Independent Democratic Electors Association (IDEA) Endorses JP
Adding to a growing wave of support for JP Morrell for City Council At-Large, Div. 2, the Independent Democratic Electors Association (IDEA) is the latest progressive organization to announce it is endorsing Morrell in the October 9 election.
"JP is the change agent we need for our city right now. All the problems that have plagued our communities, particularly in Algiers and New Orleans East, have been here for years. Over the last decade, we have not seen the progress promised. In fact, one may say we have regressed," said Marseyas Fernandez, President of IDEA. "We cannot continue doing the same thing and hope for a different outcome. That's insane. We need a new leader on the New Orleans City Council with innovative ideas, not recycled versions of old ideas that don't work. This is a critical time in our City, State and Nation. JP has a proven record of leadership and defying impossible odds to bring people together for change. IDEA supports JP because of his record of accomplishment, his commitment to New Orleans and his vision for our future."
IDEA's mission is to better New Orleans through community service and political involvement. Its members believe this can be accomplished by setting new political trends in the community through education, encouragement and action. IDEA consists of a diverse group of individuals that are community-minded and interested in forging a durable relationship with all residents of New Orleans and their political representation. IDEA of New Orleans is involved in great causes that help the people in our communities.
"I'm deeply humbled by the endorsement of IDEA, as they represent a new generation of entrepreneurs, educators and leaders that our city desperately needs," said Morrell. "We share a sense of urgency that things have not improved in this last decade of failed leadership on the Council. The Council has lost its way and needs a new, experienced leader to create momentum for change."
"We believe the City Council shouldn't just be limited to reacting to problems when they become a crisis but proactively working to fix our city 24/7. Now is not the time for performative politics of election year, but real solutions to real problems," he continued.
IDEA is the latest to join a growing list of supporters for Morrell, which includes over 200 women community leaders and advocates, including Leslie Bouie and Madalyn Schenk; elected officials, including Sens. Regina Barrowand Joe Bouie and Reps. Aimee Adatto Freeman, Jason Hughes, and Former Rep. Patricia Smith; as well as civic organizations, such as the New Orleans Coalition, Independent Women's Organization (IWO), AFL-CIO, Alliance for Good Government, UNITE HERE, Voters Organized to Educate (VOTE), the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), and the Southeastern Louisiana Chapter of the National Association of Building and Constructions Trades (NABTU).
Morrell has dedicated his career to public service, starting as a public defender right out of law school. Later, he served in the State Legislature, beginning in 2006 as a representative until the end of his final term as a senator in 2018. He will bring his know-how and determination to make city government responsive and accountable to the people it is supposed to serve.
Morrell's top priority will be reducing crime. To this day, he is the only candidate to release a detailed crime plan. He will leverage the power of the City to diversify the economy and provide modern career readiness programs. He will combat the affordable housing crisis by actually regulating Short Term Rentals (STR) and building more affordable homes (not just affordable units). Morrell will tackle infrastructure with the same out-of-the-box thinking that he applied as a State Legislator to achieve what others thought was impossible - like digging the state out of a $2 billion hole to finally fund our schools and hospitals.