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INDIAN EMBASSY VISITS MORRISVILLE AND SARIKA BANSAL WINS EDITION

From the Council Office of Steve Rao

November 17, 2023

Estimated Read Time: 10 minutes.

My Weekly Update: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/3175841559377441


State of Wake County Address:, Great Job Chair Thomas!

https://www.wake.gov/2023-state-county-address


Christmas Parade is in Raleigh tomorrow at 9:30 am! 

Join Triangle Sikh Gurudwara on November 18th for their first 5k Run/Walk Event, a fundraising effort to support the new Triangle Sikh Gurudwara


Time: 10 AM

Location: 1520 Morrisville Pkwy, Morrisville, NC 27560, USA


https://givebutter.com/gAEdDG


QUICKER FLIGHT SERVICE TO INDIA UPDATE: LUFTHANSA AND BEYOND


Last year, I worked with the NC Association of Indian Americans (NCAIA), and other community leaders to organize a Direct Flight Indian Task Force to address the challenges of getting to India for our growing community in a more timely manner.   


I am pleased to announce that our efforts have paid off with the new addition of the Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt. 


Two weeks ago, I organized a meeting with RDU Airport CEO, Michael Landguth and Lufthansa Executives to meet our community leaders.  During the meeting, we were informed that flights from RDU to Frankfurt would arrive at 6:15 am and connections to almost every major city in India would be at 10 am. (Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, etc)  


Check out flights and purchase tickets at www.lufthansa.com


We are now working to add Tata/Air India to be added to their direct flight to India plan, along with other pursuing opportunities with other Middle East Carriers (Emirates, etc) 

Stay tuned and thanks for your support in these efforts. 


SARIKA BANSAL WINS CARY COUNCIL DISTRICT D RUN OFF 


The NC State Board of Elections completed the counting of absentee ballots and provisional ballots.  


Sarika Bansal has made history, becoming the first Indian American woman to serve on the Cary Council and in Wake County.  


Join me in congratulating her family.  


On a personal note, I truly believe that the best thing about being first is to know you are not the last.  Her win is a small step for one family, but a giant leap forward for the community. 


I congratulate Sarika, Naresh, and Aanya for enduring a harsh over the past 6 months.  They showed such courage and strength in the midst of a tsunami of negative and personal attacks.  


Good Luck Sarika and I look forward to working with you as you begin your new journey of public service!

SAVE THE DATE: 


Remember it is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month!

https://pancan.org/get-involved/pancreatic-cancer-awareness-pledge/#:~:text=November%20is%20Pancreatic%20Cancer%20Awareness%20Month


JOIN ME AT THE NC IDEA ECOSYSTEM SUMMIT!  NOV 13- NOV 15 https://ncidea.org/summit/

Thanks to Tom Rhue for all his work on this event! 


NOV 17th FIRST FLIGHT VENTURE HIGH FLYER AWARDS LUNCHEON to HONOR GOVERNOR JIM HUNT AND GOVERNOR JIM MARTIN! https://www.ffvcnc.org/2023-high-fyer-awards-luncheon


Check out all other Dates and reminders in the This Week in Morrisville edition.  

INDIAN EMBASSY VISITS BAPS MORRISVILLE TOMORROW! 


Thanks to BAPS and HSNC for hosting a Question and Answer session with the Indian Embassy tomorrow at the Morrisville mandir ( 1020 Aviation Pkwy, Morrisville, NC, Rooms 101 and 102) 


Get your questions answered about:


✅ Indian Passport - New/Renewal

✅ Indian Visa 

✅ OCI - New/Renewal

✅ PIO to OCI Conversion 

✅ Renunciation 

✅ Police Clearance Certificate

✅ Global Entry Program (GEP) for Indian Citizens. 

✅ Or..Anything else...


