My Platform

I have posted on numerous topics that outline my platform and why I can best represent this district in the legislature. Please review my ideas, and make sure to read my earlier posts. Feel free to comments by clicking on "comments", or you can email me directly at HolahanFor94@gmail.com. Either way, I'll answer here (or privately if that is your preference). Thanks, John

PROTECTING AND ENCOURAGING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The best climate for a business to move to or stay New Orleans is to establish a sense of stability in our commitment to revitalize the area. The opportunity zones, tax breaks, and economic incentives must remain in place until the economy is vigorous again. Small and medium sized businesses are essential to the rebirth of our district. Without immediate steps to encourage existing businesses to remain, we will continue the “brain drain” of our brightest. Educational initiatives for UNO and Delgado to promote training, bio tech initiatives, entertainment industry incentives, restaurant, art and museum support are all compatible with District 94 and the entire New Orleans Region. As a State Representative, I will pursue additional tax cuts for existing New Orleans flood zone businesses and pursue entirely tax free zones in areas in need of stimulation.

BUDGET SURPLUS

The State is projected to have over a billion dollar surplus. While it is prudent to be fiscally responsible and to save for our future, failing to allocate reasonable amounts of this surplus to essential New Orleans area projects is wrong. There is a common complaint by local storm affected communities that there are insufficient funds to even begin the planning for needed capital improvement projects. If we don’t get these projects started, our communities will become more weary that recovery will be too long. As a result, we will lose momentum, credibility and FEMA reimbursement money. The State can help by stepping up its responsibility to fund immediate maintenance and repair of its own parks, buildings, roads and bridges.

As a State Representative from a storm damaged area, I will work with all coastal area legislators to push through a program of storm relief advances to local government.

HOSPITAL AND HEALTHCARE

Our district needs quality healthcare facilities. I was born at Mercy Hospital on Bienville Street; and, for most of my childhood, I recall visiting many doctors who practiced around this facility. At the time of the storm, the Lindy Boggs Medical Center, operated by Tenet, provided needed clinic, hospital, emergency service and elderly care to the district. The facility needs to be re-opened and State incentives must become available to encourage re-investment into this building. The entire area remains suitable for redevelopment. As State Representative, I will encourage availability of funds and tax incentives to doctors, clinics, and hospital facilities to promote the resurrection of this health care district. This would provide quality jobs and quality services to the public, and it would bring an economic boom to the area.

COASTAL EROSION AND FLOOD CONTROL

The implementation of a plan to restore and preserve our Louisiana delta and coastline has had no political resolve prior to Katrina. The storm brought the spotlight to the consequence of coastline instability, and the political will to implement a plan is now at its highest. The discipline to maintain commitment to coastal restoration must resist short term political expedience. If our coastline continues to disappear, we risk constant hurricane storm surge, economic disaster to all levee protected communities, and an ecological nightmare to our fisheries and wildlife resources. As a State Representative, I will maintain the political resolve and commitment to protect our coast.

INSURANCE

Like it or not, the State is being forced into the insurance business. The Louisiana Citizen’s Insurance Company will soon become the largest insurance provider in damaged hurricane prone areas of Southeast Louisiana. The ability to obtain quality insurance on the open market is vital to individuals and businesses trying to rebuild. However, we cannot allow fear of another hurricane event to unduly manipulate the market price. Even after the storm, insurance filings with multiple state regulators posted a total of forty-four ($44,000,000,000) billion dollars of profit in 2005. If companies are now allowed to sell a product that refuses the option of coverage for risks like wind damage, policyholders will have no protection against catastrophic losses and profits will soar unreasonably. This should not happen in a regulated industry.

As a State Representative, I will make sure that “insurance reform” does not turn into a loss of policyholder contractual rights. The insurance industry has been safely protected by regulation for years in order to assure profit. Now, the insurance industry must protect the policyholders of Louisiana. I don’t want anyone gouged, company or policyholder. A fair rate for a realistic evaluation of risk is appropriate. But, don’t expect to do business in Louisiana if your company is not stable and wants to pull out after years and years of profit in one sector. It would be like the Saints leaving town after all those years of support- it just isn’t right, and it is not good business.

This issue is complex, but it can be solved. Incentives for new companies to come to Louisiana must be explored. Reinsurance requirements for existing companies should be examined so the risk of loss to existing companies will be eliminated or reduced. Federal programs need to be considered and integrated into the Louisiana insurance solution. Policyholders must retain the right to acquire wind protection, and policyholders must know that their claims will be handled fairly and rapidly without the pressure.

