The presentation is a continuation of the Urban & Water Group’s “Talk Shop” series.
Speaker: Dr. Natwar Gandhi
Natwar Gandhi will start his presentation with a focus on his book “Still the Promised Land”. Natwar began life in a dusty Indian village that had no paved streets, no electricity, no telephone, and no running water. Through countless long days of work, relentless determination, and good luck he was able to take a plane to New York at the age of 25, where he landed with seven dollars in his pocket. “Still the Promised Land” is the fascinating and deeply personal story of how an impoverished immigrant made his way to the new world and ultimately became the chief financial officer of Washington, DC, playing a key role in transforming the nation’s capital from a near-bankrupt municipality into a financially healthy major American city.
His presentation will provide an update on the financial situation of the District of Columbia and assess to what extent Covid 19 has impacted the city’s finances both in terms of revenues (land and real estate) and in terms of expenditures (public health, social protection). And it will provide the Key structural changes are that have been triggered by Covid. He will also address another item for discussion which has been in the media during the past election: what is the future of the District: can it ever become the 51st state? (especially after losing its financial autonomy during its recent history).
Host: Alex Bakalian
Facilitator: Catherine Farvacque-Vitkovic
Speaker’s bio:
Dr. Natwar Gandhi retired in January 2014 from a long tenure as the District of Columbia’s independent chief financial officer. As CFO, Gandhi was responsible for Washington, D.C.’s finances, including approximately $13 billion in annual operating and capital funds, and more than 1,200 staff members.
Gandhi’s tenure as CFO transformed the District from a jurisdiction with a $550 million negative fund balance into a financially healthy municipality with a fund balance of $1.5 billion upon his retirement. Prior to his career with the District Government, Dr. Gandhi served as Associate Director of Tax Policy and Administration for the US General Accounting Office (GAO), where he managed major research projects involving financial and tax policy analysis and testified on tax issues before congressional and state legislative committees. In 1990, Gandhi served as a special assistant to New Jersey Gov. Jim Florio, where he studied the state pension system and advised on changes in its funding. Prior to this, Gandhi was a professor of accounting and then coordinator of the Department of Accounting in the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Business. This was followed by being an adjunct professor for the MBA programs of American University, Georgetown University, and The University of Maryland.
Dr. Gandhi is the recipient of numerous awards and currently serves on the Honorary Boards of Trustees of Shakespeare Theater Company and Arena Stage. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Gallaudet University and previously sat on the board of the Washington Convention and Sports Authority and Destination DC.
Dr. Gandhi holds a doctorate in accounting from Louisiana State University, a master’s degree in business administration from what is now Clark Atlanta University, and an L.L.B. and B.Com. in accounting from the University of Bombay. Gandhi was previously a distinguished policy fellow at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. He presently consults with the World Bank in its efforts to create financially sustainable cities around the world.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 869 2532 9347
Passcode: 617884
Note: The host will open the meeting at 10:30 AM for a half-hour of socializing.
Join by phone:
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
Meeting ID: 869 2532 9347
Passcode: 617884
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kn34YRFxm
