My Message: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157736761226360/?t=19

Census Results are in!  NC to gain a Congressional Seat!

NC faces Racial Injustice as Andrew Brown is shot dead by Police Officer.

https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-warrant-shooting-andrew-brown-082fe702910015753005ba591a77eedf

President Biden to increase minimum wage to $15 for Federal Contractors / will ease Mask Mandate restrictions.

Morrisville Officials Concerned About Apple’s Impact on Housing and Transportation https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/wake-county-news/morrisville-officials-concerned-about-apples-impact-on-housing-and-transportation/ 

Apple announced Monday it will bring at least 3,000 jobs to Wake County as part of a plan to invest more than $1 billion in North Carolina.

The company plans to build a new campus and engineering hub in Research Triangle Park, employing people to work in a variety of roles including: machine learning, artificial intelligence and software engineering, among others.

Hiring is expected to begin right away, as the company anticipates leasing space in the area while it designs and builds the new facilities. The campus will be more than 1,000,000 square feet and run entirely on renewable energy, according to Apple.

The minimum average wage for the positions will be $187,001, according to the NC Department of Commerce.

Apple’s leaders said the announcement is part of a $430 billion plan to add more than 20,000 jobs across the country in the next five years.

The state’s Economic Investment Committee met Monday morning to approve an agreement where the company could receive more than $845 million in tax incentives from the state over 39 years and $20 million from Wake County.

State commerce officials said Monday the primary competition for this project, which was known as “Project Bear,” was Ohio. However, the noted a number of other states were considered.

The company said this move is estimated to have a $1.5 billion impact on the state’s economy annually by 2029.

Under the state’s Job Development Investment Grant program, companies can receive cash grants when they create jobs and invest in North Carolina as long as they meet certain performance targets, according to the NC Department of Commerce.

A so-called transformative project “can provide reimbursements up to 90% of the new personal income withholding for a period of up to 30 years,” according to the department. A company must create at least 3,000 jobs and invest at least $1 billion in the state, which Apple has said it will do.

As part of that agreement, at least $112 million would be contributed to infrastructure spending, such as broadband, roads, bridges and schools.

Apple also said it will create a $100 million fund to go toward school and community initiatives both in the Triangle region and throughout the state.

Apple currently employs about 1,100 people in North Carolina and opened its first store in the state in 2002 in Durham. The company would retain those jobs as part of the agreement with the state.

In 2018, CBS17 reported Apple was eyeing the Triangle for a new campus. At the end of the year, the company announced it had chosen Austin, Texas. State officials said despite the decision at the time, they were still talking to the company about a significant investment in North Carolina in the future. CBS 17 reported that Gov. Roy Cooper (D) met with Tim Cook, who graduated from Duke, when he came to the state that year to give a commencement address at the university.

The development follows a series of significant jobs announcements for the Triangle in recent weeks.

Last month, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies said it would create 725 jobs in Wake County and announced plans to invest $2 billion. More than 1,000 jobs could also come to Durham after Google announced company executives had picked the city for Google Cloud’s new engineering hub.

Local Leaders Look to Help India in Covid Crisis: 

India reported 352,991 Covid 19 Deaths on Sunday and 17 million cases.  2000 Indian Citizens are dying daily, and this past Friday, the government reported 4 million cases.  This situation is affecting many Indian American Families in Morrisville, Cary and throughout the state.  I am coordinating with leaders in the Congress, to brief the community later this week on the US Response in a Virtual Town Hall and Radio Broadcast on Radio Nyra.   

The situation is particularly dire in the capital New Delhi, which is under lockdown until May 3. The city is facing severe oxygen shortages. Delhi does not produce its own oxygen and relies on resources supplied by the central government, according to Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.  

Several Delhi hospitals tweeted SOS messages over the weekend appealing for oxygen supplies. On Saturday, at least 20 critically ill patients died after oxygen supply was delayed at one Delhi hospital.

In a tweet Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his administration will set up 551 oxygen generation plants "in every district to ensure adequate oxygen availability."

