Yes Cao Can

Props to our new Republican congressman Joseph “Anh” Cao for pressing Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and FEMA officials about FEMA’s lowball offer of $150 million for the new LSU teaching hospital.  And props to Mary Landrieu for setting up an arbitration process to review low-ball offers like FEMA’s.  How ironic that this occurred on the same day as a “celebration of service” (read: fundraiser), for Dollar Bill Jefferson.  And on a day when Tracie Washington unethically released emails from Stacy Head on the web. 

Let’s appreciate what we have in Cao, a pragmatic, fiery new congressman who isn’t afraid to ruffle feathers when they need to be ruffled in order to represent his constituency.  And lets appreciate what we no longer have to deal with anymore– imbeciles like Dollar Bill and his pre-Katrina brand of politics and cronyism (lets not forget Dollar Bill was responsible for that crime-fighting maven Eddie Jordan).  Who else thinks that monetary donations from last night’s “celebration of service” should be used to help pay medical bills for the uninsured of New Orleans until our new teaching hospital gets built?

Do as Stacy Head Does, and Not as She Says

With this morning’s release of the Stacy Head emails, some thoughts.  First off, I don’t think this issue should get much attention now that we know what these emails actually say.  If this is the worst that Tracie Washington has, then it’s sad she’s spent so much time and energy ensuring their release. The emails are classist and catty, but are they racist or unethical?  Hell no.  

Secondly, as one caller said this morning on Bob and Monica’s show on WWL, what does this say to the public about City Council members who dare to question the Nagin administration? That one of their henchwomen will embarrass them personally and publicly.  Nothing in the emails reflects a lack of respect or dedication that Ms. Head has for her job, but the same can’t be said for Tracie Washington.  I’m sure Ms. Washington says some not-so-nice things about Ms. Head and others behind closed doors, but is her level of dedication to the “impoverished” and “colored” communities of New Orleans the same as Ms. Head’s level of dedication to her job? Certainly not.  What good is Ms. Washington serving by digging up these emails?  How is this helping “impoverished” and “disadvantaged” communities?  Ms. Washington needs to resign as director of the Louisiana Justice Institute and find someone who actually wants to work towards these goals.

Thirdly, its easy to see the personal vendetta here.  Everyone can see through the media-induced smoke and mirrors and knows of Ms. Washington and Ms. White’s personal vendetta against Ms. Head.  

Fourth, Ms. Washington could face serious charges for posting these emails.  While it was technically legal, because they were posted between the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling allowing their release and the Supreme Court’s ruling later in the day calling for the emails’ censure, Ms. Washington certainly knew the issue was going to be appealed, and soon.  Thus, as a lawyer she might have committed some serious ethical violations, especially if she knew the issue was going to be appealed and if a ruling was imminent later that afternoon from the Louisiana Supreme Court.  

Finally, lets not allow this to divide us as a community.  Most people on the radio this morning echoed such.  If people get all up in arms over this, then Ms. Washington wins.  And what a shame that would be.

Speak Loudly, and (make sure to) Carry a Big Stick

Lots of big words this week from local personalities—

1. First is Mayor Ray, who claimed that mayors across the country are jealous of his position as Mayor of New Orleans right now.  As evidence of this jealousy, the Mayor cited a strong local economy and the pending $1 billion LSU-VA joint hospital venture.  I wonder if fellow mayors are equally jealous of the Mayor’s record-low approval rating of 24% among New Orlenians, which included a whopping 8% among white voters.  I know where I weigh in–I’d rather be a human lab rat for Dr. Kevorkian than Ray Nagin right now.  

2. Big words from mayoral candidate James Perry, who maintains his (apt?) comparison with Barack Obama.  Does Mr. Perry really have the political and inspirational chops to make this comparison stick?  With Arnie Fielkow apparently making a deal with John Georges to forego his candidacy, it looks like Mr. Perry has a decent shot to wrap up the liberal vote.  Georges is a Republican ladies and gentlemen–don’t let him trick you.  Check out his track record.  check out the new profile on Perry and Nola’s post-Katrina race problem: http://www.flypmedia.com/issues/27/#1/1

3. And finally, big words from Clancy Dubos: “I think we have a citizenry that is educated, more engaged, and more politically astute than at any time in recent memory.”  Hallelujah brotha!  Let’s hope so, and let’s hope that the new mayor’s election reflects this.  

