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Dallas Mayor Asks for $$$ in Economic Stimulus

Mayor Tom Leppert
Mayor Tom Leppert

By BJ Austin, KERA News

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-802360.mp3

Dallas, TX – Mayor Tom Leppert wants more than $1 billion from the federal government to build things in Dallas. KERA's BJ Austin reports the Mayor took a "wish list" of 65 projects to Washington yesterday for talks on an economic stimulus package.

Mayor Tom Leppert was part of the U.S. Conference of Mayors' presentation to House and Senate leaders. The Mayor says he told them they would get more bang for their buck by giving cities economic stimulus money for construction projects.

Leppert: This is not operating funds. This is not bailing out budgets that weren't making it. These are capital projects that will have a benefit long into the future. The second thing we said was if you identify the particular projects you have accountability. You can walk through and see the progress. You can see the jobs that are generated.

Mayor Leppert wants $386 million to build the Convention Center Hotel and $246 million for construction of the Margaret McDermott "signature" bridge over I-30. He says these and other road and water projects can put thousands of people to work quickly.

Send E-mail to BJ Austin