The central government has come under fierce criticism within the country for its handling of the outbreak, which has seen overwhelmed hospitals and residents post pleas on social media for more supplies from state and federal officials. Many have turned to the black market in a desperate attempt to save their loved ones.

Modi only addressed the nation on the crisis for the first time last week, having held political rallies and largely downplayed the second wave's urgency in the weeks before.

During his monthly radio program on Sunday, Modi said he had held meetings with experts from the pharmaceutical industry, vaccine makers and oxygen producers on how to tackle the second wave.

"I'm speaking to you at a time when Covid-19 is testing our patience and capacity to bear pain. Many of our loved ones have left us in an untimely way," he said on the radio program. "After successfully tackling the first wave, the nation's morale was high, it was confident. But this storm has shaken the nation."

The Biden administration will immediately make raw materials needed for India’s coronavirus vaccine production available as the country works to counter the surge of Covid-19 infections.

In recent weeks, India has grappled with a staggering rise in new coronavirus infections. Over the weekend, India set another global record for daily cases, bringing the nation’s cumulative total to 16,960,172 cases, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins.

Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, the United States is determined to help India in its time of need,” National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said in a statement on Sunday.

Horne added that the United States would send raw materials required for India to manufacture the Covishield vaccine, as well as therapeutics, rapid diagnostic test kits, ventilators and protective equipment.

“The U.S. Development Finance Corporation is funding a substantial expansion of manufacturing capability for BioE, the vaccine manufacturer in India, enabling BioE to ramp up to produce at least 1 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines by the end of 2022,” Horne wrote, adding that the U.S. would also send a team of public health advisors from the Center for Disease Control and USAID to India.

The announcement comes on the heels of a Sunday call between Biden National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Sullivan “affirmed America’s solidarity with India, the two countries with the greatest number of Covid-19 cases in the world,” according to a readout of the call.

The U.S. response comes after Britain, France and Germany pledged aid to India over the weekend.

On Sunday, Biden wrote on Twitter that his administration would help India in its time of need.”

My Thoughts on Getting Folks who work at Apple to Live in Morrisville: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157737507481360/?t=17

Over the last few years, we have heard from many citizens frustrated at the pressure that development and growth has placed on both the Transportation and School Infrastructure of Morrisville.  I am sure that many residents in Cary and Apex feel the same way. 

  

I do think that our Playbook should also look at the recent announcement of Apple with 3,000 jobs as an economic opportunity for the Town.  As the Research Triangle continues to be a destination for innovative Technology and Life Sciences companies, Morrisville has a great opportunity to be the place where these Tech employees not only work, but live, and play.  For example, the recent 0 Slater Road rezoning, will provide workforce housing to the hundreds of employees who work at the growing list of companies calling the Triangle Home, most recently Apple and Invitae.  This is not to mention the workers at IBM, Cisco, Channel Advisor, Syneos Health, Fuji Film Diosynth, Lenovo and the over 10 public companies who call Morrisville home.   

The more folks who work and live in Morrisville will grow our tax base, and help our retail and restaurant establishments, which will be needed more than ever in a Post Covid Economy.   

First, when given the chance, Smart Development, which places conditions on companies and developers to invest in infrastructure is a critical component of how we manage and keep up with the pressures on our infrastructure.  With 0 Slater Road, we were able to partner with the applicant to receive over $1 million of transportation improvements, and added $500,000 to our Parks Payment in Lieu, along with 15 Affordable Housing Units. Austin Mayor Steve Adler has warned that Mayors in our region should be looking at Approving more affordable housing as Apple executes their expansion plans in our State.  More affordable, workforce housing will be critical to our Strategy.  

When it is said and done, we are bringing in 2.5 cents worth of tax increase revenue to the Town though creative, innovative development while at the same time, providing more places for those who work in Morrisville to live here!  

The recent Apple announcement does also demonstrates that North Carolina can be innovative when it comes to getting the companies we recruit to the region to invest in our transportation and school infrastructure.  

