Recommendations for the November 13 election
1st November 2021 · 0 Comments
October 30, 2021 marked the beginning of early voting, with the formal Election Day approaching on November 13, 2021. While milliage renewals are on many suburban ballots, nearly every parochial office in the City of New Orleans is up for grabs. With rising crime, collapsing streets, broken pipes, and on the heels of the worst electrical blackout in the history of the Crescent City after Hurricane Ida, whom we choose to represent us on Orleans’ main governmental and regulatory body has never have been more important. This election matters.
Orleans Parish
State Representative — 102nd District: Delisha Boyd
Too often, legislative candidates enter our interview sessions high on enthusiasm— yet light on policy proposals. No one, though, can accuse Delisha Boyd of a lack of detailed specifics in her platform.
The veteran political activist has managed a myriad of election campaigns. She knows one should not throw her proverbial “hat into the ring” without specific ideas, and Boyd advocates several detailed pieces of legislation which she wishes to author— if elected to the legislature. Her policy prescriptions to protect longtime homeowners while facilitating new development are comprehensive and well-thought out.
Sheriff: Marlin Gusman
When the former Councilman ran for Orleans Criminal Sheriff, he was taking on a troubled agency that had been reduced to using abandoned motor hotels on Tulane Avenue for jail space.
Now, he can boast of a state-of-the-art penal facility, one that actually does NOT look like a jail from the interstate. Gusman also has built quality mental health facilities for his inmates, just as he has reduced the overall prisoner population by hundreds. He did all of this while under the scrutiny of a Federal Consent decree. Gusman has become a model Sheriff, and deserves another term.
Clerk — Criminal District Court: Austin Badon
Currently the Clerk of First City Court, Badon runs with a wealth of experience in judicial management, but unlike his opponent, bears none of the past responsibility for the dysfunctional caricature that criminal clerk’s office has become Badon has remodeled the First City Clerkship on best practices used around the state and the nation and has never been too proud to ask for help from other parish clerks. This willingness—to solicit expertise and apply outside models to the often anachronistic management styles of Louisiana court systems—makes him perfect figure to bring rationality and efficiency to the Orleans Criminal Clerk’s Office.
Assessor: Erroll G. Williams
Arguably the smartest man in city government, Williams has fought to provide fair and impartial property assessments across the city. He has also helped pass a constitutional amendment which would limit the rising assessments for homeowners to a ceiling of 10% per year. The New Orleans Assessor has declared often—to his colleagues across the state—of how disadvantaged longtime homeowners are in this city because of rising assessments.
‘People have literally lost their homes through no fault of their own, ‘Williams has pled, ‘because the riding values of their houses have led to taxes too expensive for poor people to pay.’ He has championed the small taxpayer, and should have another term in office.
Councilmember at Large — Division 1: Helena Moreno
This incumbent At-large member has provided one of the most vigorous voices for change on the New Orleans City Council. It was Moreno, perhaps channeling her former career as an investigative journalist, who just hours after Ida uncovered how comprehensively Entergy had misled both the New Orleans City Government and the public at large. Construction of the power plant in New Orleans East was promised by the utility to save the city from a multiday blackout, yet that was almost exactly as what occurred in the two weeks after September’s Hurricane. Moreno investigated the depth of the lie, and was first to note that Entergy should not have had to run powerlines across Lake Pontchartrain to give electricity to an electrical plant. The power generation from that facility alone should have been enough for Orleans Parish, according to its design specs. She has lead the effort to hold Entergy to account in the aftermath. Moreno deserves another term to complete that work.
Councilmember at Large — Division 2: Jean-Paul “JP” Morrell
While in the legislature, Morrell served as both a champion of New Orleans and one of the leading figures of reform in the state. A thoughtful Progressive Democrat, he has often played the role of “go-to” figure in the effort to build coalitions across party and racial lines.
Morrell’s breath of support citywide is staggering as a result. He offers workable policy plans from reforming the Sewerage and Water Board, changing energy policy, fixing a dysfunctional budgetary system, and holding the Cantrell Administration to account until the NOPD is restructured (and expanded) to enable police to actually tackle rising violent crime in the city.
It’s not an accident that Morrell was the only candidate for City Council early to oppose the mayor’s effort to move City Hall into the Municipal Auditorium. The former State Senator seemingly was the sole local politician who realized that the City Council already possesses the complete power to block the Mayor— thanks to its own power over zoning. That alone justifies Morrell‘s election into the presidency of the New Orleans City Council.
Councilmember — District A: Joseph “Joe” Giarrusso III
He may have a famous name, but Joe Giarrusso has proven himself equal to his ancestors. No councilmember works harder than he. No committee chairman enters a meeting better prepared on the council. His efforts as head of the public works, sanitation and environment committee have highlighted the many failures of the city’s infrastructure functions and the Sewerage & Water Board. His policy prescriptions offer a way forward from the constant reality of decrepit piping and streets.
Even critics of the incumbent District “A” Councilman admit that his work to maintain quality of life in the University area of Uptown, by stopping the “doubles to dorms” redevelopments, has been nothing short of stellar. If re-elected, he seeks contractor reforms and better crossparish cooperation, and for those planks in his platform alone, Giarrusso deserves a second term.
Councilmember — District B: Lesli Harris
Perhaps no other NOLA City Council district has undergone the degree of gentrification and change equal to this Irish Channel to Central City, Uptown to Lower Garden District seat. Its next Councilperson needs to bring a fresh perspective to this changing area. She needs to equally balance economic development and new business inculcation with a spirited defense of the traditional African-American homeowners dealing with the transformations in their historic neighborhoods. We believe she is qualified to represent this challenging Council seat.
