HomeMy WebLinkAbout020421CovidRecoveryCommentJaffeFrom:Marcy Jaffe
To:CovidRecoveryComments
Cc:jmauro@cityofpt.us; jrandall@jeffpud.org; director@teamjefferson.org; director@ptmainstreet.org
Subject:Supporting local restaurants - with no cost home delivery
Date:Sunday, December 27, 2020 4:18:46 PM
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Greetings to each of you in these tough times - happy holidays, too!
I can't imagine all that you are juggling
Not sure if this recommendation will require massive infusions of CARES funding - as the infrastructure is
in place - we might just need to change it up a bit - how we expend roughly $5M for Jefferson Transit
each year (apologies I don't have the exact amount & the Website for JTA identifies 2012: Annual
Operating Budget: $3,942,963 (2012)so it may be a wee bit higher nearly a decade later
I heard, & if you didn't, NPR did a story (link below to transcript of that interview) for a town of 12,000
pop. in Ohio, that is offering FREE meal delivery from local restaurants using the investment already
expended to fund their local public transit system
Mayor, MARTIN HORWITZ: "We're used to transporting seniors to appointments and everywhere else.
We can certainly deliver a pizza."
https://www.wglt.org/post/ohio-city-temporarily-gets-food-delivery-business#stream/0
Other public transit have delivered meals to help out their community:
https://www.npr.org/2020/09/26/917311081/new-normal-west-virginia-bus-drivers-deliver-meals-to-kids-
in-need
It does not appear to be illegal under Federal guidelines.
I know that I've had some limited success with Wright Away & I don't see this as completely omitting
them - they could assist with evenings & weekend when Transit is not available.
With Jefferson Transit ridership down about 60% (pls check with them on those exact rates of current
ridership) there should be some capacity to help deliver lunches & early dinners and see if that might
give our local restaurants a boost in the dark of winter!
This has been one long and excruciating year. Let's start 2021 with a success
We can do this & I hope you do!
Respectfully,
Marcy Jaffe, MBA, MPA
PT resident since 1994