ARTHUR'S ACTION PLAN

New Orleans - it's time we stop the excuses and focus on real solutions.

We need safer streets, better jobs, and a government that works for the people. By fixing roads and pipes, supporting small businesses, and helping kids succeed, we can create a city where everyone thrives. We must recognize the struggles of single moms and grandparents raising grandchildren—the challenge of keeping kids safe, getting them educated, and making ends meet on hospitality wages. Our plan includes smart policing, updated technology, and fair opportunities for all. We will restore trust in government, invest in education, and grow our economy. Together, we can make New Orleans stronger, safer, and full of opportunity for every resident.

WE DESERVE

BETTER PUBLIC SAFETY & REDUCED CRIME

Keeping our city safe is our top priority. We need strong laws, good policing, and support for victims of crime. Our police force should have the right tools and training to protect and serve everyone.


Comprehensive Policing Strategy:

  • Create an anti-terrorist unit to work with Homeland Security and the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force
  • Train police to handle situations with care, including de-escalation and crisis response.
  • Promote officers based on skill and fairness, not favoritism.
  • Create a fair and independent system to review officer actions.
  • Partner with colleges to offer better police training.
  • Expand mental health teams to reduce police involvement in mental health crises.
  • Increase community engagement to improve trust between residents and law enforcement.
  • Improve recruitment efforts to attract high-quality, diverse candidates to the police force.

Community Policing:

  • Assign officers to neighborhoods so they can build trust with residents.
  • Increase foot patrols, bike officers, and mounted units in high-traffic areas like the French Quarter, Canal Street, the Central Business District and the Convention Center.
  • Partner with businesses to share safety information.
  • Launch programs to help prevent crime before it happens.
  • Create neighborhood watch programs and expand crime prevention education.
  • Establish more community resource centers for at-risk youth and families.
WE DESERVE

IMPROVED STREETS & DRAINAGE

We need strong infrastructure to keep our city running. Roads, pipes, and drainage systems must be well-maintained to prevent flooding and make daily life easier.


Fixing Our Streets and Pipes:

  • Coordinate road repairs with sewer and water system upgrades to avoid repeated construction.
  • Expand street resurfacing projects to repair potholes and improve road quality.
  • Increase funding for drainage system upgrades to prevent flooding.
  • Implement a long-term maintenance plan for pipes and underground utilities to avoid emergency repairs.
  • Install more permeable pavement and green infrastructure to improve water absorption and reduce runoff.
  • Improve street lighting and signage for safer roads and better traffic flow.
  • Expand public transit options to ease congestion and improve accessibility.
  • Upgrade sidewalks and bike lanes to make the city more walkable and bike-friendly.
  • Improve coordination between city and state agencies to speed up infrastructure projects.
WE DESERVE

Economic Development

A strong economy helps everyone. We will invest in infrastructure, create more jobs, and make it easier for businesses to grow in New Orleans.


Building for the Future:

  • Create a 25-year infrastructure plan to keep our city strong.
  • Modernize the electrical grid and move utilities underground when possible.
  • Expand workforce training programs to prepare people for future jobs.
  • Attract new industries to diversify the local economy beyond tourism.
  • Support affordable housing developments to help working families stay in the city.
WE DESERVE

JOBS & ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

People deserve good jobs and fair opportunities. We will invest in small businesses, workforce training, and economic programs to help everyone succeed.


Helping Businesses Grow:

  • Make it easier to start and run a business in New Orleans.
  • Provide funding to support local entrepreneurs.
  • Create clear and fair rules for city contracts to reduce corruption.
  • Develop business incubators and mentorship programs to support startups.
  • Expand access to small business loans and grants for women- and minority-owned businesses.

Job Training:

  • Work with schools and colleges to offer job training for high-demand careers.
  • Expand programs that help people get certifications and hands-on experience.
  • Increase investment in apprenticeships and vocational training.
  • Create career pathways for students to enter high-paying industries.
  • Partner with major employers to provide job placement programs.

Youth Programs:

  • Expand the Young Artist Movement (YAM) to give kids creative opportunities.
  • Start a citywide mural program to create jobs for artists and beautify neighborhoods.
  • Build more affordable studio spaces for artists to live and work.
  • Improve arts education in schools and after-school programs.
  • Start mentorship programs to connect kids with positive role models.
  • Increase funding for after-school and summer programs.
  • Expand youth sports and recreation programs to keep kids engaged and active.
  • Provide leadership training and civic engagement opportunities for young people.

