Dedicated to promoting small business development, both Councilmember Head and Good Work Network support food trucks, which are often the stepping stones to brick and mortar restaurants. The Councilmember and Good Work Network, in addition to the Food Truck Coalition and others, are studying mobile vending law best practices so that food trucks can thrive within New Orleans, a city internationally known for its diverse cuisine. Prior to the 5:30pm event, a meeting will take place in the Good Work Network offices on OC Haley with all interested parties in order to discuss needed mobile vending law reforms.

In addition, Councilmember Head and Good Work Network are united in their support for the development of OC Haley, a historically commercial thoroughfare. Good Work Network recently renovated the 100 year old Franz Building on OC Haley, from which they operate. The purchase and renovation of this building was designed to return commerce to the corridor in a way that engages and supports, rather than displaces, the community. Councilmember Head continues to encourage and assist business development on OC Haley, much like she did on Freret Street, and has realized success. Current investments on or near OC Haley are over $50 million and include the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority offices and retail spaces, the new site of the Southern Food and Beverage Museum, the newly renovated Café Reconcile and the upcoming Maïs Arepas restaurant.

“This event celebrates food trucks for what they bring to the table – both literally as meals and more metaphorically in terms of small business development. Currently, the mobile vending laws, which were written in 1956, are not aligned with best practices. It is my goal to thoughtfully reform this set of laws in order to support food trucks and the overall restaurant industry of New Orleans, to whom we owe so much,” said Councilmember Head.

“Mobile vendors are an excellent way for small business owners to launch their businesses, in addition to bringing commerce back to neighborhoods as they redevelop,” said Phyllis Cassidy, the Executive Director of Good Work Network.

September 21, 2012 – New Orleans, LA – This week, City Councilmember at Large Stacy Head and her staff began a grassroots outreach to small businesses in New Orleans. Councilmember Head and members of her staff visited small businesses to introduce themselves and distribute brochures containing pertinent contact information of City Hall departments. This initial outreach began in New Orleans East and will continue throughout the city.

Prioritizing economic development while representing District “B” from 2006 until May 2012, Councilmember Head led business growth along under-developed yet traditional commercial corridors, such as Freret Street, Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard and Claiborne Avenue. Meeting with businesses and neighborhood leaders, Councilmember Head was integral in attracting businesses desired by the respective surrounding neighborhoods. She then assisted proprietors in adhering to municipal requirements. This week’s outreach in New Orleans East is a continuation of her economic development efforts and will expand citywide in the following weeks.

“Driving economic development is my priority so that New Orleans continues to prosper in respect to the city budget as well as quality of life. Increasing employment rates is one of the best methods to reduce crime. Furthermore, as national urban planning trends move away from suburban shopping and towards mixed-use planning, small businesses within neighborhoods are essential,” said Councilmember Head. “When I took office in 2006, I asked small business owners what I could do to help expedite their development. I heard time and time again that City Hall is not easily navigable for entrepreneurs unfamiliar with municipal laws. This brochure is intended to facilitate communication between business owners and the city departments on which they rely,” she added.

For a copy of the brochure, contact the office of Councilmember Head at (504)658-1060.

September 21, 2012 – New Orleans, LA – In an effort to ensure that the City Council’s public meetings are conducted according to  parliamentary procedure, City Councilmember at Large Stacy Head is organizing a training session for all City Councilmembers and their Chiefs of Staff on Tuesday, September 25. The training session will be led by Dr. Laura Badeaux, Director of Nicholls State University’s Louisiana Center for Women and Government. An expert in parliamentary procedure, Badeaux will thoroughly educate attendees on the Rules and Regulations of the Council of the City of New Orleans, which are the primary rules by which the City Council conducts public meetings. She will also review Robert’s Rules of Order, which augment the former.

“Public meetings should follow a consistent and transparent process so that meetings run smoothly and the public has an oportunity to comment and be heard. Every once in a while it is a good idea to brush up on the rules so that we are all familiar with how our public meetings should be conducted,” said Councilmember Head.