4.. While I’m a big supporter of the hospital joint venture, in rare agreement with Nagin and our absentee governor, my well-respected fellow blogger BV vehemently disagrees: http://lettersinbottles.blogspot.com/.  Check out Letters in Bottles for frequent and thoughtful updates on this brewing controversy.

Hodgepodge

Getting back after a week away in Colorado.  If only we could send hot-tempered Mayor Nagin and his ragtag team of hotheads out there in the snow, it might cool off the heated controversy from this past week.

 

A few things to discuss:

1. What do yall think of the Mayor admitting that he doesn’t even subscribe to the T-P anymore?  What ever happened to taking constructive criticism?  Where does the Mayor get his news? Because the only publications not criticizing him nowadays are high school papers.

2. Big win this week for my boy James Perry and the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center.  In a suit against St. Bernard Parish, they won in a bid to ensure multi-family housing in the Parish.  Timely victory for Mr. Perry, who shows with this win that he cares about the low-income communities in this city, in stark contrast to our current Mayor.

3. Listening to Bob Mitchell show on WWL this week.  A listener called in and said, “Mayor Nagin gon’ get his”–meaning that once the Mayor leaves office Letten will get his hands on Nagin like he gets his hands on everyone else that deserves it.  Do we really think Nagin is corrupt?  Is the NOAH scandal going to catch up with him?  Remember that of the contractors being investigated, Nagin’s brother-in-law’s company is NOT one of them.  Is this going to catch up with Nagin?

4. Veronica “Write”—who knew that instead of securing  decent trash collection contracts, Veronica has spent countless hours writing a book about securing FEMA funding for the city.  Among those endorsing Ms. Write’s book was Ed Blakely, who no doubt e-mailed his endorsement from a computer in Australia or Switzerland or anywhere else he’s living besides New Orleans.  And the only person who stepped up to the plate to publish Ms. Write’s book was, surprise, her husband.  I have one question for Ms. Write—how much would it cost the city of New Orleans to collect all the published copies of your book, which certainly constitutes trash in my opinion?  My guess—we’d get ripped off if Ms. Write was the one negotiating the contract.  With such a lucrative second career, maybe Veronica should pay for her own bodyguard instead of wasting taxpayer money.

Tracie Washington part deaux

I’m going to start calling Tracie Washington a “civil fights attorney,” because thats all that she seems to be concerning herself with lately.  Many thanks to our outstanding local paper, the T-P, for doing a cover story on the now infamous Ms. Washington on Thursday giving us the straight dish on this agitator.

I asked previously whether Ms. Washington had good intentions in mind when asking for the e-mails of the four white city council members and Jeff Thomas, the highest ranking white member of the Office of Recovery.  I’ve come to the conclusion that the only interests Ms. Washington had in mind was to promote her own form of race-baiting “activism.”  When asked why she requested the e-mails of only white public servants, Tracie said that its “beside the point.”  Excuse me Ms. Washington, but that is exactly the point.  What world are you living in? Thats the reason citizens like myself think something is awry.  Unless and until you answer this question, myself and others will doubt your true intentions.  

Let’s take a quick look at Ms. Washington’s past “activism.”  She supported Bill Jefferson until the end, calling his indictment a “Machiavellian twisting of Karl Rove and his sinister band of brownshirts.”  Tracie–I agree with everyone else that Dollar Bill is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, but you are a lawyer.  Can you seriously sit there with a straight face and say that the evidence against Dollar Bill isn’t overwhelmingly indicative of criminal behavior?  Who are we kidding here? I’ll eat my words if Dollar Bill isn’t convicted, but right now its not looking good.  I don’t like Karl Rove any more than you or anyone else, but I can confidently say that I seriously doubt he had anything to do with Dollar Bill’s misdoings.  