New Orleans Recreation Department After-School Program:

Building stronger communities starts with our kids and families. This program will bring together schools, churches, clinics, and community policing to support children and their caregivers.

  • Sports & Academics – Kids (ages 5-18) get sports 3 days a week and academic support, arts, music, and STEM the other 3 days. Homework comes first on all days..
  • Health & Learning Assessments – Vision, hearing, and learning disability screenings for early intervention.
  • Community Partnerships – Nonprofits, businesses, medical professionals, and universities working together.
  • Family Support – We’ll assess household needs and provide GED programs, career training, and medical services for parents, grandparents, and caregivers.
  • Entrepreneurship & Job Training – Partnering with Delgado and Nunez Community Colleges to provide skills, literacy programs, and access to capital for small businesses. 
WE DESERVE

Transparency & Accountability

The government should be honest and responsible with tax dollars. We will track spending, stop fraud, and make sure all decisions are fair and transparent.


Keeping the Government Accountable:

  • Hold regular budget meetings to review city finances.
  • Track vehicle maintenance and costs to avoid overspending.
  • Audit businesses to make sure they are paying the correct taxes.
  • Centralize grant management to prevent funding losses.
  • Ensure city departments pay contractors and service providers on time.
  • Make government data easily accessible to the public for full transparency.
  • Strengthen anti-corruption measures and enforce ethics rules for all city officials.
WE DESERVE

SMART CITY MANAGEMENT

We need a government that works for the people. That means better organization, updated technology, and clear rules to make everything run smoothly.


Better Government Services:

  • Make budgeting simple and track spending better.
  • Modernize the city's financial and payroll systems to stop fraud and delays.
  • Improve coordination between city agencies to reduce inefficiencies and redundancies.
  • Develop a streamlined permitting and licensing process to help businesses and residents.

Technology Upgrades:

  • Give the city's IT department more funding and authority to lead technology projects.
  • Improve city Wi-Fi and expand digital services.
  • Create a city app to make government services easier to access.
  • Implement smart traffic lights to reduce congestion and improve road safety.
  • Upgrade city data systems to provide real-time access to critical information.

Safety and Permitting:

  • Increase wages to hire the best inspectors.
  • Track inspection vehicles with GPS for better accountability.
  • Survey residents after inspections to improve service quality.
  • Check vacant buildings regularly to make sure they are safe.
  • Crack down on permitting fraud and strengthen enforcement for violations.
  • Improve customer service in city permitting offices to help residents and businesses.

Sanitation Services:

  • Create tire shredding operations in Gentilly, New Orleans East, and Algiers.
  • Offer competitive pricing for tire shredding/disposal to dealerships, auto mechanics, and private citizens.
  • Offer shredded tire material for retail sale as turf softening material used on football and soccer fields, playgrounds, and landscaping.
  • Provide financial incentives for tires. 
WE DESERVE

a thriving new orleans east

New Orleans East has as much potential for growth today as it did in 1970, but the first step is making it safe. By focusing on safety, infrastructure, and economic development, we can create a thriving community.


Key Priorities for New Orleans East:

  • Request the State Police to actively patrol I-10, I-510, and Chef Menteur Highway 24/7.
  • Assign NOPD Traffic Division and Special Operations officers to patrol key areas, including Crowder, Read, Bullard, and Michoud, with rotating coverage in other neighborhoods.
  • Deploy community policing to crime hot spots in the Seventh District.
  • Revitalize Joe Brown Park as a regional sports destination and provide year-round supervisors for playgrounds focusing on sports, arts, music, technology, and STEM.
  • Work with the Orleans Parish School Board to establish early childhood learning programs and summer camps in neighborhood schools.
  • Build a City Hall Annex with state and federal offices and free covered parking at the Lake Forest Plaza site.
  • Expand New Orleans East Hospital to focus on prenatal care, diabetes prevention, and a nursing school, while creating a pipeline for African American students to enter the medical professions.
  • Develop Lake Pontchartrain from the South Shore to Lincoln Beach for recreation and economic growth.
  • Partner with Delgado Community College and NASA to teach skilled trades and technology in high schools.
  • Build the necessary infrastructure to attract investment to the Almonaster Corridor.
  • Plan and implement resilient infrastructure for disaster preparedness, water management, and sustainable energy.
WE DESERVE

CLIMATE RESILIENCE

New Orleans faces serious climate risks, but we can take action to protect our homes, streets, and neighborhoods. We will invest in smart solutions to strengthen our city and prepare for the future.



