This article was published in collaboration with The Sick Times.
Long COVID and COVID-19 safety advocates are criticizing the Los Angeles City Council for its decision last month to reallocate more than $13 million in unspent federal pandemic relief funds to what they characterize as unrelated projects. And they point out that, with infections still occurring daily and potentially hundreds of thousands of Angelinos debilitated with long COVID, now is not the time to cut back on resources.
The council voted unanimously, with two members absent, to reallocate funds following recommendations from the LA Community Investment for Families Department (CIFD). The department recommended redirecting $4.23 million in CARES Act funds, plus $8.92 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds originally designated for COVID-related services and post-infection care. Instead, the money is now set for infrastructure improvements including HVAC upgrades, street lighting improvements, and roof replacements…