The continuing health problems of people involved in cleanup of the Exxon Valdez spill present urgent lessons for the Gulf cleanup crews.

My name is Merle Savage, a female general foreman during the Exxon Valdez oil spill (EVOS) beach cleanup in 1989. I am one of the 11,000+ cleanup workers from the Exxon Valdez oil spill (EVOS), who is suffering from health issues from that toxic cleanup, without compensation from Exxon.

Dr. Riki Ott visited me in 2007 to explain about the toxic spraying on the beaches. She also informed me that Exxon’s medical records and the reports that surfaced in litigation by sick workers in 1994, had been sealed from the public, making it impossible to hold Exxon responsible for their actions.

Exxon developed the toxic spraying; OSHA, the Coast Guard, and the state of Alaska authorized the procedure. Beach crews breathed in crude oil that splashed off the rocks and into the air — the toxic exposure turned into chronic breathing conditions and central nervous system problems, neurological impairment, chronic respiratory disease, leukemia, lymphoma, brain tumors, liver damage, and blood disease. See this video to learn more.

My web site is devoted to searching for EVOS cleanup workers who were exposed to the toxic spraying, and are suffering from the same illnesses that I have. There is an on going Longshoreman’s claim for workers with medical problems from the oil cleanup. Our summer employment turned into a death sentence for many — and a life of unending medical conditions for the rest of Exxon’s Collateral Damaged.

Sincerely,

Merle Savage

For information related the proposed LSU-VA Hospital complex, visit: www.savecharityhospital.org and www.DoctorsforCharity.com, and www.fhl.org

April 08, 2010
Re: A significant victory, Our Opinions, April 4.

The Time-Picayune editorial praises Judge Eldon Fallon’s ruling that the federal government obeyed environmental law in planning two new hospitals.

But what kind of victory is it to abandon a weakened Central Business District and destroy lower Mid-City’s chance to be a viable neighborhood?

How will New Orleans win by bulldozing 150 historic buildings and violating our street grid, creating superblocks for suburban-sprawl hospitals?

Do we win by abandoning the principle of “citizen involvement in the planning process”? We invited citizens to get involved in the “Master Plan,” but then told them they couldn’t decide where to build the hospitals. We’re back to the same old top-down, autocratic planning.

While they endorse “sustainability,” why can’t our politicians see a victory in reusing the landmark Charity Hospital for the state-of the-art teaching hospital? Why aren’t they outraged by the defeat of putting historic buildings in the landfill — cypress frames, pine floors, slate roofs and all?

Why can’t both hospitals enjoy the win-win of sharing the spacious LSU site, since more than half of its land is to be used for parking lots?

It’s not too late for a real hospital victory.

Last-minute wisdom saved New Orleans four decades ago from a plan promoted by political and business leaders as “the answer” to our economic future.

The Riverfront Expressway would have separated the French Quarter from the river. But this “done deal” died suddenly when an enlightened Washington review found more harm than good. Even its supporters admit today that this was a genuine victory.

We don’t want people in 20 years to ask, “Why didn’t they put the hospitals in the right places? Why did they give up on the CBD and leave it a wasteland? What were they thinking when they tore down that neighborhood?”

We want them to say, “I’m glad Mayor Landrieu and Gov. Jindal got together with the senators back then and talked sense to LSU and VA and built our hospitals the smart way.”

Bill Borah
Jack Davis
Smart Growth for Louisiana

According to the minutes, 7 people spoke in support of the Mayor’s plan, 3 persons for ‘information only’, and 20 people spoke in opposition to the plan. But, 15 people who signed up to speak were denied the right to be heard. 15 people were denied the right to speak at a public hearing to a body of public officials. At a 2 minute time limit, this would have only added 1/2 hour to the meeting. Did the Commissioners have some place to go?

At an organized public hearing, the job of public officials is to listen to the people. These are citizens of the metro area who have taken precious time out of their busy schedules to attend a government hearing. The citizens are making sacrifices.

The public hearing becomes a mockery, a sham, when citizens are denied their right to speak their mind to a body of public officials.

The people were denied a fair and democratic hearing before the City Planning Commission.

We want a fair and democratic hearing before the New Orleans City Council. We want a public hearing before the City Council that allows the maximum participation of the citizens. People’s homes and properties are at stake here. The Mayor wants to begin the process of demolishing close to 200 homes and businesses. We think any public hearing on this plan should deny no one the right to speak.

