In the current economic climate, and because the proposed plan would be the largest economic project in New Orleans history, any decisions must be fiscally responsible. LSU currently expects their proposal to cost a total of $1.2 billion, however there are indications that number is low, especially when factoring in operational costs. While health care facilities are a worthy investment of taxpayer money, the current LSU/VA proposal ignores the savings that renovating Charity Hospital affords. The LSU/VA proposal does not make use of available preservation grants and unnecessarily spends scarce taxpayer dollars to expropriate private lands and evict tenants. The jobs created by this large economic development project would be delayed under the LSU/VA version as a result of this slow and wasteful land acquisition process. As Governor Jindal has made numerous painful cuts on education and health care spending, that LSU has not provided a model operating budget for once the hospital is completed should raise serious questions.
Below you will find a collection of articles pertaining to the preservation issue:
Here are 4 easy ways you can help the fight to Save Charity Hospital:
Gregg Stafford is the beloved New Orleans trumpet player, community leader and co-founder of the Black Men of Labor social aid and pleasure club. Here Mr. Stafford talks about the importance of Charity Hospital in his own life, and the life of his City of New Orleans. Charity is "where I took my first breath of life," he says. "We're trying to rebuild the city and a lot of people need Charity Hospital to reopen." 
Tom Piazza is the New Orleans-based author of