counseling tenants on a daily basis on how to move forward with their inability to pay rent due to the pandemic as well as advising owners of the State’s handling of the pandemic when it comes to their rental property.The pandemic has been crippling to both tenants and property owners and I believe the proper use of the funds allocated to San Bernardino is crucial to ensuring tenants and owners in this city push through this crisis. I am taking action in regards to San Bernardino’s Amended 2020-2021 Annual Action Plan and the allocation of Federal COVID-19 Funding our City has received to address the pandemic in our city. The 2021 Annual Action Plan has allocations for various services and descriptions for what they are to be spent on. However, the lack of detail in regards to specific structure, framework, and measurable timelines does not speak to the level of accountability we expect of our city and it’s leaders. In addition the Judicial Council’s delay on processing eviction cases will cease September 1st, meaning that our community members who are waiting for critical eviction prevention funds to be approved will likely be displaced before their application could be processed. We ask that you modify the language in our eviction moratorium to protect our families from becoming homeless while our eviction prevention programs are funded and put in place. This should only apply to families that have taken the steps spelled out by the State and have communicated to their landlords their hardship and have proof showing the direct impact the pandemic has had on their ability to pay rent. We ask that you ensure that the process for Rent Relief and Eviction Prevention is fair, equitable, and efficient for immigrant families in our community who have been excluded from prior relief funding when in desperate need of support. We ask that you work with our community to implement a working oversight committee to maintain that the budget proposed in the Annual ActionPlan is managed accordingly, and reported to the public. To ensure that our community’s needs are being properly aided, and give our city the statistical data to effectively adapt to our recovery moving forward. We ask that the funding for the eviction prevention program be administered through our direct service providers who are already doing the work as opposed to San Bernardino County's Housing Authority. This pandemic has hit our community hard and the proposed eviction prevention program is a step in the right direction. It is our hope that you will go further to protect our families in need as we learn to navigate this pandemic in an effective and equitable manner. I am a voter and along with my friends and family we are paying close attention to the way in which these funds will be allocated to help those in need. Thank you for taking the time to listen to your community, Jeremiah Flores Ward 6