CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE amending Ordinance 126000, which adopted the 2020 Budget; changing appropriations to the Human Services Department, the Executive Department's Office of Economic Development, and budget control levels, and from various funds in the Budget, for the purpose of providing financial assistance to small businesses; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
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WHEREAS, on March 3, 2020, Mayor Durkan proclaimed the existence of a civil emergency in the City of Seattle due to confirmed cases and deaths from COVID-19 in the Seattle area; and
WHEREAS, Public Health - Seattle & King County issued guidance recommending that people at higher risk of severe illness should stay home and away from large groups of people as much as possible, including public places; and
WHEREAS, this guidance is appropriate for public health reasons, but it has economic impacts on small businesses and workers in Seattle; and
WHEREAS, local companies have recently reported laying off employees, experiencing 50 percent revenue losses, dealing with lost business due to fear and stigma, and seeing major declines in foot traffic as tens of thousands of employees are being asked to work from home; and
WHEREAS, these impacts are being felt across all industry sectors, including retail, restaurant, hospitality, transportation, logistics, arts and culture, and many more; and
WHEREAS, the economic impact may have long-term, dynamic, and unpredictable local and regional consequences, necessitating the City to act and plan accordingly; and
WHEREAS, a number of City departments have convened meetings with partners to strategize immediate interventions for affected local small businesses and displaced workers; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council wish to redirect City resources to aid small businesses; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The appropriati...
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