New Orleans mayor seeks gambling to rebuild city

Reuters ^ | October 7, 2005 | Matt Daily

[ppaul]

New Orleans' mayor on Friday proposed building a casino zone near the historic French Quarter to jump start the hurricane-ravaged city's economy, saying a bold move was needed to restore lost tax revenue.

"I'd like to have another solution for the citizens ... but I don't know what else we can do at this point," Ray Nagin told a news conference.

New Orleans is struggling to rebound from Hurricane Katrina in August which fractured flood walls and flooded 80 percent of the city. Hurricane Rita hit the Gulf Coast on September 24, triggering renewed flooding in parts of the city.

Under Nagin's proposal, a U-shaped section encompassing several blocks of the city's downtown area would allow large hotels to covert part of their property into Las Vegas-style casinos.

Only one casino is currently operating in that area, and Nagin said as many as seven new gambling operations could open.

That existing casino, Harrah's, has stirred bitter political battles and suffered from financial problems in recent years.

Nagin said he had approached Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco about the plan and offered to split the tax revenues, a figure he said could approach the $150 million neighboring Mississippi received annually.

The gambling zone proposal would need the approval of the city council and the state legislature.

Earlier this week, Nagin announced the city would cut 3,000 jobs, or nearly 40 percent of its workforce, because it had only enough funds to continue operating until the end of the year.

TOLL TOPS 1,000

In Baton Rouge, Louisiana officials said on Friday the state's death toll from Hurricane Katrina topped 1,000 for the first time as recovery efforts continued in storm-stricken areas.

They said 1,003 had died in Louisiana, which pushed the total known dead in the states hit by Katrina to 1,243.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said in a press release on Friday it had "nearly pumped the metro area dry," and it was making progress in shoring up the levee system.

While recovery operations continue, Federal Emergency Management Agency officials said in a conference call that 44,000 people displaced by storms were still living in a total of 558 Red Cross shelters around the country.

They said 2.2 million people had been registered as storm victims, of which 1.2 million had been approved for federal assistance that so far totaled $3.3 billion.

In response to complaints that federal aid efforts are moving too slowly, the U.S. Small Business Administration said it would step up the pace of approving loans to businesses hit by the storm by using aerial photography and satellites to assess damaged property.

Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Mike Olivier said only six SBA loans had been approved as of Thursday, which SBA officials blamed on their agents' inability to get to many areas to inspect damage.

"We just got a memo a day or two ago" authorizing the use of aerial assessments, SBA spokesman Ken Shuman said at a news conference.

[ppaul]

"I'd like to have another solution for the citizens ... but I don't know what else we can do at this point," Ray Nagin told a news conference.

How about an election?

[teenyelliott]

Gambling will keep that town on the straight and narrow.

Great way to keep crooks honest.

Once again, brilliant, Nagin.

[Clara Lou]

Given his record, I'd be inclined to do the opposite of whatever Nagin calls for. What a loser.

[GianniV]

It's amazing how all these politicians think gambling and State Lotteries are the cure to all their problems. No, they are NOT. What cures problems? Reducing government interference, taxes and regulations. That's it Ray; get the heck out of the way, you corrupt pr*ck.

[Publius6961]

Gambling?
How about hard work, a firm resolve, a spirit of independence instead? Pride in family and community?

I know, I know.
Handouts from the American taxpayers via the Feds and gambling beats work every time.
Why am I not surprised?

[Cicero]

"I'd like to have another solution for the citizens ... but I don't know what else we can do at this point," Ray Nagin told a news conference.

Translation: "With the whole city in shambles, I'm hardly getting any bribes or kickbacks. The phantom police have vanished, and the numbers racket is doing very badly. What else can I do to maintain my accustomed life style and feed my drug habit?"

[Doogle]

...it was a gamble when he was elected


Doogle

[zipp_city]

In that the end justifies the means lets have some prostitution also legalize drugs, gay marriage, abortion on demand all for an indulgence fee.

[xcamel]

Just change the name to "New Sodom" - that would be "Ray Ray's" kind of town...

[Virginia Queen]

Has any one done a real mental check on this man? I am serious. He is so out of touch with reality! Me thinks he is trying to be the Marion Berry of N.O. - in different ways but just as outrageous. Between him, "baby-fat face Mary Landrieu, and that person pretending to be the State's Governor, those poor people don't stand a chance. Perhaps the United States should make it a territory rather than a state.

[i_dont_chat]

What's that saying about "ill-gotten gains?"

Consider the scripture "Upon this Rock I will build my Church." Matthew 16:18.

But, no, Nagin wants to re-build N.O. in a hole, between a lake and a river, and on the Gulf of Mexico.

And he wants to use money that people lose by gambling.

It ain't gonna last.

[starfish923]

Gambling will keep that town on the straight and narrow.
Great way to keep crooks honest.
Once again, brilliant, Nagin.

You are so right.
Plus, gambling, a la Las Vegas, A.K.A. "Lost Wages," is really a no-win for Americans.....except for the American Indians. Tax-free gambling billion$. They and the Mafia, what a pair.
Gambling always brings in SLEAZE -- cheats, thieves, drugs, prostitution, money-laundering, gambling sickos, boring, sleazy shows (Yep, I'm a middle-aged woman who fell asleep during the gay-men/topless show"girls" revues. Yawn. Vegas doesn't even use live music anymore -- all canned.) and those WUNNERful Sleazywood performers.
Sorry, Wayne Newton's face and hair could ALONE pay for everyone's mortgage in America. It was hard to even look at him. I liked him 30 years ago.

[blam]

Most normal people don't go to New Orleans to do anything...it's far to dangerous.

[Woodstock]

I think Nagin and Landrieu are Stuck on Stupid!

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

[ecomcon]

"New Orleans is struggling to rebound from Hurricane Katrina..."

"I'd like to have another solution for the citizens ... but I don't know what else we can do at this point," Ray Nagin told a news conference.

It's been what, a month? He doesn't know what else he can do? What a spirit of perseverance. Someone's whispering in the good mayors ear.

[dakine]

Gambling always brings in SLEAZE

I resemble that remark...

[Watershed]

Detroit held election after election to permit gambling in its city. The voters finally relented. Yeah..gambling can help cities (not).

[Mark was here]

They need about 30 welfare agents per citizen, the workers can all eat lunch and get their hair done downtown.

This investment in the community will pay dividends to all the stakeholders.

[johnny7]

One way to reduce NOLA's susceptibility to floods is to turn it into a landfill.