The New Orleans 100

 

More Tears From Charlottesville

Three hundred torch-bearing marchers surrounded Jefferson's statue in front of his beloved Rotunda and beat counter protestors Friday night in Charlottesville. (Illustration by Heidi Rizzi, © 2017 The Atlanta 100)

I was to fly into Charlottesville this week to repair a brick walkway I built 40 years ago at my alma mater and to call on potential clients, but after this past weekend’s tragedy, I canceled.

Watching protesters bloodying others Friday night beneath the statue of UVA founder Thomas Jefferson below his beloved Rotunda, I wondered what Jefferson – perhaps the most civil leader America produced – might say.

Yes, he is famous for once writing, “A little rebellion now and then is a good thing.” Also this: “When angry, count to 10 before you speak. If very angry, count to 100.”

– Chris Schroder, SPR Atlanta

 

Not Just a Young Person’s Game

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, social welfare organization with a membership of nearly 38 million that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families. (Photo courtesy of AARP)

When most people think of video games, they think of millennials and younger people; they don’t think of people 50 and older. Yet one in three Americans age 50-plus plays video games regularly. Most of these gamers play for fun and the opportunity to stay connected with loved ones through online game communities.

Video games and apps are truly ageless, offering gamers of all ages — from grandfathers to granddaughters — the opportunity to share entertainment and social interactions with each other. At AARP, we’re looking at the role video game technology can play in helping us all to age better.

– Sami Hassanyeh, SVP Digital Strategy and Membership, AARP

 

Tech Playing Role in Farm-to-Fork Transparency

Since 2006, FoodLogiQ has been developing solutions that meet the increasingly complex global food chain issues and vast web of regulations that face all modern food companies. The company’s FoodLogiQ Connect software is shown above.

Technology is now a critical component of a company’s food safety plan to provide true farm-to-fork traceability and transparency. The food safety data that is generated allows them to make swift decisions for protecting the public health and meet regulations set by the Food Safety Modernization Act, as well as keep brand promises.

FoodLogiQ conducted a survey that revealed 50% of consumers expect a recall should be resolved within one to two days. When companies are able to address recalls quickly by leveraging the data and return to business as usual, the faster their customers will come back.

– Dean Wiltse, CEO, FoodLogiQ

 

Congress Should Look to Governors on Any New Health Care Legislation

The National Governors Association is the bipartisan organization of the nation’s governors. Through NGA, governors share best practices, speak with a collective voice on national policy and develop innovative solutions that improve state government and support the principles of federalism.

This month, the House passed the American Health Care Act of 2017. As Congress considers next steps in passing critical health care legislation, we encourage both houses of Congress to consult the nation’s governors.

The National Governors Association requests that at this point, Senate leaders work closely with governors to develop a more efficient health care system that continues to put patients first and address the underlying factors driving unsustainable spending.

Governors have the practical ideas and experience necessary for a 21st Century health care system that improves health outcomes and reduces the financial burden on families, businesses and government.

– Scott Pattison, Executive Director & CEO, National Governors Association

 

The Future of Flood Protection

The National Flood Insurance Program's policy framework is important to communities threatened by flooding. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

Recently, I testified on behalf of the Coalition for Sustainable Flood Insurance (CSFI) before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on the policy priorities that should be included in the reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program.

CSFI is focusing on a framework of policies that support mitigation, mapping, affordability and program participation. This framework recognizes that many communities exposed to flood risk are hubs of energy production, trade, finance, agriculture and other nationally significant economic and defense activities.

We encourage Congress to consider this policy framework as we reauthorize the NFIP by September 30.

– Michael Hecht, GNO, Inc.

 

“Climate of Hope:” How Cities, Businesses and Citizens Can Save the Planet

Carl Pope led the Sierra Club from 1992-2011. Co-author Mike Bloomberg is the founder, CEO, and owner of Bloomberg L.P. and was mayor of New York City from 2002-2013.

The 2016 election left many people who are concerned about the environment fearful that progress on climate change would come screeching to a halt. In “Climate of Hope,” Mike Bloomberg and I share our experiences from government, business and advocacy to offer an optimistic look at the challenge of climate change, the solutions we believe hold the greatest promise, and the practical steps necessary to achieve them.

With “Climate of Hope” we create a roadmap for how cities, businesses and citizens can lead – and win – the battle against climate change, no matter which way the political winds in Washington shift.

– Carl Pope, former CEO and Chairman, Sierra Club

 

A Balancing Act

Can you balance our state's budget in 15 minutes?

With only 10 percent of Louisiana’s budget easily accessible every year, legislators are faced with few choices when composing the state’s budget.

GNO, Inc. launched the Louisiana Budget Game this week, a simulation tool designed to give citizens facing the same constraints that lawmakers face the chance to create their own state budgets. Citizens have 15 minutes to balance the budget by cutting spending or increasing taxes. If the budget can’t be balanced in 15 minutes, players can call a “special session” for an additional four minutes.

After finishing the game, they can email results to their legislators. Play here!

– Michael Hecht, GNO, Inc.

 

Senator Cassidy, Seersucker Aficionado

Senator Cassidy (R-LA) and his staff are ready for the summer in their seersucker. (Photo courtesy of Bill Cassidy)

Regardless of your political persuasion, there’s one thing on which all Louisianians can agree: the necessity of seersucker. Our Senator Bill Cassidy agrees.

Cassidy and California Senator Dianne Feinstein reinstated National Seersucker Day and Seersucker Thursdays in Washington, D.C., bringing a bit of the South to The Hill. The official day is usually the second or third week of June, and men and women throughout D.C. strut their striped stuff.

Things can get heated in Washington, so it’s impressive to see a Louisiana senator who is knowledgeable on the issues, while bringing his own charms to his position.

