The office of Special Assistant to the Mayor, headed by John A. Pecoul, Jr., was established in late 1980 as part of the Mayor's Division of Human Resources. The Special Assistant assumed oversight of the activities of the Community Services Office (which had its own Administrator and staff) and, in addition, coordinated and supervised a variety of long- and short-term "Mayor's Projects" to which Community Services staff were assigned. Although Pecoul reported directly to the Mayor, his office was carried on the Human Resources Office's budget.

The Community Services programs supervised by Pecoul included the Citizen Action Center, the Human Rights Office, Community Outreach Office, VIGOR, and the Women's Office, all of which dealt in some way with citizen advocacy, counseling, referrals and/or participation in city government.

Pecoul's office was responsible for oversight or supervision of the following long-term Community Services programs:

Clean City Committee: The Clean City Committee was appointed annually by the Mayor to advise on sanitation, anti-litter, and solid waste policy and programs; it also developed and implemented volunteer programs to educate the public about littering and solid waste handling. New Orleans Police Department Crime Prevention Programs: Pecoul's office oversaw the New Orleans Neighborhood Police Anti-Crime Council (NONPACC), the Neighborhood Watch program, and Taxis On Patrol (TOP). NONPACC was a citizen body made up of representatives (appointed by the Mayor) of each police district; the groups served as links between police and neighborhoods, meeting monthly with District Commanders to express concerns, develop means to solve them, and identify other citizens willing to help. The Neighborhood Watch program was begun in 1979, developed by the New Orleans Crime Prevention Unit and concerned citizens. Taxis on Patrol, initiated in 1981, established "hot lines" between taxi dispatchers and the New Orleans Police Department, allowing cab drivers to report any crimes or suspicious activity directly to police. Arts Programs: Pecoul's office provided liaison with the Arts Council of New Orleans, a private, non-profit organization which merged in 1981 with the Mayor's Committee for Arts and Cultural Development to become the official arts agency for the city. Mayor's Monitor System: The Mayor's Monitor System (or Neighborhood Monitor System) was designed as a mechanism to check city neighborhoods periodically for short-term problems such as litter, potholes, abandoned cars and homes, to report these problems to city agencies and follow up on corrective action taken; teams of 2 city employees volunteered time to tour neighborhoods each month and submit reports to appropriate city agencies for action. National League of Cities, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the National Conference of Democratic Mayors: Pecoul's office provided staff support to Morial in his active involvement with these organizations.

In addition to these on-going responsibilities, Pecoul's office supervised, organized or participated in various community projects and events:

Second Line Against Crime City Employees Week Metropolitan Area Committee Capital Needs Awareness Project and Capital Needs Tours Complaint System Federal Mandates Study Duncan Plaza project [additional records on Duncan Plaza are cataloged separately as Mayor's Office. Duncan Plaza project files, 1979-1981 (AA00ld 1979-1981)] City Hall Lobby Renovation Cable Television Neighborhood Outreach (including Carver Playground Project and A.P. Tureaud Memorial) New Orleans Artists Against Hunger and Homelessness Mayor's Prayer Breakfast