✏️ REGISTRATION IS MANDATORY. ✏️

Register Here: https://bit.ly/indian-embassy-q-a

MEDIA ALERT


WRAL news on Pfizer shutdown. https://wraltechwire.com/2023/10/27/pfizer-shutting-down-facilities-in-durham-morrisville/


WRAL TECH WIRE BLOG TOE TO TOE WITH JOHN CHAMBERS

https://wraltechwire.com/2023/10/27/john-chambers-ai-innovation-going-one-on-one-with-a-tech-legend/


Sept 29th PBS Black Issues Forum:

https://video.pbsnc.org/show/black-issues-forum/


WRAL Tech Wire Blog: Canada is Eating America's Lunch When it Comes to High Tech Immigration: 

https://wraltechwire.com/2023/09/14/canada-is-eating-americas-lunch-when-it-comes-to-high-tech-worker-immigration/


WRAL Tech Wire Blog: What is the ROI for Refuguees Coming to NC, that is a Billion Dollar Question. https://wraltechwire.com/2023/08/17/whats-the-roi-for-refugees-coming-to-nc-thats-a-billion-dollar-question/


Check out recent Triangle Business Journal Article, the Color of Wealth on Asian Community. https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2023/08/11/asian-culture-wealth-household-income-raleigh-cary.html


TUNE IN ON FRIDAYS at 3 pm to WPTF 98.5 FM and 680 AM with Jeff Hamlin.   

Highlights of the Week:

BAPS DIWALI ON CAPITOL HILL 


Insights from Congressman Shri Thanedar: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/723484166479921


I was honored to attend the BAPS Diwali reception on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.  I was honored to represent North Carolina at the reception and met many leaders in Congress, including our very own Deb Ross, Steny Hoyer, Ro Khanna and Shri Thanedar to name a few. 

 

For me, one of the highlights of the evening was spendig some time with the Akshardham Swamis from Robbinsville, New Jersey.  


I continue to be amazed with BAPS and their amazing community outreach efforts.   

Thanks again to their national leadership and to all of the sponsors for making this event happen!


USINPAC AND AMERICAN JEWISH COMMUNITY STAND WITH ISRAEL 


Insights from American Jewish Committee Chair, Robert Peckar: 

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/1301951553838829


On Wednesday afternoon, I was honored to attend and speak at the USINPAC/AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE Stand with Israel Press Briefing, where we were joined by a number of Congress leaders, including Congressman Wiley Nickel!  


It was an informative and inspiring discussion and I am honored to have been asked to be a part of this event. 


I commend USINPAC, the American Jewish Council, all of the partners (US Indian Community Foundation, US-India Security Council, and Indian Americans Relations Council,  who hosted this informative dialogue on how important support for Israel is at this time to continue to strengthen democracy and fight terrorism in these nations while at the same time contributing to start up economies, and the new jobs of the future.  


We continue to pray for the end of death of innocent civilians on both sides of the conflict and I hope that we can one day arrive at a two state solution or at least a more stable middle east region.

BATTERY MANUFACTURER COMES TO MORRISVILLE! 


Forge Battery, part of Colorado-based Forge Nano, will build a production plant it calls a “gigafactory” in Morrisville and hire more than 200 people while investing $142 million under terms of an economic development agreement reached with the North Carolina Department of Commerce on Tuesday.


The parent firm announced the launch of Forge Battery as a new company almost simultaneously with the North Carolina news. It plans a $165 million investment, according to Forge Nano.


The company says the factory will have what it calls “gigawatt hour (GWh) capacity.” According to CEVA Logistics, “1 GWh equates to 1 billion watt-hours (Wh). This is also 1 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) or 1000 megawatt-hours (MWh). Suffice to say it is a very substantial quantity of energy. That is why is it is usually used to indicate the quantity of energy produced in large power stations.”


Over time, Forge Nano said the factory “is expected to create hundreds of high-paying jobs for Wake County residents.”


“The newly formed company intends to produce best-in-class high-energy and high-power lithium-ion battery cells for defense, aerospace and specialty electric vehicle markets at a newly constructed Gigafactory,” the company announced, saying it would be built in Raleigh. Production is expected to begin in 2026.