As part of that agreement, at least $112 million would be contributed to infrastructure spending, such as broadband, roads, bridges and schools.  Commuter rail, Bus Rapid Transit and other transit solutions will also need to be accelerated as we add thousands of workers and cars to our roads and highways.  Discussions are already taking place in our region to accelerate the Commuter Rail from Durham to Garner.  

In addition, Apple also said it will create a $100 million fund to go toward school and community initiatives both in the Triangle region and throughout the state.   

Moving forward, we need to see more Infrastructure investments from companies looking to expand in North Carolina  The Town of Morrisville and many of the cities in Triangle Region need to receive our share of this funding if we are to continue to provide the high quality of life expected by the citizens we serve.

Over the past few weeks, I have been hosting listening sessions and Focus Groups across the Town with the Business Community, Neighborhoods, Technology Leaders/CEOs, and entrepreneurs, and HOAs to get your feedback to develop a Long Term Vision for the Town.

I am still considering 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, have put together an Exploratory Committee for Mayor as I explore serving in another role on the Council.

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, whether in local or state government. I will make my final decision after the election date is set and would be honored to continue to serve the citizens of Morrisville and the Triangle region.

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.

Weekly Update: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157736761226360/?t=19

Streamed Live at www.townofmorrisville.org and https://www.facebook.com/TownOfMorrisville/.

Morrisville Carpenter Road Project: Update for the week of April 26. 

 

Work on the south side of Morrisville-Carpenter Road (between Town Hall Drive and Misty Groves Circle) in connection with the road widening operations will continue.

 

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

 

Northbound traffic for Town Hall Drive continues to be redirected along the southbound side of the median.

 

Temporary shoring work will start on the culvert for the Crabtree Creek tributary crossing between Morrisville Square and Town Hall Drive.

For current project details visit: https://bit.ly/mcrcp1

Governor Cooper and Invitae Corporation, a life sciences company specializing in genetic testing, announced yesterday that it plans to make a $114.6 million capital investment in the Town of Morrisville!

Joining the more than 600 life sciences organizations in the Research Triangle region, the San Francisco-based company harnesses the power of genetics and technology to make medical genetics affordable and accessible. The project brings 374 jobs, with an average salary of $91,176.

Invitae will become one of the first occupants of The Stitch, the adaptive reuse project of the former Morrisville Outlet Mall. The up-fitted facility boasts 245,000 square feet of office and lab space minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

Partnering with the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of N.C. on this project were the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, Research Triangle Foundation, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina State University, Wake Tech, the Capital Area Workforce Development Board, the Town of Morrisville, Wake County, the Morrisville Chamber of Commerce, and Wake County Economic Development and Triangle Diversity Equity and Inclusivity Alliance, programs of the Raleigh Chamber.

The Town of Morrisville is hosting two Socially Distanced, Open Houses on the 2021 Bond Referendum on May 3 and May 5th.  Residents are invited to attend to learn more about what is involved in the Bond Referendum, and to share their input as the Town works through the next phase of formally adopting the Bond Categories that will appear on the Ballots in November.  

On Nov 2, 2021, Morrisville Voters will decide if Town Officials will be authorized to issue bonds in an amount to not exceed $37 million to finance capital projects that will impact the future growth of the Morrisville Community for years to come. 

May 3  6 – 8 pm  Morrisville Town Hall  

100 Town Hall Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560

 

May 5  2- 4 pm    Morrisville Aquatics Center  

1301 Morrisville Parkway, Morrisville, NC 27560 

Beginning Monday, April 19 through Friday, May 14, Morrisville voters will be able to share their input about the November 2021 Bond Referendum. Citizens can access the bond comment portal to share their feedback on the Town’s website: https://www.townofmorrisville.org/government/2021-general-obligation-bond-referendum .

On November 2, 2021, the Morrisville Town Council will provide voters the opportunity to vote on financing up to $37 million in future capital projects that can be impactful for our growing community for generations to come.

Be sure to follow the Town’s social media accounts for additional engagement opportunities about the bond referendum through May 14.

