I Wanna Riot!!
I�ve been in a funk all weekend � just a general state of pissed off. That said, something�s been on my mind and I�ve written several fiery posts that could possibly land me in jail and though there�s really about a 50/50 chance of that most days anyway, I�ve decided not to post any of them. Rather, I�ve decided to blather on mindlessly for a minute and then make my point brief.
Here it comes�.
Ya ready?
I think, given the goings on of the last few months, that some serious consideration needs to be given to calling for the resignation of several of our state and local officials. They have yet to preset a go forward plan. They are not communicating effectively. Any of the strides the city has made have either been the result of people taking it upon themselves to rebuild their little piece of the world or assistance from the federal government. The state and local politicians are clearly in over their head and have no idea what to do to improve things. They don�t even seem to be effective liaisons on any level. How much longer should they be given? There are still roughly 450,000 people who can no longer spend the night in New Orleans. They won�t be back anytime soon and most will never be back the way things are going. That has the makin�s for a lot of angry mo�fo�s.
And a quick note to anyone holding a position in the state and local government in the last 10 years or so (who isn’t in prison): When the peasants show up at your door with torches and pitchforks you might as well invite them in for a drink because it�s too late anyway. Head�s up fucktards.
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Nothing but agreement here, and in general I think this sentiment is bubbling up all over town. As people get short-term issues resolved (fixing houses, solidifying employment, schooling, etc.) they’re now starting to look at longer-term plans (”will I be here in 2-5 years?”) and that’s precisely where the lack of any articulated rebuilding plan is killing us. We NEED this information to help us make the right decisions (and this goes double for businesses which aren’t as flexible in their planning as individuals.)
Yesterday I was looking at some of Mississippi’s recovery resources and the contrast to Louisiana’s efforts is striking:
Mississippi Renewal Forum
Governor’s Commission
Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund
Is there anything at this level going on in Louisiana?
Wow! RCS, that’s a great find and I’m not aware of anything even close to this type of thing being available to the people of LA. There is information on http://www.cityofno.com but it is short sighted and not so useful beyond giving people the most minimal information of returning. One striking thing I keep seeing is that, the Mayor’s office especially, seems to be striving to put the rebuild responsibility on the people of the city. It’s a statement repeated by his office. In my opinion, the people in town are rebuilding in a phenominal way. I don’t think the office understands that there is a place for them in this rebuild - almost like their pleas for people to come back and rebuild their own shit is the city’s long-term plan. There’s no vision on the part of the Mayor’s office.
CNN reported this morning that the search for the dead has been called off due to a lack of money. I remember when the same thing happened after 911 - wait, no it didn’t happen at all after 911. Fuck! How could this happen?!? The city doesn’t even have the foresite to ensure it can gather the bodies of the dead? I suppose this, too, will be left to the people he’s begging to return to the city.
“C’mon kids, the city has dropped the ball so we need to go to New Orleans and drag Gramma’s bloated corps out of the 9th ward….” I don’t mean to be insensitive, but what is the expectation from the city?
Who is it, in Mayor Nagin’s mind, that is going to come into the city and fix things for him?
Y’all might not like to hear this but can I just mention the fact that the City is broke. A local government is the extension of the local community and right now that community is either struggling or no longer here. The few revenues that the city can get from the businesses in Uptown is nothing compared to what was being generated pre-K.
To compare the CITY of New Orleans’s plight to the STATE of Mississippi’s is not really fair. Only a relatively small piece of the latter was wiped out, while the City….well, we all know that story.
Yes, a plan would provide a great amount of comfort, but when you’re starting from scratch its tough to think about tommorrow.
Fair enough, Matzerath. Starting from scratch is tough and it’s hard to plan and I don’t have any wonderful ideas on what to do either. But my point is: these cats don’t seem capable of working it out so let’s get someone in here that can work it out. Remember how things didn’t get done and the that General Dude showed up and took charge - then things started happening? It’s the same thing. Ray was fine when his primary duty was to seduce hollywood into filming in New Orleans and improving the technology infrastructure of the city, but he doesn’t have the toolset or the political clout to get things done in the current environment. And Blanc-look was fine when all she had to do was fine when all she had to do was redecorate the govenor’s mansion and pass out BJs in cocktail party coat check rooms, but now she needs to show some leadership, roust her peers to action and control the situation - she simply can’t do that.
The city is broke, I agree, but it is the responsibility of those two (and others) to aquire the necessary funds to keep things moving. The city doesn’t have any more money to remove the dead from their attics but Blanc-look earmarked $40 million dollars in relief money for pet projects? One of which is a fucking cargo airport on the North Shore?!? If the mayor is counting on businesses to reopen and people to return so he can collect tax revenue to help rebuild the city then he’s constructed a “chicken and the egg” scenario which shows a complete lack of planning. It will never work. So to confuse the analogy; now he’s standing in the corner waiting for the paint on the floor to dry so he can get out.