Congratulations to our Council, Staff, and Economic Development Partners (EDPNC and Wake County) for this win.   


Our Town is the destination for market leading companies around the nation and world! 

Read More at https://wraltechwire.com/2023/11/14/battery-manufacturer-picks-morrisville-for-new-gigafactory-200-jobs/


GET THE MORRISVILLE APP AT THE APP STORE!


Get all the latest information about news and events around Town with the authoritative app, Morrisville Central. Learn about free community events, view an interactive map of Town facilities and parks to learn about court and field status, and get the latest information about the Town straight from the source. You can also report concerns as you see them using the app’s interactive tool.


Download the app from the Apple App Store or from Google Play.

BREAKING NEWS: 

Senate avoids another Govt. Shutdown:


https://www.npr.org/2023/11/15/1213338118/senate-passes-stopgap-spending-bill-avoiding-the-threat-of-a-shutdown

Republican Presidential hopefuls square off again without Trump


https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/210912302035171

Op Ed Alert:

This Week in Morrisville. Nov 13- Nov 17

Now Hiring: Join the MAFC Team


The Town of Morrisville is now hiring for both full and part-time positions including:


Check out additional employment opportunities in the Town here.

Meetings


Nov. 14 - 6 p.m. Town Council Meeting

Nov. 15 - 6 p.m. Performance Measures Advisory Committee

Nov. 16 - 6:30 p.m. Smart City Steering Committee


Talk Morrisville Q&A with Town Manager Zuidema on Nov. 13


On Monday, Nov. 13 at noon, Town Manager Brandon Zuidema will be sitting down for a Talk Morrisville Facebook Live Q&A. Learn more about his background and vision for the future of Morrisville. 


Playground Repairs at Northwest Park Nov. 13-17


The playground at Northwest Park (998 Parkside Valley Drive) will be closed November 13-17 for repairs. The Town has contracted with Reese Construction to install new surfacing at the playground. The rest of the park will be open. Please be cautious and stay clear of the construction area. Parking will be limited due to construction vehicles.


Want to find another playground in Town? Check out these nearby parks:


Church Street Park, 5800 Cricket Pitch Way

Indian Creek, 101 Town Hall Drive

Morrisville Community Park, 1520 Morrisville Parkway


For questions about this project, contact the Morrisville Public Works Department at (919) 463-7070.


Morrisville Joins Wake County for Operation Greenlight


The Town of Morrisville is joining Wake County for Operation Greenlight now through Nov. 12 by lighting several Town buildings green. Operation Greenlight is a national collaborative initiative to support military veterans, as well as raise awareness about the unique challenges they may face. During this time, residents and businesses are encouraged to change one light bulb to a green bulb. 


National Take a Hike Day is Nov. 17


Celebrate National Take a Hike Day on Friday, Nov. 17, at 2 p.m., with a trail walk on the Hatcher Creek Greenway at Morrisville Community Park (1520 Morrisville Parkway.) The trail walk will be hosted by a member of the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department, and community members joining the walk should meet at the picnic shelter.

Morrisville Parkway Access Management Study Survey Now Open


The Town of Morrisville is partnering with the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) to complete a Morrisville Parkway Access Management Study (MPAMS) for the two-mile section of Morrisville Parkway between Davis Drive and NC 54/Chapel Hill Road. The corridor will be evaluated for general safety improvements associated with access management for vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. Click here to learn more about MPAMS and take the survey by Saturday, Nov. 18.


Register Your Child to Receive a Call from Santa


Santa Claus has contacted the Morrisville Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department and let them know he and Mrs. Claus will be calling Morrisville children ages 3-8 this holiday season! Register now here.


The deadline to register is Monday, Nov. 27, at 5 p.m. All calls will be made on Wednesday, Dec. 6, from 6-8 p.m. If your child is unavailable during this time, a message can be left on your voicemail. No make-up calls will be made.


