Drew
Kopf, the only currently declared Independent Write-in Candidate for President
of the United States in the 2008 Election, which is scheduled for Tuesday,
November 4, 2008, is challenging the people of America to create what he calls,
"a little bit of New Orleans" in every city, town and village in
our country.
Mr. Kopf, who is 59 and who lives in Plainview, Long Island, NY, says that
he foresees a tailing off of interest in helping the people of the Gulf Area
so devastated by Hurricane Katrina and in particular in New Orleans as other
stories push the tragedy from the front pages of papers across our country
to small slice-of-life articles and follow up pieces about which political
chieftain failed in his or her duties. “It is natural,” Mr. Kopf
said, “for people to tire of hearing about the pain and the death and
the disappointments, particularly when they themselves can do little to help
after they write a check to a fund, donate a few dollars at a ballgame or
theater show, or volunteer to hammer some nails at roof raising event.”
“We were impressed by the announcement that the Staples Center has committed
to providing all the aid a particular New Orleans family may need, from its
mother and grand mother through to her children and down to each of her grandchildren;
including the guarantee of full college tuition to any and all of the members
of that family who choose to go to college. We were glad to hear that the
Staples Center followed up its pledge with a million dollar contribution to
the immediate recovery effort and we are now interested to see which other
corporate giants will respond to the Staples Center Challenge to do as that
organization has done; to adopt a family and enable its members to thrive."
Mr. Kopf calls
for the creation of a combination restaurant, jazz club and art center to
be called "New Orleans" in every city in America. He said, "The
big cities, like New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago and the like, will
have fully configured installations that will serve as extensions of the New
Orleans so sorely missed right now, and preserve the flavor of its famous
and unique cuisine by allowing the people, including the many displaced New
Orleans residents, to taste and enjoy the food and to hear and enjoy the music
and to see and enjoy the art works that will be offered at these New Orleans
outposts.
Mr. Kopf continued:
“I ask for leaders in the restaurant and hospitality community, the
real estate development field, the architectural and design professionals
and the travel and transportation experts to move quickly, before the impetus
is gone, and to set these New Orleans Oasis in place; to populate them where
ever possible with unemployed chefs and restaurant staff people from the city
of New Orleans, with musicians from that city and to other wise make a place
where New Orleans can stay vibrant while its home base gets refurbished and
where the rest of us, who are not from New Orleans, can keep the attachment
alive for those of us who have had the pleasure of having experienced the
Crescent City, or to get a little taste of what it was like and what it will
be like again.”
"These would be not-for-profit organizations that would be similar to
embassies where, when you entered, you would be considered to be on "New
Orleans soil"; every thing about them would be New Orleans; it would
be a New Orleans emersion program in small. Profits would go to restoring
the real New Orleans and uplifting its people who need uplifting. These places
will give us all a way to truly share the wealth. And smaller towns and villages
would establish versions of New Orleans commiserate with the size and abilities
or resources of each community; I can see even a hot dog stand, if that’s
what a small community could do, but it would be called New Orleans.”
"Everyone
will be included. Get me the big design houses from the movies and theme parks
to make these installations work; lighting, graphics, the works. And do not
be afraid that they will cut into the business of other clubs and restaurants.
What ever might be lost to the new eatery in town will be made up for by the
great cross pollenization of ideas and creativity that everyone will come
out ahead. It may be the wrong analogy so soon after the horrible flooding,
but it is still a truth that a rising tide raises all the boats on the water.”
"Let these New Orleans of America stay on in perpetuity as living and
breathing monuments to the greatness of our country; really to the greatness
of our people; who eventually do the right thing; who can lead ourselves out
of disaster and who can over come the mistakes and ineptitudes of those wrongly
or unwisely put in charge but without the stuff needed to take charge and
get the job done. Like a good baseball manager, Americans just need to take
the wrong guys out of the game and replace them with old fashioned leaders
who truly come from the people and not spun out of a spin-doctors marketing
department.”
New Orleans will thrive and the New Orleans centers across the United States
will eventually be the encouraging factor to get more of us to visit Louisiana
and to see New Orleans than ever might have before.
Mr. Kopf finished by imploring people to, "spread the word and make it
happen. You don't need some government directive or a permission slip. Please
let us know how you are doing and, if you need any help. We are very good
at helping things well conceived move forward. We will see what we can do
to get you unstuck. If you want to know more, type "DREW KOPF" into
Google and follow the links."
For the full
text of Mr. Kopf's letter to the American People, please Click HERE.
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