French Quarter Town Hall

From Sid

2005-12-12T16:00:00.000-08:00

THE LAST STRAW.
FEBRUARY ELECTIONS DELAYED TO... SEPTEMBER ???!!!!

We can't afford to be in limbo for that long. Thousands of citizens, their businesses, their hopes will be dead and buried by then. AND NOW, secretary of state AL ATER THINKS THAT THE BEST TIME TO HOLD ELECTIONS IN NEW ORLEANS MIGHT BE....DURING THE NEXT HURRICANE SEASON IN SEPTEMBER?!??!!???
Brilliant, Al.
To save our city, we NEED elections to happen on schedule, or at least no later than April 29th.

Anyone who lives in New Orleans knows the truth, that this city is still a disaster area. Drive beyond those few lucky neighborhoods that hug the riverfront, and it STILL looks like Katrina hit just last week.
Some neighborhoods are still debatably toxic and without power or water or phones or stores with basic services like pharmacies, gas, food, replacement appliances....you gotta run to the jammed up suburbs for virtually anything of substance. You can't even pay your electric bill in New Orleans. You can't trust the spotty (at best) mail service. I live in the Quarter, and I do get some mail, sometime...but I can say that I haven't gotten any in the past four of the last six working days...and some of what I do get is still dated September...

I was at the Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Canal Street a few days ago. The Mayor stood on a balcony, flipped a switch on a lighting of Canal Street that was limited to...A TREE AND ONE BALCONY.
BENEATH HIM, ON THE VERY SAME BLOCK OF CANAL STREET, BETWEEN ROYAL AND BOURBON, A MOUNTAIN OF DEBRIS SAT UNCOLLECTED AND ROTTING. I thought to myself, well doesn't this image just about sum up everything perfectly.
I walked there again today. The garbage was still there, in the heart of what's left of Canal Street.

We DO NOT have enough police, and everyone knows it. If we did, we wouldn't have an economically crippling curfew still bearing down on us....a Major American City with a curfew, over 3 months after Katrina??? The curfew also kills neighborhoods that could be liveable, but people/workers are forced off the streets due to 'safety concerns'. If there were enough police, we wouldn't still have state troopers from New York walking our streets with state police from north Louisiana, and National Guardsmen acting as gatekeepers for our neighborhoods. Looters victimize us in our most desperate neighborhoods with regularity.

Shops are opening in the French Quarter and other neighborhoods only to close for lack of business. I know. I've spoken to too many of the merchants myself. They're trying, but they're abandoning hope. The "for rent/lease" signs are going up every day. And there is no rush to fill the vacancies, because retailers believe that there aren't gonna be customers any time soon. The land/housing crunch is a myth fostered by those who would seek to profit from it. There are vacancies both residential and commercial throughout the inhabitable city. i know, and so does everyone else who's on the ground here. There's just so little to come back to.....still.

I love our city with all my heart. My family's been here since the early 1800's, and now I'm the only one living here. All the rest were driven out by Katrina, lost everything they ever had, and nearly all my memories. And I'm determined to take a stand and make a difference, and so can you. While most/many of you know me from my work in campaigns or my radio shows, this email isn't written to help any campaign or candidacy or politician. This is one guy who loves his city, speaking from his heart, saying what he believes is important, what needs to be said about something that I do know something about.

Governor Blanco, Al Ater, people who read this message...if we wanted to, if the will exists to do it, elections CAN be held in New Orleans, if not by February then at least by April 29. The Times Picayune summed it up nicely. Putting off the elections proves we're not recovering. It shows we're not coming back.

Regardless of how one feels about the Mayor, we still need to vote this administration up or down, and let the rest of America and the world know where we stand, and who we stand with, and what we stand for. Or the rest of the world will continue to be inclined to stand on the sidelines and watch us flounder.

As for the disenfranchisement of displaced voters, the answer does not lie in disenfranchising all voters by not holding elections for 10 months. That's just moronic. No matter when elections are held, there's gonna be a hundred lawsuits questioning the process....so let's hold the damn election and let the lawsuits begin. If we wait until September, we may not have election results cleared by the courts until 2007!!!! We can't afford to be in limbo that long.

