Led by neighborhood organizations and the non-profit sector, work in policy and action plans regarding blight abatement exist throughout New Orleans.  Aggressive steps must be taken to ensure sustainability and the quality of life in our communities continues to improve.

My strategy will be inclusive of the best of ideas, progress support services, new city ordinances when needed and a commitment to proven best practices applied in our unique scenario. I will ensure the involvement of development professionals, neighborhood organizations, the non-profit sector, and city and state agencies. Neighborhood and business recommendations developed over the last 4 years of recovery will be incorporated with lessons from professional recovery and development agencies to establish a unified agenda and action steps.

My primary goals will be to: streamline the process for code enforcement and neighborhood identification of blight priorities for immediate and corrective attention. Expedite city owned properties, and all properties controlled by the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA) and Louisiana Land Trust to return to private commerce and/or use as community assets.

I will advocate for:

Collaboration with City Council members to form a blight committee

• Incorporating aspects of the Recovery Committee, Housing and Human Needs Committee and Public Works Committee to write new policy, improve existing city ordinances and coordination amongst responsible agencies
• Pass new “Common Sense” city ordinances to give the necessary legal mandate to implement drastic changes in time lines impacting neighborhood blight eradication

Development of blight action steps with each District C neighborhood

• To identify and prioritize specific blight objectives and action steps for each community
• Create a constant dialogue and monitoring method for progress towards objectives with each city agency involved in each particular neighborhood

Coordinated Code Enforcement

• District C office will compile with citizen input a district wide database to ensure effective responses
• Neighborhood priorities will be used to create code enforcement’s objectives
• Support punitive action for habitual blight offenders

Working with Advocacy Groups and Neighborhood Associations

• To ensure proper advocacy and development support of neighborhood objectives expressed during previous planning activity
• Support the City Master Plan and Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance with the force of law
• Ensure that appropriate public participation and input is incorporated within all development plans or projects within District C

Support New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA)

• Develop and implement strategies which assist NORA in being effective
• Address legal issues and cash flow problems acting as obstacles to efficiency and preventing “fast tracking” solutions in NORA’s mandate
• Insist on transparency and accountability