Amendment 4 would allow the City of New Orleans to develop local solutions to local problems, which is why it enjoys such broad support among Louisiana’s elected officials and business leaders. “The reason why I’m supporting Amendment #4 is because it empowers local officials to determine what they can do with their local tax dollars,” said Mayor Adrian Perkins of Shreveport. Congressman Steve Scalise notes, “if passed, it will allow the City of New Orleans to more effectively clean up blighted housing, and build more affordable housing. While it only affects New Orleans, I urge our neighbors from all across the state to support this measure on the ballot when they go to the polls in October.”
New Orleans is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis. Many longtime residents are facing skyrocketing assessments and rents. “Tackling the affordable housing crisis has been a priority for me since my earliest days in Broadmoor, and I am tremendously proud that--- with this amendment, we will be able to make real substantive progress and do something that’s never been done before,” said New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell .
While the amendment would only impact New Orleans, leaders statewide recognize its value to protecting Louisiana’s economic engine. Says Representative Jack McFarland , ““I’m voting yes on Amendment #4 this October because it’s a win-win with a single vote. A win for local control and a win for housing.” “This is a market-based solution supported by the business community,” said Representative Cameron Henry . “It does not impact us, but we support New Orleans and all the other cities throughout the state,” said Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo .
Along with a litany of statewide elected officials, Amendment #4 has the support of numerous political, business, and cultural organizations, including Capital One , the Business Council of New Orleans and the River Region , the Jefferson Parish Council , Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center , the Music and Culture Coalition of New Orleans , the Louisiana Budget Project , Step Up Louisiana , and several others.
Action New Orleans , a political action committee formed to support the goals of the Cantrell administration, has led the campaign to pass Amendment 4. In addition to digital ads, radio ads, and community engagement, the organization opened a field office to coordinate volunteer efforts statewide. Learn more at actionnola.com/oct12.
The complete list of officials and organizations supporting the New Orleans Affordable Housing Constitutional Amendment can be found below.
Elected Officials:
Congressman Steve Scalise , LA-01
Congressman Cedric Richmond , LA-02
Congressman Garret Graves , LA-06
Senator Edward Price , SD2
Senator JP Morrell , SD3
Senator-Elect Jimmy Harris , SD4
Senator Karen Carter Peterson , SD5
Senator Troy Carter , SD7
Senator-Elect Patrick Connick , SD8
Senator Gerald Boudreaux , SD24
Senator Eric LaFleur , SD28
Representative Jim Morris , HD1
Representative Jack McFarland , HD13
Representative Katrina Jackson , HD16
Representative Vincent Pierre , HD44
Representative Kirk Talbot , HD78
Representative Julie Stokes , HD79
Representative Clay Schexnayder , HD81
Representative Cameron Henry , HD82
Representative Walt Leger , HD91
Representative Royce Duplessis , HD93
Representative Neil Abramson , HD98
Representative Ted James , HD101
Mayor LaToya Cantrell , New Orleans
Mayor Sharon Weston Broome , Baton Rouge
Mayor Adrian Perkins , Shreveport
Mayor Jeff Hall , Alexandria
Mayor Jamie Mayo , Monroe
Mayor Clarence Fields , Pineville
Councilmember Helena Moreno , New Orleans At-Large
Councilmember Jason Williams , New Orleans At-Large
Councilmember Joseph I. Giarrusso III , New Orleans District A
Councilmember Jay Banks , New Orleans District B
Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer , New Orleans District C
Councilmember Jared Brossett , New Orleans District D
Councilmember Cyndi Nguyen , New Orleans District E
Jefferson Parish Council
Councilmember W. Beau Black , Plaquemines District 2
Organizations:
The New Orleans Advocate | Times-Picayune
Big Easy Magazine
Business Council of New Orleans and the River Region
Capital One
Crescent City Community Land Trust
Enterprise Community Partners
The Gambit
Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center
Greater New Orleans, Inc.
Indivisible New Orleans
Know Your Vote
Louisiana Budget Project
Louisiana Democratic Party
The Music & Culture Coalition of New Orleans
National Association of Real Estate Brokers - New Orleans
Power Coalition for Equity and Justice
Sister District Project
Step Up Louisiana
United Teachers of New Orleans
We’re proud to see how many candidates are prepared to stand with Mayor LaToya Cantrell and fight for our fair share of resources in Baton Rouge. These candidates know that excuses like “this isn’t the right time” or “this doesn’t go far enough” don’t help New Orleans: we need action, hard work, and results. This election is a crucial part of the longer fair share journey
, and we need a united team in Baton Rouge of legislators ready to work together and continue the fight for our city.
