VCPORA requests Municipal Auditorium RFP be rescinded

The letter below was sent to Mayor Nagin and all City Council members.

September 20, 2009

Hon. Ray Nagin

Mayor, City of New Orleans

1300 Perdido Street

New Orleans, LA  70112

Letter via email

Dear Mayor Nagin:

On behalf of the board and members of the Vieux Carré Property Owners, Residents and Associates, I am writing to request that the Request for Proposals for the redevelopment and management of the Municipal Auditorium be rescinded, and that the process be restarted so that public input can shape the use of this important public facility.

Before the storm, resident of the French Quarter enjoyed the proximity of the beautiful auditorium and many of us walked to the various cultural, social and community events held there.  Indeed, people from across the city, and even beyond, flocked to boxing matches, concerts, and other shows at this magnificent building.  We have only the information in the RFP to go on, but if our reading is correct, the building would no longer be an auditorium but a production facility, meaning it would be taken out of public use.  That would be quite a loss. 

We have been supportive in the past of public/private ventures, but have also always been supportive of transparency and public involvement in the stewardship of public resources.  In this case, the RFP does not seem to have been the end product of a process that engaged the community of stakeholders. 

We ask that you restart the process, convene community meetings, and solicit input from the public so that the best, most productive, and most beneficial use for this resource can be decided by the public.

Best regards,

Michael D. Moffitt

President, Vieux Carre Property Owners, Residents and Associates