NEW ORLEANS — Ahead of his inauguration on January 8, Governor-Elect Jeff Landry formed a transition team to focus on the needs of New Orleans and the city’s important role in the state.
Senator Royce Duplessis, a Democrat from District 5 representing a large portion of the city of New Orleans, is also a member of Landry’s transition team representing New Orleans.
He joined WWL Louisiana to discuss what the transition team means for the future of New Orleans and Louisiana.
“I'm cautiously optimistic I'm choosing to continue doing what I've been doing, which is work with my Republican colleagues, my Democratic colleagues, and everybody across the state to improve the city of New Orleans and I don't look at this as being any different than what we've been doing. We have to be optimistic,” Duplessis said.
Duplessis says he hopes to change some of the rhetoric surrounding New Orleans politics and that he hopes the state won’t use state funds provided to the city as a way to influence democratic city politics.
“I just want to point out, okay, messaging matters, but then, we actually have to deliver the resources. So, there's a lot of state money that gets delivered to the city of New Orleans. So don't - don't do things like hold up Sewage and Water Board money that's tied to some other political issue,” he said.
“Let's not do that, which has happened. And that's what I'm hoping we can pivot on and not get caught up on unnecessary wedge issues. Again, the Sewage and Water Board is a state-controlled entity.”
“It's a state entity that's created by state legislation, I think there's an opportunity because we go up there every year, and fight for capital outlay money, that's a prime opportunity where the state can lean in and provide support. Other places include economic development opportunities that I've already talked about. There's a lot that the state can do. And I think this new governor has an opportunity to not just say he cares about New Orleans, but to actually deliver and do things for the people of New Orleans.”
Duplessis is also hopeful that the state can take control of crime in the city, particularly in the French Quarter.
“Well, when you say take control, I think the devil is in the details, and I don't, I don't know that the idea of the state coming in and just taking full control of the French Quarter, which is the crown jewel of the city from the tourism funding and things like that,” Duplessis said.
“Yeah, they can provide - we will work collaboratively with the representatives for that area and the state to provide the resources and the support so that we can all feel safe when we go to the French Quarter and that's the French Quarter. It can be something that we're proud of. When we walk through it can be the jewel that it is all right.”
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