I don't believe that we couldn't gather voting machines from other areas, get absentee ballots to the displaced, bring in poll workers from other parishes on a day in February or April when no other elections in the state are scheduled. These resources are available to hold an election. It ain't rocket science, it just takes hard work. OF COURSE IT IS DOABLE.

I call on anyone who cares about the future of New Orleans to flood (no pun intended) the Governor and Secretary of State with emails and phone calls (lord knows, don't rely on the mail!!!) DEMANDING our right to vote. DO IT NOW, BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

Governor Blanco and/or her chief of staff's office:
Phones: 866-366-1121, 225-342-0991 or 225-342-7015
or via the internet, go to the form page and send your comments to Blanco by clicking here:
http://www.managekeelson.com/websites/la.gov/index.cfm?md=form&tmp=home&cfmid=146

Louisiana Secretary of State Al Ater, and the Department's Elections division:
Telephone: 225 - 922-2880, 225- 922-0900, 225-342-1321
Send your emails to both the Secretary's office and the Elections Division offices:
admin@sos.louisiana.gov
Jennifer.Marusak@sos.louisiana.gov
elections@sos.louisiana.gov

This is the New New Orleans, folks. You gotta be tough. Demand better.
Please feel free to forward this email to everyone/anyone you know.
Sidney Arroyo

(And a rant of my own)

2005-12-05T13:14:00.000-08:00

I just want to stress, as many others have, the importance of our city and statewide elections. I have heard that if the elections are postponed, that the next possible slot for them to be held will be September. Please lobby your representatives. Email, write letters, make phone calls. Do not let our government take from us our most basic right, the right to vote. The democratic process must be allowed to move forward and it starts with us. It should be the citizens of New Orleans that decide what kind of city we will have, and we may not be allowed to voice our hopes for our city if we cannot choose the leaders that will define the recovery effort. Please vote, please convince others to vote, please add your voice and tell them that we want our elections held now.

Town Hall Wednesday November 30th

2005-12-05T13:12:00.000-08:00

Moderators: Sidney Arroyo and Jimmy Delery

Guest Speakers: State Representative Arthur Morrell, New Orleans Civil Attorney Edward Pearson

Thanks again to Sid and Jimmy for returning to moderate, and a very large thank you to Rep. Morrell and Mr. Pearson for giving their valuable time. Mr. Pearson spoke at length about the operation of our court systems. He was happy to report that the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals will be returning from Houston on January 6th. He told us that traffic court has resumed, but now occupies various locations. The New Orleans criminal court, regrettably, is currently meeting at central lockup. He reminded us that, as of yet, no decision has been made regarding the new acceptable flood levels for homes with more than 51% damage and that citizens should urge that the timetable move forward. Also, it was decided that mailing juror summons to undamaged, habitable areas alone was discrimination, therefore even displaced citizens may be receiving summons to appear for jury selection. Rep. Morrell gave us a rundown of the special legislative session that came to an end two weeks ago, stating that “nothing good came out of it.” He stressed the importance of voting in the upcoming elections. When asked why the legislature in the special session, then, struck down a bill that was designed to make it easier for displaced citizens to vote absentee, he replied that it was “political.” He also remarked on the difficulty of campaigning because FEMA will not disclose to representatives the whereabouts of their displaced constituents. On the whole I have to congratulate both of our guest speakers; they were articulate and intelligent, and they answered every question with solid information. Also, two of our mayoral candidates introduced themselves, French Quarter resident Leo Watermeier and School Board member for the 3rd District Jimmy Fahrenholtz. Both expressed the need to “cut the waste” and to “vote your heart” come election day, whenever that may be. Which reminds me, Sidney informed us that the state has pushed back the date they will announce whether the elections will be postponed or not.

