2020
VOTE YES!
French Quarter Economic Development District Sales Tax Renewal,
French Quarter Citizens supports the request of the NOPD 8th District Commander to vote “YES” on the Tax Renewal.
With the exit of the State Police from the French Quarter and funding running out on the FQ Task Force Blue light patrol, French Quarter Citizens Board of Directors has voted to support the request of the 8th District NOPD Commander and ask residents to vote “YES” for the Tax Renewal.
Based on a new ordinance draft from the Mayor’s office, we are now supporting the renewal of the FQEDD Sales Tax. If the Renewal passes, it is our understanding the ordinance will be presented to the City Council, which is the governing authority for the FQEDD.
The ordinance has several layers of accountability, including an annual budget presented to the City Council created by an Advisory Committee in conjunction with the City. Included are weekly and monthly reports, public meetings, performance measures and an Administrative Committee made up of an equal number of 6 resident stakeholders, 6 French Quarter business stakeholders, and the Superintendent of the NOPD.
Most importantly, the ordinance guarantees the continuation of the established FQ Blue Light Patrols (French Quarter Task Force) Supplemental Police Patrols in the Quarter. It provides a minimum of 48 hours per day of NOPD POST certified officers on patrol, as existed before COVID. Also included are 36 hours per day of additional New Orleans Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP) supervised patrols.
On September 25, French Quarter Citizens presented a Position Paper to the City with 13 points, which we felt had to be addressed in any agreement regarding the EDD Tax Renewal. Those points have been addressed in the ordinance.
While there are many options being discussed about how to proceed with the EDD, French Quarter Citizens Board of Directors feels at this time, the conservative approach is to honor the request of the 8th District Commander and ask residents to vote “YES” to guarantee the continuation of the French Quarter Task Force Blue light Patrols.
2015
French Quarter Citizens Members
Crime is the worst problem facing us in the French Quarter today. October 24th will be a VERY IMPORTANT DAY! It is the day registered voters who reside and vote in the French Quarter are being asked to cast their vote on the creation of an Economic Development District (EDD) that will create funds for hiring State Police to patrol the French Quarter. Here are the most important things to know about the EDD:
- The funds will be created by a sales tax levied on goods sold in the French Quarter, NOT a property tax.
- The funds generated from the sales tax will be used to form a French Quarter Economic Development District in order to fund full-time Louisiana State Police trooper patrols in the French Quarter for the next five years.
- The sales tax equates to .2495% of 1 penny (¼ of 1¢). This means that for every $100 spent in the French Quarter, visitors and residents will be taxed only an additional 25¢.
- Nine million tourists spend money in the French Quarter each year which is calculated to generate $2,000,000 each year for public safety.
- If voters pass the EDD, the hospitality industry will contribute matching funds of $2,000,000 per year, along with the City of New Orleans which will contribute $500,000 per year. This equates to a total of $4.5 million dollars which will support a minimum of 30 full time State Troopers. Without all of these funds, the State Troopers presence will not be possible.
The EDD will be governed by a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement which has been signed by the City and the Office of the State Troopers: The CEA contains the following agreements:
- The money generated by the sales will stay in the District and be used in the District which includes the French Quarter, Armstrong Park and one row of properties in the Marigny on the Lake Side of Esplanade. This is consistent with the French Quarter Management District boundaries.
- No supplanting. NOPD officers will not be taken out of the French Quarter and replaced with State Troopers. The State Troopers will be in addition to the current NOPD officers.
- Sunset Provision. The EDD sales tax will expire in 5 years on January 1, 2021, at which time, another vote of the FQ residents is required to renew the sales tax.