By Victor C Kirk
The state coffers are awash with cash. So much so that a feeding frenzy has begun with the elected leadership of state and local governments jockeying to be at the front of the line vying for a piece of the pie. Billions are now available due to the determination of the Biden-Harris administration and backed by a Congressional Democratic leadership to right the wrongs inherent in a Congress who for four years bowed to the desires of an ultra-conservative President. The result is a wrecked economy.
Also, with a social reckoning underway the rights and needs of the underserved; particularly persons of color, spearhead an outcry for “cash” to right the wrongs of police brutality are now at center stage. No longer can a police state inflict the beating of a Black man, Black woman, person of color in full view of a bystanders’ camera and the jury of peers render the police “innocent of all charges”.
But what are we as Louisianians of color demanding? We sat silently and allowed the city to reject the placement of Black Lives Matter signs at the gates of city hall. Only ULM saw way out by declaring the posters as works of “art”, clearing the way for their display on campus – college campuses are supposed to be where irony begins in the form of critical thinking. We took an unconventional road and elected a mayor lacking a college degree or associates degree. Rumors are abounding that he earned a GED. Becoming Mayor with this credential is an accomplishment so farfetched from the hopes and desired expressed by Black parents in my generation. We were beaten over the heads with the idea of getting a college degree – many of us were supposed to be teachers. Often our parents’ desires for our educational attainment were too elusive – not all of us had the intellectual capacity to become doctors and lawyers and scientists. But I do not remember one friend of mine whose parents gave them the quest to base their success on earning a GED. I am just saying that the accomplishment of becoming a Mayor of a majority Black city with less than any “higher education” is phenomenal. I wonder if we will be as enlightened when a person of color surfaces with the guts, cash, determination, and poxy to unshackle his or her desire to lead the city.
So now back to the Legislature – a time for cash is upon us. But what are we requesting for the greater good of our community? Are we seeking funds to renovate and update the Boys and Girls Club on Louberta street? Are we requesting funds to provide low interest loans for repair of homes in our neighborhoods that are not up to Section 8 standards? Maybe money is being requested to help “heir” property owners to secure title via succession research. With several family members residing in homes without a tile these properties are not eligible for refinancing or even grants to improve at a minimum the façade and upgrade electrical lines and install insulation. So much for providing multigenerational wealth via the purchase of a home to pass along to our children. Are we requesting funds to build sideways or close the open drains that surround the city’s low-income areas? Are we requesting funds to provide for economic development projects that reward “innovation”? Is Grambling’s President Rick Gallot the only leader in North Louisiana with the poxy and National and International regard that spawns heaps of cash dumped on his University for innovative initiatives?
The Louisiana Legislature is currently in session and understanding the role of two pieces of legislation is critical to an elected official’s sustained representation and their constituent’s belief that they elected the right person. House Bill 1 or HB1 and House Bill 2 or HB2. HB1 is the Appropriations Bill.
Thru it funds are allocated for everyday business of government. Your “special projects” passed on to a local legislator in the form of an earmark is usually encapsulated within the budget of a department of state government. House Bill 2 – HB 2 – the Capitol Outlay bill is where the “hard” money lies. The deep pocket of the state comes in the form of “Bonds”. Roads and bridges and other major construction projects begin their journey via HB2. Legislators can by land and/or allocate funds to build community structures in their district. The key is making sure you are not sold a three-dollar bill. Your request can be placed in the bill and your Legislator can beat their chest declaring “mission accomplished’. However, the real money is in the “cash” portion of the bill. You must make sure your request is in the cash portion of the Capitol outlay bill. If it is not, it may take a year or more for the project to surface and only with the selling of “State Revenue Bonds” at that time.
Our quest never ends. To think critically, keep elected officials on their toes, and constantly remind ourselves that we are responsible for much of what we secure in the world of politics. Be careful what you ask for but for certain ask and follow up on your “ask”.