If you’re looking for an excuse to wear seersucker here in NOLA, check out Sippin’ in Seersucker at The Shops at Canal Place on April 21!

– Sarah H. Centorino, The New Orleans 100

 

Re-Entry is Possible in St. Tammany Parish

I learned so much when I visited Angola to learn more about this re-entry program. (Photo courtesy of The Advocate)

Qualified criminals sentenced to jail for nonviolent, nonsexual crimes are being offered a second chance to change their lives. St. Tammany Judge Rusty Knight spearheads a re-entry court program for the Northshore that focuses on reducing recidivism through moral rehabilitation and career training led by inmates.

Knight and his Jefferson Parish counterpart Judge Scott Schlegel believe that this program will save taxpayers’ money while helping to break the cycle of crime. Re-entry program participants are sent to Angola where they experience the harsh realities of prison while being mentored by those who know the consequences of their actions.

– Sarah Chambless Federer, Gambel Communications

 

Autonomous Aerial Vehicles by Summer

The Ehang 184 is capable of carrying a person on a 30-minute automated flight.

Driverless aerial vehicles capable of carrying actual people are set to be buzzing through the skies of Dubai as soon as summer this year! No, we’re not kidding.

The RTA, in collaboration with Chinese tech company Ehang, has completed the first test flight of the Ehang 184, Autonomous Aerial Vehicle (AAV).

There’s a touchscreen on which passengers can select their intended destination, after which the vehicle will start the automatic operation and whisk you away. A ground-based center will monitor each journey, which can last a maximum of 30 minutes. This may take nerves of steel first time round.

– Ed Rowell, Mojo PR

 

Across the Aisle IV: Ted Kennedy Showed Senate Way

First-term US Senator Saxby Chambliss was on the Senate floor two days after being sworn in when Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy introduced himself.

“Saxby, you are chair of our subcommittee and I’m ranking member. I’ll be in your office tomorrow and we’ll talk about priorities,” Kennedy said. Saxby demurred, suggesting they meet in Kennedy’s office. In our bonus video viewable here, Chambliss quoted Kennedy: “That’s not how the Senate works.”

“That sort of set the tone of the difference,” Saxby says in Part Four of Across the Aisle. “It gave us an opportunity to work together and provide leadership.”

– Chris Schroder, SPR Atlanta

 

Across the Aisle III: Money Too Important Now

Former US Senators Saxby Chambliss and Wyche Fowler agree there’s too much money in politics in Across the Aisle, part of a series.

“State legislatures that draw the districts tend to draw them for incumbents … and sometimes those state legislators are able to … for their own personal benefit because they want to run for Congress,” Chambliss said.

“If you’re in the House, you never stop raising money … and that’s not the way it ought to be. You have these outside groups that exert lots of influence simply because they have money. Money has gotten way too important in political campaigns.”

– Chris Schroder, SPR Atlanta

 

Three Fixes for Today’s American Government

Former US Senator Wyche Fowler offers three solutions to the partisanship strangling America in the second of our eight-episode video conversation with him and former US Senator Saxby Chambliss.

• “Reverse the partisan gerrymandering.”

• “Limit in some way the effect of all this money coming from non-voters which floods the system and gives an unequal voice to our ordinary working good citizens.”

• Make the “presidential race a national referendum” as opposed to “only 8, 10, 15 or 18 states where the candidates from the two major parties have to campaign.”

Both the Democrat and Republican agreed on these suggestions!

Please see the previous video trailer, “Restoring Confidence in America,” and the first episode, “Across the Aisle: Where Partisanship Began.”

– Chris Schroder, SPR Atlanta

 

Trade, Free Speech, Tax Reform to Top State-Based Issues in 2017

Nelson has been CEO of the American Legislative Exchange Council since 2014.

While Capitol Hill is abuzz with the start of the 115th Congress, we can’t forget the states. State legislators are uniquely positioned as agents of change.

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has been, and continues to be, at the forefront of pro-business, free-market state policy. And ALEC is uniquely prepared to foster exchange between state legislators, stakeholders and Congress.

Our 2017 top priorities help to address problems effecting everyday Americans. With an emphasis on trade, free speech and tax reform, ALEC is assisting lawmakers at all levels in bringing long overdue reform. Learn more at ALEC.org.

– Lisa B. Nelson, CEO, American Legislative Exchange Council

 

Restoring Confidence in America

We’ve always tried to remain grateful to live in America, though we’d become a little despondent during the 2016 election. Then we had an idea.

What if we could convene a conversation between Wyche Fowler and Saxby Chambliss – two distinguished Georgia natives, lawyers, both former US Congressmen and Senators – who’ve worked across party lines. Could they provide a tonic to the ills of this year’s bitter campaign? Better yet, could they show us the way to restore our confidence?

Happily, they did. Join us for this special 6-week video series: “Across the Aisle,” beginning with today’s video trailer.

– Chris Schroder, SPR Atlanta

 

US-Japan Grassroots Exchange Program Allows Participants to Learn Post-Disaster

Special thanks to Hop & Jaunt for their amazing work on this video.

This December, I was honored to take part in the US-Japan Grassroots Exchange Program, an investigation of the long-term recovery of cities after natural disasters. We have had the opportunity to visit two cities in Japan and two in the US to learn from each other’s pain and progress.

By sharing our experiences, we discovered innovative approaches to recovery with an emphasis on local communities’ impact. We have found that citizen participation improves the quality of rebuilding.

The collaboration is essential to both countries as we reconsider the significance of communities’ influence after natural disasters. Learn more here.

– Sandra Lindquist, The New Orleans Chamber

 

Food

I don't live far from this spot. Although most places people pass repeatedly disappear from view after a bit, this site always remains intense. No matter how many times I drive, walk or ride by, Mt. Hood always demands recognition.