A proposed restatement of and amendment to the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Account, entitled “The City of Cambridge Restated and Amended Mayor’s Disaster Relief Account” (“Account”)

The City of Cambridge created the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Account in 1998 to address the needs of individuals and families facing emergencies and disaster situations. Over the course of its lifetime, the Account has helped thousands of Cambridge individuals and families in need of financial assistance because of natural or man-made emergencies and disasters. Most recently, the Account has been used to address the disastrous financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since March of 2020, the Account has distributed $3.2 million to individuals and families in Cambridge, including small businesses operated by individuals in Cambridge, who are in emergency need due to the pandemic disaster.

During the recent first stage of distributions from the Account, the Account assisted over 1,400 individuals and families most financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic disaster to pay rent, utilities, and address their basic needs. During the second stage, the Account assisted individuals operating Cambridge based small businesses which have struggled to stay afloat through closure mandates and limited ways of providing goods and services.

The City’s arts organizations represent a critical component to the continued vibrancy and enrichment of our community, and they need our emergency assistance to survive this unprecedented disaster caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; now therefore be it

ORDERED: That the City Council go on record approving the City of Cambridge Restated and Amended Mayor’s Disaster Relief Account to enlarge the scope of eligible recipients under the Account to allow for the provision of emergency assistance by the Account to the City’s arts organizations whose principal place of business is in Cambridge in the event of emergencies and disasters as submitted in the form attached hereto. In City Council September 14, 2020. Adopted by a yea and nay vote:-

Yeas 9; Nays 0; Absent 0. Attest:- Anthony I. Wilson, City Clerk A true copy; ATTEST:-

Anthony I. Wilson

City Clerk

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