Sonia Gupta (I)
Opening Statement:
Sonia Gupta - I admit openly that I'm an underdog in this race: I have never before ventured into the political arena and, relatively speaking, I am quite young (25). But I have a commitment to this city that is fueled by energy and vision. This is part of why I am running. I am also running because I am committed to providing a voice for all citizens in this city in the face of a city government that is turning a deaf ear. In that vein, I would like to let all NOYC members know that I am behind you all the way and, if elected, will do my best to ensure that your concerns are addressed. I will not lie to you and I will not pursue any measures unless they benefit our community as a whole. I refuse to pander to special interests or the motivations of a corrupt bureaucracy.
1) Would you support the privatization of either Orleans Marina and/or Municipal Harbor along with the increased fees this would bring, and if so, why and under what criteria would you support this privatization?
Sonia Gupta - I do not support privatization of the Marina or of the Municipal Harbor. Part of this city's charm comes from relatively easy access to the recreational opportunities provided by our lake and I would never support any measure that would hinder such access. Of course, public maintenance of the Marina and Harbor needs to be streamlined, as with all other city projects, to ensure efficient and honest administration.
2) With large swaths of District A, primarily Lakeview, devastated and with the many neutral grounds in these neighborhoods already growing wild even before the summer, do you feel that Parks & Parkways will be able to keep up with maintenance and do you feel that it is even important to do so? If so, how will you support and/or direct Parks & Parkways to maintain these neutral grounds?
Sonia Gupta - I, like other District A citizens, am very concerned about the capacity of Parks & Parkways to tend to public grounds in a timely and effective manner. We've all seen the neutral grounds covered in grass that's just getting longer by the day. I am uplifted, however, by the grassroots movements in this city, such as the Katrina Krewe, that have taken it upon themselves to maintain and clean our grounds. If a group of private individuals can undertake such a daunting task and create astonishing effects, there is no reason why city government shouldn't be able to do so. I believe that technology offers us an immense amount of opportunity in streamlining city government processes and therefore am in favor of using satellite imagery to monitory the condition of our public spaces. While some may say that maintaining public grounds should be a low priority, I have learned that when something looks good and looks well-maintained, it can foster a sense of pride in the thing as well as a desire to keep going to create even more aesthetic pleasure. If the city doesn't look maintained then it will have the psychological effect of affecting our pride in the city and will negatively affect our motivation to keep rebuilding, to keep fighting against the odds. As such, Parks & Parkways will play an important therapeutic role in this city's future: the maintenance and care of public grounds will help us all nurture our own psyches, and will promote further pride in this beautiful city.
As such, I will make sure that Parks & Parkways will be studied, along with every other city department, from head to toe to ensure that we're not adding any middlemen or inefficiency that just bogs the system down. There is no reason why our city can't have efficient public services and I will try to ensure that the council and city government as a whole creates a system whereby every public department will undergo an evaluation of its budget, employment, and task-oriented requirements to decide if anything needs to be cut or added to promote efficiency and effectiveness.
3) Speculation is rampant that either the existing casino boat based at Southshore Harbor or another casino boat altogether will be based somewhere at West End, do you support this idea? If so, where specifically would you support it locating and surrounded by what other types facilities on the land?
Sonia Gupta - There are portions of this city that are primarily commercial (downtown, riverwalk, etc.) and there are portions of this city that are, for obvious reasons, primarily small-business oriented and residential. West End is a thriving residential area that is peppered with amazing small-businesses. For some reason, the idea of a casino boat in that area just doesn't seem right. It would be very incongruous with the surrounding area. Therefore I do not support the addition of any more casino boats in the area. Seeing as the Southshore Harbor casino boat has been in district D for some time, I believe that that area is better equipped to understand the business motivations of such an enterprise. District A has never been the kind of place for those businesses and, if there is one thing that I'm going to be a traditionalist about, it's that. I don't think West End is the kind of neighborhood that needs or desires such a business and, unless popular opinion in the area dictates otherwise, I will not support the creation of any casino boats. I want to stress that I will be a public servant, above all else, and that any personal beliefs I might have concerning our district will always be subject to a consideration of what residents want.
4) Large scale condominium development was growing rapidly near the marinas even before the hurricane, do you support the further development of large condo towers? If so, would you support condo development on the footprint of the old parking lot for Jaeger's and the Dock? What about along West End Park? What about somewhere on the grounds of the Orleans Marina?
