EJBA GOVERNMENT NOTES NOVEMBER 2022

-Social Security recipients will see an approximate 9% increase in payments beginning January 2023.

-Due to inflation, the Feds raised interest rates again by ¾ point; while the IRS upped the standard deduction and tax brackets and raised contribution limits for retirement savings.

-La. is one of 12 states to receive a portion of $2.8 billion to build battery manufacturing for electric vehicles.

-La. Supreme Court ruled that persons serving time right now are not entitled to new trials if they had a split verdict.

-La. Citizens Insurance for residential properties is increasing by 63%.

-The application process is now open for student loan forgiveness up to $20,000.00.

-The Legislative push to improve reading skills for 3^rd and 4^th graders passed but with a watered down version.

-Jefferson Parish School Superintendent will host four Listen and Learn meetings with one on November 15^th.

-LCMC purchased Tulane Medical Center, Lakeview Regional, and Tulane Lakeside from HCA.

-Ochsner Rehabilitation Hospital ranked first in La. in Newsweek’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Center.

-Severn Ave. and David Dr. construction is set to be completed within weeks.

-The Esplanade Mall may finally have a buyer with plans to convert it to a mixed-use development with retail, residential, and recreation.

-Jefferson Parish Economic Development or Jedco awarded $1.5 Million for Jedgrow financing for small businesses. Jedco also launched a small business lending program between $25K to $150k for the seafood industry.

-Mardi Gras 2023 will have smaller parade routes because of the police shortage.

-Mr. Henry Shane of 1^st Lake Properties was awarded the first Philanthropy award from the Jefferson Cummunity Foundation due to his community service and dedication for the betterment of Jefferson Parish.

-DawnBusters Turkey Fry has already begun!!

-Please go VOTE today. We have (8) Constitutional amendments today with School Board and Senatorial races and (3) on December 10^th ballot. I have the complete list for your review.

EJBA GOVERNMENT NOTES OCTOBER 2022

-Unfortunately, another insurance company writing in La., FedNat, will be placed into receivership under the LIGA program.

-Fed officials will keep boosting interest rates to help keep inflation down and try to stave off a recession.

-Barge traffic is being slowed due to the lower Mississippi river levels compounding the problem of supplies reaching consumers.

-DXC Technology has ended its incentive pact with La. because of its lack of high-paying tech job hires.

-Avondale Shipyards finally opened this past Friday as a global hub for manufacturing and logistics and return thousands of jobs to the area.

-River Birch and the Jefferson Parish Council will merge day to day operations at the parish landfill and save the parish approximately $1.4 million annually.

-Jefferson Parish Recreation Dept. is allowing under-utilized playgrounds as academies – parents affected are upset.

-State Treasurer John Schroeder is moving all state treasury funds from BlackRock, Inc. in violation of state law. BlackRock is urging all companies to embrace environmental and social strategies – harming La.’s Fossil Fuel industry.

-Ochsner will build a Neuroscience center on Jefferson Hwy. specializing in epilepsy, cognitive and movement disorders, and neurosurgery.

-The 71^st Miss Universe Competition is coming to the New Orleans Convention Center in January 2023.

-Breeze Airways has announced fall fare sales starting at $39 to Charleston, Richmond, Ga., Louisville, Ky, Jacksonville, Fla., and Savannah, Ga.

-Voters will decide on 11 ballot initiatives in November from veterans property tax exemptions to giving local taxing authorities more time to roll the millages forward. I have a full list of all initiatives, if you would like to review.

EJBA GOVERNMENT NOTES SEPTEMBER 2022

A $50 Million federal grant to create clean hydrogen has been awarded to the South La. Regional Partnership
LA also received another $100 Million in transportation aid; much needed since the Transportation Trust Fund just announced an expected loss of half billion dollars in the next decade due to fuel efficiency and electric vehicles.
LA Public School teachers may qualify for Student Loan debt forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness and the La. schools do not have to implement Biden’s new transgender protections.
Entergy customers can apply for $150 credit; pay no late fees; and disregard disconnect notices with a payment plan.
Jefferson Parish has rolled out a new program for 1^st-time homebuyers and has allocated $275,000 for 53 low-income residents to attend early childhood pre-schools.
The JP Council and Administration have also installed cameras on the road leading to landfills to catch violators with garbage flying out of their vehicles for litter abatement.

