The Boulevard | February - April 2016

Jay H. Banks 2016 It was not until King Zulu 2016, Jay H. Banks, walked into a Washington, DC ballroom in late January that he fully grasped the gravity of being King Zulu.

Banks and his fellow revelers arrived in a caravan of Cadillac Escalades that were preceded by snowplows clearing their path.

Not even a historic blizzard that dumped more than 20 inches of snow on our Nation’s Capital could stop Banks and the spirit of New Orleans from engulfing the annual Washington Mardi Gras event. As he and his wife, Queen Zulu, Artelia Bennett-Banks, entered into an elegant room filled with national political leaders, Banks and his wife were greeted as if they were foreign dignitary. In that moment, Banks, a life long resident of Central City, knew his reign was truly rooted in destiny. Jay H. Banks, who is never really at a loss for the right words says, “The experience was like no other”.

“We went in the middle of a hurricane with snow. It was a monumental blizzard that broke all sorts of records but it didn’t make us miss a step. When I tell you it was absolutely magical! When we walked in, there was a standing ovation.” said Banks.

Banks recalls even being cornered by a House Majority Whip who clamored for a coconut, with the eagerness of a kid. “It was unbelievable! A magical dream for us.”

This was a dream that he shared with his lovely wife Artelia Bennett-Banks.

“There is no feeling like this. The Zulu organization is spectacular!” says Bennett-Banks.

This was Banks’ third time running for king of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club. He remarked that even with his expertise as being a part of some of the most notable political machines in the city, it did not fully prepare him for an election within the more than 100-year-old organization. He describes his previous attempts as very close and one left him bitter about fairness of the process. Yet, he was encouraged by his wife and mother not to give up. In 2015 he attacked the race with full vigor.

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“I do a lot of politics so, I did the things I knew to do. I had phone banks. I had rides to the polls. We had all of that stuff and it apparently worked because we had a major turn out.”

Banks techniques created a historic election for Zulu with him receiving the largest amount of votes of any previous king and the largest turnout of any election.

“If you don’t think God has a sense of humor, you don’t know God. Because, all of these things that happened before weren’t meant to be, it was meant to be now. There has been no bigger year in the history of this organization then there has been now and I am extremely blessed that I’m here now.”

Banks joined Zulu in 2005 the year of Hurricane Katrina, which would test the resiliency of the organization and its beloved city.

“After Hurricane Katrina, Zulu made a commitment. It knew the responsibility that it had to parade. The first casualty of Katrina was “normal” and normal for a New Orleanian is Zulu on Mardi Gras morning. When you think about that kind of responsibility and accepting it that’s kind of magical to me.

To sit here and be the king of almost 800 socially responsible committed men it’s almost indescribable.”

Mr Big Shot

Banks says the excitement of the mystic of being a King Zulu started at an early age.

At 10 years old he vividly remembers being called to help paint royal coconuts for an incoming Zulu king that lived in his neighborhood. Call it predestinate or plain destiny, when the child who would serve the king would one day become the king himself.

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A KING IS BORN

Like the organization itself, Zulu’s new king comes from a family of trial blazers and he is one in his own rite. Jay Banks mother was one of the first black graduates of Tulane University; his father was one of the founders of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and a friend of Dr. Martin Luther King; and his godfather is the Reverend A.L. Davis Jr. Banks has a long history of being part some of the largest political power structures in the city, as well as, masterminding the campaigns of a host of city and state politicians. He served as Chief of Staff for both city council presidents Dorothy Mae Taylor and Jim Singleton. He is currently Director of the School of Commerce at the Dryads YMCA program that trains locals to work in the city’s medical industry.

“We have a nationally accredited, state certified, Practical Nursing program, which has an excellent passing rate on the licensing exam and a 100 percent employment rate for our students who are successful on the exam. Since Katrina, there’s definitely a lack of trained medical personnel in this region, and then, when you multiply that by the new Biomedical research facility and all the new hospitals coming online, there’s a tremendous amount of employment opportunity for trained individuals.”

“When you can take somebody from making very little to producing funds that actually supports their family it’s beautiful. There is no elixir to break the cycle of poverty, the cycle has to be broken one family at a time. It can’t be done holistically; it has to be done individually. That’s what we do at the Y.” Banks said.

Banks accomplishments of service in the community and his involvement in Zulu, fits like a puzzle. When he speaks to groups or conducts interviews, he pushes the message that Zulu is more than painted faces, costumes and formal balls; it is about promoting social change.

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HAIL KING ZULU 2016

Jay H. Banks

“Through this celebrity, real or perceived, we have been able to help numerous charitable entities to do good for people in the community. The Buddy Walk, UNCF, Down Syndrome Organization, and the American Cancer Society are just a sample of organizations we support. This is not about us; it is about what we can do to help each other. I was raised by people who believed whatever talent you got, use that talent to help somebody. And I hope before this is all over, I will have achieved that goal.”

