Posted on 05/06/2003 5:31:37 PM PDT by mikenola
State of the City Address May 6, 2003 Mayor C. Ray Nagin
I. INTRODUCTION
TO OUR DISTINGUISHED ELECTED OFFICIALS, MY FRIENDS ON THE CITY COUNCIL, FELLOW NEW ORLEANIANS: ONE YEAR AGO TODAY, I TOLD YOU THAT THE WINDS OF CHANGE WERE BLOWING… AND THEY WERE FANNING THE FLAME OF A RENAISSANCE. TODAY, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE FLAME STILL BURNS AND IS GROWING MORE INTENSE EVERYDAY.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU FOR SPENDING TIME WITH ME AT THIS LOCATION… THE FORMER MAC-FRUGAL'S WAREHOUSE. IT SYMBOLIZES A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT MY ADMINISTRATION IS FOCUSED ON.
SEVEN YEARS AGO, AN ARSONIST SET FIRE TO A $60 MILLION WAREHOUSE THAT PROVIDED 130-JOBS. BUT WHEN MACFRUGALS DECIDED NOT TO REBUILD ITS DISTRIBUTION CENTER, THIS SITE BECAME A TRAGIC EYESORE… BLIGHT ON OUR COMMUNITY… AND CAST A SHADOW ON OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS.
BUT TODAY… WE ARE RECLAIMING THIS SITE IN THE NAME OF HOPE AND PROSPERITY WITH THE HELP OF CRESCENT CROWN DISTRIBUTING. ONE YEAR AGO THIS WEEK, WE ANNOUNCED THAT CRESCENT CROWN DISTRIBUTING WAS REVERSING A TREND AND MOVING BUSINESS FROM AN OUTLYING PARISH AND BACK INTO NEW ORLEANS. CRESCENT CROWN WILL EMPLOY 250- PEOPLE AND WILL BE A HUGE DISTRIBUTION CENTER.
WE BREAK GROUND ON THIS $12.5 MILLION CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AND WE SAY THANK YOU TO BILL GOLDRING AND JIM BOB MOFFETT JR.
II. FIGHTING 'POLITICS AS USUAL'
THE CHANGES THAT WE HAVE INSTITUTED IN CITY GOVERNMENT HAVE NOT COME EASILY. IN FACT, OVER THE LAST 12-MONTHS, WE'VE RUFFLED A FEW FEATHERS AND BRUISED A FEW EGOS. THOSE WHO RESIST CHANGE HAVE RESORTED TO NAME-CALLING OR SENDING ANONYMOUS FAXES OR GLOSSY FLYERS ESPOUSING BASELESS ACCUSATIONS. THIS TYPE OF PETTY RACIAL POLITICS AND TABLOID HYPE HAS IMPEDED PROGRESS IN THIS CITY FOR TOO LONG. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS CAMPAIGN IS FALLING ON DEAF EARS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE AND WE WON'T BOW DOWN.
III. OUR 12-MONTH JOURNEY
WHEN WE BEGAN OUR JOURNEY 12-MONTHS AGO, WE WERE PRESENTED WITH A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES. SOME WOULD EVEN CONSIDER THEM ROADBLOCKS:
WE ONLY HAD ONE TO TWO DAYS OF CASH IN RESERVE;
THERE WAS A PROJECTED BUDGET DEFICIT OF 25 TO 50-MILLION DOLLARS;
A PAPER-INTENSIVE FINANCE DEPARTMENT (POOR FINANCIAL RECORDS/CHECKS STUFFED IN DESKS, ETC);
A 25-YEAR OLD COMPUTER SYSTEM;
POSSIBLE IRREGULARITIES IN SPENDING FEDERAL GRANT MONEY (ABOUT 15-MILLION DOLLARS);
MORE THAN 100-MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF BACKLOGGED PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS;
PROBLEMATIC CONTRACTS;
AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE BUSINESSES WERE DISSATISFIED WITH THE BUSINESS CLIMATE IN NEW ORLEANS; AND,
LOW MORALE AMONG CITY HALL WORKERS TO DEAL WITH THESE CHALLENGES, I HIRED THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST TO TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT CITY GOVERNMENT, FOCUSING ON THE FUNDAMENTALS. IN A YEAR'S TIME, WE…
COMPLETED FINANCIAL ASSESSMENT OF CITY FINANCES AND IMPLEMENTED MOST OF ITS RECOMMENDATIONS
BALANCED THE BUDGET AND ENDED THE YEAR WITH AN EIGHT-MILLION DOLLAR FUND BALANCE, EVEN THOUGH WE CAME IN WITH A $50 MILLION PROJECTED DEFICIT.