Councilmember — District C: “Frank” Perez
This seat, which stretches from the Treme through the Marigny and the French Quarter to Algiers, is remarkably difficult to represent. Its City Councilman must be responsive to the needs of neighborhoods from suburban to deeply historic. He or she must be both a preservationist and an advocate of sustainable growth via affordable housing.
A veteran of quality-of-life battles on the East Bank and the West Bank, we believe Mr. Perez is qualified to sit in the District C post. Particularly, of late, Perez has stood as one of the most articulate advocates of holding Entergy accountable for the power company’s two weeks of darkness after Hurricane Ida.
Councilmember — District D: No Endorsement
Our Editors decided to wait until the runoff to issue an endorsement.
Councilmember — District E: Oliver M. Thomas
What is astonishing is that the former Councilman At-Large has not downplayed his legal troubles, nor tried to employ some lame justification. Instead, when meeting with our editors, he addressed the reality of it, and then began to outline in voluminous detail all of the opportunities which the New Orleans City Council has missed in the last few years.
Oliver Thomas is a walking encyclopedia of Councilmanic policy initiatives. He can sit down and rattle off economic development studies, zoning overlays, and potential development districts in a way no sitting elected official in city government can currently match. We firmly believe that his experience, expertise, and perceptiveness are desperately needed at this difficult, post-Hurricane Ida juncture.
Constitutional Amendments
CA NO. 1 (ACT 131, 2021 – HB 199) — Authorizes streamlined electronic filing, remittance, and collection of sales and use tax : VOTE YES
Mayor LaToya Cantrell is wrong on this issue. The system of each parish collecting sales tax on local retailers has irreparably harmed Orleans Parish. It is one of the reasons why big box retailers, as well as small retailers, mostly sit across the parish line in Jefferson. Eliminating the bureaucratic, labyrinthine parish-by -parish rules for local sales tax collection will benefit the City of New Orleans. Nor shall we surrender much local authority and power, if the amendment passes. After all, Internet retailers currently pay sales tax directly to the state. Moreover, the city has very few big box retailers, and a dearth of small shopping options – not directed to tourists. The reality of the situation stands that right now the current rules merely force most Orleans Parish residents to cross the parish line. This amendment may incentivize some small retailers to take a chance and expand into the city.
New Orleans is not unique. The same bureaucratic difficulties exist for so many parishes across the state. Creating a one stop source to pay local sales taxes will make the system not only more efficient, but much more favorable for the small retailer trying to stay in business – and attempting to expand across the metro area.
CA NO. 2 (ACT 134, 2021 – SB 159) — Lowers maximum allowed rate of income tax and allows providing a deduction for federal income taxes: VOTE YES
This revenue neutral proposal maintains Louisiana’s progressive income tax, but lowers rates for all. It is particularly of a benefit for our poorest citizens who lack the wherewithal to take large federal income tax deductions on their state income tax.
By eliminating deductions, the personal rate would fall from six percent to 4.25 percent above $50,000, from four percent to 3.5 percent above $12,500, and from two percent to 1.85 percent at the base. Louisiana’s top corporate income tax rates would be reduced from eight percent to 7.5 percent, with proportional decreases and simplification from five rates to three.
Such a revenue-neutral change would give Louisiana similar income tax rates to several of our southern neighbors, thus making us more competitively regionally and internationally.
CA NO. 3 (ACT 132, 2021 – SB 87) — Allows certain levee districts to levy an annual tax for certain purposes: VOTE YES
This measure simply creates the same tax rules for all levee districts. If passed, the amendment provides the six newer levee districts with the same authority as all others in raising a 5-mill property tax. The measure must be enacted statewide, as well as within the individual districts, to take effect. So the district voters have the final say.
CA NO. 4 (ACT 157, 2021 – HB 487) — Increases amount of allowed reduction to certain dedicated funds when a budget deficit is projected: VOTE YES
If approved, this amendment would allow the state to access dedicated monies within the budget with greater ease, defending our fiscal stability.
In order to be applied in a deficit year, the Revenue Estimating Committee must declare in the current year a deficit of at least seven-tenths of one percent. In that situation, enaction of this amendment would allow the movement of up to 10 percent in dedicated funds, up from five percent, into the general fund.
This Amendment does provide safeguards before the dedicated funds can be drawn down. Approval of the Governor and the Joint Legislative Budget committee would be needed, providing flexibility but protecting non-recurring funds.
Seabrook Neighborhood Imp. and Security District —$200/$100 Parcel Fee Renewal – CC – 4 Yrs.:VOTE YES
Our editors stand as strong supporters of local security districts. A neighborhood’s willingness to tax itself, above any parish or city millage, protects lives and property – and makes us all safer.
Jefferson Parish
All Milliages: VOTE YES
Parishwide School Board — 8.75 Mills Renewal – SB -10 Yrs.
City of Gretna Prop. No. 1 of 3 (Ambulance) — 3.0 Mills Renewal – M&CC – 10 Yrs.
City of Gretna Prop. No. 2 of 3 (Police) — 4.0 Mills Renewal – M&CC – 10 Yrs.
City of Gretna Prop. No. 3 of 3 (Recreation) — 2.4 Mills Renewal – M&CC – 10 Yrs.
These are important property taxes that for the schools, parks, and police. They are necessities for civic government, and there’s no reason not to approve them for another decade.
St. Bernard Parish
PW Law Enforcement District — 15.64 Mills Continuation – Sheriff – 10 Yrs.: VOTE YES
This literally funds police and public safety for the next decade. It is an existing tax that seeks to be renewed at the existing rate. To vote against it would be unthinkable.
This article originally published in the November 1, 2021 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