We think the City Council should strongly consider holding its hearing on the Mayor’s plan in the evening. Many people who wanted to participate in the 1:30p CPC hearing couldn’t because they work during the day. The City Council should take this fact into account. FOR A FAIR AND DEMOCRATIC CITY COUNCIL HEARING.

Dear Neil:

As an independent bookseller based in New Orleans, I am writing to urge you in the strongest terms to address a serious issue of business equity and fiscal prudence as it relates to the collection of state sales tax for online sales.

As I’m sure you know, currently, some out-of-state retailers with nexus in Louisiana are refusing to comply with our state’s sales tax law and are not collecting and remitting state sales tax for sales to residents of Louisiana. I hope you will take immediate steps to close this tax loophole by directing the state taxing authorities to enforce existing state law and to require out-of-state online retailers with nexus in Louisiana to collect and remit sales tax.

Federal law clearly defines nexus as a retail store, warehouse, office, or sales agent. I believe it is indisputable that any out-of-state online retailer that has one or more affiliates based in Louisiana — affiliates that clearly act as solicitors on the online retailer’s behalf and earn commissions based on sales — has nexus in our state. These out-of-state online retailers should therefore be charging sales tax. Louisiana booksellers and other in-state businesses that have e-commerce operations collect and remit sales tax, and so should merchants outside our state that have nexus in the state.

It is very important that you act now. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the worst recession since the 1930s has caused the steepest decline in state tax receipts on record. Even in the wake of drastic budget cuts, states are facing enormous deficits, shortfalls that are project to continue into 2011. In Louisiana, we have a projected budget gap of approximately $248 million, according to ABC News. It’s estimated that the total state and local sales and use tax revenue losses from e-commerce sales in Louisiana will total $344.7 million for 2010, and they are projected to reach $439.6 million in 2012. By refusing to obey the law, companies like Amazon.com are siphoning away critical revenue that should be going to essential local services such as policing and fire fighting.

The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government’s October 2009 edition of the State Revenue Report noted that, for the second quarter of 2009, sales tax revenue in all states declined by 9.5 percent. Meanwhile, as traditional retail sales remained flat or declined this past holiday, online sales appeared immune to the recession. According to the National Retail Federation, Internet sales increased by about 14 percent on the Monday after Thanksgiving and, according to ComScore, 5 percent overall, and show exponential growth each year.

The failure to equitably enforce existing state tax law has put Louisiana retailers at a significant competitive disadvantage to e-commerce competitors. With a “discount” of about 4 percent, out-of-state online giants have an enormous competitive advantage over in-state retailers selling the same merchandise. These in-state businesses employ thousands of residents and collect millions of dollars in sales tax, and inequitable enforcement of state sales tax law puts these core engines of our state economy in jeopardy.

In 2008, New York State signed into law a provision that required out-of-state merchants that have clear nexus in the state to collect and remit sales tax. Though the provision was initially challenged by Amazon.com, a New York State Supreme Court judge dismissed the online retailer’s lawsuit. Amazon.com is currently collecting New York sales tax and has maintained its affiliate network in the state. In 2009, North Carolina and Rhode Island passed e-fairness laws modeled after New York’s.

It is not the business of state government to play favorites when it comes to enforcing tax law. The results of sales tax inequity can be seen in the many empty storefronts on Main Streets (or Canal Streets) throughout Louisiana. Sometimes, however, it doesn’t result in a store closure, but in lost sales tax through decreased sales and lost income tax through job cuts. A downturn on Main Street creates a ripple effect seen throughout our state’s economy, resulting in higher property taxes and budget cuts for police and fire departments. It’s important to understand that when out-of-state retailers with affiliates in our state shirk their responsibility to collect and remit sales tax, it doesn’t just affect a few small businesses here or there, it hurts the state’s entire economy.

