CenLamar | Est. 2006

  • Vitter “Optimistic” He Can Thwart Louisiana’s Uninsured

    On Thursday, Louisiana’s House of Representatives passed a resolution to allow LSU to work with the VA to build a world-class medical complex in downtown New Orleans. In spite of an overwhelming 70-33 vote, Republican U.S. Senator David Vitter is up to his old tricks, continuing to place ideology and special interest above advocating for a realistic solution for the future of Louisiana’s health care delivery system. From nola.com: U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., has met several times with HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson in an attempt to kill the project, and said earlier this week that he is optimistic that…

  • Peddling Smart Growth and Other Observations

    Around two weeks ago, a friend of mine directed me to an article in the LA Weekly about how some developers have misused “smart growth” concepts to attract federal incentives to help subsidize sprawl developments, including strip malls and suburban subdivisions. Today, I noticed that fellow Cenla blogger, CenLaugh, also came across the same article, and he offers some analysis regarding the application and implementation of smart growth in Alexandria. To be sure, CenLaugh is correct when he states that the term “smart growth” is now in common currency here in Alexandria. He writes: It is possible that this term…

  • Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce Announces Legislative Agenda

    Earlier today, the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce published its legislative agenda for 2007, an 81-page document highlighting several projects that will directly affect the quality of life and the efficiency of services in our region. The report is sweeping in its scope and documents the need for well over $100 million in state and federal appropriations on a wide range of issues. GULF COAST STRATEGIC HIGHWAY At the top of the list is a recommendation for $43 million toward the construction and completion of the Gulf Coast Strategic Highway (which may, one day, become Interstate I-14). Quoting from the…