EDUCATION

Our school system has half the number of students it had prior to the storm, but it would be foolish to fail to rebuild quality schools in advance of the demand. The implementation of the hybrid system of State supervised Charter and local supervised District schools are underway. The historical problems are well known, and the tolerance for low standards must be removed. The State must do all it can to raise the ability of children to get a quality education. Studies show that this absolutely reduces crime and poverty in our community and promotes economic development. I believe that the return of families, old and new, to New Orleans will be consistent and steady. Quality educational options, for gifted, talented, average, and special needs students are essential. As a State Representative, I will promote legislation that encourages the building of Educational Facilities now, both to respond to our immediate needs and in anticipation of the growth of families in New Orleans.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT

A. ROADS AND DRAINAGE: Fleur de Lis Drive, a street in Lakeview where I grew up is an example of our problem. Despite tremendous effort to get every Congressional legislator to see the 17th Street Canal breech, eighteen months after the storm, it remains decrepit and nearly unusable. It also recently flooded when a 3 inch rain event occurred. The water sat for 2 days. The pitiful expenditure on roads and drainage restoration is evident everywhere. As a State Representative, I will seek to establish a program that expedites performance on vital road projects, whether State or City.

B. CITY PARK: City Park land is owned by the City of New Orleans but it is managed by the City Park Administration, a State chartered agency. It has been left to struggle alone too long, and its time to step up State allocation of resources to City Park, a centerpiece of the District. The Park can provide beauty and charm to all surrounding neighbors. Thousands of children, mostly students, use the poorly maintained recreational facilities daily, yet very little funds are available or expended on ordinary maintenance. The Park is an asset to everyone, but it is under-utilized. As a State Representative, City Park will be a priority. I have hundreds of hours in the Park volunteering as a coach, and I have dealt with its administration regularly over the last 5 years dealing with issues pertaining to it soccer facilities. I know the problems, and I have the solutions.

C. LEVEE BOARD PROPERTY: The Orleans Parish Levee Board, OPLB, now abolished, was charged with maintaining property as well as levee inspection. Since, there has been little maintenance except cutting grass. The loss of the OPLB has resulted in an immediate need for local oversight of our Lakefront property maintenance as well as enforcement of codes and restrictions. Without a local authority, the Governor’s Division of Administration in Baton Rouge, will decide what is best for our community. As State Representative, I will seek to introduce a bill to establish a local oversight body to make sure that the Division of Administration is accountable locally for the administration of the Lakefront Community Covenants and former OPLB properties, including all green spaces, the Marina, and the Airport.

D. PLAYGROUNDS AND GREEN SPACES: The quality of life in our community depends on having facilities where children can play safely, adults are comfortable, and recreational options are plentiful. The steady decay of existing green spaces and playgrounds is not acceptable - particularly where ordinary maintenance and improvement would have an immediate impact. Every single Neighborhood Plan contains an expression of the overwhelming desire of our community to have better outdoor facilities and green space. I will propose legislation to support targeted allocation of public funds to improve specific public playgrounds and green spaces facilities.

CLEAN UP ROAD HOME, ABOLISH RENT CONTROLS, ESTABLISH TEMPORARY RENTAL ASSISTANCE

ICF, the Road Home contractor, is ineffective. The State must investigate to what extent it is in breach of its contract and respond immediately. The Governor has stated that it would cause further delay to terminate the contract; however, it makes no sense to continue what is not working. The contract is too large for one company, and it needs to be segmented. The legislative investigation into the delay of this program must be aggressive. Can the program work? Is the contract in default? As a State Representative, I will promote legislation which segments this massive contract, reviews the program, as seeks modification of the terms. The Congress of the United States, indeed the people of our country, wants us to have this relief money. The continued failure to implement the distribution of these funds will seriously weaken the effectiveness of the Louisiana Congressional to get more funding in the future. This must be corrected immediately.

Although there is a need to create incentive to re-build affordable housing, using rent control as a condition to providing grants to pre-Katrina owners is a bad idea. I am opposed to rent controls on privately owned property. It reduces the value of the property and is a poor investment of public funds. A temporary voucher system with a maximum amount would be more effective. This would allow the market rate to determine the rent, and it would allow assistance and choice to renters. Such an approach would maintain property value by promoting a market rate income stream while giving renters short term assistance without imposing the financial burden of rent control on the Katrina damaged property owner.

QUESTION FROM MIKE G. ON ARGONNE

Mike asks: I live right next to City Park, and my kids participate at the track and soccer fields. I rarely see any police. What can you do to help?