For the good of in-state businesses — and all of the residents of Louisiana — I sincerely hope that you will take a stand for equity and will direct our state taxing authorities to enforce existing state law and require out-of-state online retailers with nexus in Louisiana to collect and remit sales tax.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Tom

Thomas P. Lowenburg, Owner
Octavia Books
New Orleans

Mr. Pres Kabacoff
CEO, Historic Restoration, Inc.
909 Poydras Street, Suite 3100
New Orleans, LA 70112

Dear Mr. Kabacoff,

Thank you for the time and energy you are putting into the Eleven37 Esplanade project, and for your open interaction with the community. The meeting with the community on February 25 helped over 200 of our members understand your progress. Unfortunately, we cannot support the project as presented. There are three fundamental issues.

The first issue is density. We all agree that density is good within limits. The most dense zoning considered by the City Planning Commission staff in their review of this project is HMC-2. This allows 600 square feet of land per unit, which translates to 49 units for the site. Any density greater than this violates the intent expressed by the citizens of New Orleans who amended the charter to give planning and zoning the force of law.

We could support a zoning change to HMC-2 as long as there was an agreement to abide by that zoning as well as the height (45’) and floor-area ratio (2.0) cited by the City Planning Commission staff from Article 5, Section 5.57, Height, Area, and Bulk Requirements of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance. During the February 25 meeting, you advocated that the community support a project that satisfies the needs of the city, developer, and neighborhood. Increasing the mass and density beyond the most dense zoning considered by CPC staff does not satisfy the needs of the city or the neighborhood.

Although we are in full support of affordable housing, our second concern is that your model will result in isolating low-income residents in an environment where they would not receive the benefits of living in a mixed-income community. This would not be fair to our constituency when many struggle to be a part of a diverse environment. The model of 70% of units dedicated to subsidized, affordable units with only 30% for market rate tenants is not consistent with a sustainable model that will attract a diverse population. Rather, this model will likely result in all low-income residents. You offered no experience, precedent, or logic to support sustainable success with more than 40% affordable units. The 70% affordable/30% market mix you propose turns the basis of HOPE VI directives on its head. Increasing the mix to beyond 40% affordable is unacceptable.

Third, the facades of the building facing St. Claude and Kerlerec are in prominent view of the historic neighborhood and travelers on Esplanade Avenue and Rampart Street. These elevations need to be consistent with those facing the Esplanade and Rampart sides. The three affected neighborhoods are locally protected and nationally recognized historic districts because of the large quantity of intact, preserved architecture, and their character must be respected.

Mr. Kabacoff, we appreciate the investments you have made in New Orleans, and in this project. We would like to be able to support the project. To earn that support, we ask you that you hold to your principle of accountability to the needs of the city and the neighborhood. We ask you to adapt the design to within existing zoning limits, to use a proven operating model, and to complete appropriate facade changes as described above.

Respectfully,

Michael D. Moffitt
President, Vieux Carre Property Owners, Residents, and Associates

CoCo Paddison
President, French Quarter Citizens

Naydja Bynum
President, Historic Faubourg Treme Association

Matt Norton

President, Esplanade Ridge/Treme Civic Association

Cc
James Carter, Councilperson, District C
Jackie Clarkson, City Council President
Arnie Fielkow, Councilperson-at-large
Shelley Midura, Councilperson, District A

Stacy Head, Councilperson, District B
Cynthia Hedge-Morrell, Councilperson, District D
Cynthia Willard-Lewis, Councilperson, District E
Yolanda Rodriguez, Executive Director, City Planning Commission
Elliot Perkins, Executive Director, Historic District Landmarks Commission

Chris Costello, President, Faubourg Marigny Improvement Association

March 10, 2009

Thanks for the heads up about the new City Park golf proposal. I went online to read it, and compare it to the 2005 Master Plan it will supersede.

One of the joys of City Park post-Katrina has been that the vast 400+ acre golf complex between I-610 and Robert E. Lee has been available as a public greenspace. For the first time since the former swamp was drained and cleared, people have been out walking, jogging, bike-riding, flying kites, birding, and picnicking as well as fishing in the formerly inaccessible lagoons. Public land used for a public purpose, instead of for the exclusive use of the tiny minority who play golf. Last year City Park re-opened the north course, closing everything between Filmore and Robert E. Lee once again to public use. But the golf area between 1-610 and Filmore has remained open. If you haven’t been out there, give it a visit. The paved golf cart trails are perfect for strolling or bike riding. Wildlife, especially birds, are everywhere.

