The PA Emergency Fund is for “Rainy Days,” Well, Hurricane Ida gave us a Rainy Day

SCOOPUSA, On Friday, September 3, 2021, Senator Sharif Street held a press conference with Senator Nikal Saval, State Representative Danilo Burgos, Councilman Derek Green, Gwen McCauley of the Manayunk Business Association, and Jabari Jones, president of the West Philadelphia Corridor Collaborative.
The premise of this press conference was to provide an opportunity for the small businesses to express the impact of Hurricane Ida on the business communities and show the combined city and state effort of our representatives as they stress the need for the release of the Rainy Day Fund.
Most businesses have not yet recovered from the devastation of the Pandemic, and Wednesday’s hit from Hurricane Ida added another layer for many. In many cases, businesses that have begun to rebound from the Pandemic have been pushed back to the starting point, possibly with less, because of the loss of property and the damages from the storm. The unfortunate reality is that Hurricane Ida touched ground in many areas that have never experienced a hurricane and flood. As a result, many of those impacted did not have insurance to help rebound from the natural disaster.
Gwen McCauley of the Manayunk Business Association thanked Senator Street for hosting the press conference and allowing her to share information about how Hurricane Ida has impacted businesses in Manayunk. She stated that there are businesses that have never experienced floods and, as a result, have no flood insurance. They are lost and are wondering what they will do. On the other side of the city, Jabari Jones also spoke of businesses that have never experienced floods and were directly impacted by Hurricane Ida, and their entire businesses were underwater. They too, more than likely, do not have flood insurance. A harsh reality is that in neighborhoods that are not likely to experience floods, flood insurance is often not suggested. We all know that we purchase what we need to limit costs. So, if the insurance broker does not say you need this, we don’t buy it. As a result of the pandemic and now Hurricane Ida and floods, these businesses are again faced with unconscionable situations and decisions. The state needs to step in and provide resources to these businesses.
The Rainy Day fund is a state fund that has always been around. It is specifically set aside for rainy days. In addition to the rainy day fund, those who are familiar, know that the PA Republican legislature did not release millions of dollars from the CARES Act that were slated for individuals and businesses impacted by the Pandemic. Instead, they decided that the state should allocate that money to an emergency fund and hold on to it for the future. As selfish and irresponsible it was to withhold the CARES ACT funds, what is crazy is how an emergency would occur within months, not years, that warrants the use of those funds.
What is even more important to realize is that we have elected officials to whom we have entrusted our lives. They are in these positions, controlling our lives and tax dollars and doing what they want to do, not what we need them to do. They are not impacted personally by the devastations that many are experiencing. They have not lost wages, and their bills are paid. Ultimately their actions have illustrated that while they said they cared when they were running for office, the reality is, they don’t. We all must face those facts. We all must face those facts.
Our neighborhoods and businesses have been destroyed, first by the Pandemic and now by a Hurricane; both natural disasters that no one individual caused or could have predicted, and to tell the truth, we have been living through rainy days since March 2020… but today is the day after another catastrophic event that literally was a “rainy day.” It presents another opportunity for our legislature to put “our” money where their mouths are and support the communities and businesses that put them in office. The storm did not select where it went. It impacted homes and businesses throughout the city and surrounding communities of people of all ethnicities, who represent all parties—Democrats, Independents, and Republicans. Everyone is affected, and everyone should respond and support. The rainy day is today, and the Rainy Day Fund is now a necessity.

When asked about the PA Republican Legislature’s response to Hurricane Ira, if they have been approached, and if there have been any discussions about releasing the Rainy Day Fund.
Senator Sharif Street, Everybody knows that we have had a storm and that we have devastation. We have consistently said that the money needs to be invested in small businesses. I think that the conversations around this diaster are just beginning, and I am cautiously optimistic that some of them will recognize that we really need to spend this money.

Senator Nikal Saval, As people start to gauge the extent of the destruction and the damage that people will be facing, over the course of not just days, but weeks and months. The sense of urgency and obligation should really descend on people. Of course, we feel that it should have happened a long time ago. Nothing could be more clear.

State Representative Danilo Burgos, Republicans have refused to properly fund schools. They refused to properly fund the communities across the state of Pennsylvania. For once, in a while, we finally have the funds available and they choose to pocket the money or keep the money in the bank. I don’t know for what purpose other than we are going to do another budget in November. These are political tactics that all communities lose when they happen.

Councilman Derek Green, This really should not be a political issue. The fact is that elected officials from around the nation fought really hard to ensure that there would be dollars for states and cities within the American Rescue Plan. I know Board members from National Cities and present democratic officials we fought really hard to do that, and now to have those dollars here in the Commonwealth of PA and we are not using it. We are not just talking about Democrats or Republicans. We are talking about Pennsylvanians around this Commonwealth who are hurting because of the issues of the Pandemic. Then you add this, as I said earlier, a Biblical event we have not seen since 1869 in reference to flooding. You are hurting your own constituents by not releasing these dollars.

Jabari Jones, Peoples’ livelihoods are at stake out here, and we have not only those businesses but the hundreds of employees they employ. The families that they support with those positions that are just sitting in limbo. We need these dollars to make sure that those families are made whole. Employees can get back to work, and businesses can get back to business.