Landrieu names 14 to transition panels

Mayor-elect Mitch Landrieu today announced the co-chairs of 14 panels to assist the transition of his administration as he prepares to take office May 3.

The panels will provide input on a range of topics, from blight to contracting to housing and health care.

“The idea is bring together a diverse group of citizens, the best and the brightest, to make recommendations on how to move our city forward,” Landrieu said. “We’re not going to fix everything overnight, but the task forces will make concrete recommendations on how to deliver results for the people of New Orleans, whether we’re talking about eradicating blight, providing accessible health care or improving costumer service at City Hall.”

In addition to previously announced task forces on the New Orleans Police Department, economic development and education, Landrieu announced the following panels and co-chairs:

Blight: Ellen Lee, senior vice president of programs, Greater New Orleans Foundation; David Marcello, executive director, Tulane University School of Law’s Public Law Center;

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Mayor-elect Mitch Landrieu appoints 30 to New Orleans economic development panel

New Orleans needs more hard work and attention to detail -- not quick fixes -- to improve its economy, Mayor-elect Mitch Landrieu said Tuesday as he introduced a 30-member citizen panel that will help craft his administration's blueprint for business growth and retention.

"There's nothing that's going to be easy,'' said Landrieu, who was surrounded by more than two dozen community leaders he described as among the city's best and brightest. "The basics and the fundamentals here are all tough.

"And I don't want to continue to beat a dead horse, but if the city's not safe, it's going to be very hard to bring anybody here. If the schools don't teach, it's going to be hard to recruit companies to come.''

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