IMPLEMENTED AUTOMATED FINANCIAL PROCEDURES CALLED "LOCK BOX"
COMPLETED JOINT SALES TAX AUDITS WITH THE STATE. IN ONE WEEK, WE COLLECTED MORE THAN 76-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN DELINQUENT SALES/USE TAXES AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE FEES.
FIXED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT COMPUTER SYSTEM, AVERTING THE TOTAL COLLAPSE AND LOSS OF INFORMATION.
COMPLETELY REVAMPED AND RELAUNCHED A NEW WEB SITE
UNVEILED A $25-MILLION HOUSING INITIATIVE TO REMOVE BLIGHT AND INCREASE HOMEOWNERSHIP… PARTICULARLY FOR SINGLE PARENTS AND LOW AND MODERATE INCOME RESIDENTS.
FILLED MORE THAN 48-THOUSAND POTHOLES… AND UNLEASHED BACKLOGGED STREET CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
FOUND ADDITIONAL MONEY TO FUND ACROSS-THE-BOARD PAY RAISES FOR CITY HALL EMPLOYEES, AND…
STOPPED THE BLEEDING IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS IT RELATES TO POLICE TURNOVER. AND WE ARE ON-TRACK TO REACH OUR BUDGETED STRENGTH OF 1,680 OFFICERS BY YEAR END. IV. TANGIBLE RESULTS
AS A RESULT… THE WORLD IS SEEING US WITH DIFFERENT EYES THESE DAYS. WE ARE NO LONGER CONSIDERED JUST A GREAT PLACE TO PARTY. PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO REALIZE NEW ORLEANS IS A GREAT PLACE TO DO BUSINESS. WE SHOCKED THE SYSTEM WHEN IT COMES TO GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION. THE PERCEPTION THAT YOU HAVE TO DO BUSINESS "UNDER THE TABLE" IF YOU WANT TO DO BUSINESS IN NEW ORLEANS HAS FADED. NO TIPPING IS NECESSARY!
OUR HARD WORK IS PAYING OFF. I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED CRESCENT CROWN DISTRIBUTING. … BUT WE'VE ALSO ATTRACTED PLANET SMOOTHIE'S CORPORATE OFFICES FROM ATLANTA TO NEW ORLEANS… SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ASSOCIATES MOVED ITS HEADQUARTERS -- AND THE POTENTIAL FOR MORE HIGH-LEVEL JOBS -- FROM NEW MEXICO TO NEW ORLEANS;
WE "RE-WORKED" THE SIX FLAGS AGREEMENT, WHICH COULD HAVE LEFT THE CITY ON THE HOOK FOR A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR HUD LOAN. INSTEAD, WE CONVINCED SIX FLAGS TO IMMEDIATELY PUMP MORE THAN $20 MILLION INTO MAKING THE NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARK. AND, I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE PARK IS EXCEEDING ITS ATTENDANCE GOALS.
IN ADDITION… WE HAVE FOCUSED ON THIS CITY'S GREAT CULTURAL ASSET - ITS MUSIC. MY ADMINISTRATION IS MAKING SURE THAT MUSICIANS REAP THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS.
FIRST, WE WORKED HARD TO REPEAL THE SOFTWARE TAX. WE HELPED ADD A NEW DAY TO JAZZ FESTIVAL. WE STARTED A TWO-DAY FESTIVAL CALLED "MO FEST" BETWEEN JAZZ FEST WEEKENDS. WE ARE SPONSORING MONTHLY MUSIC BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS THAT GIVE OUR MUSICIANS THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS. AND, WE CRAFTED A NEW INCENTIVE LADEN DEAL TO KEEP THE ESSENCE FEST FOR FIVE YEARS. THIS NEW CONTRACT NOW SERVES AS THE MODEL FOR ATTRACTING OTHER LARGE EVENTS TO THE CITY.
A HEALTHY MUSIC INDUSTRY CAN ONLY STIMULATE THE ECONOMY. BUT WE WON'T STOP THERE. WE ARE TAKING STEPS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL SEGMENTS OF OUR POPULATION BENEFIT FROM A NEW ERA OF PROSPERITY.
AFRICAN AMERICANS ACCOUNT FOR TWO THIRDS OF OUR POPULATION, SO GETTING BLACK BUSINESSES FULLY ENGAGED IN THIS ECONOMY IS GOING TO BE CRUCIAL FOR BUILDING A NEW ERA OF PROSPERITY.
WE ARE STREAMLINING THE DISADVANTAGE BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM AND ENCOURAGING 50-50 JOINT VENTURES BETWEEN MINORITY AND MAJORITY FIRMS. I MENTIONED THE LOCKBOX ACCOUNT BEFORE. THAT IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF A 50-50 VENTURE BETWEEN LIBERTY BANK AND BANK ONE. THAT PARTNERSHIP HAS HELPED PROPEL LIBERTY BANK INTO THE TOP-FIVE AFRICAN AMERICAN OWNED BANKS IN THE COUNTRY.
