DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – When the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was introduced in March 2021, the U.S. government spoke of delivering “immediate economic relief to families” as the country was facing a “deep economic crisis” due to the pandemic.
Instead, local governments across the country have strayed from that original mission and now five years later, many ARPA projects have little or nothing to do with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The most recent examples are the projects the Detroit City Council wants to $9.4 million of ARPA money on. Some of the requests by city council members to spend the ARPA money on include:
- $450,000: Build a 6,000 foot pathway for a playground in a city park that follows “the park’s natural features”.
- $269,444: Build ramps for the homes of senior citizen and disabled people.
- $964,868: Reimburse residents for water damage to their basements.
Municipalities must spend ARPA money by the end of 2026.