Winter White Goods Collection is Dec. 7


The Winter White Goods collection day will be Thursday, Dec. 7. Click here to register. Items to be collected include washing machines, dryers, freezers, refrigerators, dishwashers, water heaters, stoves/ovens, and dehumidifiers. Microwaves should be dropped off at the South Wake Landfill, 6130 Old Smithfield Road, Apex.


Turkey Bowl III is on Nov. 18


Mark your calendars for the big game! The third annual Turkey Bowl is Saturday, Nov. 18, 10 a.m. at Morrisville Community Park (1520 Morrisville Parkway.) The Morrisville Police Department and Morrisville Fire/Rescue Department will compete against each other in a game of kickball.


Admission is one non-perishable food item per person. All donations will go to families in need this holiday season.


Morrisville Fire Department Collecting Toys for Tots Through Nov. 26


Help spread holiday cheer by donating a toy to children in need. This year, the Morrisville Fire/Rescue Department is partnering with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots for a holiday toy drive, now through Sunday, Nov. 26.


Donation boxes are in the lobbies of:

• Fire Station No. 1, 200 Town Hall Drive

• Fire Station No. 2, 10632 Chapel Hill Road

• Fire Station No. 3, 1021 Harris Mill Road


Donations should be new, unwrapped toys. Toys that look like realistic weapons or gifts with food are not accepted. Lobbies are open 24 hours a day. Click here to learn more.


Applications Open for Community Police Academy


Residents are invited to apply for the Community Police Academy, a free eight-week program designed to give participants a working knowledge of the Morrisville Police Department. It is intended to increase transparency and enhance understanding between the community and the police. The academy will be held Monday nights, from Jan. 8 – Feb. 26, 6-8 p.m.  


Please note: Participants must be age 21 or older and must live or work in Morrisville. Background checks will be done on all applicants.

Shop Local at the Western Wake Farmers' Market


The Western Wake Farmers' Market (WWFM) offers healthy and fresh food and goods from small and local businesses from 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. every Saturday at the Healthy Food Hub, 280 Town Hall Drive.  


Visit http://wwfm.ag/ to see a complete list of local vendors and shop local.

Around the Region

Great to Catch Up with Governor Cooper in Winston Salem! 


Diwali Insights from Governor Cooper:

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/196689006815427



Inspired by BAPS Swamis at Diwali reception!  



Met Steny Hoyer at BAPS Diwali! 

Great to Catch Up with Congressman Ro Khanna!


Meeting CNN Manu Raja!

Inspired at Research Triangle Clean Tech Cluster Awards! 


(More on this event in next newsletter!) 

Small Business Listening Tour: 

Send me an email at sr@steverao.com to book a Business Listening visit to your company.

SMALL BUSINESS VISIT OF THE WEEK


SMALL BUSINESS FORUM INSIGHTS FROM CAROLINA DEVELOPMENT FUND: 


https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/838053647911356


North Carolina News

AUDITOR BETH WOOD WILL STEP DOWN 


Beth Wood, the embattled state auditor who was charged this week with using publicly owned vehicles for personal errands, will resign before the end of her term, she told WRAL News Thursday.


The decision caps a stunning yearlong fall for the Democrat who has earned bipartisan support for her work as a government watchdog, ensuring public resources are used appropriately over four terms.


Wood was charged Tuesday with a misdemeanor after an eight-month probe by the State Bureau of Investigation found that she used at least one state-owned vehicle for private purposes in 2021 and 2022, including traveling back and forth to regularly scheduled hair appointments and dental appointments.


She also traveled to shopping centers and spas “where she was not engaged in business in her official capacity,” according to an indictment handed down Tuesday by a Wake County grand jury. An investigation is ongoing.


The Governor will appoint a replacement very soon, who will serve out the remainder of the term. 


Read More at https://www.wral.com/story/nc-auditor-beth-wood-to-resign-following-new-charge-over-use-of-state-owned-vehicles/21141330/


FIRST BATCH OF WAKE SCHOOL PARENT POLICIES PASS 


Five Wake County school policies are changing to adjust to Senate Bill 49, known by Republican proponents as the "Parents' Bill of Rights."


