In The Wall Street Journal today, Gov. Bobby Jindal makes his case for why Louisiana's economy is strong, three years after hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit Louisiana. In the guest column "Fiscal Conservatism Helped Louisiana Beat Katrina," Jindal writes that Louisiana's economy has not only defied the predictions of the experts who said the economy would never be the same, but adds, "It's getting better."
Jindal also points to several indicators that the state's economy is strong and growing --like the "the strongest governmental ethics laws in the country," film productions throughout the state, the growing digital media sector, and "becoming a national leader in the coming global nuclear-energy resurgence." When it comes to educational reforms, he writes: "For the first time in our history, Louisiana has become a hotbed for education innovation."
In an ABC News report yesterday, however, the governor's assessment wasn't so cheery. He told Bob Woodruff that recovery from the hurricanes has been too slow.
"I think the challenge that has gotten people so frustrated is they hear of all these great things, they hear of the federal government saying we've approved over $100 billion," Jindal said, "but they're saying, 'When are we gonna see it on our block? When will we see that police station, that fire station, that school? When will we see it in our bank accounts?'"
But there has been some progress, Jindal continued, thanks to the billions of dollars spent on levee reconstruction.
"And the reason I start there is because people have to be safe before they'll come back," he said.
Despite all the money that has poured into the state for rebuilding the levees and protecting the city from future hurricanes, Jindal said it is just a drop in the bucket considering the city is only prepared for a Category 3 storm.
"We still don't see a commitment to Category 5 protection -- truly comprehensive hurricane and flood protection," he said. "The second thing that's missing from this is a deep commitment not only to flood and hurricane protection but coastal restoration. Building levees alone is like building a great wall to stop the ocean. It doesn't work."
David Calhoun and Elizabeth “EB” Brooks are the first two employees of Lafayette Central Park Inc., the nonprofit charged with turning Lafayette Consolidated Government’s 100-acre Johnston Street Horse Farm property into a passive public park. Calhoun was named executive director, and Brooks is director of planning and design.
At Thursday's State of the Economy luncheon, LEDA President and CEO Gregg Gothreaux said PXP has already quietly hired 180 people for its Broussard expansion.
There will soon be a whole lot of shakin’ going on at Benny’s Sportshack Supplement Depot, a new concept by Opelousas native Benny Nele. Located at 2002 Johnston St., the supplement shop, smoothie bar and café, featuring hot off the press paninis and wraps, plans to open in late May.
This year’s Cool Town issue is all about people who are not native to South Louisiana but made a conscious decision to be here, to be among us, to participate in our culture and contribute to it.
A shelved ordinance transferring $200,000 from a northside drainage project to a south Lafayette development may not break any laws, but it stinks to high heaven.
An effort to restore a shuttered dancehall and document other vacant or razed honky-tonks could serve as a model for saving an endangered species of entertainment.
Lafayette’s gene pool has been host to a long line of eccentric characters who have blurred the lines between crazy, genius, disturbed and curiously entertaining.
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