The issue to be addressed at the public meeting Tuesday night is whether or not the City Park Improvement Association (CPIA), the largely self-perpetuating board that controls the park, should amend the pre-Katrina publicly-vetted March 2005 City Park Master Plan to allow a bigger and much more expensive golf complex to be constructed. Changes from the City Park Master Plan proposed by this new Golf Master Plan include getting rid of the baseball complex on Diagonal Drive; building a new road into the park from the end of Mirabeau at Wisner; moving and building a new Club House and new driving range on that road; shaving off Couturie Forest east of the shell road (that now services the model airplane field); and converting the island next to the police stables, designated a natural area in the 2005 plan, into golf fairway.

In essence, the new plan would make everything north of I-610 and Harrison east of Diagonal into golf courses, except what is left of Couturie, Pan Am Stadium, and the equestrian enclave on Filmore. (Though the new plan doesn’t say so, City Park staff tell me there is no plan to re-open the obliterated baseball field anywhere else. The former driving range area is left blank—it is unclear what would go there.) There would be a lot of re-arranging of the existing lagoon system, and a lot of new lagoons and ponds excavated to get the fill for the new courses. It does not appear from the plan that any attempt will be made to hydrologically link these new lagoons and ponds either to each other or to the existing system, except that some would be linked by underground culverts. Indeed, the existing ring lagoon system will be cut up and made discontinuous. Ironic, ain’t it, that while we struggle to restore the hydrology of Bayou St. John, City Park proposes to dig new stagnant water holes.

The cost of this plan is projected to be about 46 million dollars. City Park has about $6 million coming from FEMA in repair money. The state has authorized (but had not yet appropriated last time I checked) about $10 million. That leaves $30 million. This will supposedly be a public/private partnership, and a group called the Bayou District Foundation (who are redeveloping the St. Bernard Housing Project) has been intimately involved in the development of this golfing master plan. It would be illegal to pre-select the private partner in this venture, so the plan is careful to say that the Bayou District Foundation will not necessarily be the private partner. Right.

The potential sources of the missing $30 million dollars are not addressed in the plan. Surprise.

City Park depends on golf for cash flow. Because CP is the bastard child of an unhappy marriage between the city and the state (New Orleanians bought the land, but the state took away control a century ago in order to placate reformers who felt that it was too important to be left in the hands of politicians beholden to the rabble), it is claimed and supported by neither.

The CPIA, beholden to no one, is the foster parent. It gets little taxpayer support as a result. The golf fees have been important, since the park gets so little tax revenue. The re-opened north course may eventually give them some much needed cash flow. But one of the great lies you’ll hear bandied about is that golf in City Park pays for itself. That is nonsense: the taxpayers pay for millions in capital outlays to build the golf courses, and rest assured golf fees are never collected to pay this back. We pay to finance those bonds with our tax dollars. When everything is going swimmingly, golf fees offset the daily operational costs of the courses, and there is a profit that goes back into daily City Park operations. But, of course, no money is used for real upkeep—just let golf facilities decay, and eventually the taxpayers step in with a new capital outlay.

Whether or not City Park should embark on a $46 million golf dream is one question (remember Hemeter and the single Monte Carlo style casino that was going to rake in tax dollars?), but don’t let anyone tell you that it will make a profit. Our fair state is studded with bankrupt and shut-down golf courses. If golf was profitable then membership in Country Clubs and homes in golf subdivisions would be cheap. But in fact, golf is the loss leader for these institutions. It appeals to a certain affluent (or wants to be affluent) demographic.

Making golf accessible for those of us who aren’t affluent is a good thing, and City Park did that, and is doing that with the north course.

Unfortunately, though, it got addicted to the cash, and turned nearly half the park into a low rent country club. (And much of the rest of the park is accessible only by paying a fee.) You might notice that most great city parks have no golf (Central Park in New York City), or very little (Golden Gate in San Francisco). New Orleans is unique in that its four large parks—City, Audubon, Pontchartrain, and Brechtel, all have significant acreages devoted to golf.

The problem, of course, is that golf requires a lot of space (about 200 acres per 18 hole course), and that acreage can’t be used for anything else. (Notice that our suburban neighbors don’t subsidize golf—why should they? We do it for them.) These new courses will require higher fees, meaning that the only justification for using public space for a golf course, to make it accessible to the less affluent, will be diminished. I can look at birds while you jog. You can fly a kite while I fish. But golfers need acres of expensively and unnaturally maintained lawns, and they fire lethal projectiles around their lawns. The public is unwelcome on that “public” land.

