My Message: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157669961926360/?t=20

Last week, on behalf of the New American Economy, I spent time with Senator Tillis and Senator Burr’s offices on the recent Immigration issues on the Border, the Farmwork Modernization and Promise Act, and addressed the urgent need for passing skilled based immigration reform legislation, which is addressed in the 2021 US Citizenship Act.  (H1B, and green card backlog)

Next week, I will provide a more detailed update and action plan, but it does not appear as if Skilled Based Immigration is moving at this point in time.

My Message: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157626999096360/?t=20

My Message: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157676525576360/?t=27

Komal, Sonia, Rayan and I wish each of you a very Happy Holi. Holi is a Hindu festival that celebrates spring, love, and new life. Some families hold religious ceremonies, but for many Holi is more a time for fun. It's a colorful festival, with dancing, singing and throwing of powder paint and colored water. Holi is also known as the "festival of colors".

Now that the Governor has eased restrictions even further, maybe we can all get out and douse each other with colors.

Next year, we will all be back at Morrisville Community Park, Cedar Fork District Park, and the Hindu Society of North Carolina, plastered in all kinds of color and powder.

It will truly be spring again after a very long, dark winter of the Covid 19 Pandemic.

My Message: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157678968881360/?t=20

Morrisville has been ranked No. 1 Best Place to Live in North Carolina for 2021 by Niche.  I am proud of this achievement but we need more than rankings.  I will continue to share my Playbook every week on what we can do to be the Number 1 Live, Work, and Play Town in the State and Nation!

Niche in their 2021 Best Places to Live in America, ranks Morrisville No. 1 in several categories including:

Morrisville ranks No. 2 in Best Suburbs for Young Professionals in North Carolina and Best Suburbs for Young Professionals in Raleigh. Morrisville also ranks No. 3 for Places with the Best Public Schools in North Carolina and Suburbs with the Best Public Schools in North Carolina.

For this news item and details on Niche's ranking and grading methodology click here:

#Morrisville #BestPlacetoLive #LiveConnectedLiveWell

Thanks to everyone who came out to pick up their eggs at Cedar Fork District Park on Saturday at the Town of Morrisville event.  Kudos to our Parks and Rec Staff, who was innovative in hosting a safe, family friendly event.

Cape Fear Health offering Phase 5 Vaccinations

Cumberland County Health Department Offering Phase 1- 5 at Crown Plaza.

Lee County Public Health Department Taking Phase 5 Appointments This Week.

Total Doses Administered: 4, 419, 640

Free Drive thru Covid 19 Testing at Bond Park in Cary (11 am to 4 pm) from March 2- March 26 and other sites in Wake County.

For details on Morrisville Carpenter Road Project, please visit http://bit.ly/mcrcp1.

Drivers should be prepared for flagging operations between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Over the next few weeks, I will be putting together listening sessions and Focus Groups across the Town with the Business Community, Neighborhoods, Technology Leaders/CEOs, and entrepreneurs, and HOAs to develop a Long Term Vision for the Town, as I consider how I will continue to serve the citizens of Morrisville, either running for the same At Large Seat, and based on many citizens’ request across the Town, am putting together an Exploratory Committee for Mayor as I explore serving in another role on the Council.

I will make my final decision by the end of April of whether I will run again for the Council and if I do, for what Seat.   I thank the many citizens across the Town who have expressed an interest in me continuing to serve.  The election could be delayed until 2022, which will also affect my decision as I am weighing my options for the future in how I can continue to serve the citizens of North Carolina.

Either way, I want to thank all of the citizens for allowing me to serve you or the past decade, both as an At Large Council Member and a former Mayor Pro Tem (2015-2017)

Every week, I will be sharing a Play from the Morrisville Playbook which will transform us to be the number one Town to Live, Work, and Play in the country.

It is time to imagine what the Mosaic of Morrisville can be, a nonpartisan, coalition of diverse, engaged citizens, bringing out the best in each other, so we can be the Champions of the World!

Please email me to sr@steverao.com to set up a Listening Session and Stay tuned for our Play of the Week, over the weekend or early next week.

My Tourism Playbook: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157679061891360/?t=29

(Send me your Tourism ideas to sr@steverao.com!)  

The Town of Morrisville’s distinctive history or cultural resources is an asset.  I see an opportunity for the Town to leverage its history and culture to promote economic development.

