​​​Dale V.C. Holness, Broward County Mayor​ ​

In November 2019 I had the honor of being chosen by this board to serve as Mayor. My goal was to introduce a plan to guide us over the next 30 years to “2050: Prosperity for All." 

This plan would address economic opportunity, income equity, job creation, homeowner education, poverty, criminal justice, health care, the environment and transportation. Cities, businesses and faith-based leaders would come together to establish a path forward with benchmarks to take us through the next 30 years. 

In November, unemployment in Broward County was 2.8 percent. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) was growing at a record‑setting pace. Port Everglades was welcoming more cruise ships and increases in cargo from all over the world. Tourism was strong. Voters had approved a transportation surtax. Busi​​ness was booming. Job creation was at an all‑time high. 

Then came March, and a worldwide pandemic swept across the United States. The COVID-19 coronavirus was spreading at a rapid pace, and suddenly it was here. 

On March 9, a local state of emergency was declared. Tough choices along with strict enforcement became necessary to protect people while we tried to control the spread of the virus. We engaged civic leaders, our medical community, the Florida Department of Health, Broward Sheriff's Office, School Board, business community, nonprofits, state leaders, faith leadership, County employees and every resident of Broward County. Every one of us had a role and responsibility. 

On March 13, 11 positive cases were reported in Broward County. All public events were canceled. On March 22, we closed all nonessential businesses. Four days later, Broward County issued an emergency order urging all residents to shelter in place under a “Safer at Home" policy. 

Then came April. More tough choices, difficult decisions. Two cruise ships lay off the coast awaiting clearance to dock. Because some of the passengers had tested positive for Covid‑19 and four passengers on board had died, the ships had been denied entry at ports along their route to the United States. Under strict requirements of Broward County's Unified Command, we made the humanitarian decision to let the ships dock at Port Everglades on April 2. We took measures to care for the sick, tested and quarantined other passengers and some we transported home. Broward's Port Everglades became known worldwide as the benevolent port. 

Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties became the epi-center of Florida's Covid-19 crisis, with more positive cases and deaths from the coronavirus than the rest of Florida combined. By March 25, FLL was operating at 10-15 percent capacity. Cruise ships shut down operations. The economic loss to our tourism industry skyrocketed. 

Our parks became COVID‑19 test sites and food distribution locations. We were one of the first counties in the state to offer drive‑through and walk-up sites for people to be tested. We were among the first counties to offer mobile and home testing for the homebound, elderly and disabled. 

Our first responders and health care workers became our heroes.  We opened a COVID-19 Call Center and created a COVID‑19 business complaint hotline for people to report violations. We hired extra code enforcement officers to inspect and address complaints of businesses who were not following the guidelines. By mid-April, a new Emergency Order would be put in place requiring that we wear a mask in Broward County when interacting with the public. 

But that wasn't our only crisis. In May, George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis, in eight, long, legendary minutes that were witnessed around the world. It wasn't COVID‑19 that killed him, but it was just as insidious: the public killing of a helpless black man. 

Broward County experienced peaceful protests that included people of all ages and ethnicities, social and economic status. People everywhere made their voices heard, and loudly demanded change. 

Systemic racism, police abuse, lack of opportunity, high unemployment and poverty would suddenly become a worldwide conversation with one loud and repeated message: Black Lives Matter. 

In September, unemployment in Broward County was at 15.2 percent. If there was a light at the end of the tunnel it was only because we as a community made it so. The practice of staying at home, wearing masks, social distancing, proper hygiene and sanitizing began to change the tide. The number of COVID‑19 cases began to decline. 

On May 13, in conjunction with neighboring counties, we began a modified Phase 1 reopening of our economy. We put necessary safety protocols in place. When numbers spiked, we put curfews in place, kept bars closed and opened businesses with capacity limitations. 

In September, Broward moved toward Phase 3 reopening. Some relief came in the form of the CARES Act. Broward received $340 million and distributed $102 million to cities. We also funded rental assistance to help people pay rent. We allocated $25 million to help small businesses and $10 million for nonprofit organizations. Broward County's unemployment dropped to 8.2 percent. 

