Midland Mayor Maureen Donker Fights for Michigan Communities in D.C.
Midland Mayor Maureen Donker was fighting on behalf of Michigan communities and cities throughout the nation Monday when she spoke before a U.S. House of Representatives member forum on the Coronavirus Community Relief Act (HR 6467).
Speaking on behalf of the National League of Cities in a virtual meeting, Mayor Maureen Donker of Midland, Michigan, discussed the fiscal responsibility of Midland and the unprecedented challenges that COVID-19 is causing for cities and villages across the nation.
In particular, Mayor Donker countered the narrative that some in Washington have expressed regarding fiscal mismanagement. My residents “pay their taxes on time. And they correctly expect good and uninterrupted service from city hall,” Donker said. “Survival is not and should not be the objective for local governments. Local governments want to be in position to come out of this crisis and help our residents recover and thrive.”
House members who attended the members forum understood and took away a better picture of the challenges that local governments face due to COVID-19.
“Every elected official must be all-in on economic recovery,” Mayor Donker said.
The bill’s sponsor, Joe Neguse of Colorado, praised NLC for its leadership. When the bill was in formation, only four members were on board. Now, due to NLC’s outreach, more than one-in-three members of the House cosponsor the bill.
Michigan Municipal League members are strongly encouraged to engage with their own state and federal legislators to share the impacts that the current crisis is having on their community as we advocate for additional support for all local units of government.
Getting direct funding to all local governments fighting the coronavirus on the front lines regardless of the size of the community is a top priority for the League, NLC and the SaveMICity initiative. The CARES Act stimulus package only provided direct funding to communities with populations of 500,000. We’re now encouraging a new federal stimulus bill that will include direct funding to all communities.
The League and the SaveMICity initiative, thank Mayor Donker for her leadership on this issue.