Between the Kenner City Council and Mayor Zahn, Kenner made and discussed several more bonehead moves, none of which will help Kenner prosper.
Bonehead Move #1 - Approving a Church at The Esplanade
In a move that I have been critical of since it was proposed, the Council approved a plan by Christ The King Church to purchase the old Hollywood Theatre property at the Esplanade Mall and convert it to a church.
When I first criticized the plan, I was told that "You're against churches" and "You hate religion".
Neither of those is true but it shows the lengths that some politicians will go to to deflect from the real issues: the conversion of taxable property to non-taxable and the continued perception that retail is dying in Kenner.
Consider this: the Esplanade Mall is under new ownership (again). How can it market itself to prospective retail customers when a chunk of prime commercial property adjoining the mall isn't commercial anymore?
Christ The King is a growing, vibrant church. But, it's viability in Kenner is unknown. They aren't expanding within Kenner - they are expanding to Kenner.
Will they have 100 members of the Kenner congregation? 500? 50? We don't know and, regardless of how many members they have, their economic impact will be negligible. Yes, they may contribute to some nearby restaurants but, unlike retail which draws people daily or housing units where residents reside and commute to and from daily, the church members will impact little else in Kenner.
In addition, by letting the property go to a non-profit, the City of Kenner will receive ZERO in property tax revenue. Now, admittedly, the decrepit theatre was only generating a few thousand dollars for the City but, if the property remained commercial or was turned into an apartment or condo complex, the resulting property tax revenue would be huge.
Also, if the property were turned into housing, whether owned or rented, the residents would presumably utilize Target for groceries and the resulting population influx and boost in grocery sales may have spurred another grocery store to seriously consider locating in the wasteland that is the Pavillion and that would have led to even more sales tax and property tax revenue for the City.
Yes, the property owner had financial issues but, the City of Kenner could have, and should have, sought another developer instead of abdicating to a church and taking this parcel out of commerce.
When Kenner District 4 Councilman George Branigan campaigned his platform was that he was the man who could help redevelop the Esplanade and the nearly vacant Pavilion Shopping Center, both of which are in his district.
Thus far, neither has happened and, sorry, but putting another church in a prime commercial spot doesn't qualify as redevelopment.
Yes, the Hollywood Cinema had fallen into disrepair. Yes, it was/is an eyesore. Yes, the residents of Cannes Brulees bristled at the idea of an apartment complex on that site.
But now, instead of following through on his Esplanade and Pavillion campaign pledges, Branigan is now the champion of Cannes Brulees.
On his Facebook page, Branigan said, "Promises Made, Promises Kept! During my campaign, I told the residents of Cannes Brûlées that I would protect their neighborhood. As of today, they no longer have to worry about apartments looking down into their yards and invading their privacy."
So, a handful of residents who combined don't pay 1/50th or probably even 1/100th of the sales and property taxes that an apartment or condo complex would contribute to city coffers now dictate the City of Kenner's Economic Development?
And, what about your "Promises" to other District 4 and City of Kenner residents to redevelop The Esplanade and Pavillion? How does this help fulfill either of those?
Since you, the faithful ClickJefferson reader, are reading this I will assume that you have at least 1/2 a brain and already know the answer to those questions.
Perhaps one day soon, Councilman Branigan will update us on the progress of his letter writing campaign to lure new businesses to Kenner or what he has actually done to reinvigorate The Esplanade and The Pavillion.
I will keep monitoring his Facebook page for those updates and keep you posted.
Bonehead Move #2 - Speed Cameras
Up for First Reading at the last council meeting, was an ordinance by District 2 Councilman Mike Sigur, at the suggestion of Kenner Police Chief Mike Glaser, for the introduction of Traffic Cameras to Kenner.
Several years back, the people of Kenner spoke out loudly AGAINST Traffic and Red Light Cameras in Kenner.
As with the Hollywood Cinemas/Church issue, this is another poor, ill conceived solution to an issue.
Is speeding an issue in SOME neighborhoods? Yes. Are Traffic Cameras the answer? Absolutely not.