A virtual open house that will inform the public about the Town of Morrisville’s Intersection Improvement Study will be available online Monday, April 19 through Friday, April 23. During that week people can click here to access the open house, provide input, and learn about the project, which involves a comprehensive study of more than 10 intersections. For complete details click here

Morrisville Town Council proclaimed April 22 as the 51st Earth Day Celebration.

Thanks to everyone who joined us Saturday, April 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for Morrisville’s Green Day at Church Street Park! The socially-distanced, touch-free collection event provided document shredding and recycling options for electronics (including laptops), fats, oils, grease, and textiles. 

Expired medications were dropped off on-site with the Morrisville Police Department during the event as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day (April 24).

Visit www.townofmorrisville.org/greenday for details of the event.

Town Council recognizes April 30 as National Arbor Day and encourages all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands.

Morrisville’s Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources has organized a kids scavenger hunt in the park Saturday, April 24 through Friday, April 30; a special Storytime Anytime with Morrisville Community Library staff on the Town’s YouTube Page; and a tree planting event with Town Council, Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Advisory Committee and the Morrisville Environment and Stormwater Committee.

For details on Morrisville’s Arbor Day recognitions, click https://www.townofmorrisville.org/residents/community-programs/arbor-day

The Town of Morrisville is excited to announce that a six-month pilot of a new community engagement platform, Engage Morrisville, has launched! Engage Morrisville is a place for residents and businesses to get involved by sharing ideas and feedback on a variety of projects and topics affecting the Morrisville community. The new platform allows members of the community to participate and contribute to important selected community decisions from anywhere at any time.

Active projects that have already launched on the new platform include:

Community members can visit https://engagemorrisville.com/ to register and start providing their input on these and future important projects.

The new Morrisville Senior Center, located in the McCrimmon Corners Shopping Center at 4117 Davis Drive, is now open! A variety of programs are offered, and walkthroughs are available during our standard hours of operation. Due to COVID-19, all visits and programs will be limited, requiring registration to maintain a safe environment for our participants. Programs through April 17 are listed. For details on the Center’s programs, hours, and sign-up options.

For more information and sign up for tours, click here: https://www.townofmorrisville.org/government/departments-services/parks-recreation-cultural-resources/morrisville-senior-center

From the COVID-19 pandemic to fighting racial injustice, Gov. Cooper’s main message was for lawmakers and citizens to work together to move the State of North Carolina forward.  He reminded the Leaders from the Legislature that they have worked in a bi partisan manner before.  

Cooper delivered his “State of the State” speech to a joint session of the General Assembly on Monday.

The governor spoke about expanding Medicaid, the continued fight against the coronavirus, distributing fund to those in need, bringing students back to schools and systemic racism.  He also challenged the General Assembly to invest in green technology and innovation, and was very proud of the recent Apple Announcement.  

He was followed by a Republican Response by Speaker Tim Moore.

My Message: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157727478376360/?t=34

Gov. Roy Cooper said Wednesday that he expects to lift almost all restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic on June 1 but will keep North Carolina’s mask mandate in place.

Restrictions limiting capacity at indoor restaurants, bars and concert venues are among those that will be lifted, as well as limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings.

The current existing order expires April 30. Cooper said he’ll issue a new order next week with safety restrictions for May.

The current order limits most outdoor gatherings to 100 people and indoor gatherings to 50 people. Retail establishments can operate at full capacity under the order, while restaurants are limited to 75% capacity inside. Bars, concert venues and sports arenas are limited to 50% capacity under the order.

North Carolina officials are planning to lift portions of the mask mandate on June 1 if COVID-19 trends remain generally stable.

Dr. Mandy Cohen, the secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, said that while North Carolina is targeting continued stable case counts and increased vaccinations by June 1, parts of the mask mandate would remain in effect until the state reaches the target of two-thirds of adults taking at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The board approved the plan Tuesday. The academy will serve grades K-12 and there will be a separate virtual learning option for Pre-K students.

Register at https://www.wcpss.net/VirtualAcademy

The registration window will open on Thursday, April 22 and close May 2.

High schools were supposed to tell parents and students about graduation plans by April 9. Information will also be posted online at https://www.wcpss.net/graduation.

