LOUISIANA SPEAKS, 1/22/07. >>:FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE FANNIE MAE FOUNDATION HELPING TO REBUILD LOUISIANA. >>:WE HAVE THIS LANDSCAPE THAT IS A DISASTER. WE'VE GOT PROBLEMS ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE. >>:WE HAD OVER 80 THOUSAND BUSINESSES OUT OF BUSINESS. >>:THE EVENTS OF LAST YEAR HAVE HAD A DRAMATIC EFFECTS ON THE ROAD WAYS, 50 PERCENT INCREASE IN TRAFFIC. >>:THE IDEA OF THE PLANNING, THE IDEA OF LET'S CHANNEL THAT GROWTH AND PUT IT IN AREAS THAT WE AGREE MAKE SENSE. >>:OUR GOVERNMENT SHOULD WITHOUT A DOUBT PROTECT US WITH BETTER LEVEES. THAT SHOULD BE THE MAIN FOCUS. >>:THE STORMS WERE TRAGIC EVENTS BUT THEY HAVE BROUGHT GREAT OPPORTUNITY. >>:IN THE PAST YEAR WE HAVE HEARD MANY VOICES, VOICES OF FEAR AND HOPE, VOICES OF DESPERATION AND COMFORT, AND VOICES OF CONCERN ABOUT THE FUTURE OF LOUISIANA. >>:I HOPE THAT YOU WILL LEND YOUR VOICE TO THAT CHORUS. IT MAY BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU ARE EVER ASKED TO DO FOR OUR STATE. I AM LYNN WHITFIELD AND I LOVE LOUISIANA. THOUGH MY ACTING CAREER HAS TAKEN ME AROUND THE GLOBE AND FAR FROM HOME I AM CONSTANTLY DRAWN RIGHT BACK HERE WHERE I GREW UP IN LOUISIANA. YOU KNOW, I STILL MARVEL AT LOUISIANA'S BEAUTY, THE DIVERSITY, JOY OF LIFE AND ITS HERITAGE AS THICK AND RICH AS SOME OF ITS ACCENTS. >>: BUT IN 2005 NATURE DEALT A HEAVY BLOW TO LOUISIANA, THE TRAGEDY AND DEVASTATION OF HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA WERE UNPRECEDENTED. THESE STORMS CLAIMED NEARLY 1500 LIVES, DESTROYED MORE THAN 200,000 HOMES, 18 THOUSAND BUSINESSES AND INITIALLY DISPLACED MORE THAN 1.3 MILLION LOUISIANA RESIDENTS. AREAS ALONG THE SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA COAST WERE DECIMATED BY WINDS AND WATER. 80 PERCENT OF NEW ORLEANS FLOODED. THESE TWO STORMS ARE THE FIRST AND THIRD MOST EXPENSIVE NATURAL DISASTERS IN AMERICAN HISTORY AND THE REPERCUSSIONS WILL BE FELT FOR DECADES TO COME. >>:THE LOUISIANA RECOVERY AUTHORITY IS THE PLANNING AND COORDINATING AGENCY CREATED TO ASSIST WITH THE REBUILDING OF LOUISIANA. AT THIS CRITICAL MOMENT IN TIME, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL CITIZENS BE INVOLVED IN PLANNING OUR FUTURE. LOUISIANA SPEAKS IS THAT EFFORT. IT'S THE PLAN THAT WILL HELP GUIDE THE STATE'S RECOVERY AND REBUILDING, AND IT WAS PAID FOR BY PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS THAT THINK LOUISIANA NEEDS MORE THAN JUST RECOVERY. WE NEED A VISION AND A PLAN TO GUIDE US INTO THE FUTURE. >>:IT'S NOT JUST A PLAN DEVELOPED BY A FEW. IT'S BEING DEVELOPED WITH SIGNIFICANT INPUT FROM PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE JUST LIKE YOU. ACCORDING TO DR. NORMAN FRANCIS PRESIDENT OF XAVIER UNIVERSITY AND CHAIR OF THE LOUISIANA RECOVERY AUTHORITY, THE LRA HAS ACTIVELY SOUGHT CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN THE PLANNING PROCESS. >>:ANY SUCCESS THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE IN REBUILDING LOUISIANA MUST HAVE THE BROAD PARTICIPATION OF INDIVIDUALS. WE NEED THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THESE AREAS, WHO WORK IN THESE AREAS, WHO KNOW WHAT WORKS AND DOESN'T WORK. MANY TIMES WE HAVE TO HAVE EXPERTS AND THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. BUT THEY DON'T ALWAYS KNOW WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN A COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE DO. >>:OVER THE COURSE OF LAST SUMMER LOUISIANA SPEAKS BROUGHT TOGETHER A THOUSAND LOUISIANIANS FOR WORKSHOPS IN LAKE CHARLES, LAFAYETTE, BATON ROUGE, HOUMA THIBODAUX, THE NORTHSHORE AND NEW ORLEANS TO PROVIDE CREATIVE INPUT. >>:I THINK THE INTENT TODAY WAS TO BRING COMMUNITY LEADERS AND STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS AREA TOGETHER TO LOOK AT SOME BIG PICTURE ISSUES FACING SOUTH LOUISIANA, ESPECIALLY IN THIS POST-KATRINA AND RITA ENVIRONMENT. >>:WE GOT TOGETHER AND WALKED THROUGH A BUNCH OF EXERCISES TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT THAT FUTURE SHOULD LOOK LIKE. IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THE COAST OF LOUISIANA AND HOW WE BUILD A REAL SUSTAINABLE COAST LOOKING AT WETLANDS RESTORATION AS WELL AS HURRICANE PROTECTION AND PUTTING THE ELEMENTS TOGETHER IN WAYS THAT I DON'T THINK RIGHT NOW THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS IS DOING. PEOPLE GOT TOGETHER TO SHARE THE IDEAS. >>:PRIOR TO THE WORKSHOPS LOUISIANA SPEAKS SURVEYED MORE THAN 2500 RANDOMLY CHOSEN RESIDENTS INCLUDING EVACUEES IN 27 STATES TO GET THEIR OPINIONS AS WELL. >>:ALL OF THIS INPUT FROM WORKSHOPS AND SURVEYS HAS PROVIDED THE TEAM AT LOUISIANA SPEAKS WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONCERNS OF LOUISIANA CITIZENS. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WE WILL BE INTRODUCING THESE CONCERNS TO AN EVEN BROADER AUDIENCE, YOU, TO GET YOUR OPINIONS ON SOME OF THE LONG TERM CHALLENGES WE FACE. WE ARE BEING GIVEN A CHANCE TO MAKE CHANGES, CHANGES THAT WILL AFFECT DIFFERENT CITIZENS IN DIFFERENT WAYS, CHANGES THAT WILL AFFECT US IMMEDIATELY AND CHANGES THAT WE WON'T SEE BUT WILL BE EXPERIENCED BY OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. WE ARE GOING TO COVER SEVERAL FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS THAT WE NEED TO ANSWER TO ENSURE A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR STATE. THESE QUESTIONS INCLUDE HOW CAN WE BE SAFER FROM STORMS? HOW CAN WE CREATE BETTER ACCESS TO JOBS AND HOUSING? AND HOW DO WE FIT IT ALL TOGETHER IN A VISION FOR A GROWING AND VIBRANT LOUISIANA? >>:AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM YOU WILL HAVE 3 WAYS YOU CAN SPEAK UP. YOU CAN CALL THIS TOLL FREE NUMBER AT 1-888-PLAN-2050 OR 1-888-752-6205. YOU CAN LOG ON TO WWW.LOUISIANA SPEAKS.ORG OR IF YOU HAVE ONE OF THE POLLING FORMS THAT WERE INSERTED IN YOUR JANUARY 24 NEWSPAPER, SIMPLY COMPLETE AND MAIL IT IN. THE ISSUES WILL BE EXPLORING WILL ALL BE PIECES OF A PUZZLE THAT WILL CREATE A PICTURE OF OUR STATE'S FUTURE. WITHIN THESE AREAS WE CAN MAKE CHANGES OR WE CAN CONTINUE THINGS AS THEY HAVE BEEN. THE WAY WE PUT THE PUZZLE PIECES TOGETHER WILL HAVE LONG TERM EFFECTS ON THE LOUISIANA WE KNOW AND LOVE. WE BEGIN WITH SAFETY. >>:FOOD IS MY LIFE AND THE FOODS MOST ASSOCIATED WITH LOUISIANA COME FROM A CULTURE THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THE COASTAL AREAS OF LOUISIANA IN PLACES JUST LIKE THIS. THEY'RE ENDANGERED. THEY'RE FADING FAST. YOU KNOW WHAT? IF WE LOSE THIS LAND AND THIS WATER WE ARE NOT ONLY GOING TO LOSE THAT. WE WILL LOSE THE PEOPLE