Prominent New Orleans Auto Dealer Criticizes Corps of Engineers and Area Officials on Television in the Wake of Katrina

Prominent New Orleans Auto Dealer Criticizes Corps of Engineers and Area Officials on Television in the Wake of Katrina

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominent business leader and civic activist Ronnie Lamarque launches a prime time television special in New Orleans this Tuesday night.

The half hour show chronicles his childhood and rise to success in the automotive industry by establishing one of the largest auto dealer groups in the entire United States during his thirty-five year career. The program, which started production before Katrina, has since been revised with the addition of his own personal commentaries about the post storm 'State of New Orleans'.

Lamarque grew up in Arabi, Louisiana adjacent to the highly publicized lower 9th Ward area that was devastated by the hurricane. He attended several public schools in St. Bernard Parish where his father was employed as a school custodian.

A self-described graduate of the 'college of hard knocks', Lamarque says the program was originally produced as a corporate video profile for his companies, however it was changed later to incorporate the affects of the storm on the community. "The new Katrina commentaries are the 'voice of the people' and small businesses who would otherwise not be heard," says Lamarque. An outspoken critic of the city's past and present administrations, the car dealer makes some powerful statements about the area's deteriorating condition.

Particularly, he harshly criticizes the Corp of Engineers and grades the city's political leadership. "The people of New Orleans are putting all levels of government 'on notice' that it's not business as usual. The Louisiana hayride is over," says Lamarque. He further said he is an 'independent voice' because he doesn't sit on any reconstruction boards or blue ribbon committees. He will monitor the situation to determine if more editorials are warranted or possibly seek political office. Many of Lamarque's retail stores and properties were impacted by the storm and remain closed today. He says he has a vested interest in the community not only for the livelihood of his businesses, but is looking out for his 8 year old son's future in the new New Orleans. He and his family reside in Orleans Parish.

The program is running Tuesday night, January 31st, on WGNO-TV ABC 26 at 7:00 p.m. CST and is scheduled to run several more times in the coming weeks in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Vince Marinello, a noted local sportscaster and radio talk show personality is the host.

For more information contact:

Mark Bonner
President
504-712-5020 (office)
504-289-3673 (cell)
markbonner@lamarque.com

Laura Orazio
Executive Assistant
504-712-5052 (office)
504-214-7846 (cell)
lauraorazio@lamarque.com

Source: Ronnie Lamarque

CONTACT: Mark Bonner, President, +1-504-712-5020, or cell,
+1-504-289-3673, or markbonner@lamarque.com , or Laura Orazio, Executive
Assistant, +1-504-712-5052, or cell, +1-504-214-7846, or
lauraorazio@lamarque.com , both for Ronnie Lamarque

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