This is the 100th year celebration of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club.

Although, it was founded in 1909, it wasn’t officially incorporated until September 20, 1916. In the notarial office of Gabriel Fernandez, twenty-two of the organization’s officers and members signed the first official document that day.

Zulu was formed by a group of African American laborers who broke ground to be included in the pageantry of Mardi Gras but it has now become the prominent symbol of celebration. The original club was the men of Benevolent Aid Society.

Benevolent Societies were the first forms of insurance in the black community in which paid members received financial help when sick or in need of aid when burying deceased members.

Zulu’s initial floats in 1915 were constructed on a spring wagon, using dry goods boxes. The floats were decorated with palmetto leaves and moss, which carried four dukes along with the king. This centennial anniversary will also mark the first year that the organization will have its own floats that are owned and not rented to them. This is a historic shift from the past, because floats were rented and didn’t have themes that fit their riders. In some cases the floats were unreliable because of ware from other crews before Fat Tuesday. In partnership with Liberty Bank, Zulu will now own its floats that carry more than 1500 riders each year.

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Taking his place in line with past kings like Louis Armstrong and political names like Roy E. Glapion Jr. Banks acknowledge that he sits on the shoulders of great men. He hopes to continue to promote Zulu’s long history of inspiring a city and nation, which is a blending of celebration and service. Despite the parties and celebrity attention, like any worthy king, “What is best for the kingdom is always a priority.”

“It will not make us forget who we are and whose we are. Our roots run very deep here and they will not be uprooted. I’m loving all of this but, I’m loving more anytime we can help benefit members of this community that needs help, that’s what this is all about.”

All HAIL JAY BANKS KING OF Zulu!!

Central City Salute HAIL KING ZULU 2016

Jay H. Banks at Ashe Power House

dependent and transit choice riders, community leaders, and the general public to draft a visionary 20-year master public transportation plan for our region.

About Salvador Longoria

Salvador G. Longoria is the Chairman of the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) Board of Commissioners.

The 2016 Budget reflects enhanced and expanded public transportation service. In addition to the $5M in service improvements we implemented in 2015, we have committed $4.3M for additional bus and streetcar service in 2016, reflecting our continued commitment to prioritizing access and opportunity for all of our riders and across the RTA community.

Message from the Chairman of the RTA 2016 will be another exciting year for the RTA as we continue on our mission to provide a world class system of safe and reliable transit services for the citizens of New Orleans and the Region.

In 2016 we will be engaged in the work of visionary planning, enhanced and expanded transit options, and great efforts to keep the public at the heart of what we do.

In 2015 we listened to our riders and to the community at-large. We heard the call and understand the need for shorter wait times, more coverage in neighborhoods, and more dependable public transportation options. We have diligently considered the input of citizens when establishing our priorities for 2016 and we are proud to announce that for the first time since Hurricane Katrina the RTA will offer 24-hour service in New Orleans East along Morrison and Lake Forest; in Algiers along General DeGaulle; and on lines

In 2016 we look forward to a major strategic transit planning process – under the leadership of the RTA, inclusive of all stakeholders and centered on the needs, desires and expectations of the citizens. In this effort we will partner with the Regional Planning Commission, transit 20

such as the Tulane, St. Claude, and Galvez. There will be new 15-minute service on the Broad bus – the busiest route in the system – so our riders can get to services, school, work, worship or play quickly and conveniently. Through a new direct bus route to and from the airport, the RTA hopes to improve access to regional jobs; and the Hayne line will get service 7 days a week, so no more being stuck at home on Sunday.

and sincerely welcome the input and feedback from citizens and stakeholders across the city and the region and we are hopeful that we will continue to move forward as we implement service improvements that will offer more, better, safer and more reliable service for our riders.

Salvador G. Longoria Chairman Regional Transit Authority Board of Commissioners

In 2016 we are committing to later evening and earlier morning 24/7 bus and streetcar service; enhanced frequency and coverage on weekend routes; and critical service and connections for 5:00 AM morning arrivals to downtown’s major employment centers.

In 2016 we will strive to address effective service delivery, efficiency, and fiscal discipline, while upholding our mission: to improve quality of life for the people of New Orleans. We are doing this with the support of the citizens and through the lens of equity and social justice as overarching values of the Board of Commissioners.

The RTA Board of Commissioners, along with Transdev and the RTA community of stakeholders, is looking forward with great enthusiasm to making our public transit system the best it can be as we strengthen our foundation and work proactively toward advancing world class transit that supports the positive future of our region. Our work is not done in a vacuum and we strongly encourage

www.norta.com

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