NEW ORLEANS — In his first months in workplace, Gov. Jeff Landry has centered on Louisiana’s largest metropolitan space by creating the New Orleans transition crew and the Sewerage & Water Board job power. He additionally signed into legislation many new tough-on-crime measures enacted throughout a particular legislative session.

In gentle of all this consideration from Baton Rouge, Biz New Orleans requested members of the New Orleans 500 — our listing of influential, concerned and galvanizing executives — what they consider are the town’s largest challenges and alternatives, and the way elected officers and the enterprise neighborhood can help optimistic change.

Nearly everybody who responded agreed that the town’s largest challenges embody crime, the insurance coverage disaster, and getting old infrastructure — however opinions diverse on priorities and the very best methods to deal with the issues.

Listed below are some notable responses:

“Orleans Parish actual property taxes have elevated disproportionately to actual property values. The houses in New Orleans, that are sometimes older, are costly to take care of. Homeownership is out of attain for too many and it isn’t enhancing. To draw development and funding in our neighborhood, we should get our taxes and insurance coverage prices underneath management.” — Dan Forman, NOLA Detox and Restoration Middle

“Insurance coverage and crime are by far the most important hurdles we’ve got. The triple menace of auto, property and flood insurance coverage are making it value prohibitive to stay or work within the area. Crime must be checked out from a foundational concern of early childhood schooling and our Okay-12 public schooling. Taking funds away from public faculties for personal faculties doesn’t assist the issue for many who can not afford transportation to make this ‘alternative.’ … The transition crew must work on the homeless concern. How will we clear up the tent cities with out simply relocating the issue? Psychological well being, job coaching, transitional housing for these exiting jail, retired veterans; we want a job power that features a holistic strategy with all on the desk.” — Lisa Barback, Westbank Enterprise & Business Affiliation

“The town’s largest problem is discovering funding capital to help financial improvement that can entice commerce and business that in flip create jobs and alternatives for residents and small companies. Jobs and financial alternative have been confirmed to curtail crime.” — Lynnette White-Colin, New Orleans Enterprise Alliance

“We have to modernize our financial improvement technique to focus extra on individuals and financial vitality and fewer on single tasks and out of doors direct funding. Till we’re extra aggressive nationally we have to focus extra on rising our personal domestically rooted industries.” — Jon Atkinson, The Thought Village

“Crime and flooding within the metropolis impacts the complete area. We have to work along with state officers to search out strategic initiatives and sound practices that can remedy these two points. Enterprise leaders can carry a number of the identical problem-solving strategies to authorities that they use day by day of their companies. Neighboring parish leaders reminiscent of Jefferson’s Director of Public Works Mark Drews can share greatest practices from a parish that has one such division with engineers and water administration specialists operating streets, water, drainage and sewerage.” — Todd Murphy, M Wealth Advisors / Raymond James

“Essentially the most urgent challenges going through New Orleans are crime and homelessness. Our native elected officers should work collectively towards a unified plan to take care of these points.” — Amy Collins, Gambel Communications

“I consider Gov. Landry has centered acceptable consideration on New Orleans given the general significance of the town to the final properly being and out of doors perspective on the state of Louisiana. The town’s challenges are many and I consider the governor has centered on the highest priorities: crime and infrastructure, particularly the Sewerage & Water Board. The price of insurance coverage is one other problem going through the town, however this concern has a broader affect on not solely south Louisiana however the Gulf Coast basically and a spotlight to this concern ought to begin on the state degree.” — Brian Rotolo, EY New Orleans

“The biggest challenges for 2024 and 2025 look like associated to infrastructure. Crime within the first quarter of 2024 is down 34 p.c from the primary quarter of 2023, and there’s a new chief for NOPD. This has the main focus it must proceed the progress. However with out flooding and infrastructure fastened, there isn’t a there there. You may have a tremendous, seductive tradition with first rate roads and pumps that work.” — Chris Reade, Carrollton Enterprise Providers

“Trying on the challenges the area faces with an fairness lens is the easiest way to enhance outcomes for the neighborhood. Being robust on crime doesn’t remedy the foundation trigger. Systemic modifications are wanted to supply alternatives for our youth and households particularly in early care and schooling. Louisiana additionally wants to handle reasonably priced housing and insurance coverage.” — Christine Briede, Jefferson Group Basis

“[We need] the fundamentals of excellent authorities: pumps that work, higher streets, security visitors lights within the Central Enterprise District that work.” — Man Williams, Gulf Coast Financial institution & Belief

“Preparation for the Tremendous Bowl is the most important problem and alternative.” — Tim Coulon, former Jefferson Parish president and former govt director of the Jefferson Enterprise Council

“Our largest challenges are crime, and a mindset in New Orleans to just accept low-quality requirements and institutional inefficiencies. Additionally ineffective choices relative to infrastructure: sewer, water, drainage, roads and highways. … There’s additionally the rising value of residing, insurance coverage value and lack of reasonably priced housing. … New Orleans stays a prime metropolis for younger entrepreneurs, sustaining its model as a meals and journey vacation spot. [We have an] alternative to replace constructing codes to create houses which are extra immune to hurricanes, floods, warmth and chilly occasions. The state ought to contemplate reviewing Florida’s statewide constructing code, adopted in 2002. [We could] replace the constructing codes to permit for smaller or tiny houses which are immovable. Type partnerships with reasonably priced housing builders to make the most of vacant and demolished former faculty properties.” — David Payton, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Companies Program 

“The town and society as an entire should acknowledge and actively work towards dismantling structural racism and discrimination. This may be achieved by insurance policies that promote equal entry to schooling, employment and housing alternatives and handle systemic biases within the prison justice system. As an alternative, Gov. Landry created a slate of recent legal guidelines that can proceed to propagate the cycle of poverty and violence that we’ve got seen right here in New Orleans and throughout the U.S. Persevering with to limit entry to complete reproductive care whereas loosening gun legal guidelines will create the chaos wanted to take care of the established order and make sure that these on the prime will stay on the prime.” — MarkAlain Déry, Entry Well being Louisiana

“Infrastructure, crime, and reasonably priced housing are the town’s largest challenges. Alternatives are distribution of products through the river and, after all, tourism. The New Orleans Metropolis Council can help these by allocating state and federal {dollars} — and native tax assortment — to enhance infrastructure, scale back crime, and proceed to enhance our ports. The enterprise neighborhood can look to increase in Louisiana and rent expert staff from outdoors the area when wanted. That may increase the tax base and develop our inhabitants.” — Chris Ferris, Constancy Financial institution

“The town is presently going through a number of challenges, together with a rise in crime charges, excessive insurance coverage prices, and a mayor that solely cares about herself. In the intervening time, it might seem to be alternatives are restricted, except you’re promoting insurance coverage or committing crimes.” — Darrin Piotrowski, Courant