Why I'm Running

I’d like to tell you why I’m running for the Louisiana State House of Representatives.  Civic activism drives our recovery from the Katrina Disaster; it’s time for more civic voices in our Legislature.

Before Katrina destroyed our home and community, I invested 16 years as an active parent in District 94’s public schools. At Hynes Elementary I created and sponsored arts programming, including the Drama Dreamers Drama Club, ArtSmart Parent Participation Program, Artists in Residence, and Arts in Education.  Later I served as Parent Liaison between Franklin and NOCCA, where our family supported Musical Theater productions.

Our family rebuilt and is now living and working in the Canal Street double that was purchased before Katrina to accommodate an anticipated expansion of our business in Mid-City. 

Civic Involvement

• Quick re-start of www.LaRoots.net  e-newsletter publication, September 2, 2005
• Lawn-Chair Rendezvous, Canal Street’s first community gathering 11/17/05
• Mid-City Neighborhood Organization, Block Captain Development Chair
• Mid-City Business Association.  
• Lakefront Presidents Council
• Lake Vista block captain, Survey Committee, and Association President
• Lake Vista Garden Club liaison to LVPOA
• Lake Vista liaison to the PRC's Neighborhood Council
• District 5 Neighborhood Recovery Group Steering Committee;
• Housing and Zoning Committees for District 5;
• CHAT the Citizens Road Home Action Team;
• Planning District Leadership Committee
• Founding Board member, NPN, Neighborhoods Partnership Network.

I draw on consensus building and teamwork, and offer proposals to the Office of the Mayor, Office of Recovery Management, the LRA Board, NORA, Road Home Corporation Board, City Planning Commission, and the (now disbanded) Community Support Organization.  Tracking the recovery framework of influence and funding, and citizen involvement in it, is a crucial issue in the process of rebuilding New Orleans.

Family Roots in Louisiana

Louisiana has been home to our family since Christian Grabert arrived on one of John Law’s ships.  My Dad was born in Bogalusa and my Mom in St. Bernard.  She became an accountant for Boeing, part of the Apollo team.  My Dad operated the Esso station on Lee Circle by day, but on weekends he was a scuba diver and recreational pilot who loved to fish. From his seaplane, I enjoyed a bird’s eye view of south Louisiana, the marshes and swamps, the Lake, River, Gulf, and the Chandeleurs when they still looked like islands. 

After attending Gentilly Terrace Elementary School and John McDonough High School,I a began to focus on my life long interest in ballet.

During the 1970’s I lived in New York City and achieved a professional ballet career  with the Buffalo Symphony Orchestra, Maria Tallchief’s Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Garden State Ballet, with repertoires of George Balanchine’s New York City Ballet. 

Since returning to New Orleans in 1980, my civic involvement has been guided by a desire to help build a better city.  I’ve been an ardent Jazz Fest volunteer, beginning the first year in 1970 as a musician driver, dessert vendor, and the Art Department.   In 2007, I assisted with the Grandstand’s photography exhibit. Some of my most treasured volunteer days were spent assisting my deceased friend, Festival co-founder Allison Miner, as she identified and labeled the historic photographs that hang in Festival tents. 

Alan and I are the proud parents of three children – Megan has just graduated from Fordham University Lincoln Center with Honors. Erica is on scholarship at a private university in Manhattan, and Brian is a high school senior in New Orleans.

I am running for the District 94 seat in the Louisiana legislature to work with other legislators to develop better energy policy, transform Louisiana into a national leader in a changing industry. 

We can introduce legislation with fairer, more generous recovery allocation percentages, and we can project those percentages to the neighborhood level to get the money where it belongs. 

District 94 needs a full time Representative who will address the important issues facing our neighborhoods. As an active participant in the recovery of our district, Deborah Langhoff knows the needs of this community first hand and will continue to represent the people of our district in Baton Rouge.

# 1 Hurricane Protection

• Facilitate public input from our neighborhoods with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Louisiana Coastal Plan and Restoration Authority to ensure consistent and significant communication with our residents

• Develop a District 94 Recovery Resource Center for information on hurricane evacuation, rebuilding, health issues and insurance information

• Establish Louisiana’s leadership against climate change by using efficient energy management in all state entities and supporting new and recognized local green building initiatives

·  Continue monitoring the Road Home Program to speed remaining grants and address our district’s overlooked needs  

• Support coastal restoration initiatives to restore our wetlands

 #2 Infrastructure

• Retain the integrity of our neighborhoods by addressing blighted homes and giving residents first option on purchasing neighboring empty or abandoned lots

• Target locally-owned small businesses for special incentive tax packages to encourage new businesses in our area, such as grocery stores and “Mom and Pop” shops

• Decrease crime by strengthening neighborhood watches and developing community policing with state and community support

• Stabilize our historic Lakefront area by solidifying its status as a permanent public green space, replant New Orleans by replacing its 70% destroyed tree canopy, and support the Lafitte Corridor.

• Support immediate primary care in our neighborhoods while building a world class medical facilities downtown

 #3 Insurance 

• Seek a National Disaster Relief Insurance Program and also establish state insurance standards that protect policyholders

• Make affordable insurance a priority

I ask for your vote so that I can legislate with a conviction that insures New Orleans will celebrate not just 300 years, but 400 years. Civic activism drives our recovery from the Katrina Disaster; it’s time for more civic voices in our Legislature.