Sonia Gupta - I do not support any further condominium development along any portions of the lakeshore. Firstly, I think that such development detracts immensely from the beauty of our lakeshore. Secondly, it only furthers the interests of a select few individuals who are either property developers or owners of such condos. The lakeshore area ought to be a public space that promotes the enjoyment of all our citizens and that supports small-businesses that cater to such an environment. I adored the restaurants on the shore and I'm sorry to see that they have suffered so much damage. They added a lot to the ambience of the area. I don't see how condos could ever add any ambiance. They will block the sunlight from residents who live in historic housing along the lake and are, to put it simply, quite ugly. There are plenty of other places in the area where condos might be suitable and I simply cannot agree with anyone who believes that our lake is one of those areas. I will support only projects that benefit everyone in the city (restaurants, cafes, docks, picnic areas) and can't see any condominium ever providing such benefits. Furthermore, the land available around the lakeshore is limited and I cannot support putting such limited space to inferior private use.
5) Are you aware of the many issues in Florida and elsewhere regarding the lack of water access to the general public, caused specifically by rampant development of multi-million dollar condominiums and the privatization of public marinas?
Sonia Gupta - Understanding that West End is a very small area providing this access to the lake for New Orleanians, are you concerned about these same issues occurring and what would you do to stop this from happening at West End? Please refer to my statement above. I will add this: I am very concerned that private developers and wealthy individuals are snatching up the viable land around our lake. The lake has always been an asset to New Orleans (except, of course, when it is overflowing and flooding our city). As such, it should remain in the hands of our citizens and should only foster the creation of businesses that are open to the public. I will organize community movements, if necessary, to march the streets around the lakeshore in protest of any such developments! But if I am given the honor of representing district A, my instincts to preserve the enjoyment of all our citizens will undoubtedly prevail. As such, I will use every ounce of my authority in office to prevent the creation of developments and enterprises that cater only to the interests of a few while detractingly hugely from the interests of all of us.
6) West End has always been a walking neighborhood, where people were able to play volleyball, eat great seafood, enjoy their boats, visit their favorite watering hole, fish off of the piers, and hold picnics or crawfish boils without ever having to get into a car - what is your vision for this area in five years and how will you fight to maintain this neighborhood's pedestrian nature and openness for the general public?
Sonia Gupta - I know this might sound a bit radical, but my first project would be to propose that the specific lakefront area (the loop consisting of N. Roadway and S. Roadway) be closed off to vehicles unless they have permits (maybe limited to residents, business owners, dock owners, employees of business, etc.). I envision streets that are open only to pedestrians and cyclists, replete with docks a-plenty, lots of beautiful picnic areas, and gorgeous parks surrounding our beautiful oaks. I understand that this might sound offensive in the American culture that revolves around autos, but I've visited a number of lovely European cities (especially Bruges, Belgium) that don't allow autos into any parts of the city. This promotes a clean and traffic-free environment (fresh air, no noise from auto engines) that is safe (kids can run about as they wish, pedestrians are free to wander as they choose, cyclists don't have to worry about rude drivers) and I've got to say, it's just very aesthetically pleasing. Unfortunately, there simply aren't enough spaces in New Orleans that are auto-free and I'd love to see Westend Park become one of them. I will fight to pass relevant proposals in the Council to promote this idea.
7) Understanding that people prefer and choose to live near their boats and that Orleans Marina and Municipal Harbor had a waiting list of several years in order to get a boat slip, which only added to the impetus for some people to move to the Northshore, would you support the plans which were developed many years ago to rebuild and redesign Municipal Harbor so that it could add an additional 200 boat slips? If so, would this be a priority for you after the more pressing and obvious ones?
Sonia Gupta - I will definitely support the plans that were developed to redesign the harbor. I appreciate that the populace will understand that this may not be the most pressing priority and I will therefore focus on it once our more immediate concerns have been addressed. If we can expand the amount of available boat slips then the end result benefits all of us: more income for the city and more opportunity for local boat-owners (can you imagine not having to trek to the North Shore just to enjoy the lake? It sounds lovely.).
