Baltimore city officials sent a letter Monday to Gov. Larry Hogan asking him to reverse his decision to end federally funded unemployment benefits, calling the decision concerning. The letter, written by Mayor Brandon Scott, City Council Speaker Nick Mosby and Comptroller Bill Henry has been released. Monday morning.|| Read the full letter || Maryland will end pandemic-enhanced federal unemployment benefits and restore job search requirements beginning at 11:59 p.m. on July 3. and we urge you to reconsider. These funds cost the State of Maryland absolutely nothing and provide critical support for residents struggling to make ends meet during COVID-19. As the U.S. bailout extends those benefits through September 6, your decision leaves a two-month gap that families in Baltimore can’t bear. “The letter says the decision” ignores major racial and economic disparities and will likely deepen gaps that already exist. state and that there are not enough jobs for the inhabitants of the city. “If you refuse to keep the plight of ordinary Baltimoreans in mind, we must ask the Maryland General Assembly to exercise its authority to restore access to these crucial federally funded programs,” the letter reads. . The governor cited health and economic recovery measures. and the state having reached the milestone of 70% of its residents having received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The governor’s office said applicants will no longer be able to submit new applications for federal programs after July 3. week of July 4, the DOL will reinstate the standard requirement for all regular state unemployment insurance claimants to actively seek work by engaging in three re-employment activities each week. If claimants do not complete three re-employment activities each week, they may be declared ineligible to receive regular state unemployment insurance benefits.
Baltimore city officials sent a letter Monday to Gov. Larry Hogan asking him to reverse his decision to end federally funded unemployment benefits, calling the decision concerning.
The letter, written by Mayor Brandon Scott, City Council Speaker Nick Mosby and Comptroller Bill Henry, was released Monday morning.
|| Read the full letter ||
Maryland will end pandemic-enhanced federal unemployment benefits and restore job search requirements beginning at 11:59 p.m. on July 3.
The letter reads, in part, “Your decision to prematurely end federally funded unemployment benefits is concerning, and we urge you to reconsider. These funds cost the State of Maryland absolutely nothing and provide a Vital support for residents struggling to make ends meet during COVID-19 As the U.S. bailout extends these benefits through September 6, your decision leaves a two-month void Baltimore families cannot support.
The letter says the decision “ignores key racial and economic disparities and will likely deepen gaps that already exist.”
The letter noted that the City of Baltimore’s unemployment rate is 31% higher than the state and that there are not enough jobs for the city’s residents.
“If you refuse to keep the plight of ordinary Baltimoreans in mind, we must ask the Maryland General Assembly to exercise its authority to restore access to these crucial federally funded programs,” the letter reads. .
The governor cited health and economic recovery measures and the state having reached a milestone of 70% of its residents having received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The governor’s office said applicants will no longer be able to submit new applications for federal programs after July 3.
Beginning the week of July 4, the DOL will reinstate the standard requirement for all regular state unemployment insurance claimants to actively seek work by engaging in three re-employment activities each week. If claimants do not complete three re-employment activities each week, they may be declared ineligible to receive regular state unemployment insurance benefits.