WE HAVE SIMILAR ARRANGEMENTS FOR A SEWERAGE AND WATER BOARD PENSION CONTRACT AND FRENCH MARKET PARKING BUSINESS.
LET ME ALSO SAY THAT WE ARE THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE HAVE HIRED A TEAM OF SIX BUSINESS SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES WHO GO DOOR-TO-DOOR VISITING BUSINESSES. THEY ARE CONSTANTLY EXAMINING THE NEEDS OF THE NEW ORLEANS BUSINESS COMMUNITY. THEIR WORK HELPS US IDENTIFY WHICH COMPANIES ARE PRIMED FOR GROWTH AND SHOULD BE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CITY, STATE AND FEDERAL INCENTIVES.
IN ADDITION… WE ARE BEING CREATIVE. WHEN EXXON DECIDED THAT IT WOULD MOVE ITS OFFICE IN NEW ORLEANS TO HOUSTON TWO WEEKS AGO, I WAS DISAPPOINTED. WHILE I KNOW WE CAN'T KEEP EXXON HERE, WE CAN KEEP SOME OF ITS ENGINEERS IN TOWN. WE HAVE COME UP WITH AN INNOVATIVE STAYING BONUS PACKAGE FOR THESE EMPLOYEES. OUR MESSAGE IS CLEAR: WE WILL BE PROACTIVE AS IT RELATES TO KEEPING JOBS AND GROWING BUSINESSES IN OUR GREAT CITY.
B. TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
WHILE WE FOCUS ON BUILDING THE NEW ORLEANS ECONOMY, WE ARE PURSUING NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING THE LEVEL OF TECHNOLOGY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT PEOPLE EXPECT FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO CITY GOVERNMENT.
REMEMBER THAT 25-YEAR OLD COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT WE FOUND IN CITY HALL THAT OPERATED ON 8-TRACK TAPES? WE PUT IT OUT TO PASTURE.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF NEW ORLEANS, RESIDENTS CAN APPLY FOR BUSINESS LICENSES, REPORT POTHOLES AND PAY PARKING TICKETS ONLINE.
MANY TIMES, NEW TECHNOLOGY MEANS LAYOFFS. BUT WE DID NOT DO THAT. INSTEAD, CITY HALL WORKERS ARE NOW FOCUSING MORE ON CUSTOMER-SERVICE CASES THAT OFTEN FELL THROUGH THE CRACKS IN YEARS PAST.
V. FUTURE PLANS AND CONCLUSION.
THE FIRST YEAR WAS ABOUT LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR CHANGE … IN THE COMING YEARS, I'M NOT GOING TO REST UNTIL WE ACCELERATE THAT CHANGE.
LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA FOR THE FUTURE:
FOR EACH OF NEXT THREE YEARS WE WILL UNLEASH 50 MILLION DOLLARS OF STREET PROJECTS ON THIS ECONOMY.
WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE CITY'S WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, LABOR UNIONS AND CHURCHES TO HELP FILL 5,000 HIGH-PAID POSITIONS THAT HAVE LONG BEEN VACANT IN KEY INDUSTRIES, SUCH AS HEALTH CARE, SHIP-BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION. THESE JOBS ARE AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW. WE JUST NEED TO GET OUR PEOPLE TRAINED.
WE WILL COOPERATE WITH NEIGHBORING PARISHES TO EXPAND THE LOUIS ARMSTRONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. WE HAVE SOME GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR CARGO RESOURCES AT THE AIRPORT AND WE WILL JOINTLY PUSH FOR A LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM.
ON THE SPORTS FRONT WE HAVE THE HORNETS WORKING ON A NEW PRACTICE FACILITY AND WE ARE TALKING TO THE SAINTS ABOUT BUILDING A TAILGATING PARK SOMEWHERE NEAR THE SUPERDOME.
THE CANAL STREETCAR WILL SOON BE RUNNING AND THAT WILL GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENCOURAGE NEW INVESTMENTS, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE HISTORIC INTERSECTION OF CANAL AND RAMPART. THERE IS A LOT OF POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPING THE UPPER FLOORS OF OUR HISTORIC BUILDINGS ALONG CANAL STREET.
WE HAVE AN ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE LOOKING INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF BUILDING A MEGA COMPLEX TO REPLACE CITY HALL AT DUNCAN PLAZA. THEY WILL SOON BE PRESENTING THEIR PRELIMINARY PLANS.