President George W. Bush should do the honorable thing and resign fortwith.
Laurie
Hmmm…been waiting and waiting to see someone say something about Mr. Mayor’s reference to the over-the-counter preparation he believes is required to “clear the way” for Federal assistance. Is it possible… is it probable that everyone in the state has been finally united…by chagrin?
To compare the CITY of New Orleans’s plight to the STATE of Mississippi’s is not really fair. Only a relatively small piece of the latter was wiped out, while the City….well, we all know that story.
The situations at the STATE level are entirely comparable. Large portions of the Mississippi coast were obliterated and it is there that most of their tourism revenue (including casinos) is generated (all of those casinos are offline at the moment, I believe.) Haley Barbour’s administration appears to be working in a much more focused fashion at this point than Blanco’s. I’m guessing that MS has a lot more in their rainy-day fund than we do, too. Guess all that profligate spending by the LA Legislature is coming home to roost. *
It hardly bears repeating, but New Orleans is but one of many communities in LA that were severely damaged by storms this year - look at Plaquemine, St. Bernard and Cameron Parish. Therefore the response at the state level is CRUCIAL.
* disclaimer: this is not a veiled slap at Democrats. I think Barbour’s an ass but he appears to be executing well on this particular issue.
That brings up an interesting point RCS; where is Louisiana’s rainy day fund. Hell, for that matter, where is the city’s rainy day fund. I heard somewhere (don’t know for sure if its true) that Louisiana has about the same state budget as Texas. That’s weird. Also, growing up in Cincinnati, where there is nothing and no one of any importance, the roads and schools (just to name a few) were significantly better. There are businesses and such and its a very middle class place. They have no Mardi Gras, Jazzfest, or tourist attractions of any kind. As such, they have no income from tourism. Ever since I moved down here I can not figure how with all the extra income New Orleans has compared to other cities of about the same size (which Cincinnati is); why things aren’t better. Where is that money going? why was there not enoug money in the city coffers to make the levees the way they needed to be. Why is there no money to collect the dead and help out without pan-handling the feds? Where The Fuck Is All That Money From 300 Years of Mardi Gras Tourism?
It took you until December to realize that your local (city and state) politicians are idiots? It was apparent to the rest of the country right after Katrina hit…
And, Laurie, why attack Bush? The locals had first and primary responsibility for failing to respond to the situation there. Bush can be blamed for a lot, but not Katrina!
Your President Bush can’t be blamed for Katrina, no, unless you connect a natural disaster to global warming and his walkout on Kyoto. But I think you can blame him (at least as the puppet for this neo-con administration we’re saddled with) for his and FEMA’s lack of efficient, life-saving response.
Oh, really, I just think the government either can’t or won’t be available to the public, either in New Orleans or anywhere else, in times of natural disaster. It just kind of is every person for himself, isn’t it?
FEMA’s problem is having been made part of Homeland Security, although I do recall they were slack before that. Better stock up, Houston, Miami, San Franciso and anywhere else in USA!
If their actions prior, during and post Katrina didn’t bother you, than you can’t expect much now. People don’t change miraculously overnight.
There is no VISION, NO PLAN they are idiots. Over their heads. All they are good at is holding their hands out while asking for more checks. Reminds me of those ex-wives who while perfectly capable of working repeat every 30 days - “Where’s my check” to their ex-spouses. (And they were the ones that cheated probably!!!!)
But who is to blame you may ask yourselves? The rest of the country is wondering why you all leave those bozos in power. You can do a recall of elections and put people in with vision, wisdom, hope, courage and strength. Your leaders don’t seem to possess any of the above. But don’t lollygag any longer - get rid of them - move forward.
Or do we have to do that for you also, move there, register to vote only to be able to change things…. (Hope that last comment makes you a little angry - angry enough to want to do something about it).
I watched the entire two hours worth of the congressional
hearing straight. Nagin did a damn good job there - don’t shoot!
Then I clicked around CNN had it on. They twisted
every thing I had just watched into some sort of warped
sense of southerners ain’t worth our time.
They twisted the news bad, I do no longer trust CNN
for any thing, good bye. Won’t miss ‘ya.
Who else out there isn’t scared of federalizing all
of southern Louisiana - slavery is over. This has
got tho stop. We have to speak up!
Who pays the Army Corp of Engineers cheque?
I’m guessing it’s the federal government.
Laurie