Score one for the #FixMyStreets trolls.
A state representative is proposing to redirect about $16 million a
year in taxes from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center to an
independent board that would spend the money on fixing streets in New
Orleans.
The proposal, by state Rep. Stephanie Hilferty, would
take the revenue from two existing taxes away from the center. The
taxes, a 1 percent tax on hotel rooms and a quarter-cent sales tax on
food and drinks sold citywide, were put in place by the Legislature in
2002 to fund an expansion of the Convention Center that has not taken
place.
“I understand that tourism is one of the backbones of our
economy, but our city can’t crumble around our tourism district,” said
Hilferty, a Republican whose district includes Lakeview and parts of
Metairie.
Yeah get 'em! We've been clamoring about this for years. This is revenue raised off the backs of restaurant, hotel, and casino workers, musicians, cab divers, everyone who makes the "tourism economy" go. That includes pretty much all of us who make this place our home. Even if you aren't a celebrity chef or a busker with heart of gold or whatever, you probably take in your share of parades or Saints games or you know that one way to cook that one thing your grandma made. It takes a whole city to "bear a culture." We're all New Orleans. Some people are in the business of selling a version of our life to tourists. We deserve to share in the benefits of that. Some stupid board of political insiders shouldn't get to decide.... oh wait a minute...
The money would be overseen by a nine-member board including
representatives from each City Council district, to be be appointed by
the state lawmakers from those districts, plus representatives of the
city’s Department of Public Works, the Sewerage & Water Board, the
Regional Planning Commission and Louisiana Associated General
Contractors.
Oh dear... always a catch. Have to say, though, if we're choosing between rackets, this might be the slightly better one.
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