First of all, this ordinance is poorly written and vague. It doesn't specify the maximum amount of Traffic Cameras allowed in Kenner (2? 10? 50? More?), it feeds into the perception of many that Kenner Police are "ticket-happy" and that KPD writes tickets simply to generate more revenue for the KPD, and the fines for the tickets will exclusively go to the KPD which is already well-funded compared with similar police departments in the region.
So, what are some possible solutions?
How about portable speed bumps that could be moved from neighborhood to neighborhood periodically? Either the City or even a Civic Association could purchase these. There's even a web site (I know - the Internet is wonderful) that sells portable speed bumps. Go to www.speedbumpsandhumps.com and check it out yourself. Wouldn't you REALLY rather have speed bumps, especially portable ones that could be moved after an area has been controlled, than traffic cameras?
What about "Speed Signs" that warn you to slow down and flash your speed? These are also temporary and act as deterrents.
Or why not use Reserve Officers to patrol certain neighborhoods where speeding may be an issue? I'm not sure about Kenner but I do know that in many municipalities it is a requirement for Reserve Officers that seek detail work to volunteer for a set amount of hours per time period. Some Police Departments require 10 hours a week; others, 10 hours a month. Is this the policy in Kenner and, if not, why not? Having a police car with an Officer (no one needs to know it's a Reserve Officer) is much more of a deterrent and could help other crime issues like "Porch Pirates" as well.
If the KPD's Traffic Division is so understaffed at 8 officers, and the KPD personnel total overall has stayed relatively stagnant since Katrina, why not invest in more street-level officers and use Reserve Officers until the KPD can beef up staffing? And, please don't insult our intelligence by claiming that the KPD doesn't have the funding. Each time, for as long as I can remember, that the Police Chief, regardless of who it was, has appeared before the Council seeking additional funding, the Council has obliged. The KPD is plenty well-funded, thank you very much.
Again, why isn't the City of Kenner exploring and utilizing these options rather than Speed Cameras that the vast majority of Kenner residents don't want?
The City Council will take up Sigur's proposed ordinance at the next council meeting, Thursday, December 6th. The public will have an opportunity to comment on the Speed Camera proposal at that meeting.
In the interim, you can call or email the council, Chief Glaser and Mayor Zahn and let them know exactly how you feel about the cameras.
Here are their numbers and email addresses:
Mayor Zahn - 468-7206 - mayor@kenner.la.us
Chief Glaser - 712-2200 -
Kristi K. McKinney, Councilwoman-at-Large, Division ATelephone: (504) 468-7247E-mail: divisiona@kenner.la.us
Thomas "Tom" Willmott, Councilman-at-Large, Division BTelephone: (504) 468-7252E-mail: divisionb@kenner.la.us
Gregory W. Carroll, Councilman, District 1Telephone (504) 468-7253E-mail: district1@kenner.la.us
Thomas "Tom" Willmott, Councilman-at-Large, Division BTelephone: (504) 468-7252E-mail: divisionb@kenner.la.us
Gregory W. Carroll, Councilman, District 1Telephone (504) 468-7253E-mail: district1@kenner.la.us
Michael G. Sigur, Councilman, District 2Telephone: (504) 468-7248E-mail: district2@kenner.la.us
Glenn W. Hayes Sr., Councilman, District 3Telephone: (504) 468-7249E-mail: district3@kenner.la.us
George L. Branigan, Councilman, District 4Telephone: (504) 468-7251E-mail: district4@kenner.la.us
Brian Brennan, Councilman, District 5Telephone: (504) 468-7250E-mail: district5@kenner.la.us
Glenn W. Hayes Sr., Councilman, District 3Telephone: (504) 468-7249E-mail: district3@kenner.la.us
George L. Branigan, Councilman, District 4Telephone: (504) 468-7251E-mail: district4@kenner.la.us
Brian Brennan, Councilman, District 5Telephone: (504) 468-7250E-mail: district5@kenner.la.us
Bonehead Move #3 - The Possible Move Of Kenner City Hall to The Esplanade
I wrote about this a few months back and told you why i thought this was a terrible idea for Kenner but, since Mayor Zahn highlighted the possible move at "The State of the City Address" last week, it seems like now is a great time to revisit the issue.
