GNO Fair Hospitality Fund

05/27/2020

Last call!

Get your public comments in by noon! Let's make the convention center hear what we need.

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HOW TO EMAIL PUBLIC COMMENTS:
TO: [email protected]
BCC: [email protected]
SUBJECT: Public Comment on Item IV. COVID-19 Sales, Financial, and Operational Impact Report

In the body, tell the Convention Center why all tourism and hospitality workers need a fair fund. Tell them why $1 million is not enough. Check the comments below for more ideas of what to say.

URGENT: The GNO Coalition for a Fair Hospitality Fund was established as an emergency response by organizations that represent the interests of New Orleans hospitality and tourism workers. With between 54% and 46% unemployment among the 100,000 people who make up the New Orleans hospitality and tourism industry, this is a time of deep financial crisis.

The Convention Center’s Board--an unelected body that controls annual taxation revenue in the hundreds of millions of dollars--is meeting tomorrow (5/27) and has failed to meet the needs of workers by creating a .

Last month we won a million dollar concession from the Convention Center. It's unprecedented, but it isn't available to all workers in the hospitality and tourism industries and it is not remotely enough. We've also won a unanimous resolution from the New Orleans City Council saying it's not enough and asking the Convention Center to do more, but they have failed to act.

$1 million is $10 per worker.

We have maintained that ALL hospitality and tourism workers in New Orleans need meaningful relief, and with over $200 million in unrestricted funding, the Convention Center is more than capable of allocating substantially more than $1 million.

Tell the board why you support real relief for New Orleans hospitality and tourism workers. Let them know what you could do with $1,000 and what their proposal of $10 per worker will do for you. Submit your public comment before 12pm TOMORROW (Wednesday, May 27). Want to really go the extra mile? Tag 10 coworkers or friends in the comments.

HOW TO EMAIL PUBLIC COMMENTS:
TO: [email protected]
BCC: [email protected]
SUBJECT: Public Comment on Item IV. COVID-19 Sales, Financial, and Operational Impact Report

In the body, tell the Convention Center why all tourism and hospitality workers need a fair fund. Tell them why $1 million is not enough. Check the comments below for more ideas of what to say.

05/26/2020

URGENT: The GNO Coalition for a Fair Hospitality Fund was established as an emergency response by organizations that represent the interests of New Orleans hospitality and tourism workers. With between 54% and 46% unemployment among the 100,000 people who make up the New Orleans hospitality and tourism industry, this is a time of deep financial crisis.

The Convention Center’s Board--an unelected body that controls annual taxation revenue in the hundreds of millions of dollars--is meeting tomorrow (5/27) and has failed to meet the needs of workers by creating a .

Last month we won a million dollar concession from the Convention Center. It's unprecedented, but it isn't available to all workers in the hospitality and tourism industries and it is not remotely enough. We've also won a unanimous resolution from the New Orleans City Council saying it's not enough and asking the Convention Center to do more, but they have failed to act.

$1 million is $10 per worker.

We have maintained that ALL hospitality and tourism workers in New Orleans need meaningful relief, and with over $200 million in unrestricted funding, the Convention Center is more than capable of allocating substantially more than $1 million.

Tell the board why you support real relief for New Orleans hospitality and tourism workers. Let them know what you could do with $1,000 and what their proposal of $10 per worker will do for you. Submit your public comment before 12pm TOMORROW (Wednesday, May 27). Want to really go the extra mile? Tag 10 coworkers or friends in the comments.

HOW TO EMAIL PUBLIC COMMENTS:
TO: [email protected]
BCC: [email protected]
SUBJECT: Public Comment on Item IV. COVID-19 Sales, Financial, and Operational Impact Report

In the body, tell the Convention Center why all tourism and hospitality workers need a fair fund. Tell them why $1 million is not enough. Check the comments below for more ideas of what to say.

05/25/2020

Alfred “Al” Groos was born in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration before landing a management trainee position with Sonesta Hotels at the Royal Sonesta.

In 1994 Mr. Groos left the Royal Sonesta to open up the former Chateau Sonesta on Bourbon Street. In 2006 he returned to the Royal Sonesta as General Manager.

Mr. Groos is a board member & past president of the GNO Hotel & Lodging Association, a past president of the French Quarter Business Association, and a member of the Advisory board of UNO’s School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Administration.

In 2008 Mr. Groos was a member of the Excellence in Recovery Host Committee that awarded Ray Nagin the inaugural Award of Distinction for Recovery, Courage and Leadership. Philanthropically, he has supported Jesuit High School & Lighthouse for the Blind.

Per Biz New Orleans, he is “a stylish gentleman known for always being well dressed.” He serves as Vice Conseiller Gastronomique for the New Orleans chapter of the Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, “a dynamic group of food and wine enthusiasts...with discerning palates.”

Along with New Orleans and Company President & CEO Stephen Perry & others, Mr. Groos is an Officer of the New Orleans Hospitality Coalition Political Action Committee (NOHCPAC) of which he also serves as Secretary. As of May 6, the PAC reported more than $110,000 in cash on hand.

