Letters: Crime session was about more than crime

The special legislative session on crime that ended last week wasn’t only about law and order. It was also about jobs and opportunity.

When deciding where to start, relocate or expand a business, companies consider a variety of factors. Chief among them are accessibility to domestic and global markets, scope of transportation infrastructure, size and skill of workforce, wealth of natural resources and strength of business climate. Louisiana checks every box.

Increasingly, CEOs and site selectors are placing a premium on another criteria: “Quality of place.” To attract and retain talented employees and entice clients to do business with them, companies seek states and communities where families will want to live, work and play. Schools must excel. Systems must work. And above all, people must feel safe.

Those of us who have been fortunate enough to call Louisiana home know firsthand the unique qualities that make it so special. Our incomparable natural beauty, world-class cuisine, close knit communities, rich culture and deeply held traditions are the foundation of an enviable quality of life. The question we need to ask ourselves and our representatives is this: How much more special — and prosperous — could it be if we could add “public safety” to the list of boxes that every company checks?

By taking the necessary steps to enhance public safety, we strengthen our business climate, attract new investment, create more jobs and keep future generations here at home.

SUSAN BONNETT BOURGEOIS

secretary, Louisiana Economic Development