The new law is controversial in part because of concerns that it could "out" transgender students to their families.


The school board approved the policies Tuesday 6-2, with two members voting against approval because they remained unhappy with previous changes made to a book review policy earlier this year that were unrelated to the new state law.


The policy changes approved Tuesday are taken from the new state law and don’t add new requirements beyond that. The school board is compelled to comply with state law, without or without adopting it into their policies. However, approving the policy changes Tuesday places the language of the new state law into local documents that can be viewed by families alongside other school system rules.


The policies approved Tuesday include a requirement that parents to be notified of survey questions being asked of students, permitting parents to request a list of materials their children have checked out from the library, and stating that staff should never encourage or coerce a child into keeping a secret from their parents.


Currently, the school system already asks parents for their consent for surveys related to sensitive information. But the new law requires the school system to send them copies of the survey questions, as well, at least 10 days in advance. The school system would include information on how to find the survey questions with the opt-in form sent to parents for each survey. The anonymous survey on tobacco use and risk behaviors that came from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are exempt from the law and the Wake policy changes.


On top of the policies approved Tuesday, the law requires parental notification of students’ wishes to go by a different name or gender identity, schools to facilitate parental concern hearings upon request and tighter timelines for supplying information to parents and guardians, among other things. But policies related to those changes were not up for a vote Tuesday.


GOVERNOR COOPER WINS A LEGAL BATTLE 


Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper won a court victory on Nov. 1 when a three-judge panel blocked the legislature’s attempt to strip his appointment powers regarding three state boards.


That’s part of the news. Here’s the other part: The win is partial, temporary and likely to be overturned by the Republican-dominated state Supreme Court despite a previous ruling protecting the governor’s appointment powers.


That’s the state of North Carolina’s judiciary, starting and ending with the state Supreme Court. To predict the outcome of a case, don’t look at its legal merits, look at the political parties involved.


Read More at https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/nc-courts-under-political-assault-093000955.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=A


NC Gerrymanders continue and Democrats will fight it: 


North Carolina's new congressional maps just became law last week, and Democrats said they plan on challenging the redistricting in court, saying there's racial bias in the new maps. 


The new maps are designed to give Republican candidates a large advantage in upcoming elections for Congress and the North Carolina legislature. Republicans say the maps are fair and will hold up in court, but Democrats told WRAL they think the maps are unconstitutional. The new maps could give North Carolina Republicans at least three more seats in the U.S. House after 2024, all at the expense of first- and second-term Democrats, according to state election data. That change could be enough to help Republicans keep a House majority in Washington. 


Read More at: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/north-carolina-redistricting-congressional-maps-political-gerrymandering-democrats-vow-lawsuits/275-bc014e82-872e-4644-9


Wake County Schools Considers New Rules for Public Hearings 


People speaking at Wake school board meetings would need to refrain from personal attacks against other people or be asked to leave the podium, according to a proposed policy revision being considered by the Wake County Board of Education.


The board’s current policy merely encourages speakers to refrain from personal attacks. The change gives the board the authority to tell speakers it’s against the rules and instruct a meeting attendee to stop speaking if they refuse to comply.


Read More at https://www.wral.com/story/want-to-speak-at-a-wake-school-board-meeting-no-personal-attacks/21112693/


Corey Branch to run for Raleigh Mayor 


Longtime councilman Corey Branch is running for Raleigh mayor in the 2024 election.


Branch, 45, made the announcement Thursday on a number of platforms, including Instagram. He has served on Raleigh City Council for almost nine years.


Read More at https://www.wral.com/story/corey-branch-longtime-city-councilman-is-running-for-raleigh-mayor/21116397/


Wake County Schools Roll out Student Reassigment Plan for 2024-2025


The Wake County School District presented its first draft of the 2024-25 enrollment plan to the school board Tuesday.


The district is proposing reassignments at 21 schools – 13 elementary schools, six middle schools and two high schools.


