Please poke my eyes out instead
I would rather walk around like a victim from the “Jeepers Creepers” movies than hear more one word out of the mouth of America’s Best Mayor, C. Ray Nagin. I am not really the kind of guy who walks around reminding everyone of his or her mistakes, but yeah I told you so. I have tried to keep the ChocoKing off the metroblogging pages but the guy just keeps making a complete fool of everyone living here.
I am somewhat of a strange mix. Socially, me you and everyone else should generally be able to live our lives the way we choose. If that means you wanna marry a man, a dog, a bird or whatever, as long as the other participant is not being forced, then marry away. Wanna smoke weed 24/7 and eat Jamocha Almond ice cream all day, weigh 500 pounds and be featured on Oprah, then again, knock yourself out. But when it comes to what the government does with my money, I’m a tightass. You better be able to tell me where every penny of my tax dollars goes and if I think it’s a waste, then I’m gonna bitch about it.
Money is tight for all of us. Including the city government’s checking account. Generally when money is tight, then you and I would say -”Let’s spend as little as possible and still get the best bang for our buck”. Well that’s what you and I would do. But what does the city government decide to do instead? Well city government would rather line the pockets of politically connected companies instead of being financially prudent on how they spend our money. (If you don’t get that you and I fund any city’s government than you need to find a civics textbook).
This city has a population of about 190,000 right now. The LRA announcement came out yesterday. So we finally have a solid idea of how many people live here right now. The city has about 100,000 homes/apartments in operation right now. If you live in Orleans Parish, you pay the Sewage and Water board 12 bucks a month for trash pick-up. That’s not per person, it’s per household. With those numbers, the cost of trash pickup to citizens should max out around 15 million a year.
So when the contract was awarded and the details came out, what do you think the cost per year of the city’s new contract for trash pickup came to? Come on, just throw a couple numbers out there… No taker’s huh? Okay the city accepted a 25 MILLION DOLLAR bid for trash collection. Was this the lowest bid? Nope. Did this bid offer services that Homer Simpson offered when he became Springfield’s trash man? Nope, not one mention of coming into your house and taking the trash out for you. No mention of the trash man picking up those nasty dirty diapers or spiffy well-dressed trash collectors either. What was mentioned? Well that 25 million will be split between two companies that had contracts with the city in the past. No mention in the contract though that these same 2 companies were unable to do the freaking job so their contracts were broken. It was mentioned that it would be “automated” trash pickup. That’s a great system, especially in a city where no one parks on the street. Oh wait, everyone parks on the street here. Hmmm, okay well the system still works great as long as the streets are straight and even. Do I even need to tell you that New Orleans streets are anything but straight and even?
I just don’t get it. I am beginning to think that those of us who actually care are in the minority. Is there anyone else who gives a shit that this guy is a complete and utter disaster? Folks we are the ones who are paying for his incompetence. Screaming about corruption does not do any good unless EVERYONE pays attention. It’s your money that he’s wasting and sharing with people who supported his re-election. I’m tired of seeing and hearing it too but until that creature swoops down and sucks the eyeballs out of my head, I don’t see how we have any other choice than to keep the heat on this guy.
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I think your putting all of the frustration onto Nagin. Believe me, he started off well when he first got elected. His tough stand on corruption with the tickets and brake tags was enough to draw heat from the underworld. Once that happened, he started recieving death threats, remember??? Have you heard of a corruption investigation since then?
Not one single mayor in New Orleans will ever get rid of the corruption there. Its in our history, like red beans and rice. Look at Edwin Edwards to the past 4 state insurance commissioners, to Marc Morial, to Dutch Morial, etc… Its bigger than Nagin, way Bigger!!
And the corruption doesn’t just effect our local/state government. Its also in business, BIG BUSINESS!! The best you can hope for is “things as usual” so a revolution can take place when all the people get fed the f#$k up and get rid of the system, not just the politics, in place. Why does LA have the 8 largest government in the US when we only account for 5 million (out of 290 mil) people?
If the corruption is so bad, then let the federal government take over New Orleans lock, stock and barrel. Declare marshall law and get it over with. ;-)
“Not one single mayor in New Orleans will ever get rid of the corruption there. Its in our history, like red beans and rice.”
…And as long as people in this city think that way, you’re absolutely right.
“Declare marshall law and get it over with.”
“Marshall” should be spelled “martial”.
I was kinda aghast at this automated trash pickup thing myself. It’s a great idea for, oh, most all the places that flooded and remain mostly abandoned — Lakeview, much of Mid-City, New Orleans East, etc. But for The Quarter, nearly all of Uptown, the CBD, Algiers — not so much.
Imagine — how often will this truck actually be able to stop and use its automatic arms to pick up this brand-spanking-new trash container on the sidewalk? Only if its automatic arms can automatically pick up and move the 1992 Honda that’s parked between the brand-spanking-new trash container and the aforementioned automatic arms. The alternative is for everyone to wheel their (free!) brand-spanking-new trash container INTO THE STREET, thereby blocking anyone from driving by — or (more likely) seeing brand-spanking-new trash containers turned into large bowling pins, spreading their refuse up and down the street after being knocked over by accident or for sport. Then again, this is how things normally look anyway — so it seems to me we’re spending $25 million to remain more or less status quo.
I’m pretty happy with things as they are, actually. At least in our neighborhood, the truck shows up on its scheduled day and our household trash is hauled off pretty cleanly. It’s only one day a week, but it’s at least consistent.
Oh the federal gubment, - there’s no corruption on the federal level. (yeah, right).
And to clarify, if your putting your eggs in one basket and expect a change - then you don’t have a grasp on reality. Not ONE MAYOR will get rid of corruption! Period! It will take, not only one man, one family, one neighborhood, but a whole community to establish change for our city and get rid of the “good old boys” network! We are the people! Become a hero and inspire others to do the same.
“Lets not ask what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” - JFK
I got an idea, stop making so much trash, or continue to make the trash and flush 30 to 40 percent into the toilet. It will go out into the sewer line cracks all over the city and clog them up like FIX-A-FLAT. Problem solved.
The auto dump thing works pretty well in Kenner. I’ve seen the trucks do it out there. Of course, like others have stated, trying to do this in an urban area will be a joy to watch. Every house in this city is planted a booger fling from the one next to it. Cars have nowhere to park as it is. Now you have to make sure you get a spot before the Mega cans are sporatically placed across every curb like a Yugoslavian mine field.
How much do the cans cost the city? I,m sure the crackheads will figure out a way to sell them for something. Keep your cans close to you, because trying to get another one after yours dissappears will be worse than the DMV on “Mexican Tuesday”.
we need less bitching and more action. this whole damn system does need to be overthrown. who’s with me?