ROAD TRIP TOMORROW (Thurs, 5/10/12): Hospitality/Entertainment Taxing Zone Bill at the Legislature!

[lunanola]

IT'S BACK.
SB 573, the Hospitality/Entertainment and Taxing Zone bill proposed
for the French Quarter, Marginy, CBD, Warehouse District, and
Lafayette Square, was put on the agenda just this morning for
tomorrow's Senate Local & Municipal Affairs Committee.

Can you join us in Baton Rouge TOMORROW to meet
with our legislators to share with them our
very serious concerns about this proposal?

At the meeting convened on Monday night by VCPORA, French Quarter
Citizens and the Faubourg Marigny Improvement Association (news
coverage http://www.wwltv.com/news/Plans-for-new-hospitality-district-met-with-opposition-150538035.html
and http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/05/new_orleans_downtown_groups_bl.html
), the message from residents was loud and clear: this bill is deeply
flawed.

Now we're hearing rumors of a compromise proposal -- but still we have
not seen anything in writing. This is not a good way of managing
legislation or making major public policy decisions. Why the rush?
Doesn't something this important and far-reaching deserve a full
public discussion and vetting?

The hour is too late for meaningful discussion. It’s time to send this
back to the drawing board.

For more information, please review the following information sheet
created by VCPORA and French Quarter Citizens that was distributed at
the community meeting earlier this week:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1P2RjkTD966Mzg1dHMzalAwZEE/edit

JOIN US!
7:00 - 7:45 AM at the Decadence Shoppe
(812 N. Rampart, next to the VCPORA office)
PLEASE BE ON TIME - WE'LL LEAVE AT 7:45!
Coffee and pastries provided!
Transportation provided!
Lunch provided!
We just need YOU!!

Please RSVP now to in...@vcpora.org ASAP if you can participate.

p.s. whether you can make it or not, you can still participate by
emailing the bill sponsors and committee members! Just cut and paste
these addresses into your "to" box: mur...@legis.state.la.us,
morr...@legis.state.la.us, mor...@legis.state.la.us,
wle...@legershaw.com, dor...@legis.la.gov, tar...@legis.la.gov,
las...@legis.la.gov, cor...@legis.la.gov, mil...@legis.la.gov,
per...@legis.la.gov, pete...@legis.la.gov, in...@vcpora.org

If you prefer to phone, the Baton Rouge switchboard is (225) 342-2040.
Or local district offices can be found here: http://senate.la.gov/Senators/Offices.asp

THANK YOU!