Sunday, March 29: COVID-19 Update

Dear Neighbor:

I am touching base to see how you are doing. With the rush of information these past couple weeks, I wanted to quickly recap on the City's response to COVID-19.

We all have a role in combatting COVID-19. To that end, your city government, acting in concert with the Governor's Executive Orders, have extended its closure of public facilities. City employees still report to work, whether by remote or in shifts to limit exposure. If you need to contact city staff, please refer to the online directory here. Our talented staff launched an online COVID-19 hub for all current updates on the City's response to COVID-19.

There is a lot of uncertainty regarding COVID-19's impact to our local economy as city council deliberates on the next fiscal year's budget. We are mandated by law to approve a budget before July 1st. A draft budget is expected to be released soon. We shall have public hearings for your input before we adopt the budget. Because of the ever-evolving COVID-19 situation, it is expected that several budget amendments may be needed throughout the fiscal year to balance the budget.

I have joined my colleagues in making clear that essential City services must be maintained. I will not accept any cuts that would impact your quality of life.

Recently, your city council took decisive action at an emergency meeting to postpone meals and lodging taxes to May 1st. This will preserve cash flow for our restaurants and hotels while the city continues to explore measures to assist our local businesses.

While federal and state assistance is imminent, the bottom line is that these local businesses need continuing cash flow to survive. One way to support our local restaurants is ordering food to go. Many of our local restaurants have converted their operations to include take out, curbside pick up, or delivery options. The City's COVID-19 hub has a live GIS feature that details which local businesses have these options. The Williamsburg Area Restaurants Association (WARA) has a dedicated webpage on restaurants open for business, here.

There is a public Facebook community page, called #wmbgEatLocal to support our local restaurants. Click here to join the group.

Vice Mayor Doug Pons and I pledged $10,000.00 to kick start the Community Emergency Response Fund ("CERF") in partnership with the Williamsburg Community Foundation. To date, we have approximately $56,000 given/pledged - that's awesome! If you are interested in learning more about CERF, please click here.

Got Questions?

The Virginia Department of Health/Peninsula Health District public call center: (757) 594- 7069
The City's 24/7 public info hotline: (757) 259-7200

In Case You Missed It...

• How to Support City Businesses During COVID-19: City launches website linking shoppers to businesses

• We Are Better Together (Joint Press Statement with City Council and W&M President Katherine Rowe)

• City Facilities/Buildings to Remain Closed an Additional 30 Days

• City Announces First COVID-19 Fatality

• City unveils online hub for COVID-19 information

• City and Farmers Market Provide Fresh Food for Public Housing

• City Council takes action on tax relief, virtual meetings

• State Officials Urge Virginians 65+ to Self Quarantine

• From the City Director of Elections

• Staff teleworking, business assistance, additional closures

• City buildings closed to walk-ins through March

Finally, I want to say how immensely proud I am of our City. Throughout this pandemic, we have come together as neighbors and as a community to serve those in need. There have been countless stories on these efforts. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Kels and I are keeping you and our neighbors in this community, our Commonwealth and nation in our prayers.

Yours in service,

Benny