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Contact:

Danielle A. Viguerie
Director, Communications and Community Outreach
Office of Councilmember-at-Large Stacy Head
Phone: (504) 658-1063
Email: daviguerie@nola.gov

August 2, 2012

It is with great pleasure that I write my first newsletter as your at-Large City Councilmember. Now that I represent the entire city, I look forward to spearheading several large-scale projects that will improve quality of life citywide – the list of which I am currently developing with my staff.Dear Friends,

One of the many ways that I am gauging the priorities of communities across Orleans Parish is by hosting a series of Head to Head community meetings in which I personally meet constituents and hear their concerns. The first two meetings were in New Orleans East at St. Maria Goretti and in Algiers at the newly opened Algiers Regional Library. These two meetings were very constructive, providing information straight from the mouths of residents that will help guide my time as Councilmember at-Large. The next two Head to Head meetings will be in Lakeview and the Lower Ninth Ward, the details of which are below. More are being scheduled. I hope you can make the one in your community!

There have been many exciting announcements this summer – from the groundbreaking at the St. Roch Market, to the ribbon cutting at the Rosa Keller Center, to the opening of the Algiers Regional Library to name a few. These and so many more events have given us cause to celebrate. There have also been more sober announcements, such as the consent decree recently handed down from the Department of Justice. US Attorney Eric Holder was in New Orleans last week to unveil the 122-page court-enforced action plan intended to transform the New Orleans Police Department. The decree is the result of two years of independent study by the US Department of Justice and addresses the root problems that plague the NOPD. I hear time and time again that crime is the number one concern of residents, and as a mother in Orleans Parish, I could not agree more. Therefore, I am looking forward to seeing systemic changes within the NOPD, and I know the City Council will do its part to assist in any way possible.

During next week’s City Council meeting, there will be several changes on the dais, including the addition of Ernest “Freddie” Charbonnet as the new District “E” City Councilmember. I would like to welcome Councilmember Charbonnet to our team, and I look forward to working alongside him. I also plan on taking the oath of City Council President during the August 9^th meeting. Since winning the at-Large Council seat, I have been reviewing the City Council Meeting Rules and Robert’s Rules of Order. I now feel confident that I can lead City Council meetings as President, adhering to the rules and conducting business efficiently.

In closing, I am thoroughly enjoying representing all of Orleans Parish, which is one of the most culturally rich municipalities in this country. Each neighborhood embodies such a strong character emanating from the people, architecture, music, food and art. And each neighborhood leader fiercely protects those assets – the intangible and the tangible. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with all of you.

Your City Councilmember at-Large,

Stacy Head

Upcoming Head to Head Meetings:

What:         Head to Head Meeting in Lakeview
Date:          Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Time:         6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Location:    Knights of Columbus Hall
6254 Vicksburg Street

What:          Head to Head Meeting in Lower Ninth Ward
Date:           Saturday, August 11, 2012   
Time:          10:00 am – 12:00 Noon
Location:     Trinity Lutheran Church
5234 North Claiborne Ave.

“When I represented District B, I met regularly with constituents to understand the needs of varying communities. I found this grass roots-effort to be the most effective means of serving constituents and finding solutions to the issues that matter most.”

July 17, 2012 – New Orleans, LA - In partnership with City Councilmembers Jon Johnson (District “E”), Kristin Gisleson Palmer (District “C”) and City Council President Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson, City Councilmember-At-Large Stacy Head is organizing Head to Head community meetings in New Orleans East and Algiers.

These meetings will allow Councilmember Head to personally introduce herself to residents and business owners and provide an opportunity for constituents to get to know their newest At-Large representative. These two meetings are the first in a series of community gatherings Councilmember Head is organizing throughout New Orleans. The date and location of future Head to Head meetings are forthcoming.

Councilmember Head said, “When I represented District B, I met regularly with constituents to understand the needs of varying communities. I found this grass roots-effort to be the most effective means of serving constituents and finding solutions to the issues that matter most. Head to Head meetings throughout the city will allow me to implement a similar communication strategy now that I represent all of Orleans Parish.”

What:         Head to Head Meeting New Orleans East
Date:          Saturday, July 21, 2012
Time:         10 am – 12 pm
Location:    St. Maria Goretti Church
7300 Crowder Boulevard

What:          Head to Head Meeting Algiers
Date:           Tuesday, July 24, 2012   

Time:           6 pm - 7 pm

Location:     Algiers Regional Library

3014 Holiday Drive

Stacy Head was elected to the Councilmember-at-Large seat on April 21, 2012. Prior to serving at-Large, she was elected as the District “B” Councilmember in May 2006 and re-elected in February 2010.