Since 2002 the New Orleans Hospitality Coalition PAC has spent over $400,000 on political donations. It’s largest individual donation went to the Keep the French Quarter Safe PAC. Along with the Louisiana Restaurant Association, NOHCPAC was one of that PAC’s two donors.

Per the Advocate the “Keep the French Quarter Safe” Facebook group was launched in 2014 by Sidney Torres. Its videos said that “the French Quarter is under siege by criminals.” Per WWLTV in 2014 there were 150 murders in New Orleans.Two of them occurred in the French Quarter.

These efforts resulted in the French Quarter Task Force. Per a report in the ABC, the Task Force “says it is a neighbourhood watch program, not a vigilante group,” in response to reports of “a crackdown on ‘aggressive panhandling’-targeting homeless people and buskers.”

NOHCPAC has often given large sums to all the major candidates in a given election. For instance, during the 2010 election for City Council at-large seat #2, the 3 main candidates--Jackie Clarkson, Arnie Fielkow & Cynthia Willard-Lewis--each received $5,000 from the PAC.

Mr. Groos has said that “I enjoy each day creating new ways to make our associates happy.” We like to think that Mr. Groos & his associates with the NOHCPAC would be interested in using some of their power to make all New Orleans hospitality workers happy with a .

05/24/2020

Freddie King III attended Archbishop Shaw before receiving his Bachelor’s degree from Southeastern Louisiana University. At Southeastern he was a member of student government.

He also played football for the Lions for the first four years of the program after its restart in 2003 (making him one of two E.H.A. members who played college football). After his time at Southeastern he took his J.D. from Southern University and later began practice in Gretna.

Mr. King is a Commissioner of the Audubon Nature Institute & V.P. of the Algiers Economic Development Foundation. He serves on the board of InspireNOLA Charter schools & is a member of the Silverback society which “promotes responsible manhood by academic achievement.”

A resident of Algiers, Mr. King has been a member of the Orleans Parish Democratic Party Executive Committee for District C. He has contributed to a variety of judicial candidates as well Congressman Cedric Richmond.

His clients have called him “very responsive and attentive to our needs...extremely effective in skillfully and creatively solving our problems.” We think Mr. King will do the right thing & demonstrate this responsiveness & attentiveness for a meaningful fund for hospitality workers.

At a relatively young age Mr. King has shown impressive devotion to the community. As New Orleanians are struggling to pay bills, make rent & feed our families, fighting for us & a would be a real sign of a promising career in public service worthy of broad support.

05/23/2020

New Orleans hospitality and tourism workers deserve a from the Convention Center's cash reserves. Check us out making our demands heard on Bourbon St.

https://www.wdsu.com/article/hospitality-industry-workers-protest-call-for-more-support/32647345

Sign the petition! tiny.cc/fairfund

A group of hospitality workers are calling on the Convention Center to do more for industry workers who are out of work because of the coronavirus.

05/22/2020

05/22/2020

05/22/2020

Steve Caputo graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1984. He went to work at Hyatt as a manager for more than 9 years. He arrived at the Hotel Monteleone in 1993 where he is now general manager. The iconic Monteleone has been owned by its namesake family for five generations.

It’s current owner, David Monteleone, recently joined real estate developer Robert Lupo, Jay Batt, a clothier and former chair of Donald Trump’s Louisiana campaign, & jeweler/Ferrari collector Franco Valobra in taking out a full page ad in the Advocate.

The ad informed Mayor Cantrell & other officials that its authors were “concerned...their voices be heard.” It made clear that the authors understood COVID-19’s “human toll especially among our African American and elderly population.”

Mr.’s Monteleone, Batt, Lupo & Valobra closed their letter with a mineralogical note: “our city is a gem, sparkling with hundreds of years of history and culture...Reopen our city...the right solution is out there. But, like for any valuable gem, we must ardently dig for it.”

Since going to work at Mr. Monteleone’s hotel, Mr. Caputo has been a member of an impressive array of boards & commissions.

At various times he has served on the boards of the Civil Service Commission, the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, the French Quarter Management District & the Greater New Orleans Hotel & Lodging Association.

Regarding the Convention Center’s use as an overflow hospital for those suffering from COVID-19 Mr. Caputo recently noted that:

“...I think we’re all feeling it and want to help as much as we can...I think we’re trying to temper that with our obligation to the center...recognizing that if they show images of the Convention Center being turned into a hospital, it would hurt our brand.”

Unlike many of his fellow EHA members Mr. Caputo has shown little appetite for political donations. While his employer donated more than $10,000 each to Bobby Jindal & John Kennedy respectively, Mr. Caputo does not appear in either Louisiana or recent federal databases.

Similarly and unlike many of his fellow board members he keeps a low profile on the social scene making scant appearances in Nell Nolan’s longstanding and essential column on these matters.

As Monteleone GM, Mr Caputo has voiced that he’s “. . . concern[ed] about what’s going to happen to all of our associates as we go into August, September and beyond . . .” given that unemployment benefits will be ending soon with no recovery in sight.

