Some City Councilmembers Concerned About How Philadelphia Will Spend Federal Money For COVID-19 Contact Tracing

Matt Petrillo reports.

AND IN DELAWARE, MORE THAN 9100CASES AND 345 SOULS HAVE BEENLOST DUE TO COVID 19.$92 MILLION, THAT IS THEAMOUNT OF FEDERAL MONEY RECEIVEDBY THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA FORCOVID 19 CONTRACT TRACINGTESTING AND OTHER EXPENSES.WE'VE LEARNED TODAY, THAT SOMEMEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL ARERAISING CONCERN ABOUT HOW THEMAYOR IS SPENDING THOSE FUNDS."EYEWITNESS NEWS" REPORTER MATTPET RILLO IN ABINGTON.WE'RE IN ABINGTON, MONTGOMERYCOUNTY, THIS IS WHERE A GROUPCALLED THE BLACK DOCTORS COVID19 CONSORTIUM IS CURRENTLYTESTING PEOPLE FOR COVID 19INSIDE THIS CHURCH PARKING LOT.NOW.THE CONSORTIUM HAS BEEN OFFERINGFREE COVID 19 TESTING THROUGHOUTMONTGOMERY AND PHILADELPHIA TWOMONTHS WITHOUT ANY KIND OFGOVERNMENT SUPPORT.THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSEYESTERDAY DURING A BUDGETHEARING, THE PHILADELPHIA HEALTHDEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED IT RECEIVED$92 MILLION FOR TESTING ANDCONTRACT TRACING.THAT MONEY IS SUPPOSED TO BEUSED OVER THE NEXT TWO AND AHALF YEARS AND IT COMES FROM THECDC.BUT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ALSOREVEALED IT'S GIVING A SMALLPART OF THAT TAX MONEY TO TWOGROUPS-CITY ALREADY HASCONTRACTS WITH AND THAT'SLEAVING COUNSEL OUT OF BUDGETALLOCATION PROCESSWE'RE DEAL WITH A GLOBALPANDEMIC, NEVER FACED THISBEFORE, IF THERE WAS EVER A TIMEWE NEED TO EMPLOY INNOVATION ANDEVERY OUNCE OF CREATIVITY TO GETTO HARD TO REACH COMMUNITY TOTRY TO CURVE COVID 19, AND KILLIT SO IT IS NO LONGER KILLINGPEOPLE IN THE CITY OFPHILADELPHIA.THE TIME IS NOW.WE HAVE TO PRACTICE WHAT WEPREACH AND UTILIZE THE RACIALAND EQUITY LAND WHEN WE'RELOOKING AT BUDGET, PARTICULARLYTHE FEDERAL DOLLARS COMING IN TOHELP THE CITY WITH OR COVID 19RELATED RESPONSE.SO STRONG REACTION THERE FROMTWO COUNCIL MEMBERS.IT'S A DIFFICULT BUDGET PROFITFOR PHILADELPHIA.