Fidelity In The News

NEW ORLEANS — In his first months in office, Gov. Jeff Landry has focused on Louisiana’s biggest metropolitan area by creating the New Orleans transition team and the Sewerage & Water Board task force. He also signed into law many new tough-on-crime measures enacted during a special legislative session.

In light of all this attention from Baton Rouge, Biz New Orleans asked members of the New Orleans 500 — our list of influential, involved and inspiring executives — what they believe are the city’s biggest challenges and opportunities, and how elected officials and the business community can support positive change.

Virtually everyone who responded agreed that the city’s biggest challenges include crime, the insurance crisis, and aging infrastructure — but opinions varied on priorities and the best ways to tackle the problems.

See Fidelity Bank's President & CEO, Chris Ferris' response here.

Here are some notable responses:

“Orleans Parish real estate taxes have increased disproportionately to real estate values. The homes in New Orleans, which are typically older, are expensive to maintain. Homeownership is out of reach for too many and it is not improving. To attract growth and investment in our community, we must get our taxes and insurance costs under control.” — Dan Forman, NOLA Detox and Recovery Center

“Insurance and crime are by far the biggest hurdles we have. The triple threat of auto, property and flood insurance are making it cost prohibitive to live or work in the region. Crime needs to be looked at from a foundational issue of early childhood education and our K-12 public education. Taking funds away from public schools for private schools does not help the problem for those who cannot afford transportation to make this ‘choice.’ … The transition team needs to work on the homeless issue. How do we clean up the tent cities without just relocating the problem? Mental health, job training, transitional housing for those exiting prison, retired veterans; we need a task force that includes a holistic approach with all at the table.” — Lisa Barback, Westbank Business & Industry Association

“The city’s biggest challenge is finding investment capital to support economic development that will attract commerce and industry that in turn create jobs and opportunities for citizens and small businesses. Jobs and economic opportunity have been proven to curtail crime.” — Lynnette White-Colin, New Orleans Business Alliance

“We need to modernize our economic development strategy to focus more on people and economic vitality and less on single projects and outside direct investment. Until we are more competitive nationally we need to focus more on growing our own locally rooted industries.” — Jon Atkinson, The Idea Village

“Crime and flooding in the city impacts the entire region. We need to work together with state officials to find strategic initiatives and sound practices that will solve these two issues. Business leaders can bring some of the same problem-solving techniques to government that they use daily in their businesses. Neighboring parish leaders such as Jefferson’s Director of Public Works Mark Drews can share best practices from a parish that has one such department with engineers and water management experts running streets, water, drainage and sewerage.” — Todd Murphy, M Wealth Advisors / Raymond James

“The most pressing challenges facing New Orleans are crime and homelessness. Our local elected officials must work together toward a unified plan to deal with these issues.” — Amy Collins, Gambel Communications

“I believe Gov. Landry has focused appropriate attention on New Orleans given the overall importance of the city to the general well being and outside perspective on the state of Louisiana. The city’s challenges are many and I believe the governor has focused on the top priorities: crime and infrastructure, specifically the Sewerage & Water Board. The cost of insurance is another challenge facing the city, but this issue has a broader impact on not only south Louisiana but the Gulf Coast in general and attention to this issue should start at the state level.” — Brian Rotolo, EY New Orleans

“The largest challenges for 2024 and 2025 appear to be related to infrastructure. Crime in the first quarter of 2024 is down 34 percent from the first quarter of 2023, and there is a new chief for NOPD. This has the focus it needs to continue the progress. But without flooding and infrastructure fixed, there is no there there. You can have an amazing, seductive culture with decent roads and pumps that work.” — Chris Reade, Carrollton Enterprise Services

“Looking at the challenges the region faces with an equity lens is the best way to improve outcomes for the community. Being tough on crime does not solve the root cause. Systemic changes are needed to provide opportunities for our youth and families specifically in early care and education. Louisiana also needs to address affordable housing and insurance.” — Christine Briede, Jefferson Community Foundation

“[We need] the basics of good government: pumps that work, better streets, safety traffic lights in the Central Business District that work.” — Guy Williams, Gulf Coast Bank & Trust

“Preparation for the Super Bowl is the biggest challenge and opportunity.” — Tim Coulon, former Jefferson Parish president and former executive director of the Jefferson Business Council

“Our biggest challenges are crime, and a mindset in New Orleans to accept low-quality standards and institutional inefficiencies. Also ineffective decisions relative to infrastructure: sewer, water, drainage, roads and highways. … There’s also the growing cost of living, insurance cost and lack of affordable housing. … New Orleans remains a top city for young entrepreneurs, sustaining its brand as a food and travel destination. [We have an] opportunity to update building codes to create homes that are more resistant to hurricanes, floods, heat and cold events. The state should consider reviewing Florida’s statewide building code, adopted in 2002. [We could] update the building codes to allow for smaller or tiny homes that are immovable. Form partnerships with affordable housing developers to utilize vacant and demolished former school properties.” — David Payton, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program 

“The city and society as a whole must acknowledge and actively work toward dismantling structural racism and discrimination. This can be achieved through policies that promote equal access to education, employment and housing opportunities and address systemic biases in the criminal justice system. Instead, Gov. Landry created a slate of new laws that will continue to propagate the cycle of poverty and violence that we have seen here in New Orleans and across the U.S. Continuing to restrict access to comprehensive reproductive care while loosening gun laws will create the chaos needed to maintain the status quo and ensure that those at the top will remain at the top.” — MarkAlain Déry, Access Health Louisiana

“Infrastructure, crime, and affordable housing are the city’s biggest challenges. Opportunities are distribution of goods via the river and, of course, tourism. The New Orleans City Council can support these by allocating state and federal dollars — and local tax collection — to improve infrastructure, reduce crime, and continue to improve our ports. The business community can look to expand in Louisiana and hire skilled workers from outside the region when needed. That will expand the tax base and grow our population.” — Chris Ferris, Fidelity Bank

“The city is currently facing several challenges, including an increase in crime rates, high insurance costs, and a mayor that only cares about herself. At the moment, it may seem like opportunities are limited, unless you are selling insurance or committing crimes.” — Darrin Piotrowski, Courant

View Original Article Source