Through our Civil War programming in 2015, folks got a small taste of history and how it can be used to entertain and draw tourists to Town. Morrisville has so much more to offer in terms of historical richness. There is a great African American history (Shiloh Community), technology, innovation history, religious history, colonial history, and several other themes, which need to be identified and introduced to citizens and tourists.

Let’s turn the Pugh House into gallery space or art center. Mabel Pugh is Morrisville’s best known artist. She taught at Peace College and had some notoriety in the 1920s and 1930s. Many small communities have made big business out of the arts. If you look at Wilson, Carrboro, and Hillsboro, arts have become big business.  We could develop Morrisville into a destination for artists, and also could host more art festivals. Town hall has historic displays and the infrastructure to show videos. Could this become a visitors/community center for town? Perhaps the Christian Church could service this purpose too.

Town’s Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources department must do more historic (or cultural) programming.  I propose spinning off a new Cultural Resources Department or Division, which would focus all efforts in these areas.  There are a number of historic artisans, interpreters, and collectors in the region to put on a meaningful program about life in the past or teach historic craft classes. Even for the town’s Indian community, is there anyone teaching traditional dances, crafts, or storytelling? We have an opportunity our share our rich Morrisville history with North Carolina and develop a vision for the Town that encompasses the new shared history embodied by citizens.

We need to look at the Greater Raleigh Visitors and Convention Bureau for stats of visitors to Wake County and the amount of money tourists bring into the area.  The Town must develop a plan to increase historical tourism dollars to the Town and Region.

Morrisville is situated to take advantage of a tourism effort by its location along I-40 and the airport.

Monday March 1st marked the start of Women’s Month!   #WomensHistoryMonth, is a time to honor & recognize the contributions of women throughout history and those who are working tirelessly today to improve our communities. #WomenLead.

This week I would like to recognize and honor the USA Today Women of the Year, Vice President Kamala Harris.  She also, was 2020 Time Person of the Year with President Joe Biden.

Kamala Harris is an everlasting reminder that there is no limit to our dreams if we work hard, and excel in our careers.  She is the ultimate trailblazer, as she broke a glass ceiling as not only the first woman Vice President but also the first Black and South Asian person to hold the office.  As a Prosecutor, California Attorney General, and United States Senator, Harris has demonstrated a long record of championing change and fighting for equity.

Most important. Harris’ ascension to the Vice Presidency is empowering for children growing up today regardless of their race, religion, or gender.

Now young girls growing up can dream of becoming the President, or congressman or a governor. As the son of Indian immigrants, I could never imagine this day would come.  I am so proud as an American that it has come.

Thank you, Madame Vice President for breaking glass ceilings and for inspiring women in our nation and world for decades to come.

Georgia Voting Legislation being called new Jim Crow law by Democrats.

Weekly Update: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157676700176360/?t=22

More than a year after the first business and gathering restrictions started, Gov. Roy Cooper is allowing some businesses to fully reopen and others to allow more patrons inside.

All buildings are expected to continue to enforce social distancing measures.

In addition, the alcohol curfew has been eliminated--meaning restaurants and bars can remain open past 11 p.m.

Executive Order No. 204 will also increase mass gathering limits. The number of people who may gather indoors will increase from 25 to 50 and the number of people who may gather outdoors will increase from 50 to 100.

The Town of Morrisville will be complying with this Executive Order, and I will provide this update in my next newsletter or just check the Town of Morrisville Facebook Page over the next few days at https://www.facebook.com/TownOfMorrisville/

Wake County Schools has Voted for All High School and Middle Students to return in Plan A on the following dates:

Students can remain enrolled in the Virtual Academy.

At least 40 of the States’ 115 School Districts have voted to switch middle high schools and high schools to Plan A, including Chatham, Johnston and Nash Counties.

Gov. Roy Cooper announced that all adults will be eligible to get COVID-19 vaccines beginning April 7. Thursday's announcement marks the third time the administration has moved up the calendar for eligibility, and the changes also affect the second phase of Group 4, which can now sign up for appointments starting March 31.

4.3 million North Carolinians have been Vaccinated and 1/3 of adults have been Vaccinated

Please visit https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/vaccines and visit https://www.wral.com/where-can-I-get-the-covid-19-vaccine-in-my-county/19466004/ to secure an Appointment at the County of your Choice.

The Lee County Government Health Department will expand vaccine registration to include people in Group 5 on Monday.

To register for the COVID-19 vaccine with the Lee County Health Department, call (919) 842-5744 or to register in Spanish, (919) 718-4640 option 8. Calls will be accepted Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. or you can fill out an on line form at https://leecountync.gov/covid19.