AND RAW INGREDIENTS THAT MAKE UP LOUISIANA'S CULTURAL GUMBO. I AM CONCERNED. YOU SHOULD BE TOO. >>:IN THE SPRING OF 1927 AFTER MONTHS OF RAIN FALL ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY THE SWOLLEN MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES BEGAN TO BURST AT THE BANKS. MORE THAN A MILLION PEOPLE WERE LEFT HOMELESS, MOST OF THEM IN LOUISIANA. SO TO MAKE SURE THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER WOULD NEVER AGAIN POSE SUCH A THREAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNDERTOOK ONE OF THE MOST AMBITIOUS ENGINEERING PROJECTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY. U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS BUILT A MASSIVE LEVEE SYSTEM DESIGNED TO PROTECT CITIZENS AGAINST FUTURE FLOODS. HOWEVER AS MAN ATTEMPTED TO OUT SMART MOTHER NATURE SHE HAD HER OWN IDEAS, THE EFFECTS OF WHICH YOU ARE SEEING TODAY. DR. DENISE REED IS A PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND GEO PHYSICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS AND AN EXPERT ON COASTAL RESTORATION. >>:THE COASTAL LOUISIANA WAS BUILT BY THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER OVER THE LAST 5 TO 6 THOUSAND YEARS. UP UNTIL ABOUT A HUNDRED YEARS OR SO THE RIVER USED TO MIGRATE ACROSS THE COAST. IT WOULD BUILD LAND IN ONE AREA AND WOULD DISAPPEAR IN THE AREA WHEN THE RIVER WENT SOMEWHERE. AS A RESULT WE GET MARSHES, BARRIER ISLANDS AND THE FINGERS OF THE RIVER WHERE THE RIVERS USED TO GO THOSE ARE THE NATURAL BAYOU RIDGES OF THE COAST WHERE WE LIVE. >>:FOR GENERATIONS THESE NATURAL FEATURES PROTECTED US AGAINST STORMS THAT BATTERED THE LOUISIANA COAST YEAR AFTER YEAR. OVER THE LAST CENTURY THESE NATURAL DEFENSES HAVE DETERIORATED. OUR ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL THE REGION'S RIVERS HAVE STARVED COASTAL AREAS OF THE SEDIMENTS THAT USED TO SUSTAIN DELTA. OUR COASTAL MARSHES AND WETLANDS ARE SINKING AND TURNING TO OPEN WATERS. THIS LAND LOSS IS MADE WORSE BY HURRICANE STORM SURGES AND RISING SEA LEVELS. DR. ROBERT TWILLEY DIRECTS LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY'S WETLAND BIOGEOCHEMISTRY INSTITUTE. >>:CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT ONLY ASSOCIATED WITH SEA LEVEL RISE BUT ALSO THE INCREASED TEMPERATURE OF THE OCEANS. WE KNOW THAT THAT IS OCCURRING. WE ARE MOVING INTO A DECADE MOST LIKELY OF HIGHER FREQUENCY OF STORMS. SO WE ARE MOVING IN A TIME PERIOD OF GREATER VULNERABILITY OF OUR COASTAL COMMUNITIES. >>:OTHER FACTORS LIKE MAN-MADE NAVIGATION CHANNELS, MANY OF WHICH WERE CREATED FOR OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION, HAVE MADE MATTERS WORSE. THEY ALLOWED SALT WATER TO INTRUDE ON FRESHWATER AREAS, KILLING THE PLANTS THAT HOLD THE SOIL TOGETHER. ALONG THE COASTLINE, BARRIER ISLANDS WHICH SERVE AS A FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST HURRICANE STORM SURGES ARE ALSO DISAPPEARING. MARK DAVIS IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE ON WATER RESOURCES LAW AND POLICY AT TULANE UNIVERSITY. >>:BARRIER ISLANDS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE LOSS OF WETLANDS, NOT THAT THEY PREVENT ALL WETLAND LOSS BUT THEY'RE LIKE THE CORK IN A BOTTLE. THEY PREVENT FORCES IN THE GULF FROM COMING IN, SCOURING AND ERODING WETLANDS AND THEY HELP PREVENT SALT WATER FROM MOVING IN TO THE FRESHER ENVIRONMENTS. >>:LOSS OF THE BARRIER ISLANDS MAY GREATLY ACCELERATE DETERIORATION OF OUR REMAINING WETLANDS. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LOUISIANIANS HAVE WITNESSED THIS INCREDIBLE EROSION IN THEIR LIFETIMES, AND THEY UNDERSTAND THAT IT AFFECTS EVERY FACET OF LIFE ON THE COAST. SHERRILL SAGRERA IS A FARMER IN SOUTH VERMILION PARISH. HIS FAMILY LOST HOMES, CATTLE, CROPS, EVERYTHING TO HURRICANE RITA'S STORM SURGE. >>:I ATRIBUTE 99 PERCENT OF THE DEVASTATING EFFECT RITA DID HERE TO THE LOSS OF COASTAL WETLANDS. WE ARE LOSING SO MUCH WETLANDS. YEARS AGO WE HAD SOME KIND OF BUFFER THAT PROTECTED US. I LIVED HERE 64 YEARS, NEVER HAD A STORM GET -- NEVER HAD WATER IN OUR HOUSE. ALL OF A SUDDEN WE GOT WATER IN OUR HOUSE. THAT'S TELLING YOU THAT BECAUSE WE ARE LOSING 25 TO 30 SQUARE MILES A YEAR, IT KIND OF RINGS A BELL, TELLS YOU THAT HEY IF YOU HAD HAD THAT PROTECTION, YOU PROBABLY -- NOT THAT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE GOT ANY WATER HERE BUT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE HAD THE DEVASTATING EFFECT IT MADE. >>:NOT ONLY ARE OUR HOMES AND PROPERTY UNDER THREAT, OUR UNIQUE CULTURE AND HERITAGE VALUED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ARE IN DANGER OF DISAPPEARING. GRAMMY NOMINATED MUSICIAN IRVIN MAYFIELD UNDERSTANDS WHAT'S AT STAKE AS MUCH AS ANYONE. >>:HOW CAN YOU STRENGTHEN A CULTURE THAT'S INDIGENOUS TO THE CITY, THAT DOESN'T JUST THRIVE IN HALLS, DOESN'T JUST HANG ON WALLS IN MUSEUMS. YOU CAN FIND IT IN STREETS, IN BACK YARDS. >>:OUR COMMUNITIES AND CULTURE ARE MORE VULNERABLE BECAUSE OF THIS LAND LOSS AND SO ARE OUR INDUSTRIES, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR LIVELIHOODS. LOUISIANA'S COAST IS A WORKING COAST, VITAL TO AMERICAN COMMERCE. LOUISIANA PORTS HANDLE MORE THAN 25 PERCENT OF THE NATION'S WATER BORNE EXPORTS AND MORE THAN 40 PERCENT OF U.S. GRAIN EXPORTS. COASTAL LOUISIANA IS THE NATION'S LARGEST AND MOST PRODUCTIVE COASTAL ECOSYSTEM, SUPPORTING A MULTI MILLION DOLLAR WORLD CLASS RECREATIONAL HUNTING AND FISHING INDUSTRY. THE STATE'S COMMERCIAL FISHERIES PRODUCE 25 PERCENT OF ALL THE SEAFOOD IN THE LOWER 48 STATES. WE ARE THE NATION'S LARGEST SHRIMP, OYSTER AND BLUE CRAB PRODUCER. COAST ALSO PROVIDES WILDLIFE HABITATS AND FLY AWAYS. CARRIE ST. PE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE TERREBONNE NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM. >>:WATER FOWL, DUCKS AND GEESE THAT FLY THROUGH HERE EVERY YEAR DEPEND ON OUR WETLANDS TO REPLENISH THEIR FOOD SUPPLIES AND TO BUILD UP FAT RESERVES BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING BACK. IT'S A CRITICAL NEED FOR THE WHOLE WATER FOWL POPULATION OF THE CENTRAL FLY WAY IN THE UNITED STATES. >>:PERHAPS MOST CRITICAL TO THE NATION IS LOUISIANA'S OIL AND GAS INFRASTRUCTURE. TED FALGOUT IS DIRECTOR OF PORT FOURCHON, ONE OF THE NATION'S MOST SIGNIFICANT ENERGY PORTS. >>:WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE COUNTRY'S ENERGY SUPPLY DEPENDENT ON COASTAL LOUISIANA, IT IS JUST NOT AS SIMPLE AS TURNING ON YOUR LIGHTS. IT'S A VERY COMPLEX THING. MUCH OF IT DEMANDS COASTAL LOUISIANA. >>:IN RECENT YEARS, LOUISIANA'S COASTAL LAND LOSS HAS LEFT OUR VITAL ASSETS MORE VULNERABLE THAN EVER BEFORE. >>:THAT LOSS HAD ENORMOUS CONSEQUENCES, ENORMOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR THE ECOSYSTEM. IT REALLY MADE CITIES LIKE NEW ORLEANS, MADE THEM EXPOSED TO OPEN WATER IN A WAY THEY HAD NOT BEEN BEFORE. OPEN WATER RIGHT UP AGAINST THE CITY LIMITS. THAT OF COURSE CAUSES ENORMOUS PROBLEMS WHEN STORM SURGES COME IN. WHEN WE SAW WHAT HURRICANE KATRINA HAD DONE TO MARSHES PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA TO THE EAST OF NEW ORLEANS WE REALIZED THAT THE ONE EVENT COULD DESTROY LARGE AREAS OF MARSH. THE MEASUREMENTS SAY WE MAY HAVE LOST OVER 200 SQUARE MILES OF MARSH DURING KATRINA AND RITA. >>:IN THE AFTERMATH OF THESE TWO DEVASTATING STORMS, MANY OF YOU HAVE SAID YOUR GREATEST CONCERN IS SAFETY. