University Medical Center and Bioscience Industry

Since soon after Hurricane Katrina, the DDD has played a prominent and important role in advocating for the construction of new Veterans Affairs and University medical centers. The DDD believes that the construction of these facilities is critically important to 1) improving access to leading edge medical care for Louisianians of every background, 2) ensuring training for a steady stream of health care professionals for the entire state, and 3) laying the foundation for a much-needed growth industry for New Orleans: bioscience.

Do you support building the University Medical Center on the site selected by the State of Louisiana? How would you support the efforts to create a state of the art medical and bioscience district within and adjacent to Downtown?

With the recent announcement of the FEMA award of over $400M to LSU for Charity, it appears likely that LSU will, in fact, obtain the funding needed to build a new hospital. While I do not think that the current site selection is the best option available. I remain convinced that reuse of Charity was not carefully explored and would have been a better site. That said, given LSU’s decision to build on the mid-city site and the positive impact that the LSU and VA hospital will have city-wide, I will support LSU’s and the VA’s decisions.

I have assigned a staff member to stay abreast of all Bioscience District activities and attend meetings. Through this close interaction, I am able to champion efforts to bring more research dollars and health-care and research related businesses.

Sidewalk and Infrastructure Repair

In 2006, the DDD presented a plan to do a partial rather than a full rollback of the DDD tax rate subsequent to the citywide property tax assessment, in order to provide earmarked funding to assist the City in repairing broken sidewalks Downtown. The plan was not adopted by the City. The need to fix Downtown’s sidewalks and other City owned infrastructure still exists and is made more urgent as the eyes of the world will be on New Orleans during the NCAA Men’s Final Four in 2012 and the Super Bowl in 2013.

How would you propose to work with the DDD to fix Downtown sidewalks, streets and other infrastructure prior to 2012?

Jackie Clarkson
AT-LARGE

Stacy Head
DISTRICT B

Canal Street Sidewalk Maintenance

The Downtown Development District and Canal Street Development Corporation spent $17 million in 2005 & 2006 to remake the Canal Street streetscape with new sidewalk pavers, trees, and improved lighting. The remake has been well-received by stakeholders and the general public. The streetscape needs ongoing maintenance, however – particularly brick pavers that from time to time need resetting. DPW insists it has no resources to maintain the sidewalks.

What is your plan to ensure that this $17 million investment continues to enhance quality of life and investment opportunities on New Orleans’ main street for years to come?

I think the answer is similar to the one that I just gave. I think we have to look at all the potential funding sources, including general fund/DPW dollars, capital dollars, potentially bond money, and potentially dedicated earmarked tourism dollars to try to insure that there's a maintenance fund that continues to exist and that can take care of the improvements. The streetscape improvements have been outstanding. They have changed the face of Canal Street and the Downtown area for the better. We need to make sure that we continue those and enhance those. Obviously, maintaining is a big piece of that. So, again, you would have my full support on that topic. We just need to sit down in partnership with the leaders of the City and identify the appropriate funding source.

My answer to the question above applies to an extent to this question. In addition, I hope to champion a Canal Street Tax Increment Financing program, which revenue will be used, in part, to maintain the street’s infrastructure. Finally, I agree that the public works department is underfunded. Our city spends far less on street maintenance than cities of comparable size. This must change through proper budgeting priorities.

Perception of Safety

A recent DDD Stakeholder Satisfaction Survey showed that Downtown property owners, workers, residents, and visitors recognize the positive changes occurring Downtown, especially the redevelopment of older buildings for residential & other uses. The research also showed that there is a perception, especially among those less familiar with Downtown, that Downtown is not as safe as crime statistics indicate. It also showed that seeing more police patrolling on foot, horseback & other accessible ways would help to address this concern.

How would you address this public safety perception issue and the need for more police visibility to protect the economic engine of New Orleans?

Well, crime prevention remains and for the next few years will be the top priority of the City still. We have a crime problem in New Orleans. Both perception and reality. And I believe that while we're making some strides from a mid-term and long-term standpoint systemically and there's been a cooperation between the criminal justice elements, we are still suffering on the short term. It will be very important once the new police chief is hired that that police chief sit with the stakeholders and talk seriously about how do we protect the entire City, but in particular in this case with the DDD, those visitors that have come to New Orleans. There has to be new strategies and deployment, new crime reporting methodologies, better technology, and just other strategies that have worked in other parts of the country, especially in some of our, again, revenue-producing areas. The DDD has done an outstanding job of supplementing some of our criminal justice protection that we have right now. But, I think, whether you go into the French Quarter or into the neighborhoods or Downtown areas I think there's still a great concern for safety in the City. It's something that we have to work on each and every day if we're going to keep this vital and vibrant area of our community successful.

