Dear Friends,
Councilmembers Morrell, Clarkson, Fielkow, Palmer and Head in Chambers vetting the Mayor’s proposed 2011 budget
As you know, the City Council is knee deep in budget hearings as we enter our third week of publicly vetting Mayor Landrieu’s proposed $483.4 million general fund budget for 2011. We begin every morning at 10 am in Council Chambers, where the public is welcome to attend. My website’s calendar features the budget hearing schedule, which includes a list of topics that will be discussed each day. If, however, you cannot make it to City Hall, the official City Council website posts daily summaries; or, you can tune into the government access TV channel for a live broadcast.
The 2011 budget will be the blueprint for next year, outlining in detail the expected revenues and expenditures and thus determining priorities for city dollars. Like a jigsaw puzzle, there are numerous components that must all fit together so that expenditures and revenues align to form a balanced budget by December 1st, 2010. Two of my priorities have already been addressed: recreation and economic development. I am pleased that Mayor Landrieu fulfilled his commitment to recreation by doubling funding for recreation to the tune of $10 million. With this increase in funding, the new Recreation Commission will be poised to make great strides for our youth and seniors.
Flo Schornstein, founder Parkway Partners, received a Proclamation for her work to improve quality of life
The NOLA Business Alliance for Economic Development also received a substantial financial commitment in the Mayor’s proposed budget. While I applaud Mayor Landrieu for prioritizing economic development within the city’s budget, the business community must also continue to financially commit to the New Orleans Business Alliance in order to realize the public private partnership envisioned to lead New Orleans’ economic development.
In other news, I would like to invite you to a dinner and dialogue on November 15th from 6:00pm – 7:30pm at Touro Synagogue. The event, entitled Living our Faith, is co-hosted by the congregations of Masjidur-Rahim (Mosque of the Merciful) and Touro Synagogue in order to facilitate interfaith discussion and understanding. If you are interested in participating, please RSVP to Arlean Fermanis: afermanis@tourosynagogue.com or 895-4843. This dinner is a prelude to the third annual Weekend of Peace, also hosted by these two congregations to promote interfaith understanding by joining in prayer, discussion and community service. The Weekend of Peace, an event I co-founded pre Katrina, will be held on Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend in January 2011 and is open to all faiths.
I would also like to congratulate those involved in this past weekend’s event in Central City to promote National Adoption Month. As the father of two wonderful adopted daughters, this is a cause very close to my heart. The block party kicked off with a second line and a 2 km march in support of adoption. It was a great Saturday!
National Adoption Month is recognized with a Proclamation before the November 4th City Council Meeting.
This morning, I was privileged to attend the 79th General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Jewish Federation gathered volunteers and raised $30 million for emergency aid, shelter, food and counseling. Not forgetting that there is still work to be done in New Orleans, 4,000 volunteers are here today to continue reviving and rebuilding our great city. I would like to thank these hard working volunteers for their dedication.
Another exciting event taking place this week is Beyond the Ballot: Making Washington Work. The one-day event, which takes place tomorrow, November 9 at Tulane University’s Lavin-Bernick Center, will gather some of the nation’s top political consultants and journalists to discuss the idea of bipartisanship. This discussion should prove especially interesting a week after the US electorate gave Republicans control of the House, while Democrats retained control of the Senate. Hosted by Mary Matalin and James Carville, the event is free and open to the public. It will also be webcast at www.bipartisanpolicy.org/nola2010.
For the latest updates on these events and others, visit my website www.fielkow.net.
Your City Council President,
Arnie D. Fielkow