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE CONTINUED ON THE COURSE WE ARE ON SIMPLY MAINTAINING INVESTMENTS WE HAVE UNDER WAY? >>:CONTINUING THE COURSE THAT WE HAVE BEEN PURSUING OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS WOULD MEAN MAINTAINING LEVEES IN FLOOD-PRONE AREAS AND REBUILDING THEM TO PREKATRINA LEVELS. IT WOULD CONTINUE THE FEW SMALL WATER AND SEDIMENT DIVERSION PROJECTS WE CURRENTLY HAVE BUT IT WOULD MAKE NO NEW INVESTMENTS TO RESTORE THE COAST. NEW ORLEANS AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES WOULD RECEIVE PROTECTION FROM MANY STORMS BUT NOT THE MOST SEVERE ONES. OF COURSE CONTINUING WHAT WE ARE DOING WOULD NOT REQUIRE ANY NEW INVESTMENTS BEYOND WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE PLANNED. RIGHT NOW ABOUT 50 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IS SPENT IN LOUISIANA ON COASTAL RESTORATION AND CONGRESS APPROPRIATE RATED $5.7 BILLION TO THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO RESTORE THE LEVEES AROUND NEW ORLEANS. BUT IF WE CONTINUE WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW, THERE WOULD ALSO BE NO INCREASE IN HURRICANE PROTECTION FOR NEW ORLEANS OR MOST OF THE REST OF LOUISIANA'S COASTLINE. PROTECTIVE WETLANDS AND BARRIER ISLANDS WOULD CONTINUE TO ERODE AT THEIR CURRENT RATE MAKING US ALL MORE VULNERABLE TO HURRICANES. AND COASTAL INDUSTRIES LIKE OIL AND GAS AND SEAFOOD WOULD BECOME MORE AND MORE ENDANGERED. A MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE STRATEGY IS BEING OFFERED BY THE LOUISIANA COASTAL PROTECTION AND RESTORATION AUTHORITY OR THE C.P.R.A. THE STATE IS PROPOSING AN AMBITIOUS PLAN TO BOTH RESTORE LOUISIANA'S PROTECTIVE WETLANDS AND IMPROVE HURRICANE PROTECTION ACROSS THE ENTIRE COAST. THE STATE'S PLAN CURRENTLY IN PRELIMINARY DRAFT PHASE CALLS FOR MULTIPLE LINES OF DEFENSE AGAINST STORM SURGES. IT WOULD INCREASE LEVEE PROTECTION AROUND NEW ORLEANS AND OTHER LARGE CITIES AND IT WOULD ADD NEW STORM PROTECTION FOR SMALLER COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE LOUISIANA COAST. THAT SHOULD BE REASSURING TO THIBODEAUX A 20 YEAR RESIDENT OF NEW ORLEANS EAST. HIS NEIGHBORHOOD TOOK A SEVERE HIT FROM THE STORMS. >>:OUR LEVEE SHOULD BE WELL PROTECTED BECAUSE WE'RE HUMANS. WE'RE AMERICANS AND I THINK WE ALL FELT WE WERE PROTECTED WHEN WE MOVED HERE. SO I AM THINKING THEY SHOULD REBUILD THE LEVEES TO WITHSTAND HURRICANE KATRINA OR MAYBE BETTER. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT LOVE THE AREA, LOVE THEIR HOME. THEY SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO COME HOME AND REBUILD AND, YOU KNOW, PROSPER. >>:THE STATE PLAN ALSO EMPHASIZES THE NEED TO RELY ON MULTIPLE LINES OF DEFENSE. THAT MEANS MORE THAN JUST LEVEES. IT INCLUDES RESTORING WETLANDS, REBUILDING BARRIER ISLANDS AND PROTECTIVE RIDGES AND REINFORCING SHORE LINES. IT CALLS FOR TARGETED RIVER DIVERSION PROJECTS THAT PREVENT WETLAND LOSS. IT ALSO PLANS TO QUICKLY CREATE NEW MARSHES BY PIPING IN SEDIMENTS. FINALLY, IT CALLS FOR A LARGE SCALE DIVERSION OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, SOMEWHERE IN LOWER PLAQUEMINES PARISH. INITIALLY, THIS STRATEGY WOULD SLOW LAND LOSS, REBUILD NATURAL DEFENSES, AND INCREASE PROTECTION FROM HURRICANES. OVER TIME, AND WE ARE TALKING POTENTIALLY GENERATIONS, WE COULD SEE THE REGROWTH OF OUR WETLANDS. LARGER SCALE RIVER DIVERSIONS WOULD AFFECT SOME RESIDENTS IN LOWER PLAQUEMINES PARISH WHO COULD LOSE THEIR PROPERTY. ALTHOUGH THE SCIENCE SUPPORTS THIS TYPE OF ACTION, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL WORK ON SUCH A LARGE SCALE. DANIEL FREMIN HAS ALREADY LOST A LOT. KATRINA DROVE WATER OVER THE TOPS OF BOTH THE RIVER LEVEE NORTH OF HIS STORE AND THE MARSH LEVEE TO THE SOUTH. >>:IF THE RIVER WAS TURNED LOOSE NORTH OF PORT SULFUR WELL THAT WOULD, I GUESS, MEAN THE END OF LIFE AS WE KNOW IT. PERHAPS RIVER DIVERSION WOULD BE THE BEST POSSIBLE OPTION TO HELP THE COASTAL EROSION SITUATION BUT IF IT INVOLVES WRITING OFF A WHOLE AREA WITH ALL THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THEIR LIVELIHOODS AND THEIR HOMES AND THEIR LIVES, I THINK WE ARE STILL IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA AND STILL IN THE UNITED STATES. SO WE WOULD HOPE THAT WE JUST WOULDN'T BE WRITTEN OFF AND WOULD BE PROTECTED LIKE OTHER AREAS. >>:A MAJOR RIVER DIVERSION COULD ALSO CHANGE THE SALT CONTENT ALONG SOUTH EASTERN LOUISIANA'S COAST. THIS WOULD MEAN OYSTER BEDS WOULD HAVE TO BE MOVED AND WE COULD SEE SALT WATER SPECIES OF FISH AND SHRIMP SHIFT TOWARDS THE GULF OF MEXICO IN CERTAIN AREAS. IN THE END WETLANDS AND MARSH RESTORATION WOULD PRESERVE FRESHWATER HABITAT WHICH IS CURRENTLY IN DECLINE BECAUSE OF LAND LOSS. THIS STRATEGY WOULD ALSO REQUIRE FURTHER STUDY TO MAKE SURE NAVIGATION ON THE MISSISSIPPI COULD BE MAINTAINED WHEN THE RIVER IS DIVERTED. THE STATE'S PLAN WOULD BE QUITE COSTLY, ESTIMATES HAVE YET TO BE CALCULATED BUT RESTORATION AND PROTECTION WOULD PROBABLY COST TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THE STATE'S PROPOSED PLAN IS AMBITIOUS AND COMPREHENSIVE. IT WOULD ADDRESS SAFETY THROUGH MULTIPLE LINES OF DEFENSE STRATEGY. IT WOULD RAISE EXISTING LEVEES AND ADD NEW ONES. IT WOULD SLOW WETLAND LOSS, IT WOULD REBUILD BARRIER ISLANDS, AND IT WOULD REINFORCE SHORE LINE. >>:AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE LONG LIST, THIS IS A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE. IN JUST A FEW MINUTES WE'LL BE ASKING YOU FOR YOUR INPUT. WE'LL ALSO ASK YOU WHAT VALUES AND A PROTECTION AND RESTORATION PLAN ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU. COMMUNITY PRESERVATION, COMMERCIAL FISHING, NAVIGATION AND PORTS, RECREATIONAL HUNTING AND FISHING, OIL AND GAS INFRASTRUCTURE AND WILDLIFE HABITAT