July 30, 2012 – New Orleans, LA - In partnership with City Councilmembers Susan Guidry (District “A”), Ernest F. Charbonnet (District “E”) and City Council President Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson, City Councilmember at-Large Stacy Head is organizing Head to Head community meetings in Lakeview and the Lower Ninth Ward.

These meetings will allow Councilmember Head to personally introduce herself to residents and business owners and provide an opportunity for constituents to get to know their newest at-Large representative. The Lakeview and Lower Ninth Ward meetings are part of a series of community gatherings Councilmember Head is organizing throughout New Orleans. The first two meetings were held in Algiers and New Orleans East. The date and location of future Head to Head meetings are forthcoming.

“The first two Head to Head meetings in New Orleans East and Algiers allowed me to meet residents that I am representing for the first time now that I am an at-Large Councilmember. I was able to introduce my platform and priorities to the attendees, and they, in turn, voiced specific neighborhood concerns to me. Overall, the meetings were very constructive and have greatly contributed to my roadmap for the future. I look forward to the meetings in Lakeview and the Lower Ninth Ward, as well as future meetings in other parts of the City,” said Councilmember Head.

What:         Head to Head Meeting in Lakeview
Date:          Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Time:         6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Location:    Knights of Columbus Hall
6254 Vicksburg Street

What:          Head to Head Meeting in Lower Ninth Ward
Date:           Saturday, August 11, 2012   

Time:          10:00 am – 12:00 Noon

Location:     Trinity Lutheran Church

5234 North Claiborne Ave.

Stacy Head was elected to the Councilmember-at-Large seat on April 21, 2012. Prior to serving at-Large, she was elected as the District “B” Councilmember in May 2006 and re-elected in February 2010.

June 8, 2012 – New Orleans, LA – To fully understand the varying concerns of New Orleans’ unique communities, City Councilmember at Large Stacy Head is holding ‘Head to Head’ community meetings in neighborhoods across the city. These meetings will provide a platform for direct communications between Councilmembers and constituents in which a community’s priorities, and subsequent plans of action, will be discussed.

The first round of “Head to Head” meetings are being planned in conjunction with District Councilmembers in the following areas: the Lower Ninth Ward, New Orleans East, the West Bank, Mid-City and the Lake area. The exact locations, dates and times will be announced next week. Additional meetings in other areas of the city will follow after this initial outreach.

“One of the most interesting qualities of New Orleans is the diversity of our neighborhoods. While the basic desires of all citizens regarding quality of life issues are the same, the priorities of needs in each neighborhood are different.  Moreover, the solutions to neighborhood challenges vary from area to area.  It is therefore incumbent upon me to familiarize myself with each community, and the ‘Head to Head’ meetings are the first component of a systematic outreach to fulfill this goal,” said Councilmember Head.

June 26, 2012 – New Orleans, LA – City Councilmember at Large Stacy Head is moving forward with her commitment to promote retail development in New Orleans East. She has authored a motion, which will appear on the June 28th City Council Agenda, to expedite the City Planning review process to fast-track the national retailer Big Lots’ anticipated opening in New Orleans East. Big Lots hopes to open and serve the community by November. Councilmember Head’s contribution will promote economic development, as well as improve quality of life and employment in New Orleans East.
Big Lots, which is ranked among the Fortune 500, was a retailer in the area prior to Hurricane Katrina and would like to return to New Orleans East without delay. They are America’s largest broad line closeout retailer with annual sales approaching $5 billion and nearly 1,400 stores nationwide. Big Lots sells first-quality, brand-name products at substantially lower prices than other retailers. While they have stores in Metairie, Gretna, Jefferson, Chalmette and other nearby areas, there are no Big Lots stores in Orleans Parish. The property to be developed in New Orleans East is currently standing vacant.
“Just as I did on Freret Street and Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard, I am working with retailers, the city and neighborhood leaders to improve economic development and quality of life in the East. Securing a national chain like Big Lots is a great first step in attracting more retailers to an area that is retail-starved. As I contact vendors, I will hopefully be able to cite the return of Big Lots as an indicator that New Orleans East is indeed a viable market for large scale retail,” said Councilmember Head.

