This was my first attempt to bring ideas for rebuilding New Orleans to the City Council (November 17, 2005). The ideas were unanimously affirmed by the City Council, and they also decided to adopt one of the recommendations ON-THE-SPOT by the City Council President (Oliver Thomas). They also agreed to seriously consider the other proposals. The City Council was so impressed by this initial presentation that they invited me to return a month later (Dec 15, 2005) to expand my presentation. Their enthusiasm disappeared when they (City Council, primarily through the influence of Councilwoman Cynthia Willard-Lewis) discovered that I was a Conservative Republican. All subsequent attempts to bring forth ideas were thwarted by the Liberal Democrat-led City Council (from Dec 2005 through my last attempt in Sep 2007). Today (as of Oct 2012), the Lower 9th Ward continues to languish.

1. Recommended Strategy for
rebuilding
New Orleans
Mayor C. Ray Nagin
Ideas for Today and Tomorrow
Submitted by Bill Randall (former Lower 9th Ward resident)
Presented to the NOLA City Council on November 17, 2005

2. 2005 New Orleans City Council
Eddie L. Sapir Vice President
Cynthia Hedge- Morrell
President
Oliver Thomas
John A. Batt Renee’ Gill-Pratt Jacqueline Cynthia
Brechtel-Clarkson Willard-Lewis

3. Purpose
 This presentation covers proposals that may have been
beneficial to the rebuilding process in New Orleans.
 These recommendations were initially presented to the
New Orleans City Council on Nov 17, 2005.
 Many of the following recommendations were likely to
have already been submitted via various forums and
media. Therefore, redundancies were inevitable.

4. Goals and Objectives
 Congressional approval of appropriations is contingent
upon the breadth and depth of Louisiana leadership.
Coherent plans would undoubtedly help secure timely
release of funds.
 The recommendations in this presentation are intended
to provide a workable, feasible approach to help
accelerate and expedite the recovery process.
 Some of the ideas involve unprecedented innovation,
and may have necessitated a shift in traditional thinking.

5. Topic: “Gridded Metro Renewal”
This approach would help restore
key sections of the Metro area in
a phased process. This plan
facilitates rapid restoration by
first developing major avenues
and intersections across the
metropolitan area in a systematic
process that gradually fills-in
lower priority areas after building
(reconstructing/renovating) major
metropolitan areas.

6. Topic: “Flood-resistant barriers”
The flood barriers would be set up
prior to periods of potential
flooding.
Activation could also protect
homes during heavy downpours
(with severe thunderstorms) as
well as threatening periods
associated with tropical storms
and hurricanes.
Various commercial versions are
already available on the market.

7. Topic: “Micro Investment Partnerships”
This innovative, cooperative venture
relies on partnership with investment
companies to make stock trading more
accessible to individuals with very little
capital. This would provide a viable
alternative to gambling, and be a win-
win situation for all parties concerned.
It would require legal and legislative
assistance to overcome bureaucratic
obstacles.

8. Topic: “Interstate 510 (I-510) Extension”
 Continue the I-510 bypass through
Chalmette (St. Bernard Parish), into
Orleans Parish (Lower 9th Ward) via
Judge Perez/ Claiborne Ave.
 Establish Lower 9th Ward exits at Delery
St., Caffin Ave, & Forstall Ave.
 Build a “high rise” across the Industrial
Canal; concurrently demolish the Judge
William Seeber (Claiborne Ave.) bridge.
 Rename Flood St. “Vigilance Drive.”

9. Topic: “USA Partnership Ventures”
Establish an ad campaign to encourage
other cities across the USA to form a
partnership with New Orleans:
Cities whose names have the following
words in their name are especially
encouraged to participate by adopting a
small section of The Big Easy that
needs to be rebuilt:
a. “crescent” b. “city”
c. “new” d. “Orleans
e. “big” f. “easy”
g. “Cajun” h. “French”

10. Topic: “Collective Brainstorming Website”
Domain: “HELPBIGEASY.COM”
Website would have several
portals, and secure chat areas to
facilitate a SUBSTANTIVE
discussion of ideas.
This would provide a tremendous
pool of innovative ideas, some of
which may show great promise.

11. Topic: “Louisiana Tax Code”
Revise the state & local tax code to:
a. eliminate extraneous deductions
b. reduce the tax burden for
individuals and investors
This would enable Louisiana to
attract businesses to develop/
establish their manufacturing plants,
corporate headquarters, etc. in the
city/state. Other states that have
shown success in this realm could
be consulted (e.g.: OH, FL, NC).

12. Topic: “Family-strengthening initiatives”
The two-parent family is one institution
that (statistically) has proven to be a
tremendous deterrent to crime and
delinquency.
While not as statistically solvent, single
parent families also need support in the
myriad of challenges they face in the
area of child-rearing.
Organizations that help strengthen
families (particularly those helping to
maintain the integrity of two-parent
families) should be supported and promoted.

13. Topic: “Community Liaison Representative”
Divide metro area into subregions,
and organize “Neighborhood
Action Committees” (NACs) that
monitor and work cooperatively
with city agencies and officials.
NACs would summarize their
findings and recommendations,
and forward them to City Council
members for further review. All
noteworthy ideas given due credit.

14. Topic: “Krewe of Remembrance”
New Orleans’ storied past (good as well
as tragic) is interesting and unique. A
parade that commemorates this would
be most fitting.
Parade to start (6 AM) at Poland Ave. &
N. Claiborne, and proceed to Canal St.
Float themes should cover a myriad of
New Orleans cultural subjects, as well
as various floats (featured at beginning,
middle and end) that highlight the
historical (PAST), current (PRESENT)
and (FUTURE) legacy of New Orleans.

