Hospitality District is a Sham & a Power Play

1) City Business reports that "A new state board with an unspecific mandate will control an estimated $5 million in annual public revenues if the New Orleans Hospitality and Entertainment District moves forward as proposed. It would include a select group of hospitality industry executives and individuals beholden to the mayor, and merchant and resident groups suspect the board would be innately political."

2) "Tulane University has selected New Orleans businessman and community leader Darryl Berger as its representative on the board that will govern the proposed University Medical Center (UMC), an academic medical center that will serve the healthcare needs of the community."

3) Darryl Berger is slated to spear head this new 'Hospitality District'. As a member of the UMC Board, he voted to clear over 80 homes from the proposed site, even before financing was made available. The suggested 'powers' of the Board of the Hospitality District include eminent domain powers, in that it would also expressly permit the following:

  "To acquire by gift, grant, purchase, or otherwise all property, including rights of way; to hold and use any franchise or property, real, personal, or mixed, tangible or intangible, or any interest therein, necessary or desirable for carrying out the objects and purposes of the district."

4) ""The proposed hospitality legislation raises a number of questions and issues," said Janet Howard of the watchdog Bureau of Governmental Research. She cited the imposition of a new district on top of existing ones, the "appropriateness of the proposed boundaries and governance," and provisions that would allow the board to authorize tax-increment financing districts and other sub-districts."



For more information, go here:
http://nolafemmes.com/2012/04/30/hospitality-district/

And here:
http://www.theamericanzombie.com/2012/05/more-commentary-on-ho-zone.html

EXPRESS YOUR OPINIONS HERE, WHILE YOU STILL CAN;

Senator Jean-Paul Morrell – District 3
E-mail: morrelljp@legis.la.gov
Capitol Office: P.O. Box 94183, Baton Rouge, LA 70804
(225) 342-2040
District Office: 6305 Elysian Fields Ave., Suite 404, New Orleans, LA 70122
Phone: (504) 284-4794
Fax: (504) 284-4796



Senator Edwin R. Murray - District 4
E-mail: murraye@legis.la.gov
Capitol Office: P.O. Box 94183, Baton Rouge, LA 70804
(225) 342-2040
District Office: 1540 N. Broad St., New Orleans, LA 70119
Phone: (504) 945-0042
Toll Free Number: (866) 406-6278



Senator Karen Carter Peterson - District 5
E-mail: petersonk@legis.la.gov
Capitol Office: P.O. Box 94183, Baton Rouge, LA 70804
(225) 342-2040
District Office: 1010 Common St., Suite 2510, New Orleans, LA 70112
Phone: (504) 568-8346
Fax: (504) 568-8405



Mayor Mitch Landrieu
Office: Suite 2E04, 1300 Perdido St, New Orleans LA 70112
Phone: (504) 658-4900