[StBernard] Taking Our Streets Back

[Westley Annis]

Dear Friends - 

During my campaign for Governor, I told folks that we would create a
"Criminal Hot Spot Initiative" so we could bring together local, state and
federal law enforcement officials to share resources and information to help
crack down on increased crime in localized areas. Yesterday, we announced a
new criminal hot spot in the Baton Rouge area that will create a
first-of-its-kind partnership between local, state and federal agencies
including the East Baton Rouge Violent Crime Unit, Louisiana State Police,
ATF and the East Baton Rouge District Attorney's Office. 
 
When I was growing up I remember my mom telling me to go out and play in the
neighborhood and to just be back by dark. Unfortunately, it's a different
world out there today and we have to be vigilant about protecting our kids.
The Criminal Hot Spot Initiative is a major step towards taking our streets
and communities back from violent criminals. 

We also announced, as WBRZ
<http://cl.publicaster.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=393%7c7554%7c9390&digest=Dz
IxlkafJDK0YqO1av8Fkg&sysid=1>  reported, that we will propose a bill in the
upcoming legislative session to help end the disgusting crime of human
trafficking. The bill will strengthen the current human trafficking laws to
expand the type of actions and criminals that can be prosecuted for this
brutal crime. 

Earlier this week, we also announced legislation to extend the period of
activation of death benefits for the families of Louisiana National
Guardsmen who lost their lives dating back to September 11, 2001. A law was
passed in 2007 to provide benefits for survivors of Guardsmen who were
killed in action and for those who were permanently disabled. The benefit is
$250,000 for a fatality and $100,000 for a permanent disability.

Since the law was enacted in 2007, it did not included Guardsmen who were
permanently disabled or killed in action during the War on Terror, which
began September 11, 2001. This legislation will now provide a $250,000
payment to the survivors of the Guardsmen who were killed in action dating
back to September 11, 2001.  As I told the New Orleans Times-Picayune
<http://cl.publicaster.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=393%7c7565%7c9390&digest=S2
q6fpbmvzEHardpVjkN3A&sysid=1> , this is a "sacred obligation" to the brave
men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.  

As WWL
<http://cl.publicaster.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=393%7c7566%7c9390&digest=9w
A8WjUt18FsmmsJxE2ZBg&sysid=1>  reported, we also announced this week that
the New Orleans Hornets have met the attendance benchmark required in the
team's lease which means they are staying in Louisiana for another year.
We're proud that the fans and the business community stepped up and packed
the Hive to meet the attendance goals, but we must keep the momentum going
and continue to support our Hornets so we can keep them here for the long
term. 

Finally, today we were excited to announce that the state Department of
Environmental Quality issued a permit for Nucor's direct reduced iron
facility - the first phase of a five phase project that is expected to
create up to 1,250 direct jobs and over $3 billion in capital investment.
WAFB
<http://cl.publicaster.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=393%7c7567%7c9390&digest=9w
gH9xihFqunY9bEmoU03w&sysid=1>  reported that securing a permit from the
Department of Environmental Quality is a "major step" for the Nucor project
which will be one of the largest industrial projects in Louisiana history. 

Sincerely, 

Governor Bobby Jindal