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City councilor proposes relief fund for businesses and workers – 95.5 WSB

ATLANTA — Starting Tuesday, city leaders will discuss a proposal for businesses affected by Atlanta’s recent water crisis. The city could spend millions to help businesses and their workers.

Atlanta City Council member Matt Westmoreland introduced the ordinance, co-sponsored by all council members, which will go before two committees Tuesday and Wednesday.

“Part of the discussion in committee is how we can distribute these dollars as quickly as possible,” Westmoreland said.

The Atlanta Watershed Department responded to several water main breaks in the city earlier this month. The two largest breaks occurred on Joseph E. Boone Boulevard. and James P. Brawley Dr. and W. Peachtree St. and 11th St.

The outages affected dozens of businesses that had no water or were under a boil water advisory for days.

That’s not just the businesses immediately near the two major breaks in downtown and northwest Atlanta, but the entire city.

Westmoreland says depending on the number of businesses contacted or identified, funding could exceed $5 million.