October 20th could be the day of reckoning this state has needed for ten years. It could also turn out to be the day the reformers decide to leave. It all comes down from where I sit to two different camps. Camp # 1 wants change, new direction, new leadership and is willing to take a chance on new blood on the assumption that some will be good, some not so good. The other camp wants nothing to change. They like the status quo.

I’m not going to go through a list of people and tell you whom I am voting for this Saturday. Not worth the time. But I will not be voting for ANYONE who has held a public office before. I will not do it. When I tell people this, they look at me like I am crazy for taking a chance on someone who has decided to give some of their time to public service.

Where did the idea come from that only re-tread politicians can run government? Didn’t we all take civics at one time? If you’re over 30 you did. What makes you, or me, or JoeShit the Ragman incapable of sitting at a desk, talking with people and coming up with an idea on how to improve something? Since when did only those “in the loop” know how to get something done? Judging by the current state of affairs from a local state and federal standpoint, all of them are completely useless.

So just why is it that every “major” media endorsement machine in this city continues to “promote” the old guard? Could someone tell me what the Lady in Red has ever done other than cut a ribbon and take credit for crap that she has nothing to do with? Can someone explain to me why we would want a Governor who promotes teaching “creationism” in schools? And just what has that Kat done for the recovery? Hmmmm, Looks like jack squat to me but I’m just a law abiding tax paying citizen, what do I know?

The people in power want the status quo. And that includes the media. Look at their “endorsements”. Jim Donelan. You’ve got to be kidding. Bob Odom? Yeah, 21 federal indictments against him but he’s endorsed by the status quo machine. I don’t need to point out what media outlets these are. It’s not like we have 10 daily papers and 5 weekly.

All I can say is that I’m voting for all fresh blood. May a fraud or a crook burn me? Yeah, could happen. But it cannot get any worse. So I’m taking my shot. Take yours too.

Reasons to vote for Jackie:

1. Her alleged record of success.

2. Her famous, magnificent offspring.

3. Her endorsement by the Log Cabin Republicans (who knew they had a logo?)

Reasons not to vote for Jackie:

1. Her inability to whiten her teeth in Photoshop convincingly. Yo, seriously.

2. Her problematic use of apostrophes. I mean, hello? Spellcheck?

First of all, everyone should read this story. The T-P isn’t a great paper with the bad grammar, spelling errors, and lack of aggressive reporting. But this story is really all around great. gotta give’em credit on this one.

Now let’s see if I understand what their talking about. Under a thinly veiled attempt to make it look like they’re doing it for the good of the entire 6th district, a couple of the wealthiest people in New Orleans don’t want to pay property tax. Nice. So to do this, they’re challenging the assessment method. They seem to be claiming that the city’s one assessor isn’t following the same method as the other assessors, which by my understanding is why she was put in place: to reform. So right there is a problem. All the other city assessors have no credibility at this point so it doesn’t matter if they agree or not. Moving on…

They say Marshall isn’t being fair in her assessments of Audubon Place, but that’s a little abstract. See, the street is guarded so no one can get in – not even the assessors. And the sales records are all sealed so no one knows what the last sale price was. Then there’s the idea that you live in a very exclusive area – only 27 houses owned by 25 people where at least one of those houses is owned by a trust set up by John Georges for his sons (guess who I’m not voting for). So to say the assessment isn’t fair is kind of an odd complaint. Seems to me a big ol’ bucket of “FUCK YOU” would even qualify as fair. Fact is, these people have gone out of their way to avoid fair. They don’t want to be treated fairly…they want special treatment. If they didn’t then they could gather their documentation and challenge the assessment like everyone else who didn’t like it.

Those are probably some of the most expensive houses in Orleans Parish but this law suit really makes it look like a trailer park in my eyes. It’s hard to feel sorry for someone who’s property tax is twice my annual income. And if they do take it to court, then all their dirty laundry is going to be hanging out on that nice ornate fence there to keep the peasants out. I suspect (and hope) the outcome of this case is that the property is assessed higher due to better information being available. But personally, I think they’re bluffing and are just trying to get Marshall to back down.

Stand Strong!! Call their bluff!! Then at least we’ll know what the properties on that street are really worth.

