Great; just as New Orleans finally has struggled past
its pre-Hurricane Katrina tourism benchmarks, it takes a step backwards with an
unnecessary escalation in some lodging prices that will deter visitors.
That will happen as a result
of unionization of its largest hotel, the Hilton New Orleans Riverside.
UNITE HERE and management currently negotiate a contract for around 500 workers,
although bringing them into the cartel’s fold increases union penetration into
the city’s overall hospitality industry only to four percent.
Advocates of the development spent some effort
blowing sunshine up people’s skirts. Leftist interest groups took note and
booked more business at it. Workers obviously ignorant of how the world works
crowed about how they could get a “fair share” Hilton’s profits. Even an
academician, clearly not trained in economics, thought this could make more
jobs into “middle class.”
Jeffrey D. Sadow is an associate professor of political science at Louisiana State University Shreveport. If you're an elected official, political operative or anyone else upset at his views, don't go bothering LSUS or LSU System officials about that because these are his own views solely. This publishes five days weekly with the exception of 7 holidays. Also check out his Louisiana Legislature Log especially during legislative sessions (in "Louisiana Politics Blog Roll" below).
11.10.17
On LA juries, racism argument proves insufficient
If the U.S. Supreme Court someday were to
incorporate the Sixth Amendment in its entirety, the facile argument to do so
that it recently dismissed without even granting it a hearing should play no
part.
Last week, upon announcing its agenda for its 2017-18 session, the Court notified that it would not hear a Louisiana case challenging the exceptional nature of the Sixth Amendment’s application, which governs conduct of criminal trials. This case asked that the high court incorporate through the Fourteenth Amendment the unanimous jury requirement that justices in 1972 ruled applies to federal trials. Uniquely among the Bill of Rights’ contents, the Sixth Amendment contains the only right split between federal and state governments and therefore treated differently.
Only Louisiana and Oregon have opted to use non-unanimous juries for convictions, both born from allegedly racist motives. One theory floated in Louisiana’s case argues that it standard, ten of twelve for conviction, came because the state had a population then about 15 percent black; thus, a typical jury would contain two blacks (men, in those days).
Last week, upon announcing its agenda for its 2017-18 session, the Court notified that it would not hear a Louisiana case challenging the exceptional nature of the Sixth Amendment’s application, which governs conduct of criminal trials. This case asked that the high court incorporate through the Fourteenth Amendment the unanimous jury requirement that justices in 1972 ruled applies to federal trials. Uniquely among the Bill of Rights’ contents, the Sixth Amendment contains the only right split between federal and state governments and therefore treated differently.
Only Louisiana and Oregon have opted to use non-unanimous juries for convictions, both born from allegedly racist motives. One theory floated in Louisiana’s case argues that it standard, ten of twelve for conviction, came because the state had a population then about 15 percent black; thus, a typical jury would contain two blacks (men, in those days).
10.10.17
Only one LA amendment merits voter approval
This upcoming Saturday, Louisianans have just three
constitutional amendments to wade through at the voting booth, although
these hit on the all-too-familiar themes of state and local taxation.
Amendment #1 would preclude levying taxes on property under construction and not yet in use. Currently, the Constitution and statute give next to no guidance on this matter, nor do any rulings by the Louisiana Tax Commission. This leaves subject to local interpretation what an assessor should do in the case of incomplete projects that can take a long time for building to conclude, with treatment ranging from no taxation at all on improvement until finished to taxing on the entire value of the end result even if not entirely operational and everything in-between.
The amendment would allow assessors to use discretion in determining the usefulness of the improvement and value it all from there. It seems to strike a good balance between having a known standard and allowing for tackling matters on a case-by-case basis. Further, the relative predictability it would bring will encourage economic development, as it will remove incertitude on this issue for decision-makers regarding locations and expansions. Yes.
Amendment #1 would preclude levying taxes on property under construction and not yet in use. Currently, the Constitution and statute give next to no guidance on this matter, nor do any rulings by the Louisiana Tax Commission. This leaves subject to local interpretation what an assessor should do in the case of incomplete projects that can take a long time for building to conclude, with treatment ranging from no taxation at all on improvement until finished to taxing on the entire value of the end result even if not entirely operational and everything in-between.
The amendment would allow assessors to use discretion in determining the usefulness of the improvement and value it all from there. It seems to strike a good balance between having a known standard and allowing for tackling matters on a case-by-case basis. Further, the relative predictability it would bring will encourage economic development, as it will remove incertitude on this issue for decision-makers regarding locations and expansions. Yes.
9.10.17
Case remains to merge, demote LA universities
President of the University of Louisiana System Jim
Henderson recently made
some remarks regarding the role of higher education in the state which deserve
comment and challenge.
Meeting with the Baton Rouge Advocate’s editorial board, Henderson answered questions over his first year on the job. In particular, two topics brought up merit amplification.
During the interview, he shilled for a plan devised by the system that, among others things, pledged to increase the number of graduates. It hopes to increase by 20 percent this figure by 2025, a number which comes from two inputs: the amount of individuals eligible for university education and the skill at which institutions utilize to confer degrees upon them.
Meeting with the Baton Rouge Advocate’s editorial board, Henderson answered questions over his first year on the job. In particular, two topics brought up merit amplification.
During the interview, he shilled for a plan devised by the system that, among others things, pledged to increase the number of graduates. It hopes to increase by 20 percent this figure by 2025, a number which comes from two inputs: the amount of individuals eligible for university education and the skill at which institutions utilize to confer degrees upon them.
8.10.17
The Advocate column, Oct. 8, 2017
Congress' recent mishandling of disaster relief points to need for flood insurance reform
http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/jeff_sadow/article_10e42f98-a947-11e7-8e70-93c183bae5aa.html
Links:
http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_e10d417a-a86e-11e7-a986-fb149cafe4e1.html
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/3823/text
http://jeffsadow.blogspot.com/2017/07/flood-insurance-privatization-could.html
http://jeffsadow.blogspot.com/2017/09/shore-up-flood-insurance-with.html
http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/jeff_sadow/article_10e42f98-a947-11e7-8e70-93c183bae5aa.html
Links:
http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_e10d417a-a86e-11e7-a986-fb149cafe4e1.html
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/3823/text
http://jeffsadow.blogspot.com/2017/07/flood-insurance-privatization-could.html
http://jeffsadow.blogspot.com/2017/09/shore-up-flood-insurance-with.html