As part of a larger Eastern Iowa movement seeking justice for undocumented workers who have performed essential work during the COVID-19 pandemic, a non-profit organization is demanding more than $2.2 million in pandemic recovery funds from local governmental bodies. The idea is to help workers who did not qualify for stimulus checks or unemployment insurance.
Escucha Mi Voz, (in English, “Listen to My Voice”), has filed with the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA). The group is seeking funds from Johnson, Washington, Muscatine and Louisa counties and municipalities in each of them. Locally, the group is seeking $2 million of the $8.3 million in ARPA funds allocated to Muscatine County and $261,000 of the $562,000 allocated to the City of West Liberty.
Five signatories including Father Guillermo Trevino, pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church, West Liberty, filed for the funding to help an estimated 1,500 Muscatine County residents. “Excluded workers,” as designated by the federal government, include people who are undocumented immigrants or formerly incarcerated. Trevino could not be reached for comment.
The group arrived at the amount of $1,400 for recovery checks as a “reasonable amount that could be made the same everywhere in this area,” said an Escucha Mi Voz spokesperson who did not wish to be identified.
Escucha Mi Voz’s demand came before the Muscatine County Board of Supervisors during its regular meeting on January 10. Seven West Liberty residents and two people from Conesville spoke, addressing the board for about 20 minutes.
In a later phone call, Supervisor Doug Holliday, who represents Muscatine County District Two, which includes West Liberty, said the matter is just in its first phase of consideration.
“We still need to set a timeline for discussion about this,” Holliday said. “We’re in the middle of budget planning for the year.”
The local ARPA application listed as pending a $261,000 contribution from the City of West Liberty. City Manager David Haugland said the city has yet to decide if or how much of the funding they may give the group, who has attended three council meetings. Mayor Catherine McCullough wants to put the issue to the council’s vote soon, he said.
Escucha Mi Voz expects the city to vote on the matter at its Feb. 1 meeting.
Haugland pointed out that the funding the group has requested comprises half the total amount designated to the city from the ARPA.
“We have not had any formal meetings to discuss how the city might use these funds. The final rules just came out (two weeks ago) and consist of approximately 437 pages of information,” Haugland said.
“There have been no other formal requests received by the city (for ARPA funds).”
Spun off from the Catholic Worker House in Iowa City and an affiliate of the Gamaliel National Network, Escucha Mi Voz has already received $2 million in funding in Johnson County.