If only there was a proposal to use rainy day moneys--such as in the form of a --that could help associates at the Monteleone and workers across our city? If there was such a proposal, we trust concerned EHA board members like Mr. Caputo would support it.

05/20/2020

Today we learn about EHA board member Melvin Rodrigue. Mr. Rodrigue began his career in hospitality at 19 taking a job at the Palace Cafe while a student at Tulane. He arrived at Galatoire’s in 1997 at age 24, as Chief Operating Officer & became President in 2012. He recently stepped down as EHA Board Chair after 12 years.

Galatoire’s is a shareholder held company with businessman John Georges a majority owner. One of Louisiana’s wealthiest citizens, Georges owns the Louisiana Advocate and made much of his fortune on video poker machines across the state. Georges’ longtime partner at Galatoire’s is Todd Trosclair, whose company, was one of the developers of the Hard Rock Hotel. All-Star Electric is currently the subject of lawsuits surrounding the collapse of the hotel & deaths of three workers.

One of its most (in)famous traditions is that of the “linesitter.” Rather than wait in line for its famous Friday lunch, the wealthy hire “linesitters” to queue for a table. For years, “linesitters” waited for at least 72 hours for a table in advance of the Friday before Mardi Gras. Mr Rodrigue has said of the restaurant industry that it “embraces the entrepreneurial spirit and embodies the American dream. If you have passion, commitment, and a good work ethic, you can go very far.”

Regarding struggling & unemployed restaurant workers, Mr. Rodrigue recently told NPR, "if you have the choice between buying a box of Hamburger Helper and going to the drive-through somewhere, you need to be as frugal as you possibly can for your own sake and your family's sake."

Mr Rodrigue was formerly the President of the Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA). He served as a director of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, the predecessor organization to New Orleans and Company, and was recently appointed Chair of the National Restaurant Association (NRA). Founded in 1919, the “Other NRA” spends millions on political donations. One of its main objectives has been keeping the tipped minimum wage frozen at $2.13/hour.

By last count, seven years ago the NRA employed 37 DC lobbyists. Along with its PAC it has worked closely around the country with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). One of their pet projects has been crushing local and state paid sick leave ordinances.

Mr. Rodrigue has donated more than $14,000 to the NRA’s PAC. He also supports organizations like the New Orleans Police & Justice Foundation, the Breastoration Fund (which aids in post-cancer reconstructive surgery) & the Touchdown Club (which “recognizes excellence in football”).

Following his recent meeting with President Trump, Mr Rodrigue said of the restaurant industry that, "we rely on social interaction so it makes us really unique that we were hit hard quickly, and it's going to make our comeback really difficult."

We agree with Mr. Rodrigue that the economic crisis has especially decimated the restaurant & hospitality industries. That’s why we are fighting for a . Will Mr. Rodrigue support the people who make this industry work & who are hit hardest with a meaningful fund?

Join us this Friday at 4 pm outside Galatoire’s to make sure Mr. Rodrigue & the entire board understand our needs. PPE & hand sanitizer will be provided. Bring your own Hamburger Helper. https://www.facebook.com/events/319099455915632/

05/19/2020

Dottie Belletto has been a fixture in political life and our city’s hospitality industry for decades. She’s a 1967 graduate of John McDonough High, that school’s last all-white class before integration. In 1987 she founded New Orleans Convention Company, Inc (NOCCI).

In 33 years Ms. Belletto and her team have grown NOCCI into an event planning powerhouse. NOCCI has produced events for 4 Presidents, the King & Queen of Spain, the Dalai Lama & a host of corporations, political leaders, festivals, associations & nonprofits too numerous to name.

NOCCI is the lead manager of major hospitality and tourism events like the . Since taking over the Bayou Classic she’s grown attendance at the event which is a key source of financial support for Southern and Grambling Universities.

Ms. Belletto is deeply connected politically. She has been a consultant for the Krewe of Louisianans Carnival Ball, the annual DC gathering of Louisiana political elites. When any President comes to New Orleans, Ms. Belletto is an advanced advisor for event logistics.

NOCCI has been awarded city events planning contracts of nearly $250,000 annually. Via a city lease, Ms. Belletto redeveloped the blighted Edison Park on into Music Legends Park. She’s served on the boards of both the Jefferson and New Orleans Chambers of Commerce.

Her sister, Norma Jane Sabiston, served as chief of staff to former Senator Mary Landrieu and runs the high-end public affairs firm, Sabiston Consultants. Ms. Belletto has been a regular and generous political donor at the national, state, and local levels.

Amongst other candidates she’s given sizable contributions to Barack Obama, Hilary Clinton, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, John Bel Edwards, Billy Nungesser, Mitch Landrieu, & Kristin Palmer. She’s also supported groups like the Progressive Turnout Project & the Human Rights Campaign.

She’s served on the board of the New Orleans Ballet Association, was recognized as a role model by the Youth Leadership Council and has been a donor to programs like City Year, the United Negro College Fund, and the Pro Bono Project. (CONTINUED IN COMMENTS)