Wake County high schools will offer something closer to a normal graduation ceremony this year for seniors, while still following North Carolina health rules about masking and social distancing.

Wake high schools are planning to hold in-person graduation ceremonies at their football stadiums and gyms this spring. High schools will typically hold multiple in-person ceremonies to maintain social distancing while also offering opportunities for seniors who don’t feel it’s safe to be at a large event.

This year’s events will be larger than last year’s graduation ceremonies, where more restrictive state rules led to drive-through ceremonies or timed individual walk-throughs in the auditorium. Graduation will come for seniors after more than a year of their education being disrupted by the pandemic.

Before the pandemic, most Wake high schools held a single graduation ceremony at a large venue like the Raleigh Convention Center. Wake says that’s not possible due to the state’s reduced venue capacity limits during the pandemic.

But the capacity limits are higher than last year, allowing for larger group events for the Class of 2021. Capacity limits could be eased further, with Gov. Roy Cooper announcing Wednesday he expects to lift most state COVID restrictions by June 1.

Brian Pittman, Wake’s senior director of high school programs, said they’ll monitor whether changes in restrictions will allow them to increase attendance even more at graduations.

The school system is requiring high schools to follow some health and safety guidelines, including:

Cooper announced he signed an executive order on Tuesday to help workers furloughed due to COVID-19 qualify for unemployment benefits. Before the order, employees who had been paid severance or furloughed by employers were ineligible for unemployment.  Cooper said the state has issued $580 million in unemployment funds to 257,000 people since the start of the pandemic and will ask the General Assembly for increasing unemployment when they go back in session next week.

Cooper says his team and legislators are working to decide how federal relief funding for North Carolina will be allocated. Cooper says his budget proposal focus on three broad areas: immediate public safety needs such as testing and personal protective equipment; funding for schools and other core government services; and small business and local government assistance.

Cooper says many North Carolina hospitals have the supplies they need due to public response, but PPE is still needed to frontline workers such as EMTs, etc. and for some medical providers.

Wake County Public School System Superintendent Cathy Q. Moore is recommending a $28.2 million budget increase from Wake County commissioners, what would amount to a 5.5% county funding increase, mostly to address students’ emotional health.

The school board will consider Moore’s $1.9 billion budget proposal over the next month before submitting a final proposal to the commissioners. The budget is mostly state funding, accounting for nearly $1.1 billion next year. The county’s contribution is about 28% of the proposed budget, or $544.2 million. Other local funds comprise $63.6 million, and federal funds make up $259 million.

More than a third of the county’s more than $1.4 billion budget goes to the school district.

The school board will consider Moore’s $1.9 billion operating budget proposal over the next month before submitting a final proposal to the commissioners. The county's current contribution to the budget is $527.9 million.

Moore wants to make permanent a one-time $11.9 million budget increase the county gave the school district last spring during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. She also wants to add $16.3 million to, among other things, increase the number of school counselors, psychologists and social workers.

As he rounds out his first 100 days in office, President Joe Biden’s focus on reining in the coronavirus during the early months of his administration seems to have paid off: He can check off nearly all his campaign promises centered on the pandemic.

Biden has delivered on a number of his biggest campaign pledges focused on climate change and the economy as well. But some issues have proved to be tougher for the administration — including immigration, where Biden is grappling with how to enact promised reforms in the face of a steep increase in unaccompanied minors seeking to cross the border. On some of his promises, Biden is waiting for Congress to act.

Where Biden stands on some of his key promises:

— Raise refugee cap to 125,000, up from the 15,000 set by President Donald Trump.

— Reform the U.S. asylum system.

— Deliver a comprehensive immigration reform bill to Congress within his first 100 days.

— End travel restrictions on people from a number of Muslim-majority countries.

— Reverse Trump-era order expanding criteria for deporting immigrants and return to Obama-era principle of prioritizing deportations of immigrants posing a national security, border security or public health risk.

— Stop funding and building the border wall.

— Reverse Trump’s public charge rule discouraging immigrants from using public benefits.