EJBA GOVERNMENT NOTES AUGUST 2022

LA has again been ranked at the top for workforce development according to Business Facilities magazine.
LA could get a bump in cash by selling its water to many western states, but presently giving it away to them.
LA Judge that Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon abused his power trying to force insurance companies to pay evacuation costs.
The LA bailout fund will borrow $600 million after seven LA insurers went bust following Hurricane Ida.
A push by state education officials to toughen public high school grades failed although our system does not align with ACT scores or college entry; however, we have seen a slight rebound in standardized test scores, namely due to in-person learning.
New Orleans Airport officials want to build a connector road from the upcoming Amtrak station to the new terminal; but the I-10 fly-over has been postponed until 2023.
In Jefferson Parish, an attempt to take over the Shrine on Airline is happening and to possibly host a professional soccer league.

EJBA GOVERNMENT NOTES JULY 2022

Legislature wrapped up in June with a few new laws enacted, to name a few: Nursing homes must submit an emergency preparedness plan, landlords cannot evict tenants who have evacuated for a storm, individuals may surrender their firearms and have them returned under an agreement, La. can sell medical marijuana to non-La. residents with a medical marijuana card, the odor of marijuana alone is not probable cause to retain a search warrant, limit of police booking photos for nonviolent crimes, prohibit solitary confinement for juveniles with some exceptions, civil remedies for parents of minors exposed to online pornography, public high schools will adopt policies for pregnant students and give time to breastfeed children during school hours; signed the Offshore wind energy bill authorizing the state to take a cut of the wind farm revenues and charge the lease fee, and Hybrid and electric vehicle owners will soon pay an annual road fee possibly through state income tax filings.
Edwards vetoed several bills including: charter schools to be approved by the state board instead of local school boards, an education savings account for students with disabilities or struggling to read to find better non-public options, grant state dollars to follow students that want to leave struggling public schools for private institutions, and vetoed the authority of state buildings during an emergency.
The legislators that have disagreed with the Governor’s vetoes do not have the votes to convene a Veto special session.
Entergy has a summer cash-incentive program for companies that apply energy-saving facility upgrades.
US Supreme Court put a hold on redrawing La.s new congressional district before the 2022 elections.
The US Supreme Court also voted to allow for prayer in public schools, overturned the federal abortion law of Roe versus Wade and gives authority to individual states, and gun rights in the New York Rifle and Pistol Assoc. versus Bruen.
In Jefferson Parish, our animal shelters have a surge of surrendered animals and in desperate need of adoptions and foster care for large and small dogs.
A call for the Bridge City Center for Youth to be closed after several brawls and escapes. In the meantime, the state police have been called in to carry tasers, pepper spray, and use-of-force techniques often reserved for adult prisoners.

EJBA GOVERNMENT NOTES APRIL 2022

will partner with Arkansas and Oklahoma in developing clean hydrogen as fuel to bring in federal dollars to the region
NASA’s Stennis Space center is now using drone technology for aerial imagery, inspections, and mapping and other dangerous missions.
The La. Community and Technical Colleges have partnered with La. Economic Development to use federal dollars in developing a skilled workforce against future natural disasters and flood protection.
Lawmakers overrode the Governor’s veto of the congressional district map.
Mobile Sports Betting generated $2.2 million in taxes for February alone
Social Studies curriculum will be implemented by 2023 to address critical race theory
Brittany and Drew Brees launched The BuildStrong Academy in Kenner to train construction workers.
At New Orleans airport, Breeze Airways, will add a new route to Jacksonville, Fla. this summer.
The Viking cruise line began its final stage of construction before opening its Mississippi River cruises from New Orleans to St. Paul, Minnesota.
US government announced all new vehicles will have to travel an average of 40 miles per gallon by 2026
Jefferson Parish voters will go to the polls on April 30th for RENEWAL of Consolidated Road Lighting District AND a half-cent tax RENEWAL for Jefferson Parish schools.
Last, but not Least, NOCHI announced it will offer a Professional Wine Certification course possibly led by Mildred.

EJBA GOVERNMENT NOTES SEPTEMBER 2018

Delgado Community College River City Campus will open this fall focusing on technical skills.
Medical Marijuana availability has been pushed back to November from September
According to a Glassdoor.com report, Technology and Healthcare are the highest paying industries. GNO is #1 in the USA growth in Technology (SmartAsset, 2017) and Healthcare jobs. (STAT, 2017).
A new study from LendingTree has named New Orleans #3 in the USA amongst “cities where young entrepreneurs are making their mark and forming the next wave of million- and even billion-dollar businesses.”
November 6^th are upcoming elections for Secretary of State, and local JP School Board seats. We also have several TAX RENEWALS (NOT A NEW TAX) on the ballot.
New Orleans and Jefferson Parish have started a Pilot Program allowing bus riders all-day access to ride the route on South Claiborne past South Carrollton ending its route instead at Ochsner Hospital on Jefferson Highway. This gives all passengers a quicker and less expensive trip than having to transfer to a Jefferson Transit line.
Rail Upgrades for the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge are back on track after a four month delay. The project should be complete by December 2019.

Government Highlights –