AMHERST — Black business owners and advocates made a final appeal to the Town Council this week for $1.5 million of the remaining $3.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding, but the money appears to be being redirected to other purposes. .
Town Manager Paul Bockelman said Tuesday that ongoing plans presented to City Council members last night include $2.5 million to renovate the Bangs Community Center and renovate Fort River School, the site of a new elementary school. He said that includes spending $1 million on a solar canopy. — and $300,000 for roads and sidewalks.
Bockelman's final decision, which he is making after hearing input from local residents and city council members, comes after a roughly 10-minute protest outside City Hall during Monday's City Council meeting, in which people called “ARPA” After a short break, he was sent down. For the People” and “Black Lives Matter.”
This comes after the Amherst Area Black Business Association called for funding to help businesses and youth empowerment in the community, members and supporters of the organization said. They spoke in person and via Zoom, alleging unfair treatment in their assignments. ARPA Money.
Pat Ononibak, president of the Black Business Association, said $300,000 previously allocated to the Drake performing arts venue and ARPA funds to repair damage caused to Black residents and business owners during the pandemic. He continued to point out concerns about how it was not being used. Ononibak specifically mentioned the plight of the former Hazel's Blue Lagoon, a Black-owned business that was unable to secure ARPA funding and suffered delays in the city's inspection process. The store was later evicted by the property owner.
“Some members of my group applied for ARPA funds and were denied,” Ononibaku said.
After the meeting, Mr. Ononibaku issued a statement on behalf of the organization, saying that the Black Business Association should receive the same resources that the Amherst Business Improvement District and the Amherst Regional Chamber of Commerce are being supported, and They called for Bockelman's resignation on the grounds that he was “anti-black.” Practice. ” In the summer of 2022, Ononibaku made a similar appeal at a public meeting calling for the resignation of former Police Chief Scott Livingston after highly publicized interactions between police officers and local youth.
Bockelman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Ononibak's remarks, but Bockelman told the town council that the $11.9 million received by Amherst is far less than the $22 million received by Northampton. He said people need to choose carefully how they spend their money. . In addition to supporting affordable housing projects and improvements to city parks, funding has already been used to install heat pumps in low-income homes and research and development for youth empowerment centers.
Another $100,000 will go to establishing a citizen oversight board for police, and $419,000 will go to economic development and business grants.
Bockelman and town officials have previously said equity is a factor in all spending decisions, and that two of the largest ARPA grants went to Black-owned businesses.
But Councilor Elisha Walker said Black and brown residents and businesses were not benefiting. “One of the things that remains seriously lacking is Black and brown residents and businesses, and I think that's a big concern,” Walker said.
District 2 City Councilman Pat DeAngelis said he would like to see more done to help Black and brown people, but many of the projects supported with ARPA funds are He said it would benefit Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC).
“The way ARPA funds have been allocated, and may be allocated in the future, seeks to directly address many of the issues raised by community safety task forces and BIPOC community members from all walks of life. I felt it,” she said. , noting that the town's ARPA is spending money toward a youth empowerment center. Creation of the Equity, Safety, and Services Community Responder and the Town Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Mobile food markets expanding into low-income areas. and toward the creation of a citizen oversight committee for the police.
“I want them to recognize what we've been trying to do, and I think we've done a good job,” DeAngelis said.
Initial complaints about how ARPA funds were distributed surfaced in late 2022 and were revisited last June, when a similar appeal for the final portion of ARPA funds was filed directly with town council.
On Monday, some of the former critics returned.
“I'm going to keep going because I think we should be recognized in this community,” said Yasmin Blandford, an Amherst native who owns Amherst Extension and Beauty Salon on West Street.
She claimed she was denied ARPA support, even though it is an important place for Black families and children that specializes in African American hair care.
“I thought it was unfair, but I'm not surprised it was ignored,” Blandford said. “They said you don’t know we exist, you don’t know there are black businesses in Amherst.”
Edward Cage, a former taxi driver who recalled frequently transporting low-income and homeless people to their destinations, said he hoped he and others in distress would have the funds to restart their businesses. He said he was hoping for
“Mr. Mayor, it would be very helpful if you could also look at small and medium-sized businesses like the one I ran when I was just above water,” Cage said.
Deborah Ferreira, co-chair of the Community Safety and Social Justice Committee, said town officials should consider businesses handed over for ARPA funding and ensure that Black-owned businesses are part of Amherst and thrive. He said we need to recognize that we deserve it.
“This is consistent with the City of Amherst’s commitment to racism and really addressing the foundations of structural racism within the City of Amherst,” Ferreira said.
“Black residents have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, so what the Amherst Black Business Association is advocating for, with a particular focus on young people,” said Allegra Clark, co-chair of the committee. “I support that.”
Resident Josna Lage said it's important to prioritize Black-owned businesses and Black, Indigenous and people of color.
“Our town must do more to live out our stated values as a diverse, equitable, and caring community,” Legge said. “Too many families of color, especially black families, have moved out of Amherst because they don’t feel at home here.”
Monica Cage, who runs the hair braiding business Crowned by Cage, said support is needed for organizations that promote black culture, excellence and history.
“BBAAA wants to support not only young people who want to start a business in this town, but everyone who needs to find a community, resources or something for our business to be used for.” said Mr. Cage.
Former City Council member Michelle Miller said town leaders should remember the 2020 Town Council vote to support the well-being of all residents and reflect on their recent pledge to provide reparations.
“I urge the Mayor and Town Council to consider the policies established by the Town Council regarding Black residents and to reconsider the Treasurer’s guidance from an equity perspective as it relates to ARPA funds,” Miller said. It pointed out. Information from the federal government on how communities can ensure an equitable economic recovery.
Contact Scott Merzbach at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.