Sample ballots are stuck to the wall in City Hall during the first day of early voting in New Orleans, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune) Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Normally I would favorably consider home rule charter Amendment 1, dedicating 2% of the city budget to affordable housing.
But not today. New Orleans has lost 6.65% of its population since the 2020 Census.
This decline is freeing up housing and starting to reduce rents. As insurance rates stay high or go higher (see ever more intense hurricanes) this population decline should continue as more long-term residents leave. With a declining population, a future city budget crunch is inevitable.
Dedicating 2% of the budget to housing means harsher cuts to police, fire, public works and other essentials in a budget crunch. Defeating Amendment 1 still allows the City Council to fund affordable housing, although several specific projects seem to be funded more by politics than the needs of future residents. ALAN DRAKE New Orleans.