As we cautiously manage COVID‑19, we remain vigilant in confronting racial inequities in our community. In October, this Commission unanimously approved a Police and Criminal Justice Review Board to gather data on police use of force and unfair treatment in the criminal justice system and identify issues that can be addressed through policy changes. We know it is necessary. 

• In 2019, 55 percent of convictions in our courts were black people, yet blacks make up only 30 percent of our population.
• In 2019, 65 percent of juveniles arrested in Broward County were black children.
• Blacks make up 16.9 percent of Florida's population, yet they account for 49 percent of the people in prison in Florida.
  
• Blacks receive 20 percent longer sentences for the same crime as whites.

​In November, we voted to create a Racial Equity Task Force that will assist in identifying structural systemic and institutional racism in Broward County, and develop new policies aimed at eliminating it. 

• Black unemployment rate is twice as high as whites.
• Black household income is 61 percent less than whites.
• Black families have one-tenth the net worth of white families.
• Thirty-eight percent of black children in Broward County are living in poverty.

The work of these two entities is the first step in creating real change.

​Prosperity for all is my life's mission. So, what is the state of the economy today? I say, “it's on the way to recovery." Some really good things were accomplished in Broward County over the past year: 

• Staff came diligently to work every day. We improved our technology so thousands of employees could continue to provide county services from home.
• We made great strides in projects that create jobs, lower unemployment and strengthen our economy.
• The transportation surtax funded the Mobility Advancement Program for $14 million in roadway, resiliency, fiber optic and school zone public works projects - $122 million in transportation improvements were approved.
• The surtax provided funding for shuttle programs in 18 cities, improving Paratransit and Rider's Choice programs. It also allowed us to leverage more than $17 million in grant funds from the federal government's largest award in the nation. This nearly $150 million investment in our community is projected to create 1,488 jobs and have a direct economic impact of $174 million. The ripple effect of economic activity from businesses that directly support transportation-related projects is estimated to produce an additional 395 indirect jobs and direct economic impact of more than $161 million.
• The Surtax 30 for 30 campaign places a 30 percent small business goal on eligible projects and is bringing economic development opportunities to our locally‑owned, small, minority- and women‑owned businesses.
• Construction to expand the existing Broward County Convention Center is on schedule to open in 2021. This project kept hundreds of people employed.
• Broward County's new apprenticeship program provided workers for one project subcontractor.
• FLL completed the award-winning $95 million construction project of the North Runway in May. Payments to small businesses on aviation contracts totaled $90 million in fiscal year 2020.
• At Port Everglades, the long-awaited project to deepen and widen the Port's navigation channels can now begin, with $29 million in funding under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This includes a new facility for the Coast Guard station in Fort Lauderdale.
• Progress continues on the proposed joint government center campus that will one day bring Fort Lauderdale City Hall and the Broward Governmental Center under one roof. Plans were approved for the creation of design criteria.
• Building on the five‑year success of the Florida International Trade and Cultural Expo (FITCE), we held a “Doing Business with the World" virtual business meeting, bringing in former heads of state consul generals to educate local businesses about the export and business opportunities in over 15 countries from five continents.
• Broward County also successfully passed a $5.3 billion budget for fiscal year 2021, keeping the property tax rate the same as last year.
  

​2020 will definitely go down in history; it is my hope that 2020 will change history. We know the full recovery is going to take a long time. Some businesses have closed forever. Thousands of people across the county are still without jobs and for those who have lost family and friends, there is nothing we can do except show empathy and compassion. Hopefully the year ahead will bring a vaccine.

There is no vaccine to cure racism or unfair treatment that over centuries has been ingrained in our institutions. That is something only we as one human race can accomplish together. I believe there is more commitment today to do that than ever before. 

That is why my 2050 plan to “focus on prosperity for all" continues to be my mission even as my one-year service as Mayor comes to an end. I thank Broward's nearly 2 million residents who didn't always agree with our decisions. You were our priority when we made tough decisions and choices to save lives. Together we will be successful in building a better, more prosperous Broward County for all.​

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