8) New Orleans was very quietly one of the nation's leading training grounds for competitive sailing, which in turn supported many sailing related businesses located in Orleans Parish and was one of the main reasons that New Orleans and the Gulf Coast together were in the lead to host the U.S. Olympic Sailing Trials in 2007 (New Orleans has since dropped out for obvious reasons), would you support the development of a Sailing Center which could be used to house the UNO and Tulane sailing teams, provide sailing courses open to the general public, and further provide avenues for New Orleans to host many more of these prestigious national and international sporting events? Would this be something that you would be willing to champion?
Sonia Gupta - Promoting the sport of Sailing even more would do wonders for the city as a whole. I would absolutely support the creation of a Sailing Centers, but only if it was open to the public and sponsored publicly-oriented opportunities like sailing classes. I would also support allotting a portion of the city's advertising budget to promoting such events. The protection of the sport and its national and international events hosted in New Orleans cannot be anything but positive for the city. However, this kind of enterprise will take long-term planning and may only come to fruition once our more immediate concerns have been addressed.
9) The area alongside the road leading to the "point" has long been neglected and could very well become an asset to the city again, how would you support this areas comeback?
Sonia Gupta - I've driven down that road too many times not to notice the poor condition! I would support repaving it, but only up to a certain point. Along the remainder of the road, I would like to see a pubic park space, sort of like those in New York's Chelsea District (where they converted unused harbor spaces into beautiful public parks). I would also support the maintenance of a long walkway, styled like a dock, centered along the length of land and with a spacious gondola or gazebo perched somewhere along the length. We might spot the perimeter of the park with benches for people who want to laze about in the sun, hearing the waves splash along the shoreline. Landscaping along the walkway would also add to the aesthetic appeal.
10) Do you support the notion of reclaiming more land from the Lake in order to build another marina, more boathouses, commercial development and/or condominiums? Please detail why you would or would not support this and explain any vision you would have for this?
Sonia Gupta - There are a lot of environmental issues that arise when discussing the reclamation of lake land. Simply put, I have learned that reclaiming lake soil always poses a very dire risk for any establishments that might exist along such land. Furthermore, any such activity in the lake poses a threat to the already damaged eco-system and I cannot support that. And, as mentioned above, I don't support the creation of any more condominiums. As for the Marina, I believe that our existing location, once rebuilt and modernized, will continue to serve our needs. I would not, in any case, support the creation of more residential spaces in an area that has already suffered considerable environmental abuse.
11) With every restaurant overlooking the Lake obliterated, what will you do to empower these restaurants and bars to come back stronger than before?
Sonia Gupta - I don't see those restaurants as any less worthy of attention than the other small businesses that have been wiped out across our city. As such, I will support their renewal in much the same way as I will support other businesses: the city must use a substantial portion of its federal allotment to financially assist our business owners. The Small Business Administration has failed miserably in providing assistance to our residents. As such, it is necessary that the city take the task of assisting business owners into its own hands. Once the city's financial situation has been studied in depth, the council and other government officers must work together to apportion part of that budget for small business owners, including those along the lake. Furthermore, a portion of the city's budget that has been allotted for lakefront restoration might provide more of an economic boost to these business owners.
12) What ideas would you support for the use of the historic and very damaged Lighthouse at the point?
Sonia Gupta - The lighthouse should be eligible for federal funding under title 16 of the United States Code (dealing with Conservation and Preservation of Historic Landmarks). As such, a grant proposal must be submitted as soon as possible so that the city can begin restoring the building. Once restored, the lighthouse would serve well as a small museum detailing the history of the lake and its shores. This is a detailed project that will require a lot of volunteer assistance and it is something I need more time to look into. Certain of my close friends are well-acquainted with the process of garnering federal funding for restoration of historic sites and I will discuss the issue with these friends to better understand the issue. Seeing as the city has so much on its plate right now, I encourage volunteers to work together to submit a grant proposal if we are to start funding this project as soon as possible. You can find more information about this at http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/casecode/uscodes/16/chapters/1a/subchapters/i/toc.html
13) Even before the hurricane, the harbors and marinas of West End desperately needed to be dredged, with boats often running aground in the channels, the problem is compounded now with new layers of silt and massive debris. This will potentially lead to injuries, and it is only a matter of time before this occurs. What will you do to correct this problem?
