If ever New Orleans needed an alliance of strong, knowledgeable, experienced and outspoken leaders to band together to protect its best interest and that of its people, it is now.
Gov. Jeff Landry has made no secret of his plans to take over New Orleans.
And let’s be clear. We are not talking about a governor that wants to work in true partnership with local leaders to improve the quality of life for New Orleanians. If we were, we would not be writing this editorial right now.
If you don’t think New Orleans needs protection from Landry, think again.
Landry’s Sewerage & Water Board Task Force is pushing for a state takeover of the utility, and he has lawmakers on deck to sponsor bills to make way for this move. Gov. Landry recently went so far as to call for the impeachment of a U.S. district judge because she questioned the clarity and cohesiveness of his plan to expand the presence and authority of state police in New Orleans. Whenever he is challenged, should we can expect him to lash out like an adolescent?
He has bulldozed his way into placing Russell Allen, a heavy hitter from Texas when it comes to Republican donors, on the board of the Ernest N. Morial Exhibition Hall Authority, a state board which oversees the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Of course, Allen made significant donations to Landry’s campaign. Despite initial pushback from other board members, Gov. Landry had his way; and Allen is now president of the Authority’s board. Reportedly, most members of the volunteer board simply gave up and didn’t see any point in fighting Landry.
And maybe they were right. Maybe that wasn’t a battle worth fighting. But make no mistake, there are and will be others that must be waged. If New Orleans is going to survive the next four years, someone has to stand in Landry’s way, especially on the most pressing issues that deleteriously impact our community. If we don’t do it, no one else will.
As we see it, Gov. Jeff Landry wants New Orleans under his feet. We need leaders that refuse to be stepped on.
This organization, the New Orleans Citizens Committee, appears to have attracted leaders up to the challenge. Its board includes longtime community organizer, Barbara Major, who serves as chairperson. The vice-chair is Loyola University law professor Will Snowden, who, as the founder of the Juror Project and former head of the Vera Institute – New Orleans, has worked extensively in the area of criminal justice reform. And Ronald Carrere, executive director of the Norman C. Francis Leadership Institute, is the New Orleans Citizens Committee’s secretary/treasurer. Also on the board are: former mayor, Sidney Barthelemy; political strategist Jacques Morial; former state Supreme Court Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson; community leader, conflict resolution specialist and student minister at Mosque No. 46, Minister Willie Muhammad; Urban League of Louisiana Vice-President Tyronne Walker; public relations strategist and community leader Bill Rouselle; Thelma French, CEO of Total Community Action; founder and CEO of Black Education for New Orleans, Adrinda Kelly; and Demetric Mercadel, district director for U.S. Rep. Troy Carter’s office.
This core group perfectly blends vast experience and institutional knowledge with emerging leadership and new ideas. We look forward to hearing more from them as the do the work they have set out to do.
In a press release, the group announced, “Our mission involves holding elected leaders accountable, collaborating for city enhancement, and preserving the Home Rule Charter. With a “Policy Not Politics” approach, we will serve as thought partners and coordinators to community-focused leaders, direct stakeholders, and organizations spearheading legal challenges and mobilizing against threats to the democratic rights of the citizens of New Orleans. We call for unity to defend New Orleans, echoing the spirit of the Civil Rights Movement.”
A group like this one is exactly what we, at The New Orleans Tribune, have said our community has needed for quite some time – not only to protect New Orleans and its most marginalized residents from the political antics of a MAGA-maniacal governor, but to nurture and strengthen Black political power in New Orleans, as it has surely been under attack. This could be the start of something!
We love it. We are here for it. Let’s go!