“There are two things that are coming for us: Robots and, apparently, Labubu,” CEO and President of Greater New Orleans Inc., Michael Hecht explains with brevity on the Newell Normand show.
But is leveraging the sensation of Pop Marts' hideous-but-ultraprofitable Labubu Doll part of Hecht’s blueprint for a more prosperous New Orleans? If so, those plans are under tight, tight wraps.
Hecht joined Newell Normand to explain that his organization recently published a one-sheet of mayoral priorities, things they hope to see the next leader of New Orleans focus on to grow a “Thriving economy and an excellent quality of life for everyone.”
“If we can't distill what's truly important down to a page, then we don't know what's truly important,” explains Hecht.
The full sheet is available ot GNO’s website. It outlines a list of issues the nonprofit hopes to work with alongside the next mayoral administration to build on the current economic momentum and fix areas that are currently broken.
The list consists of three categories based on the organization's mission statement. Each category is broken down into bullet points that deal with municipal issues, including public safety, homelessness, project efficiency, affordable housing, etc.
“We talk about efficiency—a city hall that's a partner, not a barrier to business,” says Hecht. “We call out specific projects (such as) the Louisiana International Terminal, the redevelopment of the naval base with a new lab… the river district, the convention center hotel, and a new city hall and a new court.”
Hecht emphasizes the need to focus on better day-to-day operations, highlighting the city’s success during the Super Bowl to fix infrastructure and remove blight. However, he also underscores the need for a leader who doesn’t lose sight of the larger picture.
“We need a mayor to articulate a vision…Let's just use the Super Bowl model to set aggressive, three-month targets based on an event, based on a date, and then just drive towards them.”
On public safety, GNO directly states that keeping Superintendent Kirkpatrick at the head of the NOPD is key to maintaining morale and encouraging new hires.
“When we talk to the beat cops (they say) she's accessible. She has their back. She addresses challenges,” Hecht says. “I talked to a detective who had left. He retired, but came back because of her.”
Hecht spotlights the fact that while New Orleans often has much to celebrate, from an executive standpoint, there’s a lot ot be desired in the next mayor.
“I think our greatest poverty is a poverty of imagination that allows us to accept the indignity of mediocrity,” Hecht says. “That’s a place where we have to change our expectations, change our mindset.”
Newell Normand summed up the issue more bluntly, saying, “I think it's just the culture of giving a damn.”