Despite the excitement generated by Tiger Woods, golf is a diminishing American pastime. On the other hand, forms of recreation like jogging, biking, fishing, birding, and photographing nature, continue to grow.

I personally think there is room in City Park for an inexpensive and accessible golf course. Perhaps even two, if our city’s recovery continues. But that is no excuse for closing off the park to the public. The new paved paths along Robert E. Lee and the bayou are good and long overdue, but, let’s face it, they are just landscaped sidewalks. They don’t provide access to the heart of the park, away from traffic and noise. A smaller golf footprint could give us that which we now enjoy on the ruin of the pre-Katrina courses.

If you think that devoting more of the north-of-I-610 park to golf, in a post-Katrina shrunken city, during the worst recession in 80 years is a good idea, then you need do nothing, because I suspect the fix, as they say, is already in. But if you doubt the wisdom of this course of action, you might want to go on record Tuesday night, on the off chance somebody is listening. I asked if there was an open public comment period, and was advised that no dates had been set, so it might be good idea to get written comments in by Tuesday night. Apparently the CPIA is voting on the Golf Master Plan later in the month.

David Muth
Orchid Street

by Karley Frankic

February 13th, 2009

When it comes to development in New Orleans there seems to be a repeated offense of pushing the “Hail Mary” project. Much like that desperate pass in the last seconds of a football game, zoning and permitting, preservation of neighborhoods and just plain logic are compromised by claims of huge financial returns.

A good example of a “Hail Mary” project: the New Orleans World Trade Center. Last month the Bureau for Government Research released a thorough report that took a hard look at what it is costing taxpayers to hold onto a building that the City has been unable to find tenants for. The recommendation: sell it.

Now we have the City’s latest “Hail Mary” Project: LSU/Charity plan. The time has come to admit that the numbers are bad.

The Foundation for Historical Louisiana released a study conducted by the architecture firm RMJM Hillier, that LSU has hired to design the $98 million Louisiana Cancer Research Center in at Claiborne and Tulane Avenues. There is no disputing the experience and reputation of this international architecture and engineering firm. Their report clearly shows that renovating Old Charity Hospital into a state of the art medical facility as opposed to acquiring hundreds of individual lots and building a suburban style center would save both time and money.

The State’s Legislative Budget Advisory Committee heard testimony from both sides. Despite not providing any cost analysis to back up his claims Jerry Jones, State Facilities Manager, objected to the well researched numbers from RMJM Hillier presented. Mr. Jones said that the State estimates they will have to spend $54 million just to acquire the land.

Memories are short around here. Any recollection of St. Charles Ventures, the Albertson’s Developers, that got edged out by A & P on a strategic lot and had to buy the Dr. Tichenor’s plant adding close to a million dollars in expense? What about the lengthy legal battles and eventual multi-million dollar payout for the Convention Center Phase IV to purchase TWIROPA on Tchoupitoulas Street?

In both cases the City supported the projects - giving subsidies and claiming huge returns - but neither project was ever built and returns on taxpayer investment was never realized. The site of the Convention Center Phase IV has since been wrapped in with land from failed River City Casino by the developer, MidTown Group of Miami, who demolished the 100-year-old building last year. And now Blaine Kern is planning on building a Mardi Gras World Facility on the casino site.

Why would a medical complex succeed when groceries, hotels and convention centers couldn’t overcome delays and extra expenditures from eminent domain, which the state legislature drastically restricted in 2006?

The proposed LSU site is composed of 70 acres of private property owners. There will almost certainly be legal fights that will increase expense much more than estimated.

And then there is the notion that an urban hospital is not as good as a suburban medical center. That notion is unfounded. There are numerous examples of internationally renowned urban hospitals in America including John Hopkins in Baltimore and Mt. Sinai in New York.

Inserting suburban models in a city is just bad planning. The residential development River Garden (locally referred to as Faubourg Wal-Mart), sucked up every possible public subsidy to tear down structurally sound housing in the St. Thomas project in order to build singles, doubles and apartments that are already falling apart. One homeowner who purchased his home just a year ago is calling in the warranty a second time for shoddy workmanship. And the development did not get rid of the crime as promised.