I think a lot of the perception have to do with what's going on, not so much Downtown, but around town. You know, I mean, we have a lot of crime, especially murders that's occurring in our City now. So, the key is how to address that because as long as you have these negative perceptions going out to folks who will be visiting our City -- we are a tourist and we're going to continue to be a tourist attraction with conventioneering -- but if those people feel unsafe, then there's a problem of perception and that can't be changed overnight. More police is good. But that's not going to be all that you need to solve the problem. We will focus in on those sectors of the City where crime is more prevalent. And we believe if we can reduce crime in those areas, then the effect will be a better perception of our City overall. Meaning, that a lot of crime is economic driven in our part of the world. I'm talking about the urban and older suburban communities. So, we believe if we could get the support of the DDD in order to create more business start-ups in these areas, that will go along with and reduce the joblessness in those, areas, create training facilities and things of that nature and business ownership, I believe that's a part of that whole process. That's not going to be done overnight. A lot of candidates talk about more police, a different police chief. But I have been hearing that story for the last 30, 40 years. And we have changed police chiefs. We have put a lot of people in jail. But the problem continue to grow. And unless it's solved on that end, it's not -- the perception is not going to change. What I'm concerned about more than anything is the spill-over effect. Because criminals will go where there's money. There's money in the CBD. When you rob me, you might get some food stamps. But when you come Downtown, you may get a pocket full of cash. Eventually, what's going to happen is that it's going to spill over and the perception is going to become reality. Which it may be now. I believe a lot more be happening now in this area than what's being reported. I can understand that. If a lot of crime is being reported, then the perception grows and grow larger.

Mechanical Street Sweeping

In 2007, as a result of cost cutting measures imposed by the City on its Downtown & French Quarter sanitation contractor, the City stopped all mechanical street sweeping Downtown, resulting in gravel and soot accumulating in street gutters throughout Downtown. The DDD provides enhanced sidewalk cleaning throughout Downtown, but without the City providing the basic, baseline City service of street sweeping, it is difficult for the DDD’s sidewalk cleaning contractor to make Downtown New Orleans one of the cleanest among major American cities, as is the DDD’s goal.

I would think that would be one of the priority on the list of priorities. If it could be done, it should be done. I'm -- I don't have access to the revenue flow, what it's about. But I have been through the Quarters prior when it was smelling like a sewerage. You know, so I know the difference. I don't know what it cost the City. I don't know whether it was all political, taking it down. I don't know about all of those things. But I do believe that if you are going to promote this area as a world class destination, then clean streets have to happen. Now, even if the City don't make it happen, then the stakeholders down here will have to find a way to make it happen. You know, I had a business for long time. I had to clean up in front of it myself to insure there was cleanliness. I didn't have anybody down sweeping the street. I had get out there and sweep the streets myself because I understood how important it was for people who are visiting my business to see a clean and hygienically sound business they were entering. So, yes. I'm for helping as much as possible.

This is something that I have lobbied for during the budget process for three years. I remain committed and hope that a majority of my colleagues, particularly the at-large members and the District C councilmember will support this effort to convince our new mayor of the importance of providing baseline street-sweeping services to the DDD.

Absolutely.

Historical Theatre District TIF

The Canal Street Development Strategy, completed in 2004 by the DDD & Canal Street Development Corporation and adopted by the City, has born great fruit. It led to the DDD’s successful effort in 2005 to expand the State Historic Tax Credit, the opening of eleven new stores & restaurants on Canal Street in the last year, and façade improvements on almost twenty Canal Street properties. The Canal Street historic theatre district at Basin & Rampart streets is proving to be more of a challenge. The DDD has determined that, short of an immediate, large, public cash infusion, the revitalization of the remaining theatre structures will require special financing such as a tax increment finance (TIF) district.

Are you supportive of a TIF for this purpose, in order to catalyze additional private investment surrounding the theatres?

What else do you propose to expedite the resurgence of Canal Street?

Jackie Clarkson
AT-LARGE

Absolutely support a TIF as long as I can be a part of writing it, because I did the Federal City TIF and it's been considered a role model and it worked. And it was not in -- it was not in the best interest of any one person. It was in the best interest of the public trust. And it did bring us Federal City, which is worth -- retained $4.5 billion in military, but is worth 10,000 high-paying jobs. And more importantly, I only -- we only spent $6 million of City money and it today is worth 750 million. That's what you can do if you do these resources or revenue correctly. They don't have to be for the benefit of one individual. They can be to the benefit of the City, if they're done properly. I would definitely support it as long as I can sign off on it. I know I get to vote for it, but I'd like to help write it.

