[StBernard] Louisiana Speaks April E-letter

[Westley Annis]

Louisiana Speaks News, Actions & Updates for April 2008  

Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan Receives Prestigious Charter Award 
The groundbreaking Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan continues to earn national
acclaim. The plan was recently named winner of a prestigious Charter Award
by the Congress for the New Urbanism, earning honors in the "The Region:
Metropolis, City and Town Scale" category. Read more about it
<http://www.louisianaspeaks.org/charteraward.html> .  

Louisiana Speaks Documentary Honored by NETA
The hour-long documentary "Louisiana Speaks: Our Voice, Our Plan, Our
Future," produced by Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB), was recently
honored by The National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) as
the "finest example of community impact in outreach." Find out more
<http://www.louisianaspeaks.org/NETAaward.html> . 

Land Use Toolkit Project Underway
One of Louisiana Speaks' Top 10 Priorities for 2008 is the creation of model
subdivision and land development regulations for use by local jurisdictions
throughout the state. Known as the Land Use Toolkit project, this effort is
moving forward with the leadership of the Center for Planning Excellence's
Louisiana Community Planning team. After receiving feedback from officials
and planners around the state, the CPEX team and its consultants have
produced several initial reports. For more on this project, visit the Center
for Planning Excellence Web site
<http://www.louisianaspeaks.org/redir.html?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.planningexce
llence.org%2Fspotlight-content%2Foffice-of-state-planning-task-force-release
s-report.html> .  

New Louisiana Speaks Video Now Online
A new, 15-minute video about the Louisiana Speaks 2008 priorities is now
online at the Louisiana Speaks homepage
<http://www.louisianaspeaks.org/redir.html?url=http%3A%2F%2Flouisianaspeaks.
org%2Fmmedia%2Ftw.html> .  The video features interviews, insights and
information related to the Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan and how it is
being turned into action. The video is also available on YouTube, where you
can leave your comments or share it with friends
<http://www.louisianaspeaks.org/redir.html?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%
2Fwatch%3Fv%3DL76dAQNI_LY> .  

News & Notes
*  The Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan was honored by the Louisiana Chapter
of the American Society of Landscape Architects and Louisiana Speaks Inc.
Interim Director Elizabeth "Boo" Thomas received the Dr. Robert S. Reich,
FASLA Service to the Profession Award. Find out more about these honors here
<http://www.louisianaspeaks.org/redir.html?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.2theadvocate
.com%2Fnews%2Fbusiness%2F16903556.html> . 
* Smart Growth America - a coalition of national state and local
organizations working to improve how towns, cities and metro areas are
planned and built - is supporting important federal legislation currently
being debated on Capitol Hill. These efforts include 1) "Complete Streets"
legislation, 2) connecting Smart Growth to climate legislation and 3)
preserving and enhancing the budget for the EPA's Smart Growth Office. These
efforts are in line with Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan goals and
initiatives, so to find out how you can show your support, visit Smart
Growth America's Take Action Web page
<http://www.louisianaspeaks.org/redir.html?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.smartgrowtha
merica.org%2Faction.html> . 

Did You Know? If South Louisiana grows according to Louisiana Speaks
Regional Plan recommendations, new development in floodplains will decrease
by 63 percent during the next 50 years.  

www.louisianaspeaks.org <http://www.louisianaspeaks.org/> . 

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Louisiana Speaks is a long-term planning initiative of the Louisiana
Recovery Authority (LRA) that is supported with private funds provided
through the LRA Support Foundation. In the wake of the destruction caused by
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Louisiana Speaks initiative works toward
the development of a sustainable, long-term vision for South Louisiana. This
work combines the efforts of local, state and federal partners along with
many experts, stakeholders and citizens into a comprehensive approach that
will guide recovery and growth over the next 50 years.