Sonia Gupta - I would love to provide an easy answer to this question, but I can't. You see, dredging of lakes and canals can create very serious environmental problems (as evinced by the situation surrounding MRGO). If I were to answer this question by telling you that I'll dredge the harbors and marinas to solve the problem, I would be proposing a solution that, if implemented, could have a disastrous effect on the environmental safeguards that protect our city, safeguards (like the wetlands) that have already been severely compromised. I learned, after performing some research on the issue of water turbidity (the circulation of lower level water currents) that there is a higher concentration of water circulation on the southshore of the lake, particularly in the area closest to New Orleans (http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/pontchartrain/imagery/water.html).
This is because of higher water temperatures that create stronger wave currents in the area. As a result of this movement, more sediment is deposited on the southern end and therefore affects the marinas and harbors around West End. This is partially a natural occurrence but is also significantly affected by man-made processes. The US Geological Survey website states, "Shoreline erosion and wetlands loss are serious concerns in and around Lake Pontchartrain. Causes of loss involve a complex interaction between natural and human activities. Direct removal of land for canals, redistribution of material for development and other processes that alter hydrography create conditions of erosion, submergence and degradation of vegetation. In general, the utilization of Pontchartrain Basin's natural resources, steady population growth and land development over the past century have contributed to the shoreline and wetland loss that we see today. Natural subsidence, a result of dewatering in geologically young sediments, also contributes to the loss in currently unknown proportions." I propose the creation of a panel of engineers and experts who, in cooperation with USGS, can study the effects of dredging any portions of the lake and its surrounding waterways to see if there are ways to reduce the amount of buildup of silt along the bottom of the harbors and marinas without dredging. If you want to find some information about the natural and unnatural processes that cause sediment buildup, check out: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/pontchartrain/
As for the debris in the lake, all of us know just how filthy Lake Pontchartrain has become in the last few decades. The solution to that problem is not going to revolve around band aids like dredging that, if applied continuously, could just place the lake in even worse condition. As a community, we have got to understand that the environmental failings of our state and of our city have simply got to stop. To that end, I would promote the creation of an educational campaign that will supplement, with information and with funding, the coastal restoration and lake preservation movements that have been started by conscientious citizens. I will also support the creation of city-funded environmental restoration projects that will place a focus on cleaning the lake and protecting it from further pollution. I'm very frustrated by the way that our citizens treat the lake. For example, a month or so before the storm I was eating dinner with friends on the deck at Jaeger's. We were enjoying being outside, watching the sunset, despite the fact that the wind was making it hard to keep our napkins on our laps. I noticed that several people eating next to us on the deck had lost their paper napkins to the wind and were making no attempt to keep the trash on their table secure. As a result, a huge amount of plastic wrappers from crackers, as well as paper napkins, were just blowing right into the lake. It was very distressing. When I remarked about this pollution to the waitress, she just said, "well, I guess that everyone's doing it so don't worry about it." I was very upset to see such disregard for the well-being of our lake. It is this kind of attitude that has made our lake so filthy in the first place. I have heard that, not so long ago, there was a time when you could actually safely swim in the lake (can you believe it? I wouldn't stick a toe in that lake today.) knowing that it wasn't contaminated. Maintaining the cleanliness of our lake is of paramount concern because no amount of dredging will solve the problems we have if we don't stop the cycle from continuing in the first place. If the pollution of the Pontchartrain basin, which drains land in a number of Louisiana parishes, continues, there will be no lake worth enjoying.
14) What are the city's plans for trailers in City Park (how many, where exactly, length of time)? Are these trailer sites specified for any particular group (NOPD, NOFD, etc.) or are they geared to pre-K Lakeview residents who were renters or are they open to the general public? What about police presence on the trailer sites?
Sonia Gupta - So far, I have only heard of the proposal to place a total of 970 trailers at the following sites: Marconi Meadows, the old south golf course, and the east course. But it doesn't seem like anything is actually happening to further this. I have tried to get more information about the ongoing plan but am running into a lot of dead ends. The main problem is that City Park, unlike other sites, does not already have the electric, sewage, and gas infrastructure necessary to support such trailers. It seems like the plan is still up in the air. As for the inhabitants of these parks, it is still up to the mayor to decide who will live in the trailers. I believe it is important to first place public employees like NOPD and NOFD, as well as all utilities employees, before opening the parks to the public. I understand that crime has been a problem in some of the "tent cities" in the area and can see how this could be a problem in future trailer parks. As such, I would propose 24 hour police presence in these parks.