And now WDSU is reporting a link between Veronica White and the Stacy Head recall effort.  And lets remember who gave Ms. Washington the emails—Veronica White!  Tracie Washington was comfortable enough with Ms. White to ask her personally for the emails.  This doesn’t bode well for Ms. Washington.  

Keep up the civil fights activism Tracie! You’re really helping the city to recover.  

 

In other news, check out two of my favorite people, James W. Perry and Melissa Harris-Lacewell, publishing an article in The Nation.

Mayor’s Race update

When is this mayor’s race going to start heating up? We’re ready, not only for a new mayor but for what promises to be a good old fashioned New Orleans political fight.  One scary thing—the 2002 race was a wide-open race just like this one, and look who we got stuck with.  So voters beware!!! Make informed, careful decisions.   

About 6 weeks ago I attended a meet and greet for candidate James W. Perry and was incredibly impressed. Not only was Mr. Perry introduced by the impressive Melissa Harris-Lacewell (my new favorite guest on the cable political scene) but answered questions admirably. The most lasting comment he made, in stark contrast to the laziness that currently pervades City Hall, was that when you’re mayor, you don’t have a life. The city and its functioning is your life. Right on James!  He reminds me of Corey Booker, the young, dedicated, sharp black mayor of Newark thats gotten so much great press.  Also, check out his website (http://jamesperry2010.com/). The people running his campaign obviously know what they’re doing, and I suspect Mr. Perry will siphon some votes away from the more entrenched black candidates, especially among younger black voters. I also suspect that Perry’s message will resonate with younger white voters as well, judging by the crowd at the meet and greet. What’ll be interesting to see is if Perry can take some young white votes away from Fielkow, if and when he throws his hat in the ring.  

Anyone know anything about Austin Badon or Ed Murray? I don’t feel comfortable writing about these candidates because I haven’t seen or heard enough about them. Can anyone chime in?

Activist or Detractivist?

This is a new blog focusing on Nola politics, for informed locals by an informed local.  The vitality of any city depends in large part upon a dedicated and scrutinizing public, and its been inspiring since I moved back to see so many young people like myself, including peers and friends of mine, dedicated to the blogging experience.  This kind of grassroots activism will only make our city, and its post-Katrina democracy, that much stronger.

Given the history of ridiculousness in New Orleans politics, it wasn’t just one event that inspired me to start writing.  But I think the recent Tracie Washington/email situation pushed me over the edge.  But enough with my reasons for writing and down to the nitty gritty.

The one thing I can’t figure out in this whole saga is why Tracie Washington wants or needs these emails.  Which got me to thinking–heres a woman who fancies herself an activist, who argues/argued vehemently against the demolition of the Big Four housing projects.  While I must admit to disagreeing with her about the demolitions, I can understand her reasons for concern and protest.  But I cannot understand why she wants these emails.  In fact, when asked by Norman Robinson on WDSU’s Tuesday night forecast about her reasons for demanding the emails, her only response was that they were public records.  Yes Tracie, you stated a fact.  Good for you.  But Norman asked you for a reason, and with all of the hoopla you’ve caused with this unnecessary controversy, you owe the public an explanation.  

Why do you want to post these emails?  And an even better question—-what good will this do?  What will this show to the public?  How is this in the public interest?  I’d give Ms. Washington a little more benefit of the doubt if she could simply answer these questions.  In this amateur blogger’s humble opinion, Ms. Washington is digging up old wounds from the sanitation contract dispute thats already been put behind us.  It was an ugly situation with no winners, and why Ms. Washington feels the need to pour salt on these ugly wounds is beyond me.  

Tracie—you fancy yourself an activist. That word usually connotes doing something positive in the community.  Please explain to us what good will result from posting the emails of the four white council members.  From my p.o.v., youre only making these worse.  Youre not being an activist, but a detractivist.  You are detracting from this city’s recovery and pouring gasoline on the racial flames that we’ve had to deal with all too often in this city.  You’re a well-spoken and dedicated woman Ms. Washington–I implore you to use your dedication for good.  Be an activist, not a detractivist.