City Council Race

2005-12-01T14:16:00.000-08:00

A frequent visitor to the town hall, Charles Duffy, has decided to run for city council in the district C seat, now occupied by Jackie Brechtel-Clarkson. Here is a platform that he sent me to post on the blog:

"In the simplest notion of government the people enter
into a social contract inwhich they agree to give up
certain liberties in order that the state might care
for their needs. The litmus test of any society is to
examine how said government cares for it's weakest
members. The City of New Orlenas/District C has
failed beyond miserably in this aspect. Not only by not
caring for/uplifting it's weakest members but by
treating them with open contempt and hostility. But
how can such egregious misteps be remedied? In my
vision for our future I look to a few short range
quick fixes, a few medium range solutions and a few
long term goals/dreams. The organizing theme of my
ideas is ACCESS! We uplift ALL of our people by
giving them four basic points of ACCESS: access to a
clean/safe city, access to educational opportunites,
access to arts and culture, access to their
government.
Principle one- a clean/safe city, this is both short
and long term. In the short term I use the analogy of
a messy house one must clean, the task looks daunting
but if you just start with one simple area and do it
well it gets the ball rolling and makes the task not
seem so unachievable. So I propose one of the very
first things to be done is to fix the gaping holes on
Dauphine and Decatur, fix the broken (and depressing)
fence around the dog park, pick up the trash on the
Esplanade and then fix/replace/clean every broken
lamp, street sign, street tile and garbage can in the
Quarter. This is largely cosmetic yet will do a whole
bunch for morale. Never underestimate the power of a
little spit and polish. And think of how it will look
when our "guests" return to the city.
clean/safe also has a long term plan that I believe I
elucidated at one of the meetings. A higher paid
police staff that had foot patrols in individual
neighborhoods. These foot patrols are supported by
regional mini-bases (outpost trailers)and cruisers.
The point being that if one never knows if an officer
is just around the corner one might be far less likely
to commit crimes. Also if a criminal knows that help
is only MOMENTS away this too will deter crime. It
also gets the cops into the neighborhood with the
people and puts faces to names, just like the old
days. I have an even more detailed plan but that's
the gist. Clean also refers to my far flung future
plan to practically eliminate New Orleans dependency
on polluting inefficient fossil fuels and switch our
economy to the production of clean energy for the gulf
coast region. This would be accomplished by emulating
the Brazil City model and using/supporting our cane
industry and by offering incentives to ANY company who
builds the means to produce "green." As we saw last
year when the movie industry was given huge breaks and
incentives, they flocked here in droves! We do the
same with anyone who wants to manufacture "green,"
such as that Czech company that wants to build
electric busses for US cities, and pOW we have an
energy/industrial revolution on our hands that will
create jobs and stability for or future so that
tourism can just be icing on the cake.
Also put in this category LAMA (Louisiana emergency
Management Association). Which also need not cost
much money beyond general facilities (courthouse) and
operating expenses, as it would be only activated in
times of emergency. We can easily base this off the
model of Los Angeles who has just such a team ready to
handle earthquakes.
EDUCATION- charter schools of course. I would like to
see some definite "green" charters come about. We ARE
heading to an oil crisis within the next ten years and
we need to teach our kids how to think and how to
survive in this atmosphere. My regional WPA idea is
to employ a workforce to rebuild houses that that
workforce will then live in thus giving them an
appreciation of their house/neighborhood and a skill
on top of it all. This will also have the effect of
reducing crime. I propose to start with the Iberville
projects, level them and use this workforce to rebuild
the area with mixed income housing and commercial
properties (available for those who built the area).
And we can then call the area Storyville and also use
it for tourism!
ARTS and CULTURE- Rampart becomes an entertainment
district and so does the eventual "Storyville." We
stop harassing OZ, Pub and The Phoenix and let those
people block party and parade just like anyone else.
I also propose the creation of the first
Irish-American Heritage Museum here in N.O. This is
the second largest ppoint of Irish immigration in the
US and Irish New Orleanians have contributed greatly
to the building of this country and the history of the
US. It would be the perfect thing for us to popint to
and say, "See! We do more than drink (both Irish and
New Orleanians)!" And lord knows another national
museum would never hurt us.
GOVERNMENT- unlike Jackie I would not hide on the West
Bank, ESPECIALLY during times of crisis. I would be
around for everybody. I would like to take a walk
every Wednesday up and down every street from
Esplanade to Canal just so people would see me and
could stop me and chat and make their concerns known.
I would be a representative with my feet on the
ground. And occasionally up someone's ass when they
really needed it.

