Dear Friends,
As the final weeks of the year 2010 come to an end, City Hall is by no means quiet!
NORD Commission
During yesterday’s City Council meeting, twelve of the thirteen appointees to the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission were approved by the City Council; the 13th appointee will be announced Monday after the New Orleans Recreation Development Foundation meets for the first time. Five members representing each of the five Council districts were among those named, and all are committed to the goal of offering our youth and seniors a top notch recreation system. As you all know, recreation tops my list of priorities, and I am so pleased to see the new recreation system, which was approved by 74% of voters, realized!
New Orleans Hornets
During yesterday’s meeting, the Council also passed a resolution that outlined the importance of the Hornets to New Orleans and the entire Gulf South region. The document urges citizens and businesses to support the NBA team that returned here after Hurricane Katrina. To further bolster that sentiment, and because I believe that sports are invaluable to the development of our youth, I organized an evening in which over 100 students from Edgar P. Harney Elementary will attend a game on January 19 against the Memphis Grizzlies. Let’s keep the Hive alive!
Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act
There is a group of youth in New Orleans and around the country that are bound together by their undocumented status. Brought to the United States by their parents at a young age, this is the only country they have ever known. Yet they still don’t belong. The DREAM Act, a federal bill aimed at providing immigration relief to undocumented students for the purposes of educational/military service, was passed by the House of
Fielkow with students, faith leaders and community members on the steps of City Hall in support of the DREAM Act
Representatives and will go before the Senate soon. I strongly urge the Louisiana Congressional Delegation and all Senators to vote yes for this Act that reflects the foundation upon which our country was built.
R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
This Saturday, December 18, the Superdome will be flooded with fans from Troy University and Ohio University for the R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. The Trojans (7-5) and Bobcats (8-4) will square off at 8 p.m. Please go and show your support for the Bowl!
Lake Pontchartrain High School All-Star Football Classic
The Superdome will be home to another exciting game on Monday, December 20. The Lake Pontchartrain High School All-Star Football Classic, which received considerable support from the Darren Sharper Foundation, will be played between the Jefferson Parish All Stars and the Orleans Parish All Stars. Game time is 6 p.m. In addition to the game, there will also be a college fair, a job fair and girl’s flag football game. Please support our student athletes!
Fielkow delivering a Proclamation from the City Council to Saints player Mike McKenzie and Darren DeWalt of the Darren Sharper Foundation
Budget
The long-awaited passage of the city’s 2011 budget took place last Saturday, signifying a municipal government working in partnership towards a unified goal of making New Orleans an even better city to live in and visit. 2011 is going to be a year of great progress in which the City of New Orleans will continue the great strides made in 2010.
May each of you enjoy a happy and healthy New Year.
Your City council President,
Arnie Fielkow
Contact:
Danielle Viguerie
Communications Director
Office of Councilmember-at-Large Arnie Fielkow
Ph: 504-658-1063
daviguerie@nola.gov