Sonia Gupta - I admit openly that I'm an underdog in this race: I have never before ventured into the political arena and, relatively speaking, I am quite young (25). But I have a commitment to this city that is fueled by energy and vision. This is part of why I am running. I am also running because I am committed to providing a voice for all citizens in this city in the face of a city government that is turning a deaf ear. In that vein, I would like to let all NOYC members know that I am behind you all the way and, if elected, will do my best to ensure that your concerns are addressed. I will not lie to you and I will not pursue any measures unless they benefit our community as a whole. I refuse to pander to special interests or the motivations of a corrupt bureaucracy.
1) Would you support the privatization of either Orleans Marina and/or Municipal Harbor along with the increased fees this would bring, and if so, why and under what criteria would you support this privatization?
Sonia Gupta - I do not support privatization of the Marina or of the Municipal Harbor. Part of this city's charm comes from relatively easy access to the recreational opportunities provided by our lake and I would never support any measure that would hinder such access. Of course, public maintenance of the Marina and Harbor needs to be streamlined, as with all other city projects, to ensure efficient and honest administration.
2) With large swaths of District A, primarily Lakeview, devastated and with the many neutral grounds in these neighborhoods already growing wild even before the summer, do you feel that Parks & Parkways will be able to keep up with maintenance and do you feel that it is even important to do so? If so, how will you support and/or direct Parks & Parkways to maintain these neutral grounds?
Sonia Gupta - I, like other District A citizens, am very concerned about the capacity of Parks & Parkways to tend to public grounds in a timely and effective manner. We've all seen the neutral grounds covered in grass that's just getting longer by the day. I am uplifted, however, by the grassroots movements in this city, such as the Katrina Krewe, that have taken it upon themselves to maintain and clean our grounds. If a group of private individuals can undertake such a daunting task and create astonishing effects, there is no reason why city government shouldn't be able to do so. I believe that technology offers us an immense amount of opportunity in streamlining city government processes and therefore am in favor of using satellite imagery to monitory the condition of our public spaces. While some may say that maintaining public grounds should be a low priority, I have learned that when something looks good and looks well-maintained, it can foster a sense of pride in the thing as well as a desire to keep going to create even more aesthetic pleasure. If the city doesn't look maintained then it will have the psychological effect of affecting our pride in the city and will negatively affect our motivation to keep rebuilding, to keep fighting against the odds. As such, Parks & Parkways will play an important therapeutic role in this city's future: the maintenance and care of public grounds will help us all nurture our own psyches, and will promote further pride in this beautiful city.
As such, I will make sure that Parks & Parkways will be studied, along with every other city department, from head to toe to ensure that we're not adding any middlemen or inefficiency that just bogs the system down. There is no reason why our city can't have efficient public services and I will try to ensure that the council and city government as a whole creates a system whereby every public department will undergo an evaluation of its budget, employment, and task-oriented requirements to decide if anything needs to be cut or added to promote efficiency and effectiveness.
3) Speculation is rampant that either the existing casino boat based at Southshore Harbor or another casino boat altogether will be based somewhere at West End, do you support this idea? If so, where specifically would you support it locating and surrounded by what other types facilities on the land?
Sonia Gupta - There are portions of this city that are primarily commercial (downtown, riverwalk, etc.) and there are portions of this city that are, for obvious reasons, primarily small-business oriented and residential. West End is a thriving residential area that is peppered with amazing small-businesses. For some reason, the idea of a casino boat in that area just doesn't seem right. It would be very incongruous with the surrounding area. Therefore I do not support the addition of any more casino boats in the area. Seeing as the Southshore Harbor casino boat has been in district D for some time, I believe that that area is better equipped to understand the business motivations of such an enterprise. District A has never been the kind of place for those businesses and, if there is one thing that I'm going to be a traditionalist about, it's that. I don't think West End is the kind of neighborhood that needs or desires such a business and, unless popular opinion in the area dictates otherwise, I will not support the creation of any casino boats. I want to stress that I will be a public servant, above all else, and that any personal beliefs I might have concerning our district will always be subject to a consideration of what residents want.
4) Large scale condominium development was growing rapidly near the marinas even before the hurricane, do you support the further development of large condo towers? If so, would you support condo development on the footprint of the old parking lot for Jaeger's and the Dock? What about along West End Park? What about somewhere on the grounds of the Orleans Marina?