In addition to support from Councilmember Head, the New Orleans Business Alliance is also assisting the return of Big Lots to New Orleans East.

June 28, 2012 – New Orleans, LA - City Councilmember-At-Large Stacy Head is the lead author of a resolution to encourage the improvement of human rights in Vietnam, which passed unanimously in today’s City Council meeting. Resolution R-12-166 supports the efforts of United States House Representative Chris Smith (New Jersey), who introduced House Bill 1410 to promote freedom and democracy in Vietnam.

House Bill 1410 would prohibit the United States government from providing non-humanitarian assistance to the government of Vietnam that exceeds the assistance provided during fiscal year 2011 unless Vietnam meets a series of requirements in relation to improved human rights.

Vietnam remains a one-party state, ruled and controlled by the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), which continues to deny the rights of citizens to change their government. Citizens are also denied basic human rights, such as freedom of religion, expression, association and assembly.

Trade between the United States and Vietnam has grown substantially since the end of the trade embargo in 1994. In addition, the United States Congress agreed to Vietnam becoming an official member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2006, amidst assurances that the government of Vietnam was steadily improving its human rights record and would continue to do so. However, Vietnam’s transition towards greater economic freedom and trade has unfortunately not translated to improved human rights for citizens. Since Vietnam’s accession to the WTO on January 11, 2007, the Government of Vietnam arbitrarily arrested and imprisoned numerous individuals for their peaceful advocacy of religious freedom, democracy, and human rights.

While standardizing global human rights is a priority of the United States, human rights in Vietnam are of particular interest to New Orleans due to the large population of Vietnamese Americans that live in the Greater New Orleans area. Today, there are approximately 28,000 Vietnamese Americans living in Louisiana, the majority of whom reside in New Orleans.

“Nearly 40 years ago, Vietnamese citizens started arriving in New Orleans to escape the Communist regime and their inhumane policies. While these refugees were driven here to maintain and improve their quality of life, it is New Orleans that has been the ultimate beneficiary of their presence here,” said Councilmember Head. “Unfortunately for the people that remain in Vietnam, respect for human rights has continued to deteriorate. We as a city, and the United States as a country, need to make it clear to the Vietnamese government that a closer trade relationship is dependent on their making substantial progress on human rights,” said Councilmember Head.

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May 2, 2012

New Orleans, LA- Today, Councilmember Stacy Head, the District “B” representative on the Council since 2006, took the oath of office as one of the Council’s two at-large members. Councilmember Head’s longtime friend and former colleague Juvenile Court Judge Tracey Flemings-Davillier administered the oath. The swearing-in took place at the Head family home in Uptown New Orleans and a small reception was held following the ceremony.

“Humbly and respectfully, I take this oath of office and pledge to represent every neighborhood and every citizen in this great City. I am honored to be your representative and I will work to make you proud of me. I promise to serve all citizens and make New Orleans a beautiful and strong City for every New Orleanian,” said Councilmember Head.

Councilmember Head was elected to the Councilmember-At-Large seat on April 21st. She was elected as the District “B” Councilmember in May 2006 and re-elected in February 2010. During her six-year tenure as a member of the City Council, she made blight reduction, affordable housing, commercial and neighborhood revitalization, public safety, and government reform and transparency among her top priorities. Councilmember Head is a graduate of Louisiana State University receiving a B.A. in Political Science in 1991 and a Juris Doctor in 1995. Prior to her tenure as a member of the Council, Head worked as an attorney for Stanley, Flanagan & Reuter, LLC focusing on litigation matters before Louisiana state and federal courts and managing small business transactions.

This Thursday, May 3rd, at its regular meeting, the City Council is expected to vote on Councilmember-At-Large Stacy Head’s recommendation to appoint Errol T. George as the interim District “B” Councilmember. Mr. George will serve as the interim District “B” Councilmember until a permanent District Councilmember is elected. As the interim District “B” appointment, George is not permitted under the City Charter to participate in the election to permanently fill the District “B” Council seat. The election for the permanent District “B” Council seat is scheduled November 6th. If necessary, a run-off election will be held on December 1st. Errol George is an urban and regional planner and business management consultant with experience in community development, program management, and government relations.

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