AND FLYWAYS. FINALLY, WE WILL ASK YOU HOW IMPORTANT YOU THINK FUNDING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STATE'S PROPOSED PLAN IS TO THE RECOVERY. >>:I HAVE BEEN PAINTING HERE FOR 40 YEARS. I HAVE PAINTED CAJUNS, OAK TREES, HURRICANES. AND I WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. I THINK THIS IS THE PLACE FOR ME TO BE BECAUSE I LOVE IT SO MUCH. AND I HOPE THE NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT WE ALL ARE PARTICIPATING IN WILL GIVE US NEW IDEAS AND NEW VISION, A NEW START AND FOR EVERYONE TO COME BACK TO LOUISIANA AND SEE A NEW LOUISIANA. >>:CREATING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY DEPENDS ON MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES. LATER IN THIS SEGMENT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT 7 SPECIFIC ECONOMIC OPTIONS. BUT FIRST SOME BACKGROUND. >>:THE 1970'S WERE AN OIL BOOM TIME. VAST RESERVES WERE DISCOVERED IN LOUISIANA'S TUSCALOOSA TREND. THERE WERE PLENTY OF JOBS. LOUISIANA ROYALTIES AND SEVERANCE TAXES ON OIL AND GAS TOTALED NEARLY 837 MILLION DOLLARS, THAT'S 42 PERCENT OF THE STATE'S REVENUE IN 1982. THEN SEEMINGLY WITHOUT WARNING, OIL AND GAS PRICES PLUNGED. THE OIL DEPRESSION OF THE 1980'S HIT AND LOUISIANA'S FORTUNES CHANGED. EVEN TODAY OUR STATE HAS AN ABUNDANCE OF ADVANTAGES. MAJOR RIVERS, HIGHWAYS AND RAILROADS INTERSECT IN LOUISIANA. WE HAVE VALUABLE NATURAL RESOURCES AND A UNIQUE CULTURE. YET DESPITE THESE STRENGTHS WE HAVE FALLEN BEHIND MOST OF THE NATION IN EDUCATION AND INCOME. MANY OF OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT GIVEN THE TRAINING OR EDUCATION REQUIRED TO SUCCEED. MEANWHILE, WHILE EDUCATED LOUISIANIANS OFTEN HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING A JOB HERE THAT FITS THEIR SKILLS, SO THEY LEAVE. IN THE WAKE OF KATRINA AND RITA WE FACE CONTINUED UNCERTAINTY ABOUT OUR ECONOMY BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REDEFINE LOUISIANA'S ROLE IN THE NATION AND THE WORLD. >>:MANY OBSERVERS BELIEVE THAT EDUCATION WILL BE KEY TO AN ECONOMIC TURN AROUND. LOUISIANA ECONOMIST TIM RYAN IS THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS CHANCELLOR. HE SAYS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ERRORS THE STATE EVER MADE WAS FAILING TO INVEST IN EDUCATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE A GENERATION AGO. >>:WHEN THE OIL BOOM OCCURRED IN THE LATE 70S AND EARLY 80S TEXAS CREATED THESE TRUST FUNDS, THESE CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED TRUST FUNDS. THEY PUT DOLLARS INTO HIGHER EDUCATION AND INTO INFRASTRUCTURE. PORTS AND ROADS AND THE KINDS OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SUPPORTS OUR COMMERCE AND SUPPORTS BUSINESS. WE DIDN'T. >>:A HEALTHY ECONOMY REQUIRES EDUCATION AND TRAINING, INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP, ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY AND FINANCING AND A RANGE OF JOB OPTIONS. ULTIMATELY, A STRONGER ECONOMY SIMPLY MEANS BETTER PAY AND MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US AND OUR CHILDREN. >>:AS YOU CAN SEE, A LONG RANGE VISION IS NECESSARY TO CREATE A MORE PROSPEROUS FUTURE. OUR STATE AND ITS BUSINESS AND EDUCATION LEADERS ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO FIND THE RIGHT COMBINATION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION INITITIVES TO LEAD LOUISIANA OUT OF THE POST-KATRINA RITA ECONOMY. IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO COMPETE IN THE 21ST CENTURY, WE HAVE TO BE STRATEGIC AND FOCUS ON WHAT WORKS. BUT WHAT IS THE RIGHT COMBINATION OF IDEAS? LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THE CRITICAL AREAS AFFECTING LOUISIANA'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. LOUISIANA IS A GLOBAL LEADER IN SOME INDUSTRIES. THESE INCLUDE ENERGY PRODUCTION, CHEMICALS, SEAFOOD, PORTS, SHIPPING, TIM BETTER, TOURISM, AND CULTURAL BUSINESSES. THESE ALL RELY ON OUR NATURAL RESOURCES OR OUR ADVANTAGEOUS LOCATION. IN THE FUTURE THE STATE COULD CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND THESE INDUSTRIES, ESPECIALLY IN WAYS THAT USE TECHNOLOGY TO ADD VALUE TO THE GOODS AND SERVICES WE PRODUCE. OUR TRAINING PROGRAMS WOULD PRODUCE A WORK FORCE WITH SKILLS TO MEET THESE INDUSTRIES' NEEDS, EMERGING RESOURCE INDUSTRIES SUCH AS BIO-FUELS WOULD BE TARGETED FOR GROWTH. TODAY WHILE THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY REMAINS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE STATE'S ECONOMY, IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE NOT PUT ALL OUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET, ACCORDING TO MICHAEL OLIVIER, HEAD OF LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. >>:WE NEED TO CONSIDER OURSELVES INSTEAD OF AN OIL AND GAS STATE, WE NEED TO CONSIDER OURSELVES AN IMPORTANT ENERGY STATE. NOT ONLY IN OIL AND GAS BUT ALSO IN THE FUTURE FUELS, INCLUDING NUCLEAR, INCLUDING WIND, INCLUDING OTHER SOURCES THAT LOUISIANA CAN BE A PLAYER IN. BECAUSE WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE. >>:IN LOUISIANA, TOURISM IS ALSO CONSIDERED A TRADITIONAL INDUSTRY AND IS ONE OF THE STATE'S LARGEST EMPLOYERS. THROUGH HIS MUSIC OFFICIAL NEW ORLEANS CULTURAL AMBASSADOR IRVIN MAYFIELD HAS BEEN A KEY PLAYER IN LOUISIANA'S CULTURAL ECONOMY. >>:THE CULTURE OF LOUISIANA IS UNMEASURABLE IN BENEFIT TO THE STATE AND THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, YOU SHOULD TAKE WHAT I SAID AND MAGNIFY IT TIMES 1 MILLION AND PERHAPS WE'LL BE SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO IT. >>:EACH OF THE INDUSTRIES HAVE NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE WORK FORCE AND NATURAL RESOURCES ALREADY HERE IN LOUISIANA. TO HELP TURN EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES INTO PROFITABLE VENTURES, LOUISIANA IS RECRUITING HIGH TECH FIRMS AND FUNDING ADVANCED UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. IN LAFAYETTE DR. CAROLINA CRUZ HEADS UP LOUISIANA IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGIES ENTERPRISE OR L I T E. RESEARCHERS HAVE -- THESE TOOLS ENABLE EVEN SMALL LOUISIANA COMPANIES TO USE REAL TIME REMOTE VISUALIZATION AND COMPUTING. >>:A LOT OF THESE COMPANIES DON'T HAVE THE FINANCIAL POWER TO HAVE THESE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES INHOUSE BUT THEY DO HAVE THE FINANCIAL POWER TO USE THEM, TO COME TO OUR CENTER AND SPEND WITH US A MORNING, A WEEK, A MONTH AND ACTUALLY ACCESS THE TECHNOLOGY. IN THAT WAY OUR ROLE, OUR RELEVANCE TO THE STATE AS WE HELP ALL THE POWERFUL INDUSTRY OF