Well there you go. that's most of my platform and
what I have in mind. I'd love to make promises but of
course can't. All I can do is spell out the ideas I
will try to implement working with the other council
members, the mayor, the governor and such groups as
Save Our Lake, Habitat for Humanity, ACLU, etc."

Charles Duffy III

"Morality is merely an attitude we adopt towards people whom we
personally dislike"
---Mrs. Chevely: "A Perfect
Husband"
Oscar Wilde

New Orleans wireless

2005-12-01T12:36:00.000-08:00

You can read here about New Orleans being the first American city to provide free citywide wireless internet. I don't think I need to remind anyone that this was an idea generated at our town hall a few weeks ago. if you're having problems connecting, you can read here about how to configure your computer.

2005-11-30T17:21:00.000-08:00

Oh, and the bar is open!

Town Hall Wednesday November 16th

2005-11-30T17:15:00.000-08:00

Moderator: Jimmy Delery

Guest speakers: Tim Ryan, University of New Orleans economist; National Flood Insurance Program

Thanks to Jimmy Delery and Dr. Ryan for their time and input. Dr Ryan provided us with some very sobering economic statistics. The current prediction model shows that the Greater New Orleans economy will suffer a blow of 280,000 job losses over the year 2006. According to Dr. Ryan the national standard is that 40% of businesses in an area collapse as a result of disaster. He outlined what he felt were our short term problems economically, first and foremost being that of housing for employees . One solution would be to spend money repairing damaged housing rather than shipping in FEMA trailers. Dr. Ryan explained that between 2006 and 2007 we will see more money than ever pouring into the New Orleans economy in the form of insurance claims and relief money. The key is to make this influx of cash benefit local businesses, which would help rebuild an economy that would benefit everyone. He remarked that as of yet, the state of Louisiana has not submitted an economy report to the federal government, something Mississippi did months ago. He commented on the need for a strong leader in our city who has the ability to break through the red tape preventing the reconstruction effort. The trick will be to make it easier to do business in Greater New Orleans and across Louisiana. Speaking for our system of higher education, Dr. Ryan informed us that UNO will have the largest cut in state funding of every university in Louisiana, and that universities like Dillard and Xavier may never have the financial position to reopen because of pre-Katrina targeted cuts to higher education. Despite all of this, he expressed optimism on our recovery. Geoff Coates, our moderator from last week, reported however that the Governor’s economic development conference went very well and, indeed, ideas from our session last week were brought up in several panel discussions. Creating a citizen input forum and canvassing neighborhoods to determine differing rebuilding needs were among some of the other things discussed at the conference. You can check out results of the conference here: http://www.louisianarecoveryandrebuilding.org/ . On the other hand, I can honestly report that Dale Hoff from the National Flood Insurance Program, a department of FEMA, had nothing of real substance to say.

We've gotten national attention!

2005-11-30T16:30:00.000-08:00

This week the LA Times ran a story about Oswald's Speakeasy and the French Quarter Town Hall on the front page. Read the article here: Bringing Magic to the Big Easy.

Town Hall wednesday November 9th

2005-11-30T12:46:00.000-08:00

Moderator: Geoff Coates, The Urban Conservancy

Guest Speakers: Ben Raju, Mark Randall; U.S. Small Business Administration.