Well, certainly TIF is a very important tool in order to make -- develop that area I believe. You know, but overall plan for the area, I think once that's in place -- for instance, they have been talking that they're improving Armstrong Park. As we improve straight down Rampart, I think people want to invest some money knows that property on Canal and Claiborne, they can see that where the City is going with it, where this area is going with it. I think if you marry that with the TIF, then certainly you can make that happen. I think it will happen. And I'm in favor of that.

Let me say that Tax Increment Financing and use of public dollars, as we have had a consultant for the City Council and prior to that, a consultant when we did the River Gardens Wal-Mart Project, should be used to develop economic possibilities in distressed areas. I represent New Orleans East. We have had challenges in bringing economics back. I advocated the use of the TIF early on, for many many years. However, it has to be a strategic plan that is a good deal for a great project. And Tax Increment Financing, now the way that it is structured by the City, is a leveraging project involving the state, so we need some state support. And from a prudent fiscal management approach, it should be last-dollar-in rather than first-dollar-up. But the promise of the TIF and the forward movement of the TIF is certainly an exciting marketing tool. It brings great attention to a community, to an area, and it sometimes jump starts very valuable projects. I support TIF financing in distressed communities for economic projects. And I certainly think that the cultural district compliments other industries in our area such as our arts community and our entertainment community, so you can bring about a multiplicity of wins. Also, from a fighting blight perspective, it is another great win. But, again, you have to structure the deal so that you can get green lights at the state and you can also have green lights in terms of being a wise steward of public dollars.

Stacy Head
DISTRICT B

I am supportive and have already worked with the DDD to promote this concept. I am confident that a new administration will see the need for such a financing mechanism and move it forward. In addition to the TIF, increased code enforcement efforts have improved Canal Street and will continue to do so. I have worked closely with the DDD to assure that it has coextensive jurisdiction with the city’s code enforcement department to issue citations and hold hearings.

Yes, I'm definitely a proponent of a TIF utilized within this fashion because of the unique nature of the theaters and the difficulty I think in raising revenues who have any consistent source. So, yes. I think one of the best ways we can expedite the process is also to -- you-all are insisting on an office -- to expedite the redevelopment of Iberville Housing Development. I think that is a lynchpin in all of this. And I think it affords us a unique opportunity for redevelopment, not just on Canal Street but also for the French Quarter and the surrounding areas in Treme. So I think we really need to look at that. We're all part of -- you know, pieces of the same puzzle. So it will definitely affect Canal Street if we can positively affect Iberville. It's going to be a very large issue. As you may be aware, that is the only housing development currently that has not been sort of rebuilt in District C. It's very near and dear to my heart.

Revenue

In order to manage its operations efficiently, the Downtown Development District needs more timely delivery of its tax revenues and tax collection reports from the City. By law, the DDD is supposed to receive tax revenue collected by the City on the DDD's behalf immediately upon collection.

Do you commit to abiding by this requirement?

Oh, absolutely. Yes. Absolutely. You know, I've been called upon to try to expedite that individually when I was District C and once, I think, as -- as President of the Council. And I -- we have to have a serious performance level at the administration -- at the administrative level on how this is handled because it does lead to a lack of revenue. Again, all these things that you've talked about here today that the DDD can do, this will make us money. You haven't mentioned anything yet that will cost us money. If properly done, it will make the City money.

I committed to it four years ago, and I commit to it now. It's very unfortunate that, you know, it sounds as if not that much has changed terms of the timeliness of DDD getting its payments. You know, this is an executive level function, and, you know, you have -- you certainly have my support to use the bully pulpit and whatever other powers we may have as the city Council to expedite those payments to you.

It's your money. I mean, what else can be said? It's your money. Certainly you ought to get it. I don't understand or know the reasons why there's a delay. I don't know if it's inability of the functioning of the -- that revenue department that's a problem, or are they holding the money back to dispense among other areas of Government to keep it working? I don't know. But, again, it's your money. And you ought to get it as soon as possible or, as you say, right away. Tomorrow. Yesterday.

Yes. Yes. As a matter of fact, just on yesterday, we initiated another strategy so that the monies we collect for the SPCA will go directly to the SPCA, by the SPCA being the collectors of the money from rabies license fees. I mean, so there are ways to approach that. We don't need to be a middleman, you know. We just need to make sure that we are a conduit for timely transferral of monies that you deserve. We have suffered through other folks trying to channel our money such as the state when it came to our FEMA funds. So we should really understand how critical delays can be and work to remove any administrative barriers or road blocks. And I would certainly be willing to support whatever gets money to the appropriate and entitled entity with the sense of urgency. That has been the lacking perspective. Where is the urgency?

