Nagin's plan for New Orleans

[Phlegm]

From CNN:

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CNN) -- Mayor Ray Nagin called Friday for a major expansion of casino gambling in hurricane-hit New Orleans in a desperate attempt to quickly heal its battered lifeblood industry -- tourism.

"We will probably limp along for the next three to five years unless we do something bold," said Nagin at a news conference. "And to me, this is a bold statement."

New Orleans' economy largely depends on tourism revenue, and the city would face continued trouble without it -- although the city's French Quarter survived much of Hurricane Katrina's destruction.

"Now is the time for us to think out of the box," Nagin said while expressing some hesitancy about the method of his plan.

"I'd love to have another solution for the citizens. I'm not a big gaming person," he said.

Visitors spent $4.9 billion in 2004, according to the city's convention and visitors bureau, which also rates the tourism industry as New Orleans' second-largest employer.

Under the mayor's proposal, hotels with at least 500 rooms located in a U-shaped zone in the city's downtown area could be converted into full-fledged casinos. Nagin said six or seven hotels would qualify under the proposal, if their owners chose to participate.

Hotels on Canal Street -- the city's main thoroughfare at the edge of the French Quarter -- would be allowed to convert into casinos. However, those inside the French Quarter would not.

Currently, state law allows just one land-based casino in New Orleans, which is operated by Harrah's Entertainment Inc. Casino boats are allowed to operate in the Mississippi River.

Nagin said he didn't think gambling expansion would change the unique character of the city, which holds such well-known events as Mardi Gras and the New Orleans Jazz Festival.

"I don't ever see a scenario where New Orleans becomes Las Vegas. New Orleans is way too unique," Nagin said. "Las Vegas has casinos. New Orleans has so much more. ... To me, this is just enhancing what we have and creating some excitement."
State officials 'open' to idea

Under Nagin's plan, the state and city would evenly split tax revenue generated by the new casinos. A financial settlement would have to be reached with Harrah's to give up its city monopoly on land-based gambling, he said.

"They're not going to do that for free," he said.

Nagin said he had discussed his proposal with Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco and her aides. He said they were "a little open to it."

"I'm not saying they have endorsed it whole-heartedly, but they are open to the discussion," he said.

Nagin said his plan would be beneficial for New Orleans and the rest of the state because the city accounts for about a third of Louisiana's economy, anything that accelerates the return of tourism would benefit the whole state.

In addition, Orleans Parish accounts for 44 percent of all state income from tourism, according to the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Before Nagin's plan could be implemented, it would have to be approved by city voters and the Louisiana Legislature.

He said the "best scenario" would be for the legislature to approve the plan and put it before voters during a city election scheduled for February.

Neighboring Mississippi -- which also was hit hard by Katrina on August 29 -- depends largely on the gaming industry. All 13 of Mississippi's floating casinos were destroyed in the storm. The closed or destroyed casinos cost the state $500,000 per day in lost tax revenue.

[dammuzis]

allow them to take food stamps at casinos and for malt liquor.... problem solved

[mofish]

This is a great idea. But only if we do it in such a way as to retain the character of the city. We need to be Monte Carlo, not Las Vegas.

[Metranon]

New Orleans should always have that kind of late 19th century feel to it's downtown, putting in highrise casinos would largely ruin the charm of the area and thus perhaps hurt its tourist potential

contrary to what people think not every tourist likes to gamble or see cheesy song-and-dance shows while sucking down sugary rum-and-cokes....If i went to New Orleans it would probably be mostly to see some good jazz, hang out in some dark bars with a lot of character, and maybe tour a some of those 19th-early 20th century brothels-turned-museums.

[mofish]

Exactly Metranon. We dont need to turn Canal Street into the Las Vegas strip. Would suck the life right out of the city. Need to avoid that at all costs.

[Kramer]

but, if you are rebuilding the OLD buildings won't it new and silly...

i wonder if it is just gonna look like the "french quarter" section of your local Six Flags theme park, rather than a chewed up nasty 200 year old are

[Metranon]

there were a lot of "old" new buildings in new orleans before the hurricane, it's more about a style of french architecture thats prevalent there what with the archways and fences and hanging plants, lots of patios, not very tall buildings.

[Kramer]

aaahhh. well. there you have it.

[Durck]

You know I wasnt going to post an opinion about this, but I think I must. The mayor of New Orleans, with all the forethought and deep hearted consideration, wants to turn his mudpit into the High-Stakes Poker Capitol of the world.

Typical, for the man who didnt even know that busses down the street could be used to haul his own people out of town.

Why not just make it a big brothel? Oh wait it already is.

Why not make it a haven for scoundrels, with one of the highest per capita crime rates in the country, and offer "Murders for Hire" on street signs? Oh wait, they already do.

Can't this guy be more imaginative. I mean, the leacherous state Reps in the Senate and House only asked us for 250 BILLION for repairs, when the whole fucking city wasnt even worth that.

I feel for the people, but my Mom and Dad when we were blown away by Hurricane Celia in the late 60s didnt cry/wine/beg and become drug dealers and crack whores. Why do we now have to turn the town into Las Vegas of the South to recover? Why not use some of the Cultural Southern drive that made the town great and be imaginitive and rebuild it proper and morally at the same time.

Not that my opinion matters.



-Duck