Helping India and becoming the world’s most generous city
The following was adapted from my email newsletter.
The pandemic is not over just yet, and more people need to get vaccinated as soon as possible, but Dallas continues to make major strides in its battle against COVID-19.
Across the world, however, the pandemic is as bad as it has ever been. India, especially, is enduring a reality much different from the one in Dallas right now. They’re living a nightmare.
Their monumental health crisis is growing. In total, more than 26.5 million people have become infected with COVID-19 in India. At the rate they’re going, they will soon eclipse the total number of cases in the United States. And as is always the case with COVID-19, these are only the cases that are reported.
India is critically short of oxygen, protective personal equipment, and other necessary supplies to fight this deadly virus. The people of India need help.
When the community here in Dallas was in the early stages of fighting the pandemic, friends from around the world reached out with a helping hand, providing PPE and other needed supplies. Their generosity will never be forgotten.
Now, it is time to pay it forward. As Dallas builds for the future, the city must commit to engaging other cities in this increasingly interconnected world.
After all, cities are on the front lines of solving the world’s problems. This has been made even more apparent during the pandemic as local governments, in the absence of clear federal guidance and planning, had to act quickly last year and take decisive measures to protect their residents’ lives and livelihoods.
Arun Agarwal, who also serves as a member of the city’s Park Board, helped identify the city of Jaipur in Rajasthan as a city that could use some assistance. He made contact with Dr. Raghu Sharma, the current Cabinet Minister of Health and Family Welfare for the Government of Rajasthan and City of Jaipur. Minister Sharma is leading the fight against COVID-19 for the 3.1 million people of Jaipur.
In a virtual meeting last weekend, Minister Sharma provided an overview of the struggle to contain the virus and discussed the city’s most urgent needs.
Now, I am partnering with the Indian American CEO Council and The Dallas Foundation to extend immediate help to the city of Jaipur. Through The Dallas Foundation, this effort has already received commitments for more than $1 million worth of PPE — including masks and gloves.
You can read coverage of this effort from The Dallas Morning News, WBAP, KRLD, and The American Bazaar.
Dallas has amazingly generous people and a vibrant philanthropic community. That is well known around this city. But soon, the world will know it, too. And Dallas should strive to be recognized as the most generous city in the country.
Anyone who wants to donate money for Jaipur can do so through the Indian American CEO Council’s COVID-19 Relief Fund at The Dallas Foundation. Visit DallasFoundation.org/IndiaCovidRelief now to give what you can.
India will get through these dark days, and Dallas stands ready to lend a helping hand.
Economic growth
On Wednesday, the Dallas City Council will consider adopting a new comprehensive economic development policy.
This policy is a key part of my Build for the Future agenda and contains recommendations from the Mayor’s Task Force on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The policy also includes the creation of a new economic development corporation, known as an EDC, that will be responsible for marketing the city and fostering growth.
Last week, the City Council heard widespread support for the plan during a public hearing on the draft policy. It was wonderful to hear. The City Council needs to receive more public feedback on these major decisions, and this was a great example of how that can work.
Get engaged and tune in! Here is the link to watch Wednesday’s council meeting online.
Preventing homelessness
I joined Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge, United States Senator Patty Murray, Congressman David Price, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, and other officials last week for a national media call to discuss housing vouchers that are meant to prevent homelessness.
In the Dallas area, more than 1,100 families will be helped by these vouchers.
Dallas certainly has a need for them. Homelessness in this area increased over the last year, according to this year’s point-in-time count recently released by Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance. And most of those living on the streets and in emergency shelters are African Americans, which is totally disproportionate to the area’s population.
Steps must be taken to solve this issue. And these vouchers can help people stay in their homes, which will make Dallas stronger and healthier.
That’s all for now. More updates to come soon. Stay safe, and please get vaccinated as soon as possible if you haven’t yet.