— Restore the Obama-era principle of deporting foreigners who are seen as posing a national security threat or who have committed crimes in addition to the crime of illegal entry.

— Freeze deportations for 100 days.

— Streamline and improve the naturalization process for green card holders.

— End family separation and create task force to reunite families separated at the border.

— Order a review of Temporary Protected Status.

— Convene a regional meeting of leaders, including officials from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Canada, to address the factors driving migration and propose a regional resettlement solution.

— Protect those often described as “Dreamers” — young immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents — and their families by reinstating DACA, the Obama-era policy defending them from deportation.

— Ensure that personnel within Immigration and Customs Enforcement and within Customs and Border Protection abide by professional standards and are held accountable for inhumane treatment.

— End prolonged migrant detention and invest in a case-management system to process people.

— Reverse transgender military ban.

Done.

— Establish police oversight board.

— Direct attorney general to deliver a list of recommendations for restructuring the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and other Justice Department agencies to better enforce gun laws.

— Direct FBI to issue report on delays in background checks for gun purchases.

— Reauthorize Violence Against Women Act

— Sign Equality Act

— Create Cabinet-level working group focused on promoting union organizing, tasked with delivering a plan to increase union density and address economic inequality.

— Rejoin World Health Organization.

— Ensure 100 million vaccines have been administered before the end of his first 100 days, later increased to 200 million.

— Increase access to testing and establish pandemic testing board.

— Issue mask mandate on federal property and ask Americans to wear masks for 100 days.

— Extend nationwide restrictions on home evictions and foreclosures.

— Continue to pause student loan payments.

— Safely reopen a majority of K-8 schools.

— Push for passage of $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief legislative package.

— Rescind Keystone XL oil pipeline permit, protect the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve, rejoin the Paris climate agreement and embrace the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol to reduce harmful hydrofluorocarbons, or HFC’s.

— Convene climate world summit and persuade nations to set more ambitious emissions pledges.

— Ban new oil and gas leases on federal lands and offshore waters.

— Reverse Trump rollbacks on 100 public health and environmental rules.

ECONOMY

— Roll back Trump’s 2017 cuts to corporate tax rates.

— Provide $2,000 in direct payments as part of COVID-19 relief.

— Pause federal student debt payments.

— Order a review of U.S. supply chains.

FOREIGN POLICY

— “End the forever wars in Afghanistan and the Middle East” and terminate U.S. involvement in the Yemen civil war.

— Put human rights at the center of foreign policy.

— Improving relations with allies who had rocky relations with Trump.

— Reversing the embrace of “dictators and tyrants like Putin and Kim Jong Un.”

— Quickly rejoin the nuclear deal with Iran so long as Tehran comes back into compliance.

— Recognize World War I-era atrocities against Armenians as genocide.

President Joe Biden on Wednesday introduced a sweeping $2 trillion infrastructure and jobs package that looks to reshape the American economy and make the most significant domestic U.S. investments in generations.

His far-reaching American Jobs Plan includes spending to repair aging roads and bridges, jump-start transit projects and rebuild school buildings and hospitals. It would also expand electric vehicles, replace all lead pipes and overhaul the nation’s water systems.

But the plan goes far beyond infrastructure.

It’s as much a jobs program – one that looks to build the nation’s clean energy workforce, expand manufacturing and boost caregiving as a profession to serve the elderly and disabled.

My Message: https://www.facebook.com/kimberly.h.calhoun/videos/10158619248896429/?t=145

The plan, the centerpiece of Biden’s economic agenda, will next need to pass Congress, where Republicans are already lining up against it.

According to White House, the plan is divided across four main areas. Here is how the money would be spent:

The plan would make a massive investment in America's roadways, railways and bridges with a focus on clean energy.

It would spend $174 billion, or about 28% of the transportation portion, on electric vehicles. That includes a network of 500,000 electric vehicle stations, using electric vehicles in bus fleets, and replacing the federal government's fleet of diesel transit vehicles with electric vehicles. It would also offer tax incentives and rebates for electric cars.

