For New Orleans to become a world-class city, and for the region and State to progress, we must overcome critical challenges. Forward New Orleans provides a mandate to city leadership on the most significant of those challenges. This document was created by more than 30 civic, neighborhood and business organizations that represent the diverse landscape of New Orleans. These organizations are unified in expecting city leaders to manage toward, and strive for, excellence in city government.

Forward New Orleans imposes an overriding requirement of redirecting city government toward reform. It embodies the cornerstones of all effective government: accountability, transparency, efficiency and the appropriate exercise of fiduciary responsibility. We want our elected officials to be committed to these principles.

During the 2010 campaign, representatives from Forward New Orleans asked each of the Mayoral and City Council candidates to pledge their support for the reform mandates outlined in the Forward New Orleans platform.  Almost unanimously, our newly elected officials signed the pledge during their candidacy.

After their first 100 days in office, Forward New Orleans assessed the Administration's progress and as promised, published the results of its assessment. You can read the First Progress Report here.

Now, after one year in office, Forward New Orleans has completed its Second Progress Report, included here.  The results are encouraging.   We commend the Administration for taking positive steps toward meeting its pledge and commitment to the citizens of New Orleans.  We will continue to monitor, particularly as the Administration enters this execution phase, and will include future assessments on this website.

We ask that you join us in presenting Forward New Orleans as the collective will of the citizenry and to require our elected officials to continue moving toward accomplishing these mandates. This time we must be certain our officials are aligned with principled reform. This time we must move our New Orleans forward.