Pleasant Grove Elementary in Morrisville would be the focal point of several changes. A portion of its attendance zone would be reassigned into Brier Creek, Leesville Road or York elementary schools in Raleigh. Then, parts of Alston Ridge and Parkside elementary schools, in Cary and Morrisville, would be reassigned to Pleasant Grove Elementary. 


The changes would reduce some overcrowding at the schools, although they would require some calendar changes for families to or from multi-track or traditional calendars.


Families of children who will be in fourth or fifth grade next year could apply to stay at their school instead of moving to Pleasant Grove, and they could apply for any younger siblings who will be kindergarten or older to stay, as well. They would not have busing.

Read More at https://www.wral.com/story/wake-county-school-district-proposes-to-move-students-from-21-schools/21054801/

LATEST NATIONAL AND GLOBAL UPDATES 

1. Israel asked some residents in southern Gaza to evacuate, suggesting that its invasion of the territory could be widening. Most of northern Gaza now appears to be under Israel’s control, including al-Shifa hospital. The Israel Defence Forces continued its operation in the enclave’s largest medical facility. It said it had found a Hamas tunnel underneath the building and recovered weapons. It also discovered the body of a hostage taken during Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7th.


2. Xi Jinping, China’s president, told Kishida Fumio, the Japanese prime minister, that their countries should “focus on common interests and properly handle differences”. The remarks came ahead of talks between the two leaders—their first face-to-face meeting in nearly a year—at a summit in California. Tensions between the two countries have risen recently because of territorial and trade disputes.


3. Alibaba cancelled plans to spin off its cloud-computing business for $11bn. The Chinese e-commerce giant blamed the “uncertainties” caused by American export controls on chips used in AI. It also put on hold a plan to list its supermarket unit. Shares in the firm fell by around 10% during trading on Hong Kong’s stock exchange on Friday.


4. Finland said it would close four of the nine crossings on its border with Russia on Saturday, in order to reduce the number of asylum-seekers entering the country. On Wednesday Finland’s president, Sauli Niinisto, suggested that Russia was funnelling migrants to the border in retaliation for his country’s alignment with America—a suggestion Russia denied. Finland joined NATO earlier this year.


5. Members of the United Auto Workers union were on track to approve new contracts with America’s “Big Three” carmakers. The tentative deals—negotiated during six weeks of strikes—were reached in October by the UAW’s leaders and Ford, GM and Stellantis (whose biggest shareholder part-owns The Economist’s parent company). The vote was reportedly closest at GM; its unionised employees approved the deal with 55% of the vote.


6 George Santos, the scandal-ridden Republican congressman from New York, said he will not seek re-election, after America’s House of Representatives issued a scathing ethics report alleging that he spent campaign money on Botox and at a casino, among other misdeeds. Mr Santos has pleaded not guilty to 23 federal charges, including wire fraud; an earlier effort to expel him from the House failed.


7. Apple said it would change its messaging system to make texting between iPhones and Android devices easier. The tech giant had long pushed back against adopting the Rich Communication Services (RCS) standard, which among other things allows users to send high-quality pictures over text. The technology is used by phones that run Google’s Android software. Alphabet, Google’s parent company, welcomed the move.


Figure of the day: 5.6, the daily average number of kilowatt-hours of sunlight per square metre enjoyed by Morocco. 


UPCOMING EVENTS

Nov 17  First Flight Venture Center High Flyer Awards Lunch. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2023-high-flyer-awards-luncheon-tickets-694255696477?aff=oddtdtcreator


Council Member Rao holds office hours on Friday from 12:00-1:00 PM by appointment only at 100 Town Hall Drive in Morrisville. 

For more information or to schedule a time to speak with Council Member Rao, please email SRao@TownofMorrisville.org and copy Town Clerk Eric Smith, esmith@townofmorrisville.org, 463-6150.
Council Member Steve Rao
Town of Morrisville
Dedicated to transforming Morrisville into an ideal place to work and raise a family!
Learn more at: SteveRao.com
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