Mayor Linda Tyer addresses the gathering at the third of four planned public hearings for setting priorities for ARPA funds.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Residents want to see Pittsfield's $32.4 million allocation in American Rescue Plan Act funds used to help the more vulnerable populations secure — and keep — housing.
Monday's conversation on the ARPA spending was largely centered around the need for affordable housing and aiding those who are experiencing homelessness.
At the third and most well-attended hearing, around 50 community members gathered at Morningside Community School to identify areas in the housing and neighborhood sector that are in need of the monies.
In a cell phone survey, they voted "developing affordable housing" and "funding services to address homelessness and improve access to stable affordable housing" as the top priorities.
Similarly, "providing services to support healthy living environments conducive to mental and physical health" was chosen as the top priority in another query, and rent and mortgage assistance was voted as the most urgent form of aid.
The U.S. Treasury Department has broadened the eligible ARPA funds for the Morningside, West Side, and downtown areas within the city because as census tracts, they were identified as being disproportionately affected by the COVD-19 pandemic.
When asked how the Morningside and West Side were impacted by the last year and a half in two words, the group said income was affected the most.
They also used submitted phrases such as "lack of resources" and "increased poverty."
Resident Kamaar Taliaferro suggested that when investing in the qualifying census tracts, the city remembers the history of these areas is "intimately intertwined with race."
He also said these qualifying census tracts highlight the fact that those who lack resources are impacted by events such as the pandemic harder and that wealth development strategies should be spearheaded with housing.
This earned a round of applause from the other attendees.
"When we consider investment in the West [Side], consider investments in the Morningside, I think we should recognize that when we talk about qualified census tracts we're saying those who lack wealth are harder impacted by any vagary, any vicissitude of fortune, any change in circumstance first," Taliaferro said.
"And we should prioritize wealth development strategies through housing, that's tried and true."
An attendee who disclosed that he has been going through "hard things in his life" suggested giving money directly to people who need help.
Others spoke on the city's homeless population and how they are not receiving the resources they need, even suggesting that they are treated as lower-class citizens.
The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Act was passed by Congress and signed into law in March with the goal of stabilizing local government operations, households, small businesses, and other sectors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pittsfield is receiving $32.4 million that is being allocated in two parts. The first deposit of $16.2 million happened about a month ago and the second will happen next year at this time.
Obligations for the spending must be made by the end of 2024 and the funds must be spent by 2026.
The city is also receiving a county allocation of $8.4 million in two phases. The funds are being distributed to communities on a per-capita basis because Berkshire County no longer has a county administrative structure.
Several other categories of use for the funds were identified in the meeting including a daytime center for homeless individuals, increasing homeownership, a community center, and investing in renewable energy.
Real estate agent Billy Keane said increasing homeownership is integral to helping residents build individual wealth.
"The development of affordable housing is an important and crucial aspect for the community but it doesn't develop individual wealth building, which is so crucial in this economy, and our community in general," he said.
"Encourage homeownership, I know it sounds biased because I'm a real estate broker, but I promise you, it's integral to the development of your own individual wealth, so hopefully the city can incorporate that into its educational programs."
Ward 6 City Council candidate Edward Carmel advocated for separating the income brackets for low and middle come housing to serve more residents.
"I make $12,000 a year, and you can't help me because I make $12,000 a year, but there are other people that make 13 and 14 and they can get help, because of their income and this net," he said.
"I want to see a split between low and middle, I want to see a split because we have housing going on right now, no one sitting in this room can afford those apartments."
In the hearing, disparities in rental assistance services for non-English speaking residents were also addressed. Reportedly, those speaking languages not used to translate city documents didn't know of their rights such as not being evicted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Director of Community Development Deanna Ruffer said the city is doing its best to translate all city resources into a wide array of languages.
The last hearing will be held at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts on Wednesday, Aug. 25, at 11 a.m.
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Joint Transportation Panel Hears How Chapter 90 Bill Helps Berkshires, State
By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
BOSTON — A bill proposed by Gov. Maura Healey would bring $5.3 million more in state Chapter 90 road aid to the Berkshires.
Testimony before the Joint Committee on Transportation on Thursday (held in person and virtually) pointed to the need to address deferred maintenance, jobs, infrastructure battered by New England winters and climate change, and communities burdened by increasing costs.
"I know that transportation funding is so, so important. Infrastructure funding is so integral to the economy of the state," said Healey, appearing before the committee. "It's a challenging topic, but we took a look at things and think that this is a way forward that'll result in better outcomes for the entirety of the state."
The bill includes a five-year $1.5 billion authorization to enable effective capital planning that would increase the annual $200 million Chapter 90 aid by $100 million.
More importantly, that extra $100 million would be disbursed based on road mileage alone. The current formula takes into account population and workforce, which rural towns say hampers their ability to maintain their infrastructure.
"This is an important provision as it acknowledges that while population and workforce may be elastic, our road miles are not and the cost of maintaining them increases annually," said Lenox Town Manager Jay Green, who sat on the Chapter 90 Advisory Group with transportation professionals and local leaders. "This dual formula distribution system addresses community equity by assisting municipalities that do not normally rank high using the traditional formula that is a large number of miles but a small population and often a bedroom community.
"These are rural communities with limited ability to generate revenues to augment Chapter 90 funds for their road maintenance."
The mission of Hancock Shaker Village is to preserve the history of the Shakers and to educate the public about them, and the baby animals are a big contributor to that.
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