LMR September 2020

Inside the LMA
Director’s Viewpoint
RECOVERING AND REBUILDING
BY JOHN GALLAGHER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
“When the burdens of the
presidency seem unusually
heavy, I always remind myself
it could be worse. I could be a
mayor.” This quote by the 36th
President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson,
was invoked by Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter
during his introductory remarks for an August 19th
virtual press conference sponsored by the LMA and
the National League of Cities. Those words proved
prophetic when, only one week later, Lake Charles felt
the full brunt of Hurricane Laura, the most powerful
storm to hit Louisiana in 150 years. Laura wrought
catastrophic destruction throughout the city, along
with devastating infrastructure, homes, and businesses
in other southwest Louisiana municipalities, including
DeQuincy, Sulphur, Vinton, DeRidder, and Westlake.
The storm continued its path of ruin through central
and north Louisiana, prompting the issuance of
hurricane warnings in Ruston and Shreveport for
the first time ever. A sobering fact that puts things
into perspective for me: over 20,000 miles of power
lines were felled by the storm, almost enough to
circumnavigate the globe. In all, 23 parishes have been
declared as federal disaster areas.
As the mayors of these municipalities strive to
effectively manage disaster recovery, many continue
to struggle. Thank you to all of the LMA members who
have sent essential workers to these areas, opened
shelters for those who have been displaced, and sent
critical supplies to throughout the state. Governor
Edwards, GOHSEP, and state agencies have been
boots-on-the ground since before the storm made
landfall and they continue to work around the clock in
collaboration with federal partners to move recovery
efforts along as quickly as possible. But efficient
and successful recovery also demands public-private
partnerships, so we are particularly grateful to all
of the utility companies, communications providers,
and the Louisiana Rural Water Association for their
diligence in restoring infrastructure so we can get our
fellow Louisianans back home to safely rebuild.
Of course, this recent storm devastation occurred
against the backdrop of the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic. Louisiana is still number one per capita
in infections, though, thankfully, recent statistics
have demonstrated a decline in both infections and
hospitalizations. The fiscal crisis
facing LMA members across
the state because of the
pandemic also continues
to build. Tax revenues,
fees, and other sources of
revenue have drastically
declined, making it
difficult for municipalities
to continue to provide basic
services as part of the ongoing
fight against COVID-19.
As mentioned above, a virtual press conference was
held on August 19, during which Mayor David Butler
of Woodworth, Mayor Ronny Walker of Ruston,
Mayor Ben Zahn of Kenner, and Mayor Nic Hunter of
Lake Charles spoke about the effects that declining
revenue is having on their respective budgets and
operations. All four mayors emphasized the need
for direct aid to local governments as part of the
next stimulus package, an issue that is currently
locked in a congressional stalemate. I urge you to
contact our congressional delegation and tell them
that direct funding to locals is a critical part of a
successful economic recovery, not only in Louisiana,
but throughout the United States. Thank you again
to Mayors Butler, Walker, Zahn, and Hunter for their
eloquence and insight. We were very pleased with the
statewide media coverage that we received on this
critical issue.
Regretfully, Hurricane Laura forced postponement of
the remainder of the workshops for the 2020 LMA
Virtual Convention. I felt it was necessary to do so for
our many members who were affected by the storm,
so that they may focus on recovery at this time. We
will announce new dates for those workshops, along
with details about the award ceremony for winners of
our annual Community Achievement Awards.
Please continue to take care of yourselves and each
other and keep those affected by Hurricane Laura
in your thoughts and prayers. If you would like to
contribute funds or other donations to the affected
areas, please contact area United Way offices, the Red
Cross, or other reputable non-profit or faith-based
organizations in these areas.
LMR | SEPTEMBER 2020 Page 3