Thanks to Geoff Coates from the Urban Conservancy for moderating this week. Here are a few of the statistics he brought with him: Modeling figures form the Urban Conservancy project that the population of New Orleans will only be between 150, 000 to 200, 000 by next year. And before Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans was home to more than 115,000 small businesses, 60, 000 of which are projected to not return. Our guest speakers from the SBA were very helpful and informative. Most of he information they discussed can be found here: www.sba.gov/disaster. The SBA is responsible for providing the loans that will help homeowners and small business owners rebuild, not FEMA. SBA loans for homeowners cap at $200,000 for a term of up to thirty years at 2.68%. SBA also provides an economic injury loan for business owners to help their businesses operate through the reconstruction period, as well as a loan to renters to help replace the contents of their apartments. Ben pointed out, though, that if one doesn’t qualify for an SBA loan they will be referred back to FEMA who can then provide Other Needs Assistance, which is a grant. He also pointed out that although it was slow to start, the SBA has picked up speed and has already processed 250 million loan applications. You can visit the SBA at their Business Recovery Center in the Canal Place Shopping Center on the 10th floor Monday through Saturday between 8am and 5pm. Their telephone number is 1-800-659-2995. Ben also wanted to point out that the deadline for application is January 11th, and that the SBA provides free assistance in filling out the application. Loan qualification is also on a purely individual basis; there are no standard criteria for being accepted or denied, in other words, credit is not the only factor in determining who qualifies for an SBA disaster loan.

Geoff’s closing remarks sparked a brainstorm to decide what kind of city we want to have when the reconstruction is over. Geoff brought these ideas to the governor’s conference on economic recovery.
Here are some of the ideas generated by our residents:

Q: What do we want to keep absolutely and expand on in the future?

-an artist’s residence program
-expansion of the streetcar lines
-better funding and care for City Park
-more bicycle paths
-make the city completely wireless (it was pointed out that it would only take $75,000 to wifi the entire French Quarter)
-use the French Market as an actual market for the community, not as a tourist attraction.
-designate a jazz district on Rampart
-provide better landscaping on Canal St.
-foster the creation of small clinics to provide low income health care
-make blighted properties more available for renovation
-bury ALL of the city’s power lines
-we need to return to order

Q: Sustainability; What drives our economy a year from now?

-technology, schools, and hospitals
-revamp the port
-expand the airport and make it regional, combine it with river freight shipping
-demand that the City of New Orleans be legitimately recognized by the state
-hotels for visitors not for FEMA
-lure manufacturers
-create more things that we can export
-create a new national marketing campaign for the city

Town Hall Wednesday November 2nd

2005-11-09T14:39:00.000-08:00

Guest Speakers: David Hart, FEMA, Jimmy Fahrenholtz, Orleans Parish Schoolboard district 3

A very large thank you goes out to Mr. David Hart, a representative from FEMA who approached us about speaking in the forum. Mr. Hart began the session speaking about the FEMA Individual Assistance and Households program through which the majority of FEMA financial assistance has been conducted. Many frustrations over FEMA’s handling of the distribution of assistance were voiced, as well as criticisms of the administrations organizational problems. Mr. Hart pointed out that 1.3 million applications were filed with FEMA and that it was a monumental task to sort them all out correctly. Most of the general information Mr. Hart discussed can be found at www.fema.gov. Several questions were asked about why FEMA had not responded to homeowners who had filed applications; Mr. Hart’s answer was that FEMA cannot provide full assistance beyond the initial two thousand dollars to homeowners whose insurance claims or applications for Small Business Administration loan assistance had not been processed yet, but assured that FEMA would be there when all figures were compiled and the amount of total loss had been calculated. Some questioned if they would, claiming that to contact FEMA regarding the initial two thousand and the subsequent $2,358 for rental assistance was next to impossible. He also added that FEMA could cover the cost of “minimal repairs” that would not be covered by insurance, but that any additional money to rebuild would have to be secured from the SBA. SBA loans are available up to $200,000 at 2 ½ % interest with a grace period of one year. Mr. Hart went on to say that the most that FEMA could give to an individual was $26,000. When asked why the amount of rental assistance, which is intended to cover approximately three months of rent, was such a low amount, and why it seemed to be such an arbitrary number, he answered that the amount was derived from Department of Housing and Urban Development figures on rental costs in Greater New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina, and that it was lamentable that those rates were now thrown into incomprehensible flux with rents skyrocketing all over the area while so many properties significantly decreased or increased in value based on inhabitability. When asked about how to secure unemployment, he stated that, though FEMA finances disaster unemployment, it is administered by the state. You can apply here, but the deadline is November 30th: http://www.laworks.net/QM_HurricaneDisasterInfo.asp . When asked why gay partners who applied for disaster assistance were legally recognized as married by FEMA but not by the state of Louisiana, all that Mr. Hart had to say was that FEMA assumes that different applications listing the same telephone number are assumed to be part of one household, and that FEMA is aware that “99%” of applicants are not trying to “commit fraud.” Another question dealt with legal assistance for tenants who received rental assistance but were still evicted; Mr. Hart said that there are federal lawyers who can be contacted through FEMA for free legal counseling. When asked why FEMA was not coming to the resident’s, and why it was their responsibility to contact FEMA, Mr. Hart had no answer. One French Quarter bar owner offered to drive anyone who needed it to FEMA locations. If interested, contact Andy Overslaugh at Flanagan’s Pub, 625 St. Phillip.

FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers in Orleans Parish:
L.B. Landry High School
1200 Landry Blvd
Algiers, LA 70114
Dates: Open Monday through Saturday, closed Sundays.
Hours of Operation: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. daily.

Jewish Community Center
5342 St. Charles Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70115-4966
Dates: Open seven days a week until further notice.
Hours of Operation: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. daily.

Laurel Elementary School
820 Jackson Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70130
Dates: Open seven days a week until further notice.
Hours of Operation: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. daily.

American Red Cross Assistance Centers in Orleans Parish:
(hours are 10am-3pm daily, 1pm-4pm Sundays)
For financial assistance call: 1-866-GET-INFO

A.L. Davis Community Center, Washington and Simon Bolivar avenues

Freret Street parking lot, Jena and Freret streets

Gentilly Woods Mall, Gentilly Boulevard and Press Street (4137 Chef Menteur)

Lafayette School playground, 2720 S. Carrollton Ave.

Laurel Elementary School, 820 Jackson Ave.

Municipal Auditorium parking lot, Basin Street entrance

Sophie B. Wright Middle School, 1426 Napoleon Ave.

St. Dominic Church, 775 Harrison Ave.

Square 380, Esplanade Avenue and North Rampart Street

Our second speaker was Mr. Jimmy Fahrenhotlz, Orleans Parish School Board member for the 3rd district. Mr. Fahrenholtz reported that about 3500 students have returned as of this month, and that the board expects that 6,000 will have returned by January. He added that the board estimates the system will have a student body of about 25,000 in two years, 40% of the original makeup. He stated that all schools with the ability to reopen have been granted charter status, allowing them to operate outside of the jurisdiction of the board. Mr. Fahrenholtz was very pleased to announce that FEMA is providing the money to rebuild ALL public school buildings and that the system is looking to hire scores of new teachers. When asked if he felt the literacy rate would grow in New Orleans due to these changes, he said, “hopefully.” Mr. Fahrenholtz went on to describe the nature of a charter school, which is an institution independent of the school board that is operated by a group of trustees. Charter schools are responsible for their own budget, and employees of charter schools are not eligible for teachers’ union membership. Retention of charter status is based on test scores and teacher employment. Mr. Fahrenholtz, when asked if the State Board of Education would be taking control of the Orleans Parish School System, replied that he both hoped and expected so. One person asked if Mr. Fahrenholtz had plans to run for higher office based on his apparent disregard for the politics of the school board; he casually answered that he may be announcing soon.

Other supposed mayoral candidates:

Leslie Jacobs, member State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

Dan Packer, Entergy New Orleans CEO

Peggy Wilson, former City Councilwoman, District A

Ed Murray, former powerbroker and State Senator representing New Orleans

Oliver Thomas, City Councilman-at-large

Jackie Clarkson, City Councilwoman District C

Mitch Landrieu, Lt. Governor and younger brother of U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu

Check out this link for more info: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1509256/posts

Other interesting information:

A Gallup poll recently conducted in coordination with the Red Cross claims that 1 in 4 New Orleans residents will not be returning. http://www.tampabaylive.com/stories/2005/10/051014poll.shtml.

The Mayor’s town hall meetings which were being held at the Sheraton Hotel on 500 Canal St. every Wednesday at 2pm have been moved to Baton Rouge.