Then there is the idea that a big project is going to save downtown. Both Armstrong Park and construction of the elevated Interstate 10 on Claiborne Avenue were touted as expensive modern projects that would save downtown. All they have managed to do is to cut into pieces the historic Treme neighborhood and reduce the property values adjacent to the park and expressway. In fact, the first draft of the City’s Master Plan has recommended removing the elevated expressway as they are already doing in San Francisco, New York, Portland and Milwaukee.

Finally there is Jazzland/Six Flags. That project received a huge HUD loan and taxpayer subsidies. Now the park is a blight in the swamp that continues to waste money.

The track record of the City’s “Hail Mary” projects is dismal. They do not produce the promised return on investment and in some cases caused a terrible impact on the city. Perhaps logic will reign this time around.

Background: 165 historic homes are slated to be demolished for the new VA / LSU
hospital complex, even though other suitable property is available.
If you go to this website you can edit the letter and send to Gov. Jindal and other involved parties.

More information available here.

Here is my sample letter:

Nov 26, 2008

Governor Bobby Jindal

Dear Governor Jindal,

I am writing to comment on your recent decision to bulldoze a historic
neighborhood in order to build new LSU and VA hospitals in New Orleans,
instead of choosing one of the three other options that would provide
equivalent space without destruction of homes. We should not have to
choose between timely, quality health care for residents and veterans
and neighborhood destruction - it is a big mistake and a backwards
step.

The three alternatives suggested by neighborhood residents and
preservationists would provide for a quicker return of health care to
New Orleans veterans and residents at less cost to the VA, the city,
and the state and would avoid the destructive “lose-lose”
situation that is currently presented.

As it stands, to get permission to demolish 165 historic homes may take
years and cause needless heartbreak and bad feelings. While I
understand the desire to have a large hospital complex close to
downtown, it really isn’t necessary, because wherever it is located, it
will be utilized.

A solution that puts health care first, without needlessly destroying a
historic neighborhood, is the winning alternative. Please take steps
to revisit this issue immediately.

Sincerely,

Ms. Ze daLuz

Progressive Medical Care, or PMC, has just opened in the Marigny. As one of those who helped build it, I must say it’s rather nice.

PMC was concieved and opened by Dr. Frederick Floyd, Bywater resident, and owner of the Rookery Recording Studio, also in the Bywater.

Like myself, many residents in the Art-Rich neighborhoods of the Marigny/Bywater/Lower Nine have little or no access to medical care without a trip to a hospital waiting room in the CBD or Metairie. Many certainly operate with limited or no health insurance.

The PMC works with Medicaid, Medicare, most forms of independent health care, and has a pay-as-you-go system for those without any form of insurance.

A fully equiped clinic, they perform echo-cardigrams and sonograms in house, have handicapped access, and take walk-ins as well as appointments. They’re also equipped to deal with many immune deficiency health issues that other clinics do not address.

Progressive Medical Care is located at 2909 St. Claude Ave, at Press Street.

Hours of operation are 8:30am until about 4pm, Monday through Friday For appointments call: 504 942-1167

Tell ‘em HumidCity sent ya

And thanks, Dr. Fred Thanks very much.

P.S. I also highly recommend the St. Claude Pharmacy at 3916 Saint Claude Ave / Phone: (504) 942-5792. They are very friendly, give excellent service, and their prices and (lack of) wait time put Walgreen’s to shame… support our local businesses! - Andrea

——————-
Andrea Garland
l’art Noir New Orleans Gallery — www.lartnoir.com
St. Claude Arts District — www.SCADNOLA.com
“It’s that bracing spirit of art anarchy that makes the on-and-near St. Claude Avenue art scene the spot to watch in 2008.” - Doug MacCash, Times-Picayune, Dec. 28, 2007

It will start at 11am and finish around 2pm at Washington SQ Park where the Faubourg Marigny Improvement Association will have live music. So pull out your Sunday ride and join us in helping to reduce energy usage and carbon emissions in New Orleans.

To get event starting location register by Friday morning by calling 504.324.2429 or green@greenlightneworleans.org.