There is only one security gaurd on the payroll in the park. I know he does his job, because I have called him, but he can't be everywhere at once. If we have more State Police assigned to the City, then more NOPD can be deployed in other areas like City Park. City Park, as a tourist attraction at the end of a street car line with a major museum deserves more State priority. The problems with Park management start with money; however, the land still belongs to the City. The interstate runs right through the park and this is additional justification for immediate trooper presence. Right now it seems that security is weak. For instance, I have observed a man still living right under the overpass on Marconi Drive, and he has been there for quite a while. Why does this persist? The solution is to get NOPD to patrol more and to fund some additional Park security. Watch your children close. Thanks for the question.

Please email me with other questions at HolahanFor94@gmail.com, and I'll answer them here.

STATE RESOURCES DEDICATED TO FIGHTING CRIME

Crime is everyone’s fear. How do we get rid of it, and how do we keep it from spreading?

The City of New Orleans is a political subdivision of the State, and it needs direct support and intervention where necessary to fight crime and to prosecute defendants. Simply put, we need more numbers and better trained police in New Orleans. The State can help more, but it also has a shortage of troopers. We need to invest and upgrade our public commitment to this vital need. Calls to the police should be responded to immediately and the police need to be present and visible in the hot spots at all times. As a State Representative, I will support creation of a larger presence of State troopers in New Orleans. This will not only support NOPD immediately, but it will build a larger well trained force for future assignment anywhere in Louisiana.

Secondly, the Criminal Justice System in New Orleans, both judicial and prosecutorial, needs overhauling. As a lawyer, I can assure you this is an area where my knowledge will help our district. The reason for delay in court or prosecutorial performance must be examined. Whether systemic or competence related, we cannot continue to roll along as we have in the past. The system must get the tools its needs. State of the art technology and training is vital. As a State Representative, in order to support prosecution, I will propose allocation of resources to greater funding, training, and accountability of both the District Attorney’s Office and the State or City police Detective Units.

HAPPY MARDI GRAS!!

Happy Mardi Gras! It was a good day to relax with family and friends. But, back to work. There are only 19 days until the "special" election! During this week, I will present my detailed ideas about how, as your State Representative, I can help to improve our crime fight, accelerate capital improvements, and correct Road Home defects. Keep in touch. If you have a question, please send me an email at HolahanFor94@gmail.com, and I will answer your email as fast as I can. Hope you had a good Mardi Gras!

NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION

Neighborhoods are the backbone of our City. The network of great neighborhood organizations in District 94 will assist in preserving the quality of our lives. However, ideas need funding, and our State must step up to the task.

The Unified New Orleans Plan (UNOP) reveals the direction that our neighborhoods strive to achieve, but there is not enough money to do it all. The decisions as to the restoration of neighborhoods must be based on immediately maximizing the quality of life for those who live here.

The better it is now, the faster we will recover.

As a State Representative for this District, every decision that I make will consider a balance of the mutual goals of immediately maximizing recovery and providing a grid for future regeneration of our Neighborhoods.

Have a question, please post your comment or write me at HolahanFor94@gmail.com, and I'll answer your question as soon as I am able. Thanks.

EXPERIENCE MATTERS

JOHN M. HOLAHAN, JR.
Age 49
Attorney, Admitted to Louisiana State Bar Association, 1982
Married, 20 years, Pamela
Four Daughters

EXPERIENCE
Hon. Patrick M. Schott, Judge, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal, 1982-1984
Jones Walker Waechter Poitevent Carrrere & Denegre, 1984-1992
USF&G, 1992-1994
Law Office of John M. Holahan,Jr., 1992-2006
Senior Trial Attorney, City Attorneys Office, City of New Orleans, 2000-2005
Partner, Reynolds & Holahan, 2006 to Present

EDUCATION
St. Dominic Grammar School
Jesuit High School, 1975
Louisiana State University, B.S., Business Administration, 1979
Loyola University School of Law, 1982

CIVIC AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Member State and Federal Bar Associations
Former Examiner, Torts Section, Louisiana State Bar Association
New Orleans Bar Association, Pro-Bono Project Volunteer
Past President and Board Member, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Southeast Louisiana
Past Member Young Leadership Council
Past Board Member and Current Member St. Pius X Men’s Club
Past Board Member and Current Member Mount Carmel Academy Men’s Club
Volunteer Coach, Lakeview Playground
Volunteer Coach, St. Pius X
Volunteer Committee Member and Coach, Lakeview Soccer Club
State Wrestling Champion, Team Captain, Volunteer Coach
Lake Vista Property Owners Association