On the face of it, consolidating Kenner City Hall seems like a good idea. Kenner offices, while primarily centralized in the 3-building City Hall complex on Williams, are spread out across the city from Rivertown to central Kenner. Having all city offices in one location would be more convenient and, potentially, result in less property insurance payments for the city.
But, there are far more reasons why Kenner should NOT move City Hall to The Esplanade that outweigh the convenience and possible insurance savings.
1). As with the Hollywood Cinema/Church issue, if City of Kenner offices were moved to the old Macy building at The Esplanade, it would take out another large commercial space from commerce in Kenner. No sales or property tax revenue would be generated.
2). In addition to losing sales and property tax revenue, the City of Kenner would turn from an owner of property to a renter. Adding a long-term lease and the associated buildout costs for converting the retail store to offices are expenses that the City may not be able to afford. The Mayor has not discussed any of the proposed costs with the people of Kenner nor has he explained how the City will pay for massive cost of building out a new site, whether it's the old Macy's building or a different site, and why the he wants to indebt city residents even more while we are still paying off (and receiving minimal benefits) from Mike Yenni's disastrous, poorly conceived (do you see the pattern here?) 2030 Plan.
I was encouraged at a recent City Council meeting when Mayor Zahn publicly bemoaned the fact that Yenni had maxed out Kenner's credit cards and "saddled Kenner residents for a generation" with Yenni's 2030 Plan.
That being the case, again I ask, why take on even more debt, sell city assets (the current City Hall complex; possibly Veterans Park and other Kenner buildings) and become a renter? If the City of Kenner were downsizing and saving money by eliminating city departments and personnel (which is what it SHOULD be doing), maybe I might be able to understand this. Short of that happening, I have to question WHY? and WHO IS MAKING OUT IN THIS DEAL (because you know someone is and it's NOT the people of Kenner).
As I said, lower insurance costs and convenience DO NOT OUTWEIGH the significant cost of moving, the costs of a long-term lease (and another recurring expense that Kenner doesn't need), AND the loss of sales and property tax revenue that taking another prime piece of Kenner commercial property out of commerce will cost.
No city, let alone a city has financially hamstrung as Kenner can afford to reduce potential revenue AND incur more costs.
Add that to the fact that having city employees at The Esplanade, while a possible boon for restaurants in that area, does nothing to fix The Esplanade, Kenner's poor business reputation or make other businesses feel comfortable with Kenner's business and retail climate.
And that leads to reason #3.
3). Kenner's already poor perception in the retail and business communities.
After Mike Yenni blurted out on television that "Kenner is a dying city", Kenner has been unable to put forward the building blocks for a revival.
Yenni was detached after he was re-elected and focused on campaigning for his next job and chasing high school boys. His ascension to Jefferson Parish President, coupled with the aforementioned 2030 Plan, set Kenner back for decades.
Spending a year with an un-elected interim Mayor also set Kenner back as did Mayor Zahn's first year which was the final year of Yenni's aborted 2nd term. Zahn didn't want to make waves or push the envelope and provide the leadership that Kenner desperately craved after Muniz, Yenni, and Sigur.
Now that Mayor Zahn was elected to a full-term, he needs to make bold moves to prove to National Retailers like Kohl's, Belk and others that Kenner is open for business.
Hiring a part-time Economic Development Coordinator with ZERO experience in recruiting national business and in job creation/retention; letting prime commercial space be turned into a church; allowing the Pavillion to continue to decay along with The Esplanade; potentially losing more prime commercial space by moving City Hall to the mall; allowing a first-year District Councilman to send out hundreds of letters to corporate real estate departments that will simply toss the letters in the garbage after laughing at them (and Kenner) and NOT being proactive as a Mayor and hitting the road himself to market Kenner does nothing to turnaround the poor perception of Kenner.
