South Bend Councilmember questions Rescue Plan allocation, accused of 'political theater'

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - South Bend Common Councilmember Henry Davis, Jr. is questioning the city's use of American Rescue Plan funds, in a move the mayor's office calls "political theater".

As the City of South Bend finalizes the upcoming budget, Councilman Davis has called for increased investment on the West side, specifically the second district which he represents.  

Now, Davis has requested to put a resolution on the agenda for Monday's Common Council meeting that would call on the city to release data on how American Rescue Plan dollars are being spent to help Black communities.

The City quickly sent the current allocation of ARP money when ABC57 News requested it. It lists one million dollars set aside for a "Home Buying Program". During an online forum with the South Bend Tribune, Mayor James Mueller said that program will focus on areas that have suffered from historic redlining. The program has yet to be launched.

"This is nothing but political theater. Councilman Davis should know that the City is happy to share data and information that we have," City Spokesperson Allison Zeithammer told ABC57 in an email.

Once ABC57 showed Davis the ARP allocations, which he claimed to be seeing for the first time, Davis said a million still isn't enough.

"One million gets you a hard time and a headache," Davis said. "Right now, one million dollars does nothing for this community. And it does nothing for the citizens or the tax payers of this community. And if Mayor James Mueller feels like it does, then he’s insane."