LOUISIANA TO STAY COMPETITIVE WITH THE REST OF THE NATION AND KEEP ON TRACK WITH THE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENTS. >>:ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES LIKE L I T E COULD BE TIED TO EXISTING EXPERTISE IN AREAS AS COASTAL RESTORATION, ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION, AQUACULTURE, MEDICAL RESEARCH OR DIGITAL MEDIA. THESE SECTORS TYPICALLY PAY HIGH WAGES BUT THEY ALSO REQUIRE HIGHLY SKILLED WORKERS. THE ESTIMATED JOB GROWTH WITHIN MUCH OF THE SECTOR IS HIGH. SOUTH LOUISIANA IS ALREADY HOME TO THE LARGEST PORT COMPLEX IN THE NATION. OUR PORTS HANDLE MORE THAN 75 BILLION DOLLARS IN CARGO EACH YEAR. IMPROVING TRADE BY STRATEGICALLY INVESTING IN PORTS, RAILS AND HIGHWAYS COULD LEAD TO INCREASED IMPORTS AND EXPORTS AND MORE JOBS. SALARIES IN THE SECTOR ARE GENERALLY GOOD AND LABOR DEMAND IS INCREASING. GARY LAGRANGE, CHIEF OF OPERATIONS OF THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS KNOWS THE MAYOR TISM INDUSTRY AND ITS WORKERS WELL. >>:THEY'RE NOT ONLY MAKING THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS HAPPEN. THEY'RE MAKING SOME CHILD ON CHRISTMAS MORNING HAPPY BECAUSE HIS IPOD SHOWED UP UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE BECAUSE IT CAME IN A CONTAINER FROM ASIA, CHINA OR JAPAN OR SOME PLACE TO THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS ON TO THE SHELVES OF THE RETAIL MARKET. >>:RECRUITING AND RETAINING LARGE COMPANIES HAS BEEN A SUCCESSFUL STRATEGY FOR MANY STATES. THIS IS A COMPETITIVE ARENA SO STATES USE FINANCIAL AND TAX INCENTIVES AND A COMPETITIVE BUSINESS CLIMATE TO ATTRACT AND KEEP BUSINESSES. STATES TARGET BOTH DURABLE GOODS MANUFACTURERS LIKE AUTOMOBILE PLANTS AND KNOWLEDGE BASED COMPANIES LIKE PHARMACEUTICAL LABS. NURTURING HOMEGROWN BUSINESSES AND SMALL FIRMS CAN BUILD A HEALTHY AND DYNAMIC ECONOMY, INCREASING PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND ACCESS TO CAPITAL CAN HELP GROW ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESSES. THIS CAN LEAD TO BROAD ECONOMIC GROWTH AND STABILITY ACCORDING TO DR. TIM RYAN. >>:WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON THE EXISTING BUSINESSES AND WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON NEW AND EMERGING START UP BUSINESSES. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORT SHOULDN'T LOOK AT TRYING TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES IN FROM OUT OF STATES. IT'S ALWAYS A PART OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THAT'S NOT YOUR BREAD AND BUTTER. YOUR BREAD AND BUTTER HAS TO BE GROWING YOUR OWN, GROWING EXISTING BUSINESSES AND CREATING NEW BUSINESSES. >>:PRIOR TO THE STORMS, THERE WERE OVER 330,000 SMALL BUSINESSES IN LOUISIANA, SMALL BUSINESSES EMPLOY THE MAJORITY OF LOUISIANA WORKERS AND TEND TO KEEP PROFITS INSTATE. >>:HOWEVER OWNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS IN LOUISIANA CAN BE TOUGH. OUR ENTREPRENEUR EMPLOYMENT RATES ARE LOW BY NATIONAL STANDARDS. OF THE 50 STATES LOUISIANA RANKS 36TH IN TERMS OF EMPLOYED PEOPLE WHO OWN THEIR OWN BUSINESSES. BUT ENTREPRENEURS LIKE COMMIT TECHNOLOGIES PRESIDENT SPENCER HOYT ARE PIONEERING THE NEW ECONOMY IN OUR STATE. >>:WE SPECIALIZE IN INTERNET MARKETING. WE BUILD WEBSITES IN A WAY THAT ARE SEARCH ENGINE FRIENDLY TO PROPEL AND DRIVE MORE TRAFFIC TO YOUR BUSINESSES. >>:TRAINING PEOPLE FOR SPECIFIC JOBS SUCH AS SHIP BUILDING, COMPUTER TECHNICIAN OR NURSE CAN BE AN EFFECTIVE WAY OF PLACING LOUISIANA WORKERS IN GOOD PAYING JOBS. THIS KIND OF TRAINING ALSO HELPS LOUISIANA COMPANIES FIND THE TYPE OF WORKERS THEY NEED TO STAY COMPETITIVE. ECONOMIST TIM RYAN BELIEVES THAT HIGHLY CAPABLE WORKERS ARE ESSENTIAL TO ATTRACTING BUSINESS TO THE STATE. >>:YOU CAN'T PRODUCES A PRODUCT WITHOUT A QUALIFIED TRAINED WORK FORCE. WHEN BUSINESSES LOOK AT WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO LOCATE, THE FIRST THING THEY LOOK AT IS WHERE CAN THEY FIND EDUCATED SKILLED WORKERS? >>:JASON PHILLIPS RECEIVED SPECIALIZED TRAINING THAT HELPED HIM LAND HIS POSITION AS LEAD CONTROL TECHNOLOGIST AT NORTH OAKS SYSTEM IN HAMMOND. >>:YOU HAVE TO GO TO A RADIOLOGY SCHOOL TO DO THE JOB THAT I DO. WITHOUT GRADUATING FROM THAT SCHOOL, YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GO INTO THIS FIELD. SO IT HAS BASICALLY HELPED ME TO DO THE JOB THAT I WANTED TO DO TO HELP PEOPLE. >>:THE PRESENCE OF QUALITY HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IS OFTEN CITED BY BUSINESSES AS BEING IMPORTANT TO THEM DECIDING WHERE TO LOCATE. UNIVERSITIES ALSO CONTRIBUTE RESEARCH AND NEW PRODUCTS THAT CREATE NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PREPARE LOUISIANIANS FOR HIGHER PAYING JOBS IN MANY INDUSTRIES. FORMER ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT KARLA HEPBURN WANTED TO EXPAND OUR OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT. SHE RECENTLY RECEIVED HER ACCOUNTING DEGREE FROM NICHOLLS STATE. >>:MY EDUCATION HAS ENABLED ME TO HIRE ON AS A STAFF ACCOUNTANT. WITHOUT THE DEGREE YOU WERE PRETTY MUCH LIMITED TO ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, SECRETARY Y'ALL TYPE POSITIONS. >>:LOUISIANA SYSTEMS OF 4 YEAR UNIVERSITIES AND 2 YEAR COMMUNITY COLLEGES PROVIDE MANY OPTIONS FOR STUDENTS. WALTER BUMPHUS, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE STATE COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM, SAYS SUCH A MIX IS NEEDED. >>:IT IS PROJECTED THAT IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS, APPROXIMATELY 65 TO 70 PERCENT OF THE NEW JOBS WILL REQUIRE SOMETHING MORE THAN A HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE BUT LESS THAN A BACHELOR DEGREE. >>:BY NOW YOU PROBABLY REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT OUR FUTURE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY IS TO OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. THERE IS NO CLEAR CUT ANSWER. THAT'S WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP. REMEMBER WE WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK. DON'T FORGET TO WEIGH IN. IN A FEW MINUTES WE'LL ASK YOU TO TELL US WHICH OF THESE STRATEGIES AND INVESTMENTS ARE YOUR TOP PRIORITIES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN LOUISIANA. >>IRMA THOMAS: GROWING UP IN NEW ORLEANS WAS A FUN TIME FOR ME, ESPECIALLY AS A YOUNGSTER AND HAVING NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE YOU COULD REALLY WALK TO THE NEAREST STORE. NEW ORLEANS WAS THAT KIND OF A CITY WHERE YOUR NEIGHBORS KNEW YOUR NAME. YOUR MOM WOULD LEAVE YOU THERE AND SHE WOULD TELL YOU