Sonia Gupta - I do not support any further condominium development along any portions of the lakeshore. Firstly, I think that such development detracts immensely from the beauty of our lakeshore. Secondly, it only furthers the interests of a select few individuals who are either property developers or owners of such condos. The lakeshore area ought to be a public space that promotes the enjoyment of all our citizens and that supports small-businesses that cater to such an environment. I adored the restaurants on the shore and I'm sorry to see that they have suffered so much damage. They added a lot to the ambience of the area. I don't see how condos could ever add any ambiance. They will block the sunlight from residents who live in historic housing along the lake and are, to put it simply, quite ugly. There are plenty of other places in the area where condos might be suitable and I simply cannot agree with anyone who believes that our lake is one of those areas. I will support only projects that benefit everyone in the city (restaurants, cafes, docks, picnic areas) and can't see any condominium ever providing such benefits. Furthermore, the land available around the lakeshore is limited and I cannot support putting such limited space to inferior private use.
5) Are you aware of the many issues in Florida and elsewhere regarding the lack of water access to the general public, caused specifically by rampant development of multi-million dollar condominiums and the privatization of public marinas?
Sonia Gupta - Understanding that West End is a very small area providing this access to the lake for New Orleanians, are you concerned about these same issues occurring and what would you do to stop this from happening at West End? Please refer to my statement above. I will add this: I am very concerned that private developers and wealthy individuals are snatching up the viable land around our lake. The lake has always been an asset to New Orleans (except, of course, when it is overflowing and flooding our city). As such, it should remain in the hands of our citizens and should only foster the creation of businesses that are open to the public. I will organize community movements, if necessary, to march the streets around the lakeshore in protest of any such developments! But if I am given the honor of representing district A, my instincts to preserve the enjoyment of all our citizens will undoubtedly prevail. As such, I will use every ounce of my authority in office to prevent the creation of developments and enterprises that cater only to the interests of a few while detractingly hugely from the interests of all of us.
6) West End has always been a walking neighborhood, where people were able to play volleyball, eat great seafood, enjoy their boats, visit their favorite watering hole, fish off of the piers, and hold picnics or crawfish boils without ever having to get into a car - what is your vision for this area in five years and how will you fight to maintain this neighborhood's pedestrian nature and openness for the general public?
Sonia Gupta - I know this might sound a bit radical, but my first project would be to propose that the specific lakefront area (the loop consisting of N. Roadway and S. Roadway) be closed off to vehicles unless they have permits (maybe limited to residents, business owners, dock owners, employees of business, etc.). I envision streets that are open only to pedestrians and cyclists, replete with docks a-plenty, lots of beautiful picnic areas, and gorgeous parks surrounding our beautiful oaks. I understand that this might sound offensive in the American culture that revolves around autos, but I've visited a number of lovely European cities (especially Bruges, Belgium) that don't allow autos into any parts of the city. This promotes a clean and traffic-free environment (fresh air, no noise from auto engines) that is safe (kids can run about as they wish, pedestrians are free to wander as they choose, cyclists don't have to worry about rude drivers) and I've got to say, it's just very aesthetically pleasing. Unfortunately, there simply aren't enough spaces in New Orleans that are auto-free and I'd love to see Westend Park become one of them. I will fight to pass relevant proposals in the Council to promote this idea.
7) Understanding that people prefer and choose to live near their boats and that Orleans Marina and Municipal Harbor had a waiting list of several years in order to get a boat slip, which only added to the impetus for some people to move to the Northshore, would you support the plans which were developed many years ago to rebuild and redesign Municipal Harbor so that it could add an additional 200 boat slips? If so, would this be a priority for you after the more pressing and obvious ones?
Sonia Gupta - I will definitely support the plans that were developed to redesign the harbor. I appreciate that the populace will understand that this may not be the most pressing priority and I will therefore focus on it once our more immediate concerns have been addressed. If we can expand the amount of available boat slips then the end result benefits all of us: more income for the city and more opportunity for local boat-owners (can you imagine not having to trek to the North Shore just to enjoy the lake? It sounds lovely.).