Our Climate Priorities:

  • Improve drainage and water management to reduce flooding and keep streets dry.
  • Strengthen roofs and expand affordable insurance to protect homes and lower costs.
  • Make neighborhoods cooler by fighting extreme heat with trees and green spaces.
  • Provide job training to prepare workers for climate-resilient careers.
  • Build strong public-private partnerships to create better solutions.
  • Establish a New Orleans Climate Change Institute to lead in climate adaptation.
WE DESERVE

INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE

To truly ensure the health, safety, and well-being of our citizens, our communities need more highly integrated health care services. #HealthyNewOrleans is a comprehensive health-focused action plan to collaboratively work toward the betterment of the health and quality of life for the residents of New Orleans. 

New Orleanians have always been known for their resilience. It is time for our city to do more than survive. It is time for New Orleans to THRIVE.


Establish and Maintain an Integrated System of Health Care:

  • Facilitate equal access to health care services with a focus on preventative health.
  • Include mental and behavioral health services in physical health clinics.
  • Provide care in neighborhood clinics.
  • Utilize mobile health clinics.
  • Increase in-home service options, such as assertive community treatment services and telehealth.
  • Establish local mind/body hubs for recreation, wellness, and preventative health care.
  • Focus on community health across the lifespan beginning with prenatal health through older adults.
  • Expand faith-based communities/partnerships.
  • Engage and invite collaborative work with community stakeholders, including local academic institutions.
  • Emphasize data-driven solutions through implementation of evidence-based interventions.


Improve Health and Public Safety Outcomes for All Citizens, Especially Those with Mental and Behavioral Health Needs:

  • About 2 million times each year, people with mental illness are booked into jails (NAMI).
  • 70% of youth in the juvenile justice system have a diagnosable mental health condition (NAMI).
  • Estimates show that people with serious mental illness are more than 10 times as likely to experience use of force in interactions with law enforcement than people without serious mental illness. Trainings like Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training can provide law enforcement with skills in de-escalation and other techniques that reduce use of force incidents.
  • Studies have shown that people who suffer from mental illnesses are more likely to enter into the criminal justice system when they do not have access to quality behavioral health services in their communities (HB 211, 2024 Legislative Session).
  • Between 2018 and 2019, five hundred twenty-one thousand people in Louisiana received mental health services the previous year (HB 211 2024 Legislative Session). 
  • Diversion refers to policies and programs that communities can implement to prevent incarceration and instead connect people to mental health care and supports.
  • Specialty courts, like mental health treatment courts and veterans treatment courts, are one evidence-based tool that can provide effective treatment for individuals with mental health needs. 
  • Community-based alternatives need to be explored with community stakeholders.
  • The focus needs to shift from competition for resources to collaboration. 
  • Special attention needs to be paid to youth in order to reduce the “school-to-prison pipeline,” as research shows that justice involvement as a juvenile increases the risk for future involvement in the criminal justice system as an adult.
  • Prioritizing mental health care in schools, as well as a multisystem approach that emphasizes opportunities for diversion and decriminalization is critical for youth. Access to mental health in schools is part of an early diversion strategy for youth (NAMI).


Increased Accountability for Decision Makers:

  • Mental/behavioral health needs will be prioritized and I intend to create and appoint a deputy director of mental/behavioral health who will work in partnership with the city health director. 
  • Decisions involving the health and well-being of our community should be informed by data-driven strategies, not by a partisan agenda or personal interests.
  • Health outcomes must be clear, measurable, and informed. 
  • Objective metrics will be established for all health initiatives and will be published on the city’s health department website. Benchmarks for progress will be reported and modifications to strategic planning will be data-driven and continuously monitored.
  • Local partnerships with institutions of higher education and local professional schools will be developed to assist with acquisition of intellectual capital and resources, including the development of task forces, specifically as it relates to continuous data monitoring and strategic grant writing.
  • Technical assistance will also be sought from national organizations with expertise in scholarship, research, and policy initiatives as they relate to mental/behavioral health and the criminal justice system to maximize resources and expertise available to the city of New Orleans and decision makers.