YOU BETTER BE GOOD BECAUSE MS. SO AND SO WILL LOOK AFTER YOU AND SHE JUST WILL TELL ME WHAT YOU DID WRONG. >>:HOW AND WHERE OUR REGION GROWS CAN AFFECT THINGS LIKE TRAFFIC PATTERNS, HOUSING COSTS AND REVITALIZATION OF COMMUNITIES OF THE EVEN OUR SAFETY FROM STORMS DEPENDS ON WHERE WE CHOOSE TO LIVE. BASED ON NATIONAL POPULATION GROWTH TRENDS BY 2050 LOUISIANA COULD HAVE 1.4 MILLION MORE RESIDENTS. WHERE WILL THESE PEOPLE LIVE? WHERE WILL THEY WORK? HOW WILL THEY MOVE AROUND? AS LOUISIANA RECOVERS AND REBUILDS FROM THE STORMS OF 2005 WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DETERMINE THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE CURRENT AND FUTURE GROWTH. SHOULD WE CONTINUE BUILDING THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN OR SHOULD WE CONSIDER OTHER ALTERNATIVES? NOW IS THE TIME TO ASK HOW SHOULD WE GROW? ACROSS THE U.S. AND LOUISIANA COMMUNITIES HAVE DRAMATICALLY CHANGED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL GENERATIONS. NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE ONCE CLOSELY KNIT BOTH SOCIALLY AND PHYSICALLY HAVE SPREAD OUT AND SPREAD APART. THE MAJORITY OF THE RESIDENTS LIVE IN SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AT THE OUT SKIRTS OF TOWN. MOST EVERYONE RELIES ON THEIR CAR TO GET AROUND. FOR RESIDENTS SUCH AS LORI MARTINEZ WHO MOVED FROM THE CITY TO THE COUNTRY, THE INCREASED COMMUTE TIME THIS CREATED IS OFFSET BY HER DESIRE FOR MORE SPACE. >>:I REALLY DON'T MIND MY COMPUTE TO * COMMUTE TO WORK. YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF THE CONVENIENCES OF THE CITY WHEN YOU MOVE TO THE COUNTRY. IT IS SO NICE AT THE END OF THE DAY TO MAKE THE DRIVE HOME AND GET INTO THE COUNTRY WHERE IT IS SO QUIET AND PEACEFUL. YOU HAVE WILDLIFE AND JUST A LOT MORE SPACE THAN WHAT YOU HAVE IN THE CITY. >>:BUT WITH COMMUTING COMES TRAFFIC CONGESTION. ANNUALLY HOUSEHOLDS IN SOUTH LOUISIANA AVERAGE OVER 41 HOURS STUCK IN TRAFFIC, AN ENTIRE WORK WEEK. IF CURRENT TRENDS CONTINUE BY 2050 A FAMILY COULD SPEND OVER 174 HOURS IN THEIR CAR. THAT'S MORE THAN 4 WORK WEEKS. CONVENTIONAL WISDOM HAS BEEN TO ADD LANES TO COMBAT CONGESTION. URBAN PLANNER STEVE VILLAVASO SPLANS IT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK THAT WAY. >>:TRADITIONAL APPROACH WAS WE KEEP ADDING LANES OF ROAD WAYS TO MEET THE DEMAND OF THOSE ROAD WAYS BUT WE HAVE FOUND OUT AS PLANNERS THAT THE MORE LANES YOU ADD THE MORE PEOPLE YOU ATTRACT. WE HAVE CHICKEN AND AN EGG. ADD TWO LANES, END UP WITH 5 THOUSAND EXTRA UNITS. NEED TWO MORE LANES. WE HAVE NOW COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WE NEED TO SINK TOGETHER LAND USE PLANNING, COMMUNITY PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND MAKE THEM WORK TAUGHT. >>:TRAFFIC ANALYSTS SAY IF THE STATE CONTINUES ITS CURRENT GROWTH PATTERNS BY 2050 MAJOR ROADS IN SOUTH LOUISIANA'S 5 LARGEST CITIES WILL BE BEYOND CAPACITY, GRIDLOCKED. TRAFFIC CONGESTION IS NOT THE ONLY EFFECT OF THE WAY WE ARE CURRENTLY GROWING. BY 2050 THE STATE COULD SEE 460 SQUARE MILES OF OPEN LAND CONVERTED TO NEW DEVELOPMENT. FOLLOWING EXISTING TRENDS, MOST NEW HOMES WILL BE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES EVEN THOUGH THESE DON'T ALWAYS MAKE THE MOST SENSE FOR LESS AFFLUENT PEOPLE OR PEOPLE LIKE RETIREES OR SINGLES. PROVIDING ALL THE NEW UTILITIES AND ROADS TO NEW SUBDIVISIONS INCREASES COSTS FOR TAXPAYERS. FINALLY, IF WE KEEP GOING LIKE WE ARE NOW, MUCH OF THAT NEW DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE IN FLOODPLAINS. CURRENT TRENDS WOULD PLACE 445 THOUSAND MORE PEOPLE IN FLOODPLAINS BY 2050. POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES TO OUR CURRENT DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS BEGIN BY FOCUSING MORE ON BUILDING AND EXISTING CITIES AND TOWNS, LIVING IN MORE COMPACT COMMUNITIES AND RELYING ON A MIX OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND ROADS. WE COULD MAKE THESE CHANGES IN A MODERATE OR MORE SWEEPING WAY. WE COULD MIX NEW APPROACHES WITH OUR CONVENTIONAL GROWTH PATTERNS OR HEAD ENTIRELY IN NEW DIRECTIONS. JOHN FREGONESE IS A PRINCIPAL AT THE REGIONAL PLANNING FIRM FREGONESE PLANNING ACCOSIATES. >>:MIXED INCOME, MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT IS MUCH MORE TRANSPORTATION ISSUE. IT ALSO REVITALIZES TOWN CENTERS, BRINGS LIFE TO FORMERLY DEAD PLACES, IT BUILDS YOUR TAX BASE. I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR THE INDIVIDUAL IT GIVES PEOPLE A NEW CHOICE, A PLACE TO LIVE. A LOT OF CITIES AROUND THE U.S. HAVE BECOME VERY EXCITED AND VERY REVITALIZED. >>:JOHN RENNE WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS URBAN PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION STUDIES PROGRAM SAYS WE CAN USE THE PAST AS OUR GUIDE FOR OUR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. BACK THEN, WE LIVED IN MORE TIGHTLY-KNIT COMMUNITIES CONNECTED BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. >>:NEW ORLEANS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THIS. IF YOU COMPARE THE -- IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF TRIPS THAT ARE MADE IN NEW ORLEANS ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND WALKING, A MUCH HIGHER PERCENTAGE ARE MADE IN NEW ORLEANS WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO THE SUBURBAN LOCATIONS. >>:IN THIS APPROACH, THERE WOULD BE MORE NEW CONSTRUCTION IN EXISTING CITIES AND TOWNS. WE WOULD RECYCLE OLD BUILDINGS AND PUT UP NEW ONES THAT HAVE A MIX OF SHOPS AND HOUSING. MARION JOHNSON LIVES AND WORKS IN DOWNTOWN BATON ROUGE. >>:I LOVE BEING ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF PERSONAL BUSINESS DOWNTOWN WITH THE CONVENIENCE OF BEING ABLE TO GO TO THE BANKS, TO GO SHOPPING. I LOVE IT LIVING IN A WALKABLE COMMUNITY. >>:MANY PEOPLE PREFER LIVING IN THE SUBURBS BUT BY FOCUSING DEVELOPMENT IN EXISTING CITIES AND TOWNS, LOUISIANA HOUSEHOLDS COULD SAVE UP TO 30 PERCENT IN ANNUAL EXPENSES. LIVING IN TOWN SAVES PEOPLE ON FUEL COSTS. IT ALSO SAVES ON TAXES AND BILLS BECAUSE WE NEED FEWER NEW ROADS AND UTILITIES. BUILDING MORE IN TOWN ALSO MEANS FEWER PEOPLE WILL BE BUILDING IN UNPROTECTED FLOODPLAINS OUTSIDE OF TOWN. BUT THE TRADITIONAL MODEL OF THE FRENCH QUARTER OR OTHER OLDER LOUISIANA NEIGHBORHOODS DOES PRESENT CHALLENGES. THIS TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT REQUIRES MAJOR CHANGES IN BUILDING REGULATIONS TO ALLOW MIXING HOUSES AND SHOPS TOGETHER. MORE HIGH DENSITY, MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING MEANS FEWER OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. THE