Newcomb Archives
Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans
07-047
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- Newcomb Archives
- Creator
- Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans.
- Title
- Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans
- ID
- 07-047
- Date [inclusive]
- 2005-2007
- Extent
- 3.0 Cubic feet 2 boxes, 1 oversized box
- Language
- English
Biographical/Historical note
Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans is a non-partisan, non-sectarian grassroots initiative formed to be a voice for reform and renewal for Greater New Orleans and a better Louisiana. The community group provides a venue and resources for citizens to voice their opinions and concerns and to take action for rebuilding Greater New Orleans.
The group was formed in Nov. 2005, when a group of 120 citizens gathered for the first meeting in New Orleans. They came together after the state legislature failed to pass levee board reform legislation. The Times-Picayune reported, “These citizens want a safe city behind sound levees so that no generation would endure what we have endured, and more than that they want honest and efficient city government, one free of old habits of cronyism and patronage that stifled progress and made us all unsafe.”
Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans led the movement for levee board consolidation and reform which provides for greater flood protection for all residents of the state’s largest metro area. Though community, media and legislative outreach and public education programs, the group advocated creating a unified levee board comprised of experts guided by principles, transparent to the people without a hint of political patronage. The grassroots initiative collected over 53,000 signatures on a petition calling for levee board reform. Media and political observers have noted the grassroots effort and public outcry were major factors in the Governor’s decision to move forward with a special session in Feb. 2006. The grassroots coalition held a rally on the opening day of the February special legislative session in Baton Rouge. Over a thousand concerned citizens flooded the steps of the State Capitol. Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans’ volunteers had a strong presence in the State Capitol during the special legislative session at committee meetings and on the floor of the House and Senate.
In March 2006, the Louisiana Legislature approved historic legislation which dissolved local levee commissions and created the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority. In Sept. 2006, Louisiana voters approved Constitutional Amendment #7 reducing the number of assessors from 7 to 1 in Orleans Parish.
Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans is now engaged in a number of areas critical to the recovery of New Orleans and the renewal of Louisiana. In Feb. 2007, Citizens, along with a diverse group of civic and business organizations, united for the first time to fight violent crime in New Orleans. They announced an anti-crime package which urged city leaders to focus the resources of the police, prosecution and judicial system on convicting career criminals. The New Orleans Crime Coalition is comprised of Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans, The Business Council of New Orleans and the River Region, the Metropolitan Crime Commission, The Police and Justice Foundation, Common Good, the Urban League, The Black Chamber of Commerce, the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, the Metropolitan Convention and Visitor Bureau, The Jefferson Business Council, The Young Leadership Council, Crime Stoppers and Bridge House.
During the 2007 legislative session, Citizens also opposed any efforts to reverse reforms in the educational system in Orleans Parish. The legislature gave strong support to the Recovery School District and rejected various restrictions which would have hampered the progress of the Recovery School District.
Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans has brought residents from across the Greater New Orleans region together and provided a venue for citizens to be heard. This effort is an example of how frustration, fear and action can lead to hope and positive change. The organization is committed to helping rebuild New Orleans with hope, self-reliance and optimism for the future while preserving their rich, diverse and gracious heritage of our city and state.
A group of volunteers, some professionals, some women who work in the home and some community activists provide leadership for Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans. The group has more than 20,000 supporters whom are led by an executive committee of 11 members.
Scope and Contents note
The collection contains press kits, speeches, correspondence and emails, video newscasts, photographs, newspaper and magazine articles, meeting agendas and minutes of meetings, contact lists, sound recordings from radio interviews, calendars and notes, signs, buttons and bumper stickers, the original petitions for the levee legislation, as well as a printout of the entire website.
Organization and Arrangement
Materials have been arranged in three boxes. Two of the boxes contain folders labeled by subject. The third box contains over-sized items.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Newcomb Archives
Newcomb Center for Research on WomenSeltzer-Gerard Reading Room
62 Newcomb Place
New Orleans, Louisiana, 70118
504 865 5762
vorhoff@tulane.edu
Collection Inventory
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Box 1 of 3 General noteBox 1 of 3: 1. Press Kits 2005-2007 2. Public Notices and Preliminary Research/ Notices for Websites undated, 2006-2007 3. Legislation- Levee District Reform, 2005-2006 4. Speeches 1 of 2, undated 5. Speeches 2 of 2, 2005-2007 6. Minutes of Meetings, 2005-2007 7. Meeting Agendas, 2005-2007 8. Contact Lists, undated 9. Correspondence 1 of 2 undated, 2005-2006 10. Correspondence 2 of 2 undated, 2005-2006 11. Photographs two disks, 2005-2007 12. Video Newscasts 1 of 3, 20 disks total, 2005-2007 13. Video Newscasts 2 of 3, 20 disks total, 2005-2007 14. Video Newscasts 3 of 3, 20 disks total, 2005-2007 15. Power Point Presentation, two disks, 2007 16. Sound Recordings from Radio Interviews, one disk, undated 17. Award Ceremony and Banquet Programs, 2006-2007 18. Speakers Bureau for Assessor, 2006 19. Calendar, 2005-2007 20. Newspaper Articles 1 of 2 undated, 2005-2007 21. Newspaper Articles 2 of 2 undated, 2005-2007 22. Magazine Articles 1 of 2, 2006-2007 23. Magazine Articles 2 of 2, 2006-2007 24. Emails 1 of 3, 2006-2007 25. Emails 2 of 3, 2006-2007 26. Emails 3 of 3, 2006-2007 27. Media Contacts and Notes, 2005-2006 28. Certificate of Liability Insurance, 2006 29. Press Releases- Levees undated, 2005-2006 30. Ruthie Frierson’s Notes, undated 31. Consolidate Assessors Notebook undated, 2005-2006 32. Education Committee, 2007 33. Criminal Justice- in process, 2007 |
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Box 2 of 3 General noteBox 2 of 3: 1. Archived Website, updated Sept. 2007 2. Website 1 of 12- About Us, updated Sept. 2007 3. Website 2 of 12- Reform Action, updated Sept. 2007 4. Website 3 of 12- Legislative Information, updated Sept. 2007 5. Website 4 of 12- Voting Scorecard, updated Sept. 2007 6. Website 5 of 12- Events, updated Sept. 2007 7. Website 6 of 12- Getting Involved, updated Sept. 2007 8. Website 7 of 12- Making a Contribution, updated Sept. 2007 9. Website 8 of 12- News Articles, updated Sept. 2007 10. Website 9 of 12- News Articles, updated Sept. 2007 11. Website 10 of 12- Helpful Links, updated Sept. 2007 12. Website 11 of 12- Contact Us, updated Sept. 2007 13. Website 12 of 12- Home, updated Sept. 2007 14. Petitions 1 of 11 15. Petitions 2 of 11 16. Petitions 3 of 11 17. Petitions 4 of 11 18. Petitions 5 of 11 19. Petitions 6 of 11 20. Petitions 7 of 11 21. Petitions 8 of 11 22. Petitions 9 of 11 23. Petitions 10 of 11 24. Petitions 11 of 11 |
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Box 3 of 3 General noteBox 3 of 3 1. Oversized 2. Signs, buttons, bumper stickers, laminated newspaper articles |
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