CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Some Chicago aldermen and activists are demanding that Mayor Lightfoot use the city’s nearly $2 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funds to improve life for Chicagoans, especially the less fortunate.
The aldermen joined Saqub Bhatti, co-founder of the Action Center on Race and the Economy, on a Zoom call stating there are better uses for the COVID money; and they question using some of the money to pay down the $465 million debt owed to JP Morgan Chase.
"Recovery money is meant for our communities, not cops and not banks," Bhatti said. "Giving America's largest banking company nearly half a million dollars of COVID money will not help Chicago's communities get back on their feet after the pandemic."
Alderman Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez noted $280 million was already spent on the Chicago Police Department.
"It is incredibly saddening that during a pandemic the main service that we have to provide was policing," Ald. Rodriguez-Sanchez said.
Aldermen Byron Sigcho-Lopez and Daniel La Spata were also on the call.
"We want to hear from our communities. How can we use these dollars to stabilize your lives, to help you be healthy, to help us thrive?" Ald. La Spata said.
The aldermen and the activists said mental health, homelessness, education, and violence prevention are higher priorities.
They want to hear from you at righttorecovery.org.
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