COST OF BUILDING IN TOWN IS HIGHER AND THAT CAN MAKE DEVELOPMENT THERE EXPENSIVE. ALSO, THE COST OF BUILDING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS IS EXTREMELY HIGH. AND FINALLY DESPITE ITS HISTORICAL ROUTES INTOWN LIVING IS NEW TO MANY IN LOUISIANA AND THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW IF IT WOULD CATCH ON HERE LIKE IT HAS IN OTHER PLACES IN THE UNITED STATES. WE HAVE A CHOICE OF WHETHER OR NOT TO ENCOURAGE THIS KIND OF CHANGE. WE ALSO CAN CHOOSE HOW MUCH CHANGE TO ENCOURAGE. WE CAN CHANGE A LITTLE OR CHANGE A LOT. HOW WE GROW AND WHAT THE NEW LOUISIANA WILL LOOK LIKE ARE QUESTIONS YOU CAN ANSWER. IN A FEW MINUTES WE'LL ASK YOU TO MAKE A CHOICE ON THAT. IF YOU OWNED PROPERTY IN LOUISIANA BACK IN THE 18TH CENTURY, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS YOU LEARNED WAS THAT YOU HAD TO DEAL WITH FLOODING, ESPECIALLY ON THE BEST LAND ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. HOWEVER, EARLY SETTLERS LEARNED TO ADAPT. YOU EITHER LIVED CLOSE TO TOWN ON HIGH GROUND WHERE SMALL AMOUNT OF LEVEES PROTECTED YOU OR IF YOU LIVED FARTHER OUT YOU BUILT YOUR HOUSE ON THE HIGHEST GROUND YOU COULD FIND AND THEN RAISED IT. AND YOU FARMED ON THE PARTS OF THE PROPERTY PRONE TO FLOODING. >>:TRADITIONALLY WE BUILT ON HIGHER GROUND BECAUSE FLOODS HAPPEN. >>:DR. CLAUDETTE REICHEL IS A HOUSING SPECIALIST WITH LSU. >>:HOWEVER AS DEVELOPMENT OCCURRED PEOPLE LIKED TO LIVE NEAR THE COAST. SO THERE IS A MARKET DEMAND FOR THAT. >>:IT'S A DEMAND THAT COMES WITH A PRICE. ACCORDING TO ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERT MARK DAVIS. >>:ONE OF THE EFFECTS WETLAND DEVELOPMENT CAN HAVE ON FLOODING AND THE RISK TO HUMAN LIFE IN COMMUNITIES DOWN HERE COULD BE SEEN FROM HURRICANE KATRINA. MANY OF THE AREAS THAT FLOODED WORST WERE AREAS THAT HAD BEEN BUILT INTO WETLANDS OVER THE LAST FEW GENERATIONS. THEY WERE WET BEFORE AND THEY WERE WET AGAIN. >>:TODAY WITH OUR MODERN SUBDIVISIONS SHOPPING MALLS AND OFFICE PARKS LOUISIANA'S DEVELOPMENT IS VERY SIMILAR TO ANY OTHER PART OF THE UNITED STATES EVEN THOUGH WE ARE MUCH MORE AT RISK FOR NATURAL DISASTERS LIKE FLOODING AND HURRICANES. >>:NOW SINCE KATRINA AND RITA WE ALL NEED TO TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT WHERE WE SHOULD AND SHOULDN'T BUILD AND HOW WE SHOULD BUILD. IN LOUISIANA, OUR COASTAL AREAS ARE NOT JUST RESORTS FOR SECOND HOMES FOR RICH FOLKS. THEY ARE VITAL, VITAL PARTS OF THE ECONOMY FOR OUR STATE AS WELL AS FOR THE NATION. COASTAL AREAS NEED WORKERS. WORKERS NEED TO LIVE THERE. SO WE DO NEED TO HAVE STRATEGIC LAND USE PLANNING BUT NOT MAKE THE MISTAKE OF HAVING A BLANKET NO ONE SHOULD EVER LIVE OR BE NEAR THE COAST BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE OUR OIL AND GAS IS, WHERE SEAFOOD INDUSTRY IS. MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE WORK THERE. THAT IS THEIR LIVELIHOOD SO THEY NEED A SAFER, SMARTER, STRONGER WAY TO LIVE AND TO BUILD HOMES THERE. >>:THE DEVASTATION OF KATRINA AND RITA WAS THE RESULT OF NATURAL AND HUMAN CAUSES. POWERFUL STORMS AND UNEXPECTED LEVEE FAILURES COMPROMISED OUR SAFETY. BUT THE STAGE WAS SET BY DECADES OF DECISIONS ABOUT HOW TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND HOW OUR COMMUNITIES GROW. SALLY CAMPBELL AND HER FAMILY THOUGHT THEY KNEW THE RISK INVOLVED IN LIVING NEAR THE COAST. >>:WE WERE FAIRLY COMFORTABLE THAT WE MIGHT GET SOME WATER. WE THOUGHT MAYBE 2 FEET. NEVER DREAMED OF THE TIDAL SURGE THAT WE WERE GOING TO GET, THE DIRECT HIT THAT WE GOT HERE IN SLIDELL. >>:ALTHOUGH THEIR HEARTS ARE WITH THEIR FORMER SLIDELL NEIGHBORS THE CAMPBELLS WON'T BE COMING BACK. IN LOUISIANA REVALUE THE ABILITY OF A PROPERTY OWNER TO USE THEIR LAND AS THEY CHOOSE. OUR CONSTITUTION GIVES A GREAT DEAL OF FREEDOM TO PROPERTY OWNERS. THERE ARE FEW LIMITS TO WHERE PEOPLE CAN BUILD. PROPERTY RIGHTS AND INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS ARE IMPORTANT VALUES TO US. WHEN PEOPLE BUILD IN AREAS WITH HIGH RISK OF STORM AND FLOOD DAMAGE THEY PASS THAT RISK ONTO EVERYONE. WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME INSURANCE POOLS SO ALL OUR RATES RISE TO COVER ADDED RISKS. AND WE ALL PAY TAXES WHICH PAY FOR DISASTER RECOVERY AND OTHER COSTS. WE KNOW WHERE THE UNPROTECTED HIGH RISK AREAS ARE, BUT PEOPLE OWN THAT LAND AND THEY CAN BUILD ON IT. SO THE BASIC QUESTION IS HOW SHOULD WE BALANCE INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS WITH COMMUNITY RISKS? HOW EXACTLY DO WE MAKE LOUISIANA SAFER AND REDUCE DAMAGE AND LOSS FROM STORMS TO THE BENEFIT OF ALL PROPERTY OWNERS? OPTIONS RANGE FROM REQUIRING MORE STATE LEVEL INVESTMENT TO EVEN RESTRICTING THE USE OF LAND DEVELOPMENT AND FLOODPLAINS OR AREAS DESIGNATED AS HIGH RISK. SOME BELIEVE WE SHOULD ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO BUILD WHEREVER THEY WANT AS LONG AS THEY'RE PREPARED FOR THE CONSEQUENCES. CESMEN BELANGER, DANGERS OF LIVING IN HARM'S WAY ARE OUT WEIGHS BY THE REWARDS OF LIFE IN THE WETLANDS OF TERREBONNE PARISH. >>:WE HAVE EXCELLENT FISHING. JUST THE LIFE DOWN HERE IS VERY PEACEFUL. IT'S EASY. WE WANTED TO STAY. NO MATTER WHAT IT WOULD COST, WE WERE TRYING TO MAKE AND SCAPE AND DO WHATEVER WE WERE ABLE TO DO. >>:WHAT HE WAS ABLE TO DO WAS RAISE HIS HOUSE OVER TEN FEET OVER THE STREET LEVEL. >>:I BELIEVE THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION IS RELIANT UPON LEVEE SYSTEMS. I CAN TELL YOU THAT I HAVE NOT TAKEN THAT APPROACH. I AM GOING TO TRY TO DO WHAT I CAN TO MAKE MY OWN IMPROVEMENTS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT IMPACTED BY ANOTHER HURRICANE. