Jeff Arnold who represents Algiers in the state legislature filed House bill 235 which would allow Algiers to become incorporated into a city within the City of New Orleans. The new city would be led by a mayor-council form of government, all according to a Times Picayune article of 4/8/15 by staff writer Andrea Shaw.
This latest Arnold proposal differs from the one he alluded too in a Times Picayune article of 1/23/15where Arnold wanted Algiers and other cities on the west bank of Jefferson to secede from Orleans and Jefferson Parish to form a new parish on the west bank. That TP article was the subject of a three part series published here in "PolitiDose."
If the proposed changes are adopted the governor would appoint the new city' officials until the next general municipal election . In the latest article Arnold complains about a lack of service from the City of New Orleans, especially police service. Yet he states the new city would retain the service of the N.O. Sewarage and Water Board, the public school system and the Sheriff's and district attorney's offices. And one can bet other services Arnold complains about will still be carried out by the City of New Orleans for the new city.
In the first article of 1/23 Arnold stressed he would not run for public office in the new parish but in the latest article says he mignt return to public office some day. One can make a sure bet that if the governor appoints the new officers of the new city they will be political ally's who have been in politics. So when the first election rolls around by the people one can believe it will be the political connected who run and rake in campaign contributions.
This writer is not opposed to Algiers becoming it own incorporated city within the City of New Orleans with its own elected officials but it should be done with a plan and input from its citizens first. This writer has a suspicious mind when it comes to the subject matter when driven not by the public but an elected official.
Every city in the Metro area on both sides of the Mississippi River have its problems of providing adequet services to the people they serve. And it is basically a matter of revenue short fall caused by an unfair tax system that doles out billions of dollars in tax breaks and loopholes to special interest groups and business. There is also lost sales tax revenue to the city and state because of internet sales. In a Times Picayune article of 5/8/13 according to congressional estimates Louisiana could gain approximately $808 million a year in sales tax revenue from products sold by all online merchants to Louisiana residents. Has Mr. Arnold come up with a plan to address just those two areas of revenue short fall?
A fair taxing system where everyone pays his fair share of all taxes and where business are not given special treatment and tax breaks, taxes could probably be lowered for everyone. Business exemptions should not go beyond the normal expense to run a business such as depreciation and etc. Business should have to stand on its own two feet to compete. That is what everyone else has to do. A sound tax system that is fair will increase state and city revenues and work to everyones advantage.
Revenue is what it will take to run a new city called Algiers and as of this writing no one knows how much. A new incorporated city may require much more revenue than any one can possible project until after the fact and then where will the people be. An exploratory commission to figure everything out would be the way to go if the people of Algiers want to pursue a new city concept. That should be the first step.
This writer still believes "Federal City" is the reason for Arnold's proposal and not the lack of city services. Hopefully Mayor Landrieu and other elected officials who represent New Orleans and Algiers will oppose and block this ill timed legislation that lacks the fundamental of thought process.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
