Tribe.net. Local Connections Redwood http://bigeasy.tribe.net/thread/708a07b2-3e4b-4303-9c13-43088d7069df#3c399df4-e917-4e75-b4fd-12619e4dea7e 2008-11-06T00:40:30Z 2008-11-06T00:40:30Z

Yes | 51,225 | 51 No | 48,833 | 49 2,392 votes Shoulda gotten more organized, sooner! ;-) I was ambivalent about this one, but basically favored the idea. Pretty much anything is better than the way the city's been mismanaged for ever, even though master planning as a way to create city environments has fallen somewhat out of favor as deterministic instead of adaptive and ecological. Modern city planners see 'master plans' as general guidelines that shape organic processes of growth, investment and development rather than rigidly constrain them or make them happen. The main thing wrong with it was that the plan isn't even in first draft, and though there's supposed to be community input we'll see how that goes. As I read it the scary 'force of law' stuff just requires the council to pay attention to it, there will be plenty of wiggle room and unpopular elements will not be enforced and can be changed at yearly reviews. So the thing to do is organize reasonable, workable proposals and positions, in partnership with coalitions of individuals and community groups, to figure out just what kind of plan could help the city become what you all want it to be. Hard, but doable. Yes We Can!! And we have to, the whole world is watching this ragtag scrappy big-hearted bag-o-bones city as a model of creating a sustainable future in the face of imminent destruction. Now THAT'S scary!!

Redwood 2008-11-06T00:40:30Z Anthony http://bigeasy.tribe.net/thread/708a07b2-3e4b-4303-9c13-43088d7069df#e92335a4-77de-4c6e-a82c-6a1a698a8c42 2008-10-28T02:40:19Z 2008-10-28T02:40:19Z

Oh, and do you know the funniest thing about this "master plan" proposal? There is no master plan. It hasn't been drawn yet. You can't see what it looks like, what areas they are turning into green space or anything.

Anthony 2008-10-28T02:40:19Z Anthony http://bigeasy.tribe.net/thread/708a07b2-3e4b-4303-9c13-43088d7069df#dfe0514f-be41-4702-bc62-a8d44f7458bb 2008-10-28T02:39:01Z 2008-10-28T02:39:01Z

At the bottom of this Nov. 4th's ballot is the New Orleans Charter Amendment that is for a "master plan". This will damage our city even further. Most neighborhood businesses are barely holding on to their zoning. If this plan goes through it spells the end of any new neighborhood business in this city. It spells the end of any new music clubs outside of "Permitted Live music zones' Like bourbon street and frenchman street. Its proponents are the same groups that are there to oppose any new building or businesses in New Orleans. Having a job they don't care if anyone else has one. It takes the zoning code and drops it in concrete and this will discourage any new investment and lead to our further economic and population decline. I am working on a campaign for this sleeper issue and over the next couple days will be trying to enlist help with it. I am starting by compiling a list of businesses that are "non-conforming" to their zoning, essentially businesses that are in neighborhoods, serving that neighborhood but not officially 'zoned' for that location. If you can send them down in a message or post them here I'd appreciate that a lot.

Anthony 2008-10-28T02:39:01Z