For the second time since Saturday night, there was a murder in our neighborhood again last night. I say “our neighborhood” because it took place in the Irish Channel — though not within eyesight of our house. But y’know.

New Orleans is a city where Thug and Joe Average often live literally next door to one another, so no neighborhood is immune. It’s pretty easy to walk down most streets and point out who lives where, just by looking at the cars and observing who’s hanging out at which place. The rules are pretty simple too — don’t hang with the drug crowd and you pretty much stay out of trouble. We can sit on our front stoop and watch folks amble by and it’s usually pretty easy to point out those who are involved, since they might as well have little Sims-type identifiers floating above their heads. Just watch where they’re going and living and who they’re hanging with.

…but it gets old, y’know?

The Saints are kicking off their annual Second Harvest Food Drive tonight at the Winn Dixie across from their training complex on Airline Drive from 5-7. You can donate canned goods, meet Saints players, listen to a jazz band and meet some Saintsations. This could be a great chance to meet your favorite player! (I’m not trying to turn this site into a Saints blog but the Saints website isn’t too great at highlighting events like these for the community).

You can read more about it here at neworleanssaints.com.

What a great game last night! Here is a picture from neworleanssaints.com of DT Hollis Thomas dropping Hasselbeck for a first quarter sack.

The Recovery Corps’ Household Establishment Fund (HEF) program offers residents who were impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita currently living in Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson or Orleans parish one-time assistance for rental deposits and payments, utility deposits and the purchase of furniture or appliances such as a bed, stove, washer, dryer and/or refrigerator.

Beginning October 15, 2007, hurricane-impacted residents can call 1-800-333-3104 to determine eligibility and schedule an appointment.

Check out this website for more info: http://www.recoverycorps.org

A friend forwarded me an email of the first Quarterly Report from Court Watch (full email after the jump since it doesn’t appear to be on their website yet). This is the most promising thing I’ve heard in a while. Seems they are training citizen volunteers to sit in on court proceedings and follow them end to end. They’ve just gotten started (June 2007) so they’re a little green but the idea is genius. This is exactly what needed to be done and I’m a little ashamed I wasn’t smart enough to think of it. This is going to tell a story that I’m not sure anyone really sees. I hope they can maintain their objectivity and continue to put out good information as this will allow people to decide for themselves what in the system is broken and fix it with their vote where possible.

A big thank you to the organization and its volunteers. If anyone out there has time to give, this would be, if nothing else, a very interesting project to be involved with.
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Here’s an innovative way to get to know your neighbors. Just enter in your zip code and you’ll get a Google map with an overlay of registered sex offenders in your area. Sort of like a vigilante ‘to do’ list. I’m just sayin’.

And in a completely unrelated story, well, somewhat unrelated story. This report came out sometime last week I think. Which gives a detailed report of Federal Prosecutions of Corrupt Public Officials. My favorite are all the tables that start on page 44 of the report. 1,150 people charged 1030 people convicted and 439 awaiting trial. And don’t forget to check out the three Louisiana jurisdictions on page 48 and 49.

Highlights for this post: There’s a rapist living around the corner and Louisiana is, by far, the most corrupt state in the union.

It’s almost like there’s no reason at all to live here.

Despite all the justified pissing and moaning about things that go on at City Hall, I’ve never had a bad experience there — at least not once I’m inside the building. TBK and I had to go over there this morning to begin the process of getting a conditional use permit so the restaurant can sell beer and wine. Once inside the building, things were pleasant. Thanks to Carla in Stacy Head’s office for giving us some good advice.

This is the second business I’ve started in this city and I’ve always found the folks at the permitting, city planning, licensing and other offices to be courteous and helpful. This includes the couple of times I’ve had to deal with my assessor’s office (Betty Jefferson) and today’s experience was no exception. I find some of the rules a little silly and redundant — but so do the folks who help me navigate things, so we get a good laugh out of it. I think it’s all in the attitude. Hell, we even voted early this morning, since we had to kill some time before the planning office opened. We walked downstairs and there was NO line, so our Oct. 20th civic duty is already accomplished.

Things are, however, different outside City Hall….
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