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Looking into the future the Pelican feeding its young from a self-induced wound in its own breast (as depicted, mysteriously, on the state flag of Louisiana) is accepted as an appropriate symbol of both self-sacrifice and rebirth. Through his selfless efforts, man is raised from the slavery of ignorance to the condition of freedom conferred by wisdom. Given the current state of affairs in Louisiana, one hopes that the understanding of the Pelican as a symbol shall point the way towards a new consciousness of ourselves as a whole, and lead us to face our futures with strength, grace, wisdom and faith, to learn from our mistakes and carry our successes and zest for living to future generations.

Largest Urban Wildlife Refuge In U.S. Threatened By Motorsports Speedway

The Board of Commissioners of the New Orleans Business & Industrial District (NOBID) voted on February 13, 2001 to take out an option to purchase a $4.2 million 750 acre tract of land adjacent to the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge in hopes of building a proposed motorsports speedway on the site.

Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge, the largest urban wildlife refuge in the United States, is comprised of 23,000 acres of fresh and brackish marshes, all within the city limits of New Orleans. It is inhabited by otters, alligators and numerous other wetland residents, is located on the Mississippi Flyway, contains an enormous wading bird rookery and tens of thousands of waterfowl winter in its marshes.

Once again, the taxpayers' dollars are being sought to destroy wetlands and wildlife habitat. Proposals for generating the $70 to $80 million dollars needed for development of the speedway include a $15 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 108 loan, a $ 1 0 million revenue bond issue backed by the 1 -cent hotel-motel tax, a possible increase in that tax and a $30 million dollar revenue bond.

The proposed speedway site, currently owned by local attorney John Cummings, doing business as Little Pine Island LP, is located outside of the current NOBID boundaries where there may be a more suitable site. Mr. Cummings recently obtained approval from the city council to build two hotels in the area. Donald Panoz, Atlanta based motor sports, pharmaceutical and real estate tycoon, has been chosen as the developer and also plans to pursue the development of a hotel resort and other supporting developments.

Save Our Wetlands, Inc., a Louisiana non-profit corporation formed in 1974, is dedicated to preserving the wetlands and estuaries surrounding Lake Pontchartrain. Since its inception, SOWL has been fighting for you to save our precious wetlands. In 1977, SOWL obtained an injunction in Federal Court which stopped the Corps of Engineers from building a billion dollar dam at the Chef Mentaur, Rigolets, Fort Pike Area, where the Gulf of Mexico enters into Lake Ponchartrain. Had SOWL not obtained this injunction, Lake Ponchartrain would be a stagnant body of water and the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge would have been developed into a subdivision.

The proposed motorsports speedway will destroy the serenity and character of the refuge and have adverse effects on the wetlands and the resident wildlife. Please join us in fighting to protect the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge from this threat. JOIN SAVE OUR WETLANDS NOW!

Further Reading:
  1. November 20, 2006 - Track Owner Has Questions About Proposed Race Track In New Orleans East
  2. November 13, 2006 - To Louisiana State Bond Commission; RE: Proposed Drag Race Track In New Orleans East
  3. November 13, 2006 - Drag Race Track Proposed In East - City Government Arm Gives Preliminary OK
  4. February 13, 2001 - Largest Urban Wildlife Refuge In U.S. Threatened By Motorsports Speedway
  5. April 27, 2000 - To New Orleans Business and Industrial District (NOBID), RE: Race Track in New Orleans East
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