About $115 billion would pay for fixing roads and bridges, chosen by those in most need of repair. That includes 20,000 miles of highways and roads, the 10 most "economically significant" bridges in the U.S. as well as 10,000 smaller bridges.

Another $85 billion is set aside for modernizing transit systems and $80 billion for a growing backlog of Amtrak repairs as well as improvements and route expansion. Airports, ports and waterways would also receive improvements.

The largest part of the plan focuses on American homes, school buildings, underground water infrastructure and broadband expansion.

The plan would spend $213 billion to build, preserve and retrofit more than 2 million affordable homes and commercial buildings. This includes the construction or rehabilitation of 500,000 homes for low- and middle-income owners. An additional $111 billion would go toward clean drinking water, including replacement of all lead pipes and service lines.

The plan sets aside $100 billion for constructing or modernizing public schools, while another $100 billion would be used to build high-speed broadband networks throughout the country. The goal would be for broadband to become universal for all Americans and to drive down the costs for internet.

The plan also calls for $40 billion to improve public housing, $18 million for Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics, $12 billion for community college infrastructure and $16 million to plug oil and gas wells and reclaim abandoned mines.

Biden wants to pump $400 billion to improve access to quality, affordable home or community-based care for the elderly and people with disabilities. It would expand a Medicaid program to make more services available and eliminate a backlog that prevents thousands from getting care.

It would also boost pay for care workers, who are disproportionately women of color and typically earn about $12 an hour.

"For too long, caregiver have been unseen, underpaid and undervalued," Biden said.

About $300 billion in the plan would be invested in manufacturing, including support for domestic production of technologies and critical goods. Around $50 billion would go toward semiconductor manufacturing and research.

The plan would spend $180 billion on new research and development with an emphasis on clean energy, fewer emissions and climate change research. That total includes $100 billion for worker training and an increase of worker protection systems.

"We've fallen back," Biden said of U.S. investment in research and technology. "The rest of the world is closing in and closing in fast. We can't allow this to continue."

Biden wants to raise the corporate tax rate to 28% to pay for the plan. That's the percentage corporations paid before President Donald Trump's tax cuts in 2017. Biden also wants to increase the minimum tax on U.S. multinational corporations to 21%.

The tax overhaul, dubbed the Made in America Tax Plan, seeks to incentivize job creation and investment in the U.S., end profit-shifting to tax havens and ensure large corporations pay "their fair share," according to the White House.

The plan would eliminate a rule that allows U.S. companies to pay no taxes on the first 10% of returns when they locate investments in other countries.

Under the tax hikes and other reforms – eliminating tax loopholes for intellectual property and denying companies deductions for offshoring jobs, for example – the White House projects the spending would be fully paid in 15 years and reduce deficits in the following years.

To Secure an appointment, please visit https://myspot.nc.gov/, https://covid19.wakegov.com/vaccine/

Find a County Vaccination site at https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/where-can-I-get-the-covid-19-vaccine-in-my-county/19466004/

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.

Wake County has 7,902 doses of the vaccine in storage at this time. The first J&J clinics are planned for Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Ting Park in Holly Springs.

Thanks for attending our April 21 at 2pm for the North Carolina Veteran Business Association Annual Meeting.

I enjoyed Moderating this event, and am honored to serve on the Board!

Watch the Webinar Here:

The Town of Cary is turning 150 years old! Mayor Harold Weinbrecht & Town Clerk, Virginia Johnson will be joining us to discuss the history of Cary, the celebrations the Town has in store and how you can participate!

Register at https://carychamber.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yzxJ19ECSVu4o-tWqSmlAg

May 5 Asian American Hate Lobby Day

My Message: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157710980351360/?t=20

In response to the rise in anti-Asian violence, join us for our in-person Lobby day in Raleigh NC Legislature building to advocate for better data collection of bias-motivated incidents and crimes, facilitated by the mandatory reporting requirement of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. (Currently sponsored by Senator Jay Chaudhuri, Senator Mujtaba Muhammed and Senator Valerie Foushee)

Sign-on and pre-register at: ncaatinaction.org/nctogether-partners

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.