Relief for families of low-wage workers needed

I agree with Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell that sending $2,000 stimulus checks to every U.S. taxpayer is not sufficiently targeted to bring COVID-19 relief money to citizens who have lost incomes and are struggling economically.

Recently, I received my U.S. Department of the Treasury economic impact payment card with a balance of $1,200. I could choose to log on to Amazon.com and buy more stuff we don’t really need, or pay off insanely high cable and phone bills. But those choices simply move these dollars (funded with more debt) from taxpayers to corporations owned by the wealthy. Clearly, Wall Street would love that choice.

For decades I have enjoyed the benefits of living in Marin with all my community members. Now retired, I am far from wealthy and I live on a fixed income, I can cover my needs.

My choice is to finish the job where McConnell and his colleagues failed us on COVID-19 relief. I will split the money between Canal Alliance and North Marin Community Services nonprofits. I am confident these established organizations can use these funds to help families of low-wage workers.

These are valued members of our community, adversely impacted by this pandemic, suffering and struggling to feed their children. When our community gets to the other side of this nightmare, my hope is that we can pull off our masks and feel positive about sharing a smile with everyone in our community, especially the less fortunate among us, knowing that one way we helped was by targeting COVID-19 relief to my neighbors who really needed relief money.

— Matthew Feldmeir, Novato