This time last week, Mayor Bill Bell was in Washington to talk economic stimulus with the president.
Ever a gentleman, Hizzonner wrote a thank-you letter to the White House, both for his session with President Obama and some other highly influential people and for followup details about the administration's plan for a 21st-century New Deal.
Bell's letter also ticks off some practical matters Durham owes thanks for. In addition to the $4.85 million for stimulating the city's streets, which Bull's Eye reported Wednesday (see below), Bell mentions:
- "In addition to the initial roadway projects, the City of Durham just learned [Thursday] ... that we will receive an additional $516,025 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding as well as an additional $789,101 in Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) funding. ...
- "The City of Durham is also poised to receive approximately $556 thousand dollars for youth initiatives. The City will use approximately $278,000 to provide an additional 75-100 youth with summer employment. ... The additional stimulus funding will also enable us to serve dislocated workers."
The block-grant money will go to services for low-income families, Bell wrote. The emergency shelter money to assist citizens at risk of losing their shelter and behind in their utility bills.
