ARPA is providing $350 billion to state and local governments to respond to the COVID-19 Emergency. Cambridge has been allocated $88 million in ARPA Funds. We the undersigned ask that:

Cambridge utilize ARPA money to fund HEART for two years. HEART:
- Is an alternative community safety program created by and for the community
- Will respond to public and private crises, engage in conflict resolution processes, and coordinate mutual aid to support material needs
- Will focus on Cambridge’s most vulnerable residents -- those who have been most adversely affected by COVID-19.

Cambridge create a transparent ARPA funding process accountable to city residents by:
- Conducting broad public outreach about the ARPA funding process and publicizing all proposals
- Creating clear and widely publicized deadlines and opportunities for community input into the decision process

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Background:

In the wake of the murders of George Floyd, Breanna Taylor, and so many others, The Black Response (TBR), a group of young Black Cambridge residents, led the development of HEART.
- They worked in a coalition with community groups and service providers and secured the endorsement of the City Council.
- HEART is requesting $5.5 million of ARPA funds for two full years of operating expenses including 1) salaries for responders, dispatchers, administrative, financial, and evaluation staff, 2) transportation, 3) insurance and legal costs, 4) rent, 5) supplies, and 6) training.

The Cambridge ARPA allocation process is controlled entirely by the City Manager who has already allocated over a third of the funds without a community process or accountability:
- Currently, the City has not been willing to say when they will consider HEART’s proposal.
- By comparison, nearby cities, such as Somerville, Medford, and Chelsea have had open and inclusive public processes to inform ARPA funding decisions.