At a news conference that was thin on specifics but signaled support for rank-and-file workers in the city's most prominent industry, New Orleans City Council President Jason Williams issued a "clarion call" for health care for local hospitality workers.
Joined by New Orleans Tourism Marketing Commission (NOTMC) President Mark Romig, Cheryl Teamer of New Orleans & Company and Districts B and C Councilmembers Jay Banks and Kristin Gisleson Palmer, Williams pledged to work with stakeholders to develop a plan to provide cost-accessible health care services for industry workers and to help them better share in the bounty of .
"For the first 300 years of this city's history, hospitality has looked one way. ... It has to look different for our next 300 years," Williams said. He called workers the "backbone" of the tourism industry, saying they're "the person [tourists] see first, last and in the middle" of visits to New Orleans.
"Tourism dollars that come to this city have to be shared with the folks who give so much of themselves. ... [To workers], I hear you, I see you and we will do our part to take care of you," Williams said.
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Banks and Palmer, whose districts include tourism-heavy downtown, joined the conference to line up behind Williams' call. Palmer said she wants to see "thoughtful policies" that will allow industry workers to better access health care, transportation and affordable housing. Banks referred to tax revenues generated through tourism, saying those dollars are what support the city.
"The people that make that happen have to be part of the equation," he said.
The news conference followed a demonstration last week in which hospitality workers and their supporters appeared before the NOTMC board โ which includes Williams, Banks and Palmer โ to demand a free health care clinic for industry workers, paid for by the city's hotel occupancy tax. Workers said their low wages often prevent them from being able to purchase health insurance or from visiting the doctor for fear of expensive bills.
That demonstration reflected ongoing organizing among industry workers in New Orleans, some of whom have spearheaded union drives at their workplaces.
In remarks today, Romig reiterated his appreciation for last week's protest on behalf of the NOTMC board. He said his organization, which markets the city as a tourism destination, will work with the New Orleans City Council and Mayor LaToya Cantrell's office to maintain New Orleans as "culturally rich and diverse" while "ensur[ing] our community is the fair community that we deserve."
While this media event, described as a "first step," revealed little about concrete programs or shovel-ready projects, it did suggest an agenda for three members of the newly inaugurated New Orleans City Council.
It also added to the public record an indisputable acknowledgement by both civic and business leaders of the struggles of the city's 88,000 hospitality workers, who have been powering a tourism boom but feel squeezed by an increased cost of living and scant benefits in many workplaces.
In a brief interview, Williams said the need for better health care is among the priorities he hears mentioned most frequently by industry workers, even in conversations with people who are working at the hotels and restaurants he visits. He and Romig also suggested the possibility of partnerships with medical providers at ถถา๕h State University, Tulane University and University Medical Center clinics, as well as working to ensure that community members are aware of existing service options
Williams declined to provide Gambit with details about a timeline for any projects related to this initiative or how forthcoming projects might be funded, saying he was still in the process of gathering information and listening to stakeholders. He said he was "building out the folks who will be at the table," though he and Romig agreed that organizations that represent workers will be included.
"This is not the end of this conversation," Williams said.
This story has been updated to reflect that demonstrators at the recent NOTMC meeting called for a free clinic, not a "low-cost" clinic.