Mark Tobler
Green Light New Orleans
P.O Box 13564
New Orleans, LA 70185

504.324.2429
mark.tobler@greenlightneworleans.org
www.greenlightneworleans.org

Please review the mini-grant guidelines and application for eligibility requirements and further information. The files are attached within the email and available for download at www.transformaprojects.org. In addition paper copies will be available. If you have any further questions, please contact Jess Garz, Transforma Project Manager at jess@transformaprojects.org

Round 1 Application due: June 2, 2008

If you are unable to apply at this time, there will be additional rounds in coming months.

About Transforma Projects:

Transforma Projects is a collective of artists and creative professionals formed after Hurricane Katrina as a means of supporting, nurturing and celebrating creative practices that impact the social and physical environment. The initiative explores how art-making can intersect with other sectors such as education, health, environment and community development. Transforma Projects works in partnership with the National Performance Network, an organization based in New Orleans.

Jess Garz
Transforma Projects
www.transformaprojects.org
(215) 350 2700

The Neighborhood Guide to Winning at City Hall: Language, Tactics and Strategies to Motivate the Public and Persuade Politicians!

Guest Speaker: Nathan Chapman

Monday, May 12, 2008 6:30 p.m.
The Historic New Orleans Collection
533 Royal Street

Reception to follow

Now president of The Marketing Center in New Orleans, Nathan Chapman began volunteering for historic preservation as a young advertising copywriter, helping successfully lead citizens opposed to the Audubon Institute’s plans to locate the Insectarium on Esplanade Avenue at the river. He recently concluded five years as president of the Vieux Carré Property Owners, Residents and Associates, Inc. (VCPORA). His marketing skills and experience in community organizing have made him one of the most successful preservationists of his generation. When the French Quarter’s “hotel moratorium” was threatened, Nathan mobilized the public to convince the Mayor to sign the only zoning veto in the city’s history.

Come learn how to become more persuasive in your volunteer work!

The 2008 Martha Robinson Lecture is sponsored by Mercedes Whitecloud.

Louisiana Landmarks Society
1440 Moss Street
New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 482-0312

Anne Morse, President
J. Keith Hardie, Advocacy Committee Chairperson

www.louisianalandmarks.org

Susan Lloyd McClamroch, Pitot House Director
1440 Moss Street
New Orleans, LA 70119
504-482-0312
smcclamroch@louisianalandmarks.org

Download a copy of the proposed amendments [PDF]

THE STATE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN NEW ORLEANS

Monday, April 28, 2008 at 5:30pm
Tulane University | Dixon Hall

• Scott Cowen, President, Tulane University | Opening Remarks
• Paul Pastorek, Superintendent of Education, State of Louisiana | Keynote Speaker
• Panel Discussion/ Q & A
  • Matt Candler, CEO, New Schools for New Orleans
  • Flozell Daniels, Chair, Urban League of New Orleans
  • Barbara MacPhee, Past Principal, New Orleans Science and Math High School
  • Tony Recasner, Principal, Green Charter School
  • Ruthie Frierson, Chair, Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans
• Closing Remarks

Sponsored by:
* Tulane University’s Scott S. Cowen Institute for Public Education Initiatives
* Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans
* Urban League of New Orleans
* Business Council of Greater New Orleans and the River Region

Ensuring that every child has access to a world-class education is the greatest challenge facing today’s generation of leaders…and the silver lining of Hurricane Katrina is that New Orleans has responded. Please join us for a community-wide, open forum to hear the story of how we got here, how we are breaking new ground, and how the community can serve as advocates for the children - the future - of our great city.

This event is free and open to the public.

Ruthie Frierson, Chairman
Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans
Home/Office: 504-866-8891
Fax: 504-861-3820
ruthiefrierson@yahoo.com
www.citizensfor1greaterneworleans.com

While street spam is obviously not one of the city’s biggest problems, it is one that’s easily solvable if enough people get involved. I’m trying to raise awareness of this issue and encourage residents to remove the signs in their neighborhoods. (Part of the problem is that people may not be aware that under the law, street spam is no different than any other form of litter and anyone can dispose of it.)

I’ve put together an overview of the legal issues and some ways to get to hard-to-reach signs here: http://twangster.livejournal.com/910.html. Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested. Readers may also wish to check out the website of CAUSS (www.causs.org), a coalition of people across the U.S. working on this issue.

Steve

noblightinnola@gmail.com