Around the State

Special to The Dallas Examiner

 

Free summer breakfast and lunch to children

Texans Can Academies will provide breakfast and lunch to any child up to age 18 through its Summer Meal Programs. The meals will be offered at no cost June 1 through July 31. Participating families do not have to apply, register or provide identification.

Due to COVID-19, meals will be served curbside at the following academy locations:

• East Dallas – 2901 Morgan Drive
• Oak Cliff – 325 W. 12th St.
• Pleasant Grove – 1227 N. Masters Drive
• Fort Worth – 6620 Westcreek Drive

The programs will operate on weekdays, serving breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Food will be distributed until supplies run out.

For more information about Texans Can Academies, please visit www.texanscan.org.

 

New CVS COVID-19 testing sites

CVS Health announced Wednesday that it will offer self-swab COVID-19 tests at nine new sites in Dallas.

The new locations are part of the company’s plans to have up to 1,000 such testing sites across the country by the end of May, with the goal of processing up to 1.5 million tests per month.

Testing will be scheduled online and will take place at select CVS Pharmacy locations through the drive-thru window. The sites will open Friday.

New locations in Dallas:

• 9390 Forest Lane
• 13033 Coit Road
• 7102 Campbell Road
• 7203 Skillman St.
• 10014 Garland Road
• 17410 Marsh Lane
• 3030 Sylvan Ave.
• 150 East Illinois Ave.
• 7979 Beltline Road

 

Mayor issues local state of disaster

Mayor Eric Johnson issued a Proclamation Declaring A Local State of Disaster Sunday for civil disorder and threats of rioting.

The proclamation will allow the city manager, under Section 14B of the Dallas City Code, to issue emergency regulations, including a curfew. The details of those emergency regulations will be announced shortly by the city manager’s office.

The disaster declaration is set to expire in seven days. The city of Dallas also remains under a Local State of Disaster for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Johnson has been in communication with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox, the White House and faith leaders regarding the city’s response efforts.

 

‘Dallas First’ resolution is approved

The Dallas City Council unanimously passed Mayor Eric Johnson’s “Dallas First” procurement resolution, May 27.

The resolution directs the city manager to create a program aimed at maximizing economic return in the city’s procurement of goods and services. The program may include – but is not limited to – giving preference to prospective contractors for employing Dallas residents, for producing goods and services in the city, for having operations based in Dallas, or for participating in other activities that create an economic benefit for Dallas residents or increasing the city’s tax revenues.

The resolution was proposed in light of the economic effects of the COVID-19 economic restrictions.

“I proposed this program to help keep Dallas taxpayers’ money in Dallas and to stimulate our local economy, which has been hit hard by COVID-19,” Johnson said. “Dallas will bounce back from this pandemic, but it will take a concerted effort from the government and the private sector. Dallas First will help in that process and will provide a much-needed boost to our local businesses.”

 

CECAP passes unanimously

On May 27, the Dallas City Council unanimously passed the city’s first ever Comprehensive Environmental and Climate Action Plan.

The Environment and Sustainability Committee, chaired by Council member Omar Narvaez, previously recommended the plan. When the mayor created the city’s first- standalone committee devoted to environmental issues, he made the creation and implementation of the CECAP its number one priority.

“For decades, Dallas has faced numerous environmental challenges. We have contended with air pollution, water pollution, and toxic hazards throughout our city, but particularly in underserved areas,” Johnson said. “I grew up partially in the shadow of a lead smelter plant in West Dallas. That’s something none of us want for our children today. Now, I believe, we are taking steps to overcome such challenges and to make Dallas a global leader in addressing environmental issues.

“The CECAP takes a balanced and common-sense approach – one that sets ambitious goals, but also accounts for our economic needs. This plan was a tremendous undertaking and achievement, and I thank Chairman Narvaez for his leadership.”

The CECAP outlines 97 actions the city can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve environmental quality in every ZIP code in the city.

The plan’s eight overarching goals:

• Make buildings more efficient.
• Generate and encouraging renewable, reliable, and affordable energy.
• Ensure Dallas communities have access to sustainable, affordable, transportation options.
• Make Dallas a zero-waste community.
• Protect water resources and communities from flooding and drought.
• Protect and enhance the city’s ecosystems, trees, and green spaces that in turn improve public health.
• Provide all communities with access to healthy, locally grown, and sustainable food.
• Ensure all Dallas communities breathe clean air.

 

Council rejects tax proposal

Members of the Dallas City Council rejected a proposal on Wednesday from the city manager’s office to allow the Dallas County tax assessor’s office to calculate an 8% tax increase for Dallas residents.

The Texas Reform and Transparency Act of 2019, commonly known as SB 2, capped growth in property tax revenue for local governments at 3.5% unless the government falls within a disaster area or unless voters approve a larger increase in a referendum election.

The City Council will officially vote to set the tax rate in August and September.

Johnson questioned why the item needed to be on Wednesday’s agenda. He voted first for a motion to defer the item until June 24, which failed on a 7-7 vote, and then against the item.

“I will not consider adding to our residents’ economic woes until the city manager presents us with some alternative plans,” Johnson said. “Our residents and businesses in Dallas have faced enough uncertainty in the past two months. They don’t need or deserve to have the possibility of a city property tax hike looming over them this summer.”

 

Seeking members for the STAR Kids Managed Care Advisory Committee

Texas Health and Human Services will be accepting applications for membership to its STAR Kids Managed Care Advisory Committee. Individuals who are interested in issues surrounding the operation of the STAR Kids Medicaid managed care program are encouraged to apply. The Texas HHS executive commissioner will appoint members to the committee. Apply at https://texashhs.secure.force.com/advisory. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m., June 5. For more information, visit https://hhs.texas.gov/about-hhs/leadership/advisory-committees.