Click Here to Make an Appt: https://co.cumberland.nc.us/departments/public-health-group/public-health/covid-19-vaccine or call (910) 678-7657 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. if you need assistance with the form or have questions.

The Cumberland County Department of Public Health continues to hold free COVID-19 vaccination clinics at the Crown Expo Center for eligible individuals in Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4. People in Group 5 will be able to begin to schedule appointments next week.

The health department said one additional death was recorded since March 19, bringing the county total to 290 deaths. There have been 25,555 cases reported since the onset of the pandemic.

Cumberland County's COVID-19 positive test rate is at 6.7%.

The clinic schedule for next week:

The University of North Carolina System will receive 20,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to distribute next week as institutions prepare to vaccinate students.

Earlier this week, Gov. Roy Cooper announced that all adults will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine starting April 7. People who live in congregate settings, such as students in dormitories, will be eligible March 31.

Since February, several UNC campuses have operated vaccine clinics to serve their communities. As of Thursday, more than 27,000 vaccinations had been administered at the 12 clinics now running at UNC institutions.

Thirty-nine community health centers in North Carolina will receive $161,988,125 in American Rescue Plan funding to support COVID-19 vaccination and services for vulnerable populations, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced.

Health centers will be able to use the funds to support and expand COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and treatment for vulnerable populations; deliver needed preventive and primary health care services to those at higher risk for COVID-19; and expand health centers' operational capacity during the pandemic and beyond, including modifying and improving physical infrastructure and adding mobile units. This investment will help increase access to vaccinations among hard-hit populations, as well as confidence in the vaccine by empowering local, trusted health professionals in their efforts to expand vaccinations.

The COVID-19 Community Vaccination Center opened at Four Seasons Town Centre in Greensboro on March 10 and will remain open for eight weeks. It will operate seven days a week with the capacity to provide up to 3,000 vaccinations per day, with an indoor clinic and a drive-thru clinic in the parking lot. First doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be provided during the center’s first three weeks (March 10- 30). Second doses of Pfizer will be provided during the next three weeks (March 31-April 20).

To reach more marginalized and underserved communities, the main vaccination center at Four Seasons Town Centre will support additional sites and mobile vaccination clinics in communities of need in Guilford and surrounding counties.

To Set up appointment, visit https://www.guilfordcountync.gov/how-do-i/gso-mass-vax.

The budget looks to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic with investments in schools, health care access, economic opportunities and infrastructure.

Without raising taxes, Cooper plans to invest $27.4 billion in 2021-22 and $28.5 billion in 2022-23.

The governor also plans to make recommendations on how federal funds from the American Rescue Plan can complement the budget proposal.

The General Assembly will consider his requests as House and Senate Republicans fashion a budget bill and get it to Cooper’s desk. The new fiscal year begins July 1.

GOP legislators and Cooper have had mixed success over the past two years finding consensus on large spending bills.

The two sides never agreed on a conventional two-year budget in 2019, as an impasse over Medicaid expansion and corporate taxes blocked any compromise following a Cooper veto.

But Cooper signed several bipartisan measures in 2020 and 2021 that distributed federal coronavirus relief dollars.

The governor and Republican leaders have expressed guarded optimism this year that they’ll work out a budget bill that Cooper can sign.

My Message: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157635229236360/?t=31

Find when and how the IRS sent your 2021 Economic Impact Payment with the Get My Payment tool: https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof-wmsp/

Here is a Summary of the Plan:

Local governments will receive $130 billion in assistance from the American Rescue Plan. Another $500 million is dedicated to water security grants, an essential aspect of COVID-19 relief that DMO has been calling for in our own water security initiative.

NC Covid Relief from General Assembly 2021 COVID-19 Response & Relief Act directs over $600 million statewide for testing, tracing, and prevention needs, as well as $100 million for K-12 public school needs and $290 million for higher education emergency relief.

It includes another $40 million to support summer learning programs in addition to education funds approved by the legislature last month.

House Bill 196 also provides funds for farms, fisheries, food banks, small business grants, broadband, summer school programs, mental health and substance abuse services, and upgrades to the NC COVID Vaccine Management System, among other allocations.

Senate Bill also passed and supports these efforts in NC!

Wake County: Wake County Public Health Vaccine Hotline 919-250-1515.  It is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or visit website at https://covid19.wakegov.com/vaccine!

Durham County: 919-635-8150 or email at DCoCOVIDvaccines@dconc.gov. 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162.