Letting prime real estate be sold to a church is a huge blow on it's own. Throwing up your hands and essentially throwing in the towel on The Esplanade by moving City Hall there will doom the mall and any flickering hopes of it's revival.
On my radio program Monday (November 19th), Mayor Zahn said that upkeep of the City Hall Complex was a factor in possible relocation and a major reason why turning the City from a property owner to a property lessor made economic sense.
While the City hasn't worked out all the numbers yet regarding relocation and buildout costs and savings, along with how the City will pay for the move, Mayor Zahn promised to get all the facts and figures and present them to Kenner residents BEFORE any move or any lease is signed.
I don't know if that means that the public will have input into whether or not the City moves City Hall or if it will simply be a series of meetings like Yenni's 2030 Plan where it was a done deal and Kenner residents got sold a bunch of lies and half-baked ideas along with some very nice and very deceptive renderings of how the City of Kenner would look.
So, until we get all the facts and figures from Mayor Zahn, to be fair, we will delay "Full-Bonehead Status" on this project - for now.
But, the Mayor already knows that he needs to do a major selling job to convince Kenner residents, at least THIS Kenner resident, that this move would be in the best interests and best financial interests of ALL Kenner residents and not just one or two select Kenner residents (follow the money and see who is trying to buy the incredibly valuable land on Williams Blvd. that currently houses the City Hall Complex - I've already made a "short-list" and sealed it in an envelope that will be opened at a public event tentatively scheduled for The New Event Center at The Pavillion Shopping Center).
Time will tell how much input citizens will have and how transparent the proposed move is. In the meantime, you can listen to the interview with Mayor Zahn here: https://youtu.be/9oczZ4umspM
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As a Kenner resident for almost 19 years, whenever there has been a major issue (Yenni's plan to double property taxes, Yenni's 2030 Plan, changes to the City Charter, Zahn's now rescinded Nike ban and the new recreation fees, etc) I've always tried to step back and ask myself, "How does this help or better the people of Kenner?"
Whether you agree or disagree with me on issues, that's always been my compass - "How does this help or better the people of Kenner?".
I don't see how the people of Kenner are better off with:
1). Adding another church instead of more housing or retail options and taking prime commercial space out of commerce and gaining ZERO Sales or Property Tax revenue.
2). Speed Cameras that 90+% of the residents are adamantly opposed to. Speed Cameras as just another money grab, regardless of the political talking heads claiming they are about "public safety". If "public safety" were truly the issue, the City would investigate portable speed bumps, utilizing reserve officers to assist until the KPD can beef up it's Traffic Division, or similar ideas BEFORE resorting to Speed Cameras.
3). Relocating City Hall and taking yet another prime commercial space out of commerce and gaining ZERO Sales or Property Tax revenue AND giving up on any hopes of the reinvigorating The Esplanade Mall. Yeah I know - retail is dying - and The Esplanade may never regain it's lost luster. But, with another new owner, the City (and Mayor Zahn) should be working overtime to give The Esplanade one last shot. Instead, by even proposing to move City Hall to the old Macy's, Mayor Zahn is effectively parroting Yenni's "Kenner is a dying city" comment.
Kenner had 9 years of failed Mayors with no vision and another year of an interim Mayor that couldn't get out of his own way, let alone Mike Yenni's child-predator shadow. Kenner needs a Mayor with vision and leadership from him, the Council and the Police Chief.
Sadly, these boneheaded moves and others prove that Kenner City Government at all levels STILL lacks a cohesive, informed vision for Kenner's residents.
This Spring, Mayor Zahn told me to give him time and by December I would be pleasantly surprised at the direction he was taking Kenner.
Since then, while I have seen some very positive steps by Mayor Zahn (replacing the inept Fire Chief and Recreation Director; a huge improvement in the talent at Freedom Fest; the open communication and dialogue with Mayor Zahn that I, and others, have, etc., given the Mayor's own comment, I had hoped for more.
Well, in less than 2 weeks it will be December. Mayor Zahn still has time to prove me wrong and give us all hope.
Until the calendar turns, there's still time and, for me anyway, there's still hope.
But, the clock is ticking...