We’re supporting a range of ballot initiatives to improve the quality of life in our city and deliver residents their fair share of opportunity, starting with Constitutional Amendment #4
to encourage affordable housing, on the October 12th ballot. In November, we’ll have four more initiatives to pass: to combat discrimination, to maintain our infrastructure, to give the city permission to sell bonds, and to tax short-term rentals the same as hotels. Help us in this effort by signing up to volunteer.
We would like to thank each and every candidate and voter who took the pledge. Read the pledge and take it yourself.
The pledged candidates and elected officials, in order of the time they took the pledge, are as follows:
- Mandie Landry, State House District 91
- Ravi Sangisetty, State House District 98
- L. Jameel Shaheer, State House District 99
- Matthew Willard, State House District 97
- Max Hayden Chiz, State House District 98
- Jason Hughes, State House District 100
- Kea Sherman, State House District 98
- Dr. Ashonta Wyatt, BESE 2
- Carling Dinkler, State House District 91
- Dr. Tammy Savoie, State House District 94
- Carlos Zervigon, State House District 98
- Aimee Freeman, State House District 98
- Larry E. Sorapuru, St. John Parish Council-at-Large, Division A
- Robert McKnight, State House District 91
- "Pepper" Bowen Roussel, State House District 91
- Rep. Joseph Bouie, State Senate District 3
- Willie Jones, Lt. Governor
- Eugene Green, State House District 97
- Shawon Bernard, BESE 2
- Ethan Ashley, State House District 97
- Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, State Senate District 5
- Adonis Expose', State House District 99
- Allen Borne, State Senate District 5
- Evan Bergeron, State House District 98
- Brandon Gregoire, State Senate District 3
- CM Jared Brossett, City Council District D
- Durrell Laurent, State House District 97
- Anthony Jackson, Jr., State House District 100
- Rep. John H. Bagneris, State House District 100
- Candace Newell, State House District 99
Sen. Karen Carter Peterson praised Mayor Cantrell's efforts saying: "Promises made. Promises kept." She emphasized this deal showed an infrastructure investment the people of New Orleans deserved.
Getting our #fairshare wasn't the only win for our city this legislative session. Our stellar New Orleans delegation helped us pass the following bills, done on Mayor Cantrell's request:
- Senator Troy Carter pushed for SB71, which provides interpreters for victims of domestic violence seeking protective orders;
- Sen. Carter also sponsored SB79 and 80, which authorizes the city to create affordable housing programs that leverage tax incentives;
- Representative John Bagneris advanced legislation to increase local control over HANO;
- Senator Karen Carter Peterson led the effort to allow the RTA to determine its own management;
- Rep. Royce Duplessis passed HCR81 requesting the sexual assault oversight commission to study the medical treatment of victims of assault during forensic exams to develop guidelines.
- Representative Jimmy Harris drove the legislation to raise funding from short-term rentals;
- Representative Neil Abramson was crucial to restoring the 1% hotel sales tax for the City;
- Representative Walt Leger led the effort to regulate the Convention Center as they build their new hotel.
Thank you again for your continued support throughout this legislative session. Because of you, a better New Orleans will become a reality.
Take your guns and valuables out of your cars when you get home. Talk to your kids. Get to know teens in your neighborhood. Take part in mentorship programs. If you can, give jobs to teens. With long term paradigm shifts, we can all help teens and their families while keeping our city safe.
Learn more about other resources for teens this summer including jobs and activities.
FAIR SHARE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE BILLS CLEAR LEGISLATURE
The #fairshare package of legislation to help solve the New Orleans infrastructure crisis has passed the state legislature, and awaits Governor John Bel Edwards' signature. Thanks to your efforts, tens of millions of dollars will flow to New Orleans from funds generated by our tourism industry to fix crumbling streets and ancient pipes. We will be able to pay outstanding bills on millions owed to local contractors so they can stay in business.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BILLS CLEAR LEGISLATURE
This legislative session has been a huge victory for the people of New Orleans
all around. With the passage of SB79 and SB80, we are also one step closer to
creating local tax incentives to keep housing affordable for homeowners and
renters. The constitutional amendment proposal will go to a vote statewide this
fall.