NEW ORLEANS IS PROVING TO BE ONE OF AMERICA'S GREAT CRUISE SHIP PORTS. WITH THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS, WE ARE EXAMINING WAYS THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS CITY AN EVEN BIGGER MAGNET FOR CRUISE INDUSTRY BY BUILDING MULTIPLE CRUISE TERMINALS ALONG THE RIVER.
NEW ORLEANS IS ONE OF FOUR CITIES CHOSEN TO HAVE A NATIONAL FINANCE CENTER, WHICH WILL HANDLE PERSONNEL MATTERS FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WE ARE BRINGING VARIOUS PARTIES TO THE TABLE TO BUILD A 50-100 ACRE, HIGH TECH CAMPUS FOR THE NATIONAL FINANCE CENTER.
WE WILL CLOSE IN ON BLIGHT BY FOCUSING ON SEVEN STRATEGIC NEIGHBORHOODS. WE HAVE ARE OFFERING EXTRA INCENTIVES FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO INVEST IN THEM.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE AN AGGRESSIVE AGENDA THAT FOCUSES ON BUILDING OUR ECONOMY. WE CAN ACCOMPLISH ALL THESE GOALS, BUT IT WILL ALL BE FOR NAUGHT IF WE DON'T PUT AN END TO ALL THE SENSELESS VIOLENCE ON OUR STREETS. BUT LET'S SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT. OVERALL CRIME IS DOWN BY MORE THAN 22-PERCENT. AS FOR OUR MURDER RATE, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE CRIMES ARE ISOLATED TO PERPETRATORS AND VICTIMS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. THAT BEING SAID, WE MUST END THE CYCLE OF RETALIATION THAT FUELS THIS DANGEROUS KILLING MACHINE. I HAVE FAITH THAT CHIEF EDDIE COMPASS IS THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB.
THE SWEEPS THAT THE NOPD HAS ORCHESTRATED IN HOT SPOTS FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY ARE A GOOD START. WE'RE GETTING GUNS OFF THE STREETS AND BREAKING INTO THE DRUG ACTIVITY THAT LEADS TO SENSELESS VIOLENCE. BUT WE CAN'T STOP THERE.
WE WILL INTRODUCE PROGRAMS THAT GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE ALTERNATIVES TO CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS JOB AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. WE WILL ESTABLISH A $250,000 POOL OF SIGNING BONUSES TO ATTRACT EXPERIENCED OFFICERS TO JOIN THE FORCE. WE WILL WORK TO STIMULATE OUR ECONOMY, PROVIDING ADDITIONAL AVENUES FOR OUR CITIZENS TO EARN A LIVING LAWFULLY.
WE WILL EXPAND THE COPS FOR KIDS PROGRAM, WHICH FOCUSES ON TEACHING CONFLICT RESOLUTION. WE ARE RESEARCHING TOUGH GUN CONTROL LAWS THAT WOULD STIFFEN SENTENCES AND LIMIT PAROLE OPPORTUNITIES IN HOMICIDE CASES.
IN MAY, WE WILL HOLD THE FIRST OF SEVERAL TOWN HALL MEETINGS. THIS WILL BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BRING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO DRIVE CRIME FROM OUR STREETS.
CITY GOVERNMENT CANNOT SOLVE THIS PROBLEM ON OUR OWN. THIS NEEDS TO BE A COMMUNITY WIDE EFFORT. WE NEED ALL OF OUR CITIZENS, PARTICULARLY AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN, TO GET INVOLVED IN THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN. VOLUNTEER AT THE PLAYGROUNDS, TUTOR CHILDREN, TEACH THEM HOW TO PLAY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT, SHOW THEM THAT THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES TO A LIFE ON THE STREETS. THIS IS OUR CALL TO ACTION.
AFTER ONE YEAR IN OFFICE, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS IS IN GREAT SHAPE. OUR CITIZENS' HEARTS ARE FILLED WITH HOPE FOR A NEW NEW ORLEANS THAT THEY SEE EMERGING ON THE HORIZON. WE HAVE SET A NEW TONE FOR COOPERATION AND OPTIMISM IN THIS CITY, BUT WE MUST USE THAT COOPERATION AND OPTIMISM AS AGENTS OF CHANGE. WHILE THIS CITY STILL FACES SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES, NONE OF OUR CHALLENGES ARE INSURMOUNTABLE.
WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES TO RESTORING NEW ORLEANS AMONG THE RANKS OF WORLD-CLASS CITIES. I WILL CONTINUE TO PRESS ON WITH THE CHANGES THAT YOU, THE CITIZENS OF NEW ORLEANS, HAVE DEMANDED.
THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU. GOD BLESS OUR GREAT CITY.
Check out his call to arms to black men, most amazing!
(Sorry for the all-caps, it's in the original format)
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