美国新冠疫情日记5/8/2020

      服务基层 民间疾苦

这是我担任十二年美国德州休斯敦国际区区长以来，首次以视讯方式主持区议会，正值疫情继续扩散时期，大家心情十分凝重。

国际区位於休城西南区，约十三哩面积，人口约二十七万人，面积相当於半个香港岛，近年来由於全球移民不断涌入，和邻近的华埠已经成為德州经济发展的示范区，沿着百利大道以往是荒芜农地，如今商家林立，尤其是超市、餐厅及宗教祠庙已成為亚裔文化经济之走廊。

不幸的是，两个月来新冠病毒之攻击，大部分商家都在停业状况，大半商场业主都收不到租金，这是有史以来全国遭受最惨重的危机。

国际区会议上，我们达成多项决议，再拨款十万元，主要是向本地区之商家采购婴儿生活用品，赠送给居住在公寓之单亲妈妈，并且购买一百二十台平板电脑，由学区老师分发给贫穷学生使用， 可以让他们在网上上课。

為了帮助二千多个区内商家向联邦政府申请补助，我们也成立了小商业贷款专线，协助他们整理财务资料及填写申请表。

网上出席会议的议员们大家都神色凝重，我在会上再度呼吁大家要保持镇定，尤其是曾经经过多少惊骇大浪，无数追求美国梦的新移民，我们一定能克服万难，再次重建美国，值此艰难时刻，我们能洞察民间疾苦，服务社区当尽全力，期盼早日脱离困境，愿天佑大家。

Serve People For The People

Today we are holding the monthly International District meeting online through the visual internet because the coronavirus pandemic has caused most businesses to shut down in the last two months.

The International District was created more than twelve years ago. In this thirteen square mile area along with the Southwest District, we helped create hundreds of new businesses and most of them are new immigrants. These districts have become one of the most successful business models of the city and represents the international community’s culture and hard-working spirit.

In the meeting we decided to set aside tens of thousands of additional fund to help the many single moms and those students who need computers to get on the virtual computer classes offered by the Alief School District. We also are trying to help the many businesses that want to apply for federal grants.

All of us are suffering unprecedented economic distress. I told my colleagues we came to America looking for a new life. Most of us have experienced the hardships of being a refugee and war. We will hold our hands together to overcome and to rebuild America again.