PNOLA Responds to the Call

NEWS RELEASE

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Contact: Lashon Daley, Public Relations Representative FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

E-mail: Lashon@pnola.org

NEW ORLEANS, LA: April 1, 2009

On March 25th, The Phoenix of New Orleans, along with 40 other local and national organizations publicly convened at the St. Joseph Rebuild Center to demand for an open and transparent process in the decision-making of the location of the LSU/VA hospital.

Jack Davis, a New Orleans resident and board trustees member of the National Trust, mediated the press conference. Davis specified that as one of the largest recovery projects, the hospital will not only have a huge impact on patients, but also on the economy of the city. Despite the $1.2 billion spenditure and magnitude of its effect on New Orleans, Davis believes that the “City Planning Commission and City Council have taken their hands out of it.” Their hands-off approach has been fueling the protest of community groups, professional organizations, and planning associations.

Paul Farmer, Executive Director and CEO of the American Planning Association, has not taken a stand on either side of the issue, but instead has also committed to joining the call for more transparency and public hearings about the rebuilding of the hospital.

Former PNOLA Director of Community Development, Westley Bayas is encouraged by the APA’s endorsement. “Coming a day after Cowen’s published Letter to the Editor, I’m enthused to see how many others will stand up and voice their opinions,” said Bayas. “This is a big decision for our community and we deserve to hear all the facts and see all the evidence before any verdict is made.”

Referring to Tulane University President Scott Cowen’s op-ed in the Times-Picayune, Bayas would also like his alma mater to provide answers to many unanswered questions.

LaToya Cantrell, President of the Broadmoor Improvement Association, did not hesitate to vocalize her allegiance when she proclaimed, “We’re in” at the press conference. “The Broadmoor Improvement Association is in. We will do all that we can do to stand united for the purposes of ensuring that proper planning and transparency exists when you talk about spending public dollars to do so.”

“We’re not saying that we don’t want a new hospital in New Orleans,” said Bayas, shortly after the press conference ended. “We just need to make sure that we are looking at all of our options with the proper information.

Other speakers included Charles Allen, president of the Holy Cross Neighborhood Association; Dr. Tlaloc Alferez, M.D.; and Dr. Sissy Sartor, M.D.