I have been talking about this for months with folks I come in contact with everyday, business owners, police officers, just plain folks and the response has been great, albeit skeptical that any true change will ever occur.
I am basing this idea on other metropolitan cities like Miami/Dade, Los Angeles, Chicago Tri-County and even Houston. In the past, these cities had their problems too and when they came together as a larger municipality they were better able to address whatever their problems were. In addition, there were federal grant monies available to aid in the transition.
In order for this region to move forward, our local governments have to stop digging their heels in the dirt and step forward. I am not talking about ending the parish governments or taking away their autonomy (Look at Gretna, Westwego, Harahan and Kenner within Jefferson Parish). What I am talking about is starting a new municipal entity that will better represent all of the people of this region that are affected by living and working in and around "Greater New Orleans". Giving everybody an opportunity to "voice" what goes on in our Metropolitan area. Utilizing the tax-base, voter-base and resources of the 1.5 million people of Greater New Orleans as a whole.
What we need is a referendum put on the ballot for the people to decide if this is good for our region, for a new and improved "Greater New Orleans". Let us know your thoughts.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Recover • Rebuild • Renew
We’ve all seen the slogan, but what has really been done about it?
Hurricane Katrina has given Southeast Louisiana an opportunity to rewrite the way we do government here. Katrina, if you look it up in a baby name book, means pure, purification or cleansing. It’s time to clean up the international image of New Orleans as a whole. Yes we like to enjoy life, but that doesn’t mean that we are lazy and corrupt. Katrina has opened up New Orleans to the world and they are watching us.
What I am proposing is for a new charter to be written for a new municipality for all of “Greater New Orleans”. Instead of 150,000 to 200,000 citizens of Orleans Parish, we need a municipal government that represents all of the 1.5 million people that encompass the surrounding parishes of Greater New Orleans. Whether you like it or not, from LaPlace to Slidell, from the Northshore to Belle Chase, we are all affected by what goes on in “Greater New Orleans”. Just look at what happened to the oil industry in the 80’s, or what happened to the port business in the 90’s. Houston and Mobile has taken away a lot of our major industry and that is a direct result of politics as usual in New Orleans. This has affected all of the 1.5 million people of the surrounding areas. It is time for us all to come together for a new “Greater New Orleans”. It is time for us all to come together to use the tax-base, voter-base and resources of all of the surrounding parishes to help rebuild a “Greater New Orleans”. We all need to have a voice in rebuilding a new “Greater New Orleans”.
Jefferson Parish and Orleans Parish are having a joint city council meeting Wednesday, November 8th at 10:30 AM at the Alario Center on Hwy 90 in Westwego. While my idea of a new municipality is not on the agenda, this would be a great opportunity to bring this idea to life.
I invite representatives from all of the surrounding parishes to come and participate in this grass roots movement.
Hurricane Katrina has given Southeast Louisiana an opportunity to rewrite the way we do government here. Katrina, if you look it up in a baby name book, means pure, purification or cleansing. It’s time to clean up the international image of New Orleans as a whole. Yes we like to enjoy life, but that doesn’t mean that we are lazy and corrupt. Katrina has opened up New Orleans to the world and they are watching us.
What I am proposing is for a new charter to be written for a new municipality for all of “Greater New Orleans”. Instead of 150,000 to 200,000 citizens of Orleans Parish, we need a municipal government that represents all of the 1.5 million people that encompass the surrounding parishes of Greater New Orleans. Whether you like it or not, from LaPlace to Slidell, from the Northshore to Belle Chase, we are all affected by what goes on in “Greater New Orleans”. Just look at what happened to the oil industry in the 80’s, or what happened to the port business in the 90’s. Houston and Mobile has taken away a lot of our major industry and that is a direct result of politics as usual in New Orleans. This has affected all of the 1.5 million people of the surrounding areas. It is time for us all to come together for a new “Greater New Orleans”. It is time for us all to come together to use the tax-base, voter-base and resources of all of the surrounding parishes to help rebuild a “Greater New Orleans”. We all need to have a voice in rebuilding a new “Greater New Orleans”.
Jefferson Parish and Orleans Parish are having a joint city council meeting Wednesday, November 8th at 10:30 AM at the Alario Center on Hwy 90 in Westwego. While my idea of a new municipality is not on the agenda, this would be a great opportunity to bring this idea to life.
I invite representatives from all of the surrounding parishes to come and participate in this grass roots movement.
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