Voter's Guide, 2021 Fall Elections, New Orleans
Position Councilmembers District A
NameJoseph Ignatius Giarrusso III

Campaign Information

Campaign Web Sitehttp://www.joegiarrusso.com
Facebook@JoeGiarrussoForDistrictA
Twitter@jigiarrusso
YouTube

Bio Information

Party AffiliationDemocrat
ProfessionCouncilmember/District A, Attorney
Present Employer / positionCity of New Orleans/Barrios, Kingsdorf, Casteix
Length of residence in JurisdictionTotal is 35 years, moved back to NOLA in 2004
List of educational institutions and degreesUniversity of Texas at Austin, Bachelor of Arts in History, with high honors in 1997
Louisiana State University, Juris Doctor, as Order of the Coif in 2001
Prior elected and appointed positionsI was appointed to the Metropolitan Human Services District as a Board member and to the Lakeview Crime Prevention District.
Civic involvement and affiliationsPrior Affiliations:

1. Past YLC President;
2. Past LCIA President;
3. Past BGR Board Member;
4. Current NOMA Board Member; and,
5. Current City Park Board Member.

Questions specific to the position

1. Do you feel like the wages for municipal employees, such as the NOFD and EMS are adequate, and if not, how do you propose raising them? No, they are not enough. The City asks not only its public safety employees but also DPW and S&P employees to do hard work. With a combination of funds — primarily from the general fund and millages — we can raise these wages.
2. Will you support an ordinance to establish an independent external evaluation of the Ethics Review Board as called for in the Charter? Please explain your answer. Under Section 9-405 of the Home Rule Charter, the Council shall by ordinance establish an independent external evaluation of the ERB and other agencies. I support such an ordinance.
3. In your role as the regulatory body for Entergy, what factors would you consider to increase rates? With recent events, including reliability issues, the public does not want increased rates.
4. Where is the best site for a new City Hall and why? The answer to this question is working with affected neighbors first and listening to other stakeholders. As for relocating City Hall, relocating near Duncan Plaza, New Orleans East, or another open location have been widely discussed. The public has been clear that City Hall should not be relocated to the Municipal Auditorium or around Armstrong Park. City Hall needs to be someplace where it is easily accessible to the public and, as importantly, where it can house as many city agencies as possible. If someone comes to City Hall to check on a permit and pay their property taxes, they should not have to go to two separate locations across town.

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