8) New Orleans was very quietly one of the nation's leading training grounds for competitive sailing, which in turn supported many sailing related businesses located in Orleans Parish and was one of the main reasons that New Orleans and the Gulf Coast together were in the lead to host the U.S. Olympic Sailing Trials in 2007 (New Orleans has since dropped out for obvious reasons), would you support the development of a Sailing Center which could be used to house the UNO and Tulane sailing teams, provide sailing courses open to the general public, and further provide avenues for New Orleans to host many more of these prestigious national and international sporting events? Would this be something that you would be willing to champion?
Sonia Gupta - Promoting the sport of Sailing even more would do wonders for the city as a whole. I would absolutely support the creation of a Sailing Centers, but only if it was open to the public and sponsored publicly-oriented opportunities like sailing classes. I would also support allotting a portion of the city's advertising budget to promoting such events. The protection of the sport and its national and international events hosted in New Orleans cannot be anything but positive for the city. However, this kind of enterprise will take long-term planning and may only come to fruition once our more immediate concerns have been addressed.
9) The area alongside the road leading to the "point" has long been neglected and could very well become an asset to the city again, how would you support this areas comeback?
Sonia Gupta - I've driven down that road too many times not to notice the poor condition! I would support repaving it, but only up to a certain point. Along the remainder of the road, I would like to see a pubic park space, sort of like those in New York's Chelsea District (where they converted unused harbor spaces into beautiful public parks). I would also support the maintenance of a long walkway, styled like a dock, centered along the length of land and with a spacious gondola or gazebo perched somewhere along the length. We might spot the perimeter of the park with benches for people who want to laze about in the sun, hearing the waves splash along the shoreline. Landscaping along the walkway would also add to the aesthetic appeal.
10) Do you support the notion of reclaiming more land from the Lake in order to build another marina, more boathouses, commercial development and/or condominiums? Please detail why you would or would not support this and explain any vision you would have for this?
Sonia Gupta - There are a lot of environmental issues that arise when discussing the reclamation of lake land. Simply put, I have learned that reclaiming lake soil always poses a very dire risk for any establishments that might exist along such land. Furthermore, any such activity in the lake poses a threat to the already damaged eco-system and I cannot support that. And, as mentioned above, I don't support the creation of any more condominiums. As for the Marina, I believe that our existing location, once rebuilt and modernized, will continue to serve our needs. I would not, in any case, support the creation of more residential spaces in an area that has already suffered considerable environmental abuse.
11) With every restaurant overlooking the Lake obliterated, what will you do to empower these restaurants and bars to come back stronger than before?
Sonia Gupta - I don't see those restaurants as any less worthy of attention than the other small businesses that have been wiped out across our city. As such, I will support their renewal in much the same way as I will support other businesses: the city must use a substantial portion of its federal allotment to financially assist our business owners. The Small Business Administration has failed miserably in providing assistance to our residents. As such, it is necessary that the city take the task of assisting business owners into its own hands. Once the city's financial situation has been studied in depth, the council and other government officers must work together to apportion part of that budget for small business owners, including those along the lake. Furthermore, a portion of the city's budget that has been allotted for lakefront restoration might provide more of an economic boost to these business owners.
12) What ideas would you support for the use of the historic and very damaged Lighthouse at the point?
Sonia Gupta - The lighthouse should be eligible for federal funding under title 16 of the United States Code (dealing with Conservation and Preservation of Historic Landmarks). As such, a grant proposal must be submitted as soon as possible so that the city can begin restoring the building. Once restored, the lighthouse would serve well as a small museum detailing the history of the lake and its shores. This is a detailed project that will require a lot of volunteer assistance and it is something I need more time to look into. Certain of my close friends are well-acquainted with the process of garnering federal funding for restoration of historic sites and I will discuss the issue with these friends to better understand the issue. Seeing as the city has so much on its plate right now, I encourage volunteers to work together to submit a grant proposal if we are to start funding this project as soon as possible. You can find more information about this at http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/casecode/uscodes/16/chapters/1a/subchapters/i/toc.html
13) Even before the hurricane, the harbors and marinas of West End desperately needed to be dredged, with boats often running aground in the channels, the problem is compounded now with new layers of silt and massive debris. This will potentially lead to injuries, and it is only a matter of time before this occurs. What will you do to correct this problem?