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT LEVEL OF SAFETY OR YOU ARE GOING TO GO CRAZY THINKING EVERYDAY YOU COME HOME THAT YOUR HOME MAY NOT BE THERE FROM A STORM. >>:OUR SAFETY DEPENDS ON WHERE AND HOW WE BUILT NEW HOMES, LOCATE OUR JOBS AND DEVELOP TRANSPORTATION ROUTES. WE CAN REDUCE COMMUNITY RISK BY LIMITING DEVELOPMENT AND FLOODPLAINS AND GIVING HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESSES LESS DISCRETION TO LOCATE WHEREVER THEY CHOOSE. BUT WHAT IS THE RIGHT BALANCE OF INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM AND COMMUNITY RISK? THESE ARE TOUGH CHOICES AND TRADE OFFS. THAT'S WHY WE NEED YOUR INPUT. THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS TO LIMIT COMMUNITY RISKS THAT AFFECT US ALL. BUILDING CODES THAT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL STRUCTURAL STRENGTHENING, REQUIREMENTS TO ELEVATE BUILDINGS AND LAND USE RESTRICTIONS IN UNPROTECTED FLOOD-PRONE AREAS. PEOPLE MIGHT ALSO FACE CONSEQUENCES FOR CHOOSING TO BUILD IN HIGH RISK AREAS. SOME OF THESE COULD INCLUDE LESS ACCESS TO PRIVATE STATE OR FEDERAL INSURANCE, LESS ACCESS TO SERVICES OR UTILITIES, OR LESS ACCESS TO DISASTER RECOVERY FUNDS. >>:RECOGNIZING THESE TRADE OFFS, LET'S CONSIDER OUR CHOICES. THERE ARE 3 BASIC OPTIONS ABOUT HOW AND WHERE WE BUILD AS WE RECOVER AND GROW EACH WITH DIFFERENT IMPACTS. THE FIRST OPTION WOULD EMPHASIZE INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS. THAT WOULD MEAN PEOPLE WOULD FACE NO INCREASED RESTRICTION ON WHERE OR HOW THEY BUILD. HOWEVER, THIS COULD CONTINUE THE CURRENT TREND OF BUILDING IN UNPROTECTED FLOOD-PRONE AREAS WHICH IN TURN COULD LEAD TO INCREASES IN INSURANCE RATES FOR ALL LOUISIANA HOMEOWNERS. THE COST OF RESCUE AND RECOVERY WOULD ALSO BE BORNE BY ALL CITIZENS. THE SECOND WOULD CREATE NEW RULES FOR LIVING IN HIGH RISK AREAS. THESE REGULATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS LIKE THE ONES WE JUST DISCUSSED COULD REQUIRE PEOPLE IN UNPROTECTED FLOOD-PRONE AREAS TO PREPARE FOR THE CONSEQUENCES. IT COULD ALSO REDUCE THEIR ACCESS TO INSURANCE OR DISASTER RELIEF. SUCH POLICIES MIGHT ALSO LEAD TO FEWER PEOPLE LIVING IN UNPROTECTED FLOOD-PRONE AREAS WHICH WOULD FURTHER REDUCE COMMUNITY RISK. THIS MEANS PEOPLE WOULD BE SOMEWHAT RESTRICTED ON WHERE THEY BUILD AND LIVE. THE THIRD OPTION WOULD PROHIBIT DEVELOPMENT IN UNPROTECTED FLOOD-PRONE AREAS. FEW PEOPLE WOULD LIVE IN HIGH RISK AREAS. THAT WOULD RESULT IN REDUCED LOSS FROM FLOODING IN STORMS, LOWERING OVER ALL INSURANCE RATES. HOWEVER, THERE WOULD BE STRINGENT RESTRICTIONS LIMITING NEW DEVELOPMENT. THIS MEANS PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE FREE TO BUILD WHEREVER THEY CHOOSE. >>:FINDING THE RIGHT MIX OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY IS A CHALLENGE. IN A FEW MINUTES, WE'LL ASK YOU FOR YOUR IDEAS ON FINDING THE RIGHT MIX. SOUTH LOUISIANA IS MORE THAN JUST A COLLECTION OF TOWNS AND CITIES. WE ARE ALL CONNECTED. AND OUR FUTURES ARE INTERTWINED THROUGH OUR WETLANDS, HIGHWAYS AND REGIONAL ECONOMIES. THROUGH THIS REGIONAL PLANNING INITIVE, WE ARE WORKING TO HELP CREATE PLANS FOR FUTURE GROWTH THAT BALANCE OUR REGION'S HISTORY, NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, AND ECONOMY WHILE ALSO PRESERVING OUR CULTURE AND THE GOOD THINGS THAT MAKE US WHO WE ARE. NOW THAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT SOME OF THE DECISIONS FACING LOUISIANA, IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO CREATE A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. THIS IS THE RESPONSE SHEET WE'LL BE USING AS WELL AS THE NEWSPAPER INSERT WITH INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CHOICES. THE POLL IS ALSO ON LINE AT WWW.LOUISIANA SPEAKS DOT ORG OR YOU MAY CALL 1-888-PLAN-2050 OR 1-888-752-6205. WE HAVE TALKED IN THIS PROGRAM ABOUT CREATING MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE IN LOUISIANA. BUT AS WE LOOK TO A FUTURE POST HURRICANES, WHAT SHOULD BE OUR FOCUS? WE ASK YOU TO SELECT 3 PRIORITIES FROM A LIST OF 7 STRATEGIES DESIGNED TO CREATE MORE AND BETTER JOBS. A, PURSUE NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN TRADITIONAL INDUSTRY SECTORS. B, FOSTER KNOWLEDGE BASED BUSINESSES. C, EXPAND TRADE AND SHIPPING. D, ATTRACT AND RETAIN COMPANIES. E, NURTURE ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL COMPANIES. F, EXPAND JOB SKILLS AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING. G, STRENGTHEN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. >>:REMEMBER WE ASK YOU TO CHOOSE JUST 3 OPTIONS FROM THIS LIST OF 7 POSSIBILITIES. >>:OUR SECOND QUESTION INVOLVES MAKING US SAFER FROM STORMS. THIS WAS THE NUMBER 1 CONCERN OF OUR FELLOW CITIZENS. WE NEED YOUR INPUT ON WHAT VALUES OUR COASTAL RESTORATION AND PROTECTION PLAN SHOULD RESERVE. CHOOSE 3 OF THE FOLLOWING 6. A, COMMUNITY PRESERVATION, B, COMMERCIAL FISHING. C, NAVIGATION AND PORTS. D, RECREATIONAL HUNTING AND FISHING. E, OIL AND GAS INFRASTRUCTURE. F, WILDLIFE HABITAT AND FLYWAYS. REMEMBER WE WANT YOU TO CHOOSE 3 OF THESE 6 OPTIONS. QUESTION NUMBER 3 ASKS YOU TO INDICATE HOW IMPORTANT YOU THINK FUNDING AND I AM PLEMENTTATION OF THE NEW PROPOSED STATE PLAN FOR COASTAL PROTECTION AND RESTORATION IS TO RECOVERY. CHOICES RANGE FROM VERY IMPORTANT TO NOT AT ALL IMPORTANT. PLEASE CHOOSE ONE. >>:FINALLY WE LOOK AT HOW LOUISIANA SHOULD GROW. THIS IS WHERE THE PATH WE CHOOSE WILL TAKE US TO VERY DIFFERENT DESTINATIONS. WHAT WILL LOUISIANA LOOK LIKE IN THE YEAR 2050? WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BUILDING SAFER HOMES AND COMMUNITIES, ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE, INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND, YES, TRAFFIC. NOW, WE'RE BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER. QUESTION NUMBER 4 ASKS HOW SHOULD WE GROW. A, KEEP BUILDING AND DEVELOPING AS WE ARE. B, MODIFY DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS OR, C, FOCUS DEVELOPMENT ON EXISTING CITIES AND TOWNS. PLEASE CHOOSE ONE. QUESTION NUMBER 5 IS OUR LAST ISSUE. BUT IT IS AN ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT ONE FOR LOUISIANA WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN FEW LIMITS ON WHERE PEOPLE CAN BUILD AND LIVE. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE RIGHT MIX OF PROPERTY RIGHTS AND COMMUNITY RISK? WE ASK YOU TO MARK ONE OF THESE CHOICES. A, EMPHASIZE PROPERTY RIGHTS. B, BALANCE PROPERTY RIGHTS AND COMMUNITY RISK. OR C, EMPHASIZE REDUCING COMMUNITY RISK. >>:WELL THAT'S A WRAP FOR THIS PROGRAM BUT IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING FOR A NEW FUTURE FOR LOUISIANA. WHEREVER YOU ARE LIVING NOW, WE ASK YOU TO BE A PART OF PLANNING THAT FUTURE. YOU HAVE UNTIL FEBRUARY 10TH TO BE A PART OF THIS HISTORIC MOMENT IN TIME. WHEN YOU WERE ASKED WHAT DID YOU DO FOLLOWING THE LARGEST NATURAL DISASTER IN THIS COUNTRY'S HISTORY, WHAT WILL BE YOUR ANSWER? THE CHOICES WE MAKE TODAY WILL SHAPE LOUISIANA FOR GENERATIONS. WE HOPE YOU'LL CHOOSE TO BE A PART OF LOUISIANA SPEAKS. HISTORY TELLS US THAT WHEN PEOPLE LEAD, THE LEADERS WILL FOLLOW. SO HELP US CHARTER YOUR COURSE, A NEW DIRECTION FOR OUR STATE. USE YOUR VOICE. SPEAK UP FOR LOUISIANA. >>:TO GIVE MORE FEEDBACK ON ANY ASPECT OF THE LOUISIANA SPEAKS REGIONAL VISION LOG ON TO WWW.LOUISIANA SPEAKS.ORG OR WRITE LOUISIANA SPEAKS 721 GOVERNMENT STREET, SUITE 103-230, BATON ROUGE LOUISIANA 70802. >>:FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE FANNIE MAE FOUNDATION HELPING TO REBUILD LOUISIANA.