*Urban Conservancy Update*
February 22, 2002
In this issue:
*KPMG Declines Audit of Troubled Wal-Mart Financing
*Upcoming Events-February 26, March 2
*Quick News and Views
*Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization Program
*Pass This E-mail Along
*Grab A Shirt Before They're Gone!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KPMG DECLINES AUDIT OF TROUBLED PROJECT FINANCING
The City Council was notified on Thursday that KPMG LLC declined to perform the
audit of the financing for the troubled Wal-Mart project. Citing the extensive
amount of work the firm had done in the past for Wal-Mart, KPMG representatives
were concerned about a perception of conflict of interest in the eyes of the
public.
TAKE ACTION
Remind the City Budget Committee that a project of this importance requires
a thorough and more standardized bid process:
http://www.urbanconservancy.org/walmart/form6.html
KPMG deserves praise for choosing to avoid a conflict of interest in the review of
the embattled project. However, the City Budget Committee is now faced with the task
of choosing a new auditor for the project. With only two other responses to their
Request For Qualifications (RBC Dain of Minneapolis and Metairie based Laporte, Sehrt)
and an impossibly short deadline for responses, it is clear that the committee needs to
issue a new and RFQ and adjust many of their timetables.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPCOMING EVENTS
February 26
Gridlock: A Forum On Regional Transport and Sustainable Development
Tuesday, February 26, 7:00 PM
Freeman Auditorium, Woldenberg Art Center, Tulane University
March 2
Vote!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUICK NEWS AND VIEWS
"At the end of 2000, the last reckoning available, Wal-Mart had 43 stores,
37 Supercenters and 11 Sam�s Clubs in Louisiana."
Baton Rouge Area Community Fights Wal-Mart:
http://www.theadvocate.com/news/story.asp?storyid=27878
Small Grocers Take On Super Centers With Service, Products:
http://www.urbanconservancy.org/walmart/niche_grocery.html
Middle Class Wal-Mart Warriors Win:
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20020304&s=hightower
How does the conservation of open spaces and farmland affect healthy cities?
Environmental Groups Score LA Congress Members:
http://www.capwiz.com/lcv/dbq/officials/?command=results&sort=District&state=LA&submit.x=14&submit.y=13
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL REVITALIZATION PROGRAM
In an effort to revitalize commercial activity in declining business districts,
the Mayor's office has partnered with the Regional Loan Corporation (RLC) to
offer business loans and consulting to businesses in areas designated as
commercial areas in need of new business. The designated areas include many areas
in the city, including New Orleans East, Central City, Uptown, Faubourg Marigny and
Bywater.
http://www.rlcsbidco.com/index.htm and click on the "NCR" link.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UC IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS
The Urban Conservancy is seeking persuasive writers, committed artists and
just plain passionate people to assist in the Wal-Mart campaign and other
projects in the near future. If you are interested, please send an e-mail to
[email protected]
with your name and phone number and what your interests are. If you have
already committed, you will be contacted soon!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PASS THIS ALONG TO A FRIEND
The Urban Conservancy depends on word of mouth to help us grow and
educate. Please forward this mail to someone who loves New Orleans. Or
they can sign up for their own copy at:
http://www.urbanconservancy.org/mailman/listinfo/uc
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOT A SHIRT?
They're back in stock and still a bargain at $10. Check them out here:
http://www.urbanconservancy.org/walmart/tshirt.htm
Got Neighborhoods? T-shirts are now available at these fine local
retailers:
Big Life Toys For Little Kids 5430 Magazine Street 504-899-8697
Big Life Toys For Big Kids 3117 Magazine Street 504-895-8695
Winky's 2038 Magazine St. 504-568-1020
Shades of Light 2112 Magazine St. 504-524-6500
Funky Monkey 3127 Magazine St. 504-899-5587
Or send an email to [email protected] to order one today! If
we're feeling saucy, we might even personally deliver it to you!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edward Melendez
Geoff Coats
Principals
Urban Conservancy
http://www.urbanconservancy.org
If you assume that there's no hope, you guarantee there will be no hope. If you assume that there is
an instinct for freedom, there are opportunities to change things.
-Noam Chomsky