Sonia Gupta - I would love to provide an easy answer to this question, but I can't. You see, dredging of lakes and canals can create very serious environmental problems (as evinced by the situation surrounding MRGO). If I were to answer this question by telling you that I'll dredge the harbors and marinas to solve the problem, I would be proposing a solution that, if implemented, could have a disastrous effect on the environmental safeguards that protect our city, safeguards (like the wetlands) that have already been severely compromised. I learned, after performing some research on the issue of water turbidity (the circulation of lower level water currents) that there is a higher concentration of water circulation on the southshore of the lake, particularly in the area closest to New Orleans (http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/pontchartrain/imagery/water.html).
This is because of higher water temperatures that create stronger wave currents in the area. As a result of this movement, more sediment is deposited on the southern end and therefore affects the marinas and harbors around West End. This is partially a natural occurrence but is also significantly affected by man-made processes. The US Geological Survey website states, "Shoreline erosion and wetlands loss are serious concerns in and around Lake Pontchartrain. Causes of loss involve a complex interaction between natural and human activities. Direct removal of land for canals, redistribution of material for development and other processes that alter hydrography create conditions of erosion, submergence and degradation of vegetation. In general, the utilization of Pontchartrain Basin's natural resources, steady population growth and land development over the past century have contributed to the shoreline and wetland loss that we see today. Natural subsidence, a result of dewatering in geologically young sediments, also contributes to the loss in currently unknown proportions." I propose the creation of a panel of engineers and experts who, in cooperation with USGS, can study the effects of dredging any portions of the lake and its surrounding waterways to see if there are ways to reduce the amount of buildup of silt along the bottom of the harbors and marinas without dredging. If you want to find some information about the natural and unnatural processes that cause sediment buildup, check out: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/pontchartrain/
As for the debris in the lake, all of us know just how filthy Lake Pontchartrain has become in the last few decades. The solution to that problem is not going to revolve around band aids like dredging that, if applied continuously, could just place the lake in even worse condition. As a community, we have got to understand that the environmental failings of our state and of our city have simply got to stop. To that end, I would promote the creation of an educational campaign that will supplement, with information and with funding, the coastal restoration and lake preservation movements that have been started by conscientious citizens. I will also support the creation of city-funded environmental restoration projects that will place a focus on cleaning the lake and protecting it from further pollution. I'm very frustrated by the way that our citizens treat the lake. For example, a month or so before the storm I was eating dinner with friends on the deck at Jaeger's. We were enjoying being outside, watching the sunset, despite the fact that the wind was making it hard to keep our napkins on our laps. I noticed that several people eating next to us on the deck had lost their paper napkins to the wind and were making no attempt to keep the trash on their table secure. As a result, a huge amount of plastic wrappers from crackers, as well as paper napkins, were just blowing right into the lake. It was very distressing. When I remarked about this pollution to the waitress, she just said, "well, I guess that everyone's doing it so don't worry about it." I was very upset to see such disregard for the well-being of our lake. It is this kind of attitude that has made our lake so filthy in the first place. I have heard that, not so long ago, there was a time when you could actually safely swim in the lake (can you believe it? I wouldn't stick a toe in that lake today.) knowing that it wasn't contaminated. Maintaining the cleanliness of our lake is of paramount concern because no amount of dredging will solve the problems we have if we don't stop the cycle from continuing in the first place. If the pollution of the Pontchartrain basin, which drains land in a number of Louisiana parishes, continues, there will be no lake worth enjoying.
14) What are the city's plans for trailers in City Park (how many, where exactly, length of time)? Are these trailer sites specified for any particular group (NOPD, NOFD, etc.) or are they geared to pre-K Lakeview residents who were renters or are they open to the general public? What about police presence on the trailer sites?
Sonia Gupta - So far, I have only heard of the proposal to place a total of 970 trailers at the following sites: Marconi Meadows, the old south golf course, and the east course. But it doesn't seem like anything is actually happening to further this. I have tried to get more information about the ongoing plan but am running into a lot of dead ends. The main problem is that City Park, unlike other sites, does not already have the electric, sewage, and gas infrastructure necessary to support such trailers. It seems like the plan is still up in the air. As for the inhabitants of these parks, it is still up to the mayor to decide who will live in the trailers. I believe it is important to first place public employees like NOPD and NOFD, as well as all utilities employees, before opening the parks to the public. I understand that crime has been a problem in some of the "tent cities" in the area and can see how this could be a problem in future trailer parks. As such, I would propose 24 hour police presence in these parks.
posted by TAG at 3:50 PM
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