I have lobbied for the administration to pay the DDD in a timely manner and I have personally intervened on several occasions to get the payment made to the DDD. This is, however, an administrative or executive function. The responsibility falls with that branch of government.

Yes. I'm not sure how much control City Council has over that. I'm sure it's more in the mayoral purview. However, I am a very strong proponent of being a little bit more involved within the budget process. Basically advocating for all the different departments to have the same type of budget and line items which allows for I think a greater ability to see the process and the scrutiny thereof. I think that would assist. I'm a firm proponent of having a more deliverable based budget as well as the utilization of our computers and having good websites and how to get the information out there to be more transparent. A lot of these services we should be doing online, which are currently not being done.

Economic Development Philosophy

Downtown is New Orleans’ economic engine. It is home to some of the city’s most important institutions and largest taxpayers. The majority of the city’s hotel rooms are downtown, all of the city’s Class A office space, and a large portion of the city’s retail and arts offerings – to name just a few of Downtown’s economic assets.

How do you think economic assets like these should be supported and expanded?

What is your philosophy of and plan for encouraging economic development?

Well, first of all, we -- we have to have more jobs in this City. And as we continue to build the rest of Federal City, as we continue to build the bioscience industry, we will bring greater demand to the downtown. So the fact that we will -- that you will be doing the streetscaping, the fact that you will be doing the facades, the fact that you will -- that you are a big supporter of the Master Plan and will encourage the rezoning of the upper floors and the fact that you will be doing -- leading these TIFs, you can be a part of turning a lot of these -- this new infusion of people and jobs and taxes and cash investments into making downtown the downtown that you want it to be because the opportunities will be there. We can't bring all these new industries here, whether they are on the Westbank. The Federal City is not just going to help Algiers. The biomedical center isn't just going to help two medical schools. You know, these are bringing us the opportunity for downtown to quadruple in size and its worth if downtown is ready. So that's how I would do it. I would make sure that we had all these things in place as the greater sources of jobs come into -- come into play. Then they begin to create their own sources of economic development. And you have to continue to market the City, branded on the fact that we are more and -- we are more than just the Big Easy. We are -- we are a City that is serious about investment and about business and about a whole downtown, including the arts, including the medical district, including, you know, our retailers, including the hotels and the tourism. It has to be all of the above. We don't do -- I don't think we do quite the job we could do in marketing all of it together.

Well, overall, one of the things that I have worked on -- in many cases spearheaded from the level of the Council -- is the creation of a new economic engine to actually pursue new business for our City. I don't believe that the City's efforts to pursue economic development have been successful. The current model is to go to a public/private partnership that is comprised of both private sector interests, as well as public sector officials, to try to lead the effort to pursue new business and to insure that existing businesses are strong. We're very close to that new model happening in New Orleans. The funding is in place. I am protecting the FISK of the economic development fund as best as possible so that we have a couple of years for financing for that plan once it happens. Really, it only awaits the support and ultimately the signature of a new Mayor and cooperative endeavor agreement to make it happen. Once we create that new model, we will have a real professional organization handling economic development for the City of New Orleans for the first time. And we will be able to work hand in hand with our regional partners at GNO, Inc. and to pursue it. Again, a lot of new industry that I believe exists potentially for New Orleans and to work with our existing businesses, especially our small businesses that are the bread and butter of our City right now that need some attention. This is near the top of my agenda to get off the ground come next spring if I'm elected. And I do believe based upon what the mayoral discussions have been, I think we have a great chance to get it done and accomplished.

Well, I think this area is well on its way. It got its plans in place it seems to me
What can be added to that? I mean, the plans are there. My concerns mostly would be, to be very frank and honest with you, what are we going to do outside of the DDD. That's my major concern. I don't see anything I would want to come in and change. So naturally you have to be supportive for what's going on. I mean, look, there's some brilliant business folks that's involved in all of this. Well planned activities. So I would just say I would support -- if it makes sense, I would be very supportive of the plans that's already in place. I mean, I see a lot of buildings going up, new buildings going up. Hotels have proliferated since Katrina. Hotels all over the place. So, somebody knows something about what's about to happen or what's going to happen. I don't think people invest that type of money haphazardly. But the question for me still remains: What are -- will there be support by the DDD outside of the area because that's critical also. And certainly there's no City money for that. If you can't get money for down here.