What’s the rush on 4-year spending plan?

What’s the rush?

There’s a push by Pittsburgh City Council to shove through a four-year spending plan for an unprecedented federal relief package despite cries from the community to slow down.

Again: What’s the rush?

The city is getting $335 million in federal COVID-19 money by virtue of the American Rescue Plan.

This is a game-changing handout of cash. The greatest of care should be taken in deciding how to spend it.

Mayor Bill Peduto should get on the right side of history here and tap the brakes a bit.

The mayor-in-waiting, state Rep. Ed Gainey, has asked for a delay in a vote on a portion of the spending plan.

As the presumptive mayor (because he is the Democratic nominee), he has an outsized interest in being hemmed in by a plan that will play a big role in charting the city’s financial course — a course that will transverse Mr. Gainey’s first term in office.

But his isn’t the only voice that should be attended to. Members of council are hesitant.

Last week, when City Council’s standing committee gave preliminary approval to the spending proposal that was on the table, council members Deb Gross and Erika Strassburger voted no, citing concerns about the process.

And, let’s not forget the people.

You know, the citizens of Pittsburgh. In advance of the vote for preliminary approval, community groups were railing against what looks like a rush job.

It’s preposterous that the city plans to commence public engagement after the final vote, which is scheduled for Tuesday. Ms. Strassburger called that idea “disingenuous.” And she’s correct.

To be fair, it’s not that there hasn’t been any public involvement. There has — though the meetings that were held were announced and held with comparatively little advance notice.

And it’s not that there aren’t valid time considerations. There are. There are gaps in the current budget due to the pandemic.

But, there is another way to get from here to there. A vote can be taken to authorize the most timesensitive line items in the spending plan (specifically, the aforementioned spending gaps in the 2021 budget).

As for the four-year plan: Whoa. City Council has some good ideas for the federal windfall: earmarks for homeownership programs, lead waterline replacement, adding social services to policing, improving lighting in some neighborhoods.

But, if citizens want time for a bit more discussion, the citizens should be given more time. There’s no need to rush headlong into a final vote this week.