[StBernard] Amendment 7 on the November 7 Ballot (Assessor Consolidation)

[Westley Annis]

Amendment 7 on the November 7 Ballot 
(Assessor Consolidation)	 
The Assessor Amendment will appear on the November 7 ballot. This amendment,
if passed, would bring Orleans Parish's assessment system in line with the
rest of the state by reducing the number of elected tax assessors from seven
to one. The  amendment will help to prevent tax abuse, decrease the cost of
government, and streamline and unify the assessment process. 

Passing this measure, just as was the case recently with the Levee Board
consolidation measure, will improve our current system of government and the
city and state's image nationally and internationally. 

Amendment 7 does not raise taxes. It does only one thing: it reduces the
number of Orleans tax assessors from 7 to 1. Cities such as Atlanta,
Houston, Nashville, Chicago, and every other parish in Louisiana have one
tax assessor. 

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, City Council President Oliver Thomas, Vice
President Arnie Fielkow, and Council members James Carter, Stacy Head, and
Shelly Midura all support Amendment 7, as do Governor Kathleen Blanco,
Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu, and U.S. Senators Mary Landrieu and
David Vitter. 

Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans, the BGR, CABL, PAR, WTC, Alliance for
Good Government, and all major newspapers and dozens of civic and
neighborhood organizations support Amendment 7. 

Following is a link to the Citizens 1 web site with additional information
about Amendment 7: 

http://www.citizensfor1greaterneworleans.com/site/PageServer
<http://www.citizensfor1greaterneworleans.com/site/PageServer>   

The Assessor Amendment must gain majority approval by the voters in both
Orleans Parish and statewide. 

We encourage you to vote "Yes" on Amendment 7 next Tuesday. Together we can
work to make our city and state better. 

Charles W. Nelson
President
World Trade Center of New Orleans