Duke Raleigh Hospital at (19) 620- 5167.

Process is to Call or visit website, join the waiting list, receive notification, and get your Vaccination Appointment!

To set up an Appointment with any County Department, please visit covid19.ncdhhs.gov/findyourspot

Walgreens will offer Covid 19 Vaccine in 300 Stores (31,200 doses) in North Carolina starting on Feb 12 as a distributor under the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program and is planning to distribute 1 million doses of the Moderna Vaccine.  For more information, sign up at walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19.

The Lee County Government Health Department announced that it will expand vaccine registration to include individuals in Group 4 beginning Monday. Beginning Monday, the county vaccine registration call center will register anyone in Groups 1, 2, 3, or 4 for the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine registration call center may be reached at (919) 352-3360 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. To register in Spanish, please call (919) 718-4640 and select option 8.

Wake County Public Health is collaborating with UNC Health, Duke, and Wake Med to launch a mass vaccination site starting Feb. 11. At PNC Arena, the home of the Carolina Hurricanes and NC State University Men’s Basketball, agreed to turn its 8,000-space parking lot into an appointment only drive-thru vaccine clinic.  Visit https://covid19.wakegov.com/pnc-arena-to-host-third-wake-county-mass-vaccination-site-thanks-to-public-private-partnership/

(See Wake County Mass Vaccination Information Below)

Wake County Public Health is collaborating with UNC Health, Duke, and Wake Med to launch a mass vaccination site starting Feb. 11. And the site will be open six days per week. at PNC Arena, the home of the Carolina Hurricanes and NC State University Men’s Basketball, agreed to turn its 8,000-space parking lot into an appointment only drive-thru vaccine clinic.

The site will begin with two days of vaccinations next week, with the goal of inviting more than 2,100 health care workers and those 65 and older from the county’s growing COVID-19 vaccine waitlist.

Appointments are required to receive a vaccination, and vaccinations will not be available without confirmation of a spot.   Starting Friday, health care workers and those over 65 years of age, will be notified by email, phone and text.

In addition to the more than 2,000 appointments available at the new appointment only drive-thru site next week:

My Message: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157577343161360

March 29 Hum Sub Virtual Bahant Basar The links to view the show are:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/100000293924828/posts/4182179788468444/?d=n

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzMYwUfILmE

March 30 at Noon for SKEMA BUSINESS SCHOOL Fireside Tech Talk with the IBM, Senior NC Executive, Tim Humphrey.

Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/career-tuesday-with-ibm-tickets-145303852735

On the last day of Woman’s History Month, we look forward to hearing from one of the most dynamic Woman leaders in our state, Deborah Ross, who represents North Carolina in the 2nd Congressional District. She will update us on the Immigration Bills in Congress, the crisis at the Border, and the path to citizenship for skilled immigrants. Congresswoman Ross will be joined by Jeremy Robbins, Executive Director of the New American Economy for this Virtual Immigration Town Hall, which will be aired on Radio Nyra as well. 99.9 FM, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!

Webinar starts at 8:45am EDT.

Streamed Live at https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao.

Register Here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oq6ALpc6Rsems0HQ4_3RkQ

Register at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/2816130957886/WN_NimDwDTJRJe-pgXEAheLUw.

The Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in collaboration with Carolina’s Modern Indian Studies initiative, will host a panel discussion on U.S.-India relations under a Biden administration via livestream at 6 p.m. EDT on April 7, 2021.

The panel will feature Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu, India’s ambassador to the U.S., and Ambassador Richard Verma, former U.S. ambassador to India. Anusha Chari, director of the Modern Indian Studies initiative and professor of economics and finance at UNC-Chapel Hill, will provide opening remarks. Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, vice provost for global affairs and chief global officer at UNC-Chapel Hill, will give welcoming remarks and moderate the discussion. The panel will allow the diplomats to share their thoughts on how relations between the United States and India, two of the world’s largest democracies, are likely to unfold under the Biden administration.

Join us for the RIoT Your Reality Challenge First Pitch event! A selected group of applicants will pitch their creative solutions and ideas in the hopes of competing for a spot in the RIoT Accelerator Program and a cash prize of $40k.

Register at: https://www.meetup.com/RIoT-NC/events/276814265/

Join me Sunday 4 PM on Radio Mirchi for another update on local issues.

99.9FM HD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!

Join us every Friday on World Edition at 10 am for the Great America Project Panel where we discuss how we rebuild Americas' image with leaders from around the country and world.