‘We urge all our readers in New Orleans to vote YES on the NORD charter change’ – Gambit
September 26, 2010 – New Orleans, LA – The charter amendment to reform the New Orleans Recreation Department received a strong endorsement from Gambit. Editors at the weekly publication, which covers news, politics and entertainment, thoroughly read the proposed Charter amendment to create a recreation commission as well as the ordinance determining the governance of the commission. Read their endorsement below:
NORD Charter Change: YES
Voters across New Orleans will be asked whether to restructure the city’s long-suffering Recreation Department, which once was a national model. The proposed City Charter amendment would take day-to-day operation of NORD out of the mayor’s office and put it under a 13-member independent commission, most of whose members would still be appointed by the mayor. However, commissioners would serve fixed terms and have full authority to hire a recreation director. A separate, publicly created foundation would be charged with raising private donations to help rebuild the city’s treasured playgrounds. We wholeheartedly support this proposition. Critics claim that the change would “privatize” NORD. That is patently false. NORD and its functions would remain as public as ever — but its new structure would give it a more secure funding base. This new model is based on the nation’s most successful public recreation programs. Our kids deserve the kinds of opportunities presented in reforms such as this. We urge all our readers in New Orleans to vote YES on the NORD charter change.
For more information about NORD reform on the October 2nd ballot, visit www.nordcap.org
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Contact:
Angele Wilson
(504) 592-1800
angele.nord@gmail.com