From Mayor LaToya Cantrell:
“Tackling the affordable housing crisis has been a priority for me since my earliest days in Broadmoor, and I am tremendously proud that--- with this legislation, we were able to make real substantive progress and do something that’s never been done before,” said Mayor Cantrell. “When we are faced with funding challenges and a dire need, which the housing crisis presents: our leaders have to rely on innovation. This package of legislation does that. With this bill, we can take our proposal to voters across the state and begin granting ad valorem tax exemptions to incentivize the creation of more units, more affordably."
OUR NEXT STEPS FORWARD
We are sincerely grateful for all of you who called, sent e-mails, and visited your legislators for these issues. The affordable housing constitutional amendment will go to voters statewide this fall. We will also need to carry our message to a citywide vote to raise revenue from short term rentals for infrastructure, as part of the overall #fairshare package. Your continued support is key to making this possible, so please consider donating today.
This week the Louisiana legislature has advanced three bills aimed at redirecting some of New Orleans’ tax dollars away from the tourism industry towards infrastructure.
Several people have traveled to the state capitol to testify in support of HB521, HB522, and HB573, including the Mayor herself.
“I’d like to talk about something that’s often overlooked about infrastructure,” said Captain Aaron Mischler, President of the New Orleans Firefighter’s Association in testimony before the committee on Monday, “and that’s public safety and life safety. The infrastructure in New Orleans, as everyone knows, is dilapidated and has been falling apart for years,” Mischler said. “By not taking care of this now, there’s a 100% chance lives will be lost.”
After hearing his testimony on Monday, the House Ways and Means Committee advanced HB522 without objection. The bill restores a 1% sales and use tax that was suspended decades ago in favor of other taxes used to fund the construction of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
On Tuesday, Mayor LaToya Cantrell skipped a US conference of mayors where she is the vice chair of the infrastructure committee to deliver her own impassioned plea before legislators. “I have boil water advisories that can come at any time. I have 111-year-old pipes that can burst, again, at any given time,” Cantrell stated.
“We need just a little bit more of what’s generated in the city of New Orleans… Last year we saw 18 million visitors. When you do the math, based on the population, that’s 48 visitors per one resident,” she pointed out. “Just imagine 48 people living in your house, flushing your toilet, taking showers, on your roads, on your streets. This is what we’re faced with in the city.”
After her testimony, the committee advanced HB521, which reduces the cap on the hotel industry’s self-assessment. Currently, hotel owners impose a 1.75 percent tax on their guests, which results in $18 million in revenue. That revenue is currently directed towards marketing the city to visitors, bringing in major events, and paying for extras. The bill essentially takes .25 percent of that money – around $4.5 million – and redirects it towards infrastructure projects to improve drainage. New Orleans voters would have to approve that change, should the bill pass the Louisiana House.
Stephen Perry, head of New Orleans & Co., one of the private tourism entities that uses the money in question to market the city to business visitors, said in an interview that hotel owners are so opposed to giving the city that .25 percent, that they would simply stop collecting the 1.75 percent tax altogether, forfeiting the $18 million in revenue.
“What you have before you is a very earnest attempt to take down and destroy the largest economic development corporation in Louisiana,” he told the committee.
The committee also advanced HB573, which would allow the city to access some of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center’s $235 million in reserves. Currently, around $79 million of those reserves are slated to fund the construction of a linear park with shaded greenery, wooden benches, a fountain, and an expanse of lawn. Michael Sawaya, the Convention Center president and general manager has argued that the park is a necessary investment to improve the Convention Center’s ability to compete.
“We’ll have the nicest street in the city,” Sawaya said in an interview.
Mayor Cantrell would rather see some of those reserves used to help repair the city’s infrastructure. “The thing is,” said Kristine Breithaupt, communications director for the mayor’s political action committee, “we are talking about replacing turbines from Roosevelt’s administration while the convention center is arguing that money to build a hotel, park and ‘the nicest street in the city’ shouldn’t be considered excess funds.”
“People think conservative legislators won’t pass these bills because it would help liberal New Orleans,” Breithaupt said in an interview with Big Easy Magazine. “But this is not a partisan issue. This is common sense and it makes business sense to spend our tax dollars wisely on infrastructure.”
Breithaupt also pointed out that in spite of how it’s being portrayed by many media outlets, the mayor does not see this as a “tourism versus the city” issue. “It’s about assessing our priorities together, in partnership,” she stated.
All three bills are now up for debate in the House.
Read more at Big Eazy Magazine