15. Topic: “Krewe of Remembrance” (cont’d.)
Themes to be decided by a
steering committee comprised of:
1 retired school teacher,
1 high school teacher,
1 class president from major univ.,
1 class president from a local H.S.,
1 local businessman,
1 local businesswoman, and
1 news reporter (any media)
Names from each category chosen
via random drawing.

16. Topic: “Plan of Actions & Milestones”
A detailed outline of the recovery
plan should be documented in a
format that is easy to track.
This POA&M would be reviewed
periodically (weekly: Fridays) to
ensure that timelines are being
met. Results to be published in
Times Picayune Sunday edition.

17. Topic: “Minimizing Storm Surge”
Construct SE Louisiana “breakwaters”
with access Point lighthouses. Deep
water ocean waves approaching the
coast create sizeable storm surge.
Carefully engineered barriers
(“breakwaters”) within 10 miles of the
SE Louisiana coast with narrow (5 mile
wide) seaward/inland passes would
significantly abate storm-generated
waves. (cont’d)

18. Topic: “Minimizing Storm Surge” (cont’d.)
This would minimize storm
from the southeast. Another idea
that has already been discussed
(in other circles) is an ADVANCE
opening of the spillway to relieve
pressure on the northern levees
(along Lake Ponchatrain).

19. Topic: “Refinery Residential Protection”
The tragic saga of residential areas that
were devastated by the environmental
disaster (refinery sludge) in St. Bernard
Parish should never be repeated. An
initiative that could help in the future
would be:
a) earmark 0.5% of taxes from oil
refinery production in St. Bernard Parish
in a parish trust fund to be used for
parish citizens/homeowners & business
owners; (cont’d)

20. Topic:“Refinery Residential Protection” (cont’d)
b) form “Citizens Awareness Advisory
Group;”
c) create an “eco-barrier” around the
refinery perimeter that would
effectively contain any environmental
waste and/or spills.

21. Topic: “Community Work Projects”
Require that ten percent (10%) of
neighborhood work projects that require
unskilled, skilled and technical labor
be opened to area residents, enabling
them to earn extra money with part time
employment.
An eight-hour basic manual labor
techniques, administrative procedures,
and general safety requirements course
(offered free) would be required prior to
citizen employment in the projects.

22. Topic: “Monorail”
Construct a monorail route from
New Orleans International
(Louis Armstrong) airport to the
Central Business District (CBD).

23. Topic: “Tourist Cultural Attraction Expansion”
Use Vieux Carre’ as the central
Tourism hub, and design four other
areas with cultural attractions
(centered approx. 10 miles NE, SE,
SW, NW of the French Quarter),
tourist shops, open air markets,
lodging and easy access off major
highways and/or interstate.

24. Topic: “Small Business Symposium”
If New Orleans (and vicinity) is to come
back in a robust fashion, it must ride a
surging tide of small businesses. One
major complaint of low-income residents
that are now displaced is that New
Orleans was a city of the “haves” and
“have-nots.”
If small businesses thrive, then the local
economy would become vibrant, and
commensurate wages would increase.
(cont’d)

25. Topic: “Small Business Symposium” (cont’d)
The Small Business Administration (SBA)
initiative that will process SBA loans
through private banks is a huge (recent)
development.
If all parties involved in the recovery effort
had one collective voice in the process of
“leveling the playing field,” New Orleans
would transform the portions of the city
with a blighted economic past into a
model that other cities in the USA would
do well to emulate.

26. Topic: “Quality of Life”
Wages of teachers and law
enforcement officers must come up
to the national average.
The alternative is unacceptable,
which is:
 a lower standard of education,
 an unqualified cadre’ of teachers, and
 a demoralized police force.

27. Topic: “Superdome or Alternative”
We should not forget that it was Louisiana legislature,
Congressman Hale Boggs and Gov. John McKeithen who set the
standard for modern-day sports arenas when it opened the
Louisiana Superdome™. The bar was set so high that the
Superdome’s usefulness (and technical potential) has endured
for over three decades. (cont’d)

28. Topic: “Superdome or Alternative” (cont’d)
Now is the time to solicit solid corporate sponsors, and have
Louisiana raise the bar to an unprecedented level. With careful
consultation (marketing, technology, engineering, etc.), the Bayou
State can once again be the host of the Super Bowl, Final Four
tournaments, and a myriad of other events on a regular basis
(without being second-guessed or placed under undue scrutiny by
would-be approving authorities).

29. Topic: “Superdome or Alternative” (cont’d)
Implementation of the aforementioned recommendations is a
daunting (but NOT impossible) proposition. By taking a visionary
approach to this recovery, we will ensure the health and prosperity
for our children and grandchildren. And by so doing, the first
response when national entities plan events, they would be willing
to wait in line for 5 years. Then, the standard national query
would be: “Is there any chance New Orleans is available?”

30. Supplemental Recommendation

31. Topic: “Business Tri-Share”
Allow firms and businesses to access
commercial real estate (offices, buildings,
etc.) on a time-shared basis.
Overall lease expense is determined up
front. Amount paid is pro-rated based on
which 8-hour slot is leased (The following
example is based on $2,000/month lease
amount):
A: 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM 45% ($900.00)
B: 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM 35% ($700.00)
C: 10:00 PM – 6:00 AM 20% ($400.00)

32. Our neighborhood (before & after Katrina)
<<<<Before Katrina (1976):
View from our side yard
looking across the street.
After Katrina (2006): >>>>
View from our side yard
looking across the street.

33. Total citizen involvement will inspire a full NOLA recovery!
Thank you for your time and attention!