St. Tammany Parish - Priority Issues

Economic Development

• Restore and reopen businesses to full service levels.
• Re-establish normal employment levels, especially at the entry level and service level position.
• Develop infrastructure to support economic development and inevitable growth, but do it properly to enhance the communities (bike paths, parks, walking trails, etc.)
• Honor and revitalize our historic districts, for our residents as well as tourism.
• Provide no- or low-interest loans to help small businesses rebuild.

Environmental and Coastal Restoration

• Prevent flooding and improve drainage.
• Restore habitat and protect water supplies.
• Protect and restore coastal wetlands.
• Protect the commercial fishing industries.
• Protect natural resources available, including the forest, trees and waterways.

Human Services

• Improve healthcare facilities, and distribute them across the parish.
• Maintain well-thought-out evacuation plans, with special emphasis on evacuation of the elderly.
• Develop better emergency communications.

Education

• Maintain high quality of education.
• Improve the public school system, and make schools hubs/focal points of communities.
• Upgrade and expand Delgado, UNO, and Southeastern in St. Tammany.

Public Safety

• Improve coordination and communication systems for emergencies.
• Improve public safety.

Transportation and Infrastructure

• Improve roads and transportation systems.
• Reduce traffic congestion.
• Repair governmental structures.
• Implement current plans to meet infrastructure needs.
• Construct critical water and sewer improvements.
• Provide public transportation, to reduce traffic congestion, for elderly/handicapped citizens, and for evacuation.
• Provide a new north/south highway, from I-12 north, for safer and faster evacuation.
• Create a comprehensive plan for proper drainage. 

Housing and Community Development

• Provide a variety of new affordable housing opportunities for all income levels. Planned unit developments (PUDs) should be heavily considered to help maintain property values.
• Manage population growth to preserve the quality of life and character of the parish. (A "treasure" listed is "Preserve rural, small town settings." Another "treasure" listed is "Support parks and recreation facilities and programs.")
• Update local long-range plans to respond to changes in population.
• Restore/rebuild damaged housing and neighborhoods. 1 (It is preferable to limit rebuilding to areas that are not subject to future flooding and to buy out properties in flood-prone areas. Raising houses may be justified in some circumstances.)
• (A "showstopper" listed is "Avoid State or Federal government control of the planning process or negative impact on neighborhoods through regulations/requirements or restrictions.")