October 29, 2005
State budget shortfall misleading

Gov. Blanco’s comment on the state’s projected revenue shortfall for the remainder of the current fiscal year was: “While this is not good news, this number is about half a billion less than we feared.”

That caused me to scratch my head. Either the governor doesn’t understand the Revenue Estimating process or she is in deep denial.

SGF only

First, the Revenue Estimating Conference (”REC”) only deals with the State General Fund (”SGF”). The SGF is one specific fund in the State Treasury that represents approximately one-third of all state spending. Specifically excluded from their jurisdiction are funds from:

1) The federal government.

(2) Self-generated collections by any entity subject to the policy and management authority established by Article VIII, Sections 5 through 7.

(3) A transfer from another state agency, board, or commission.

LA Constitution Article VII, Section 10 (J).

Other possible losses

Even the eternally optimistic Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee said that losses from fees and other self-generated revenues could be another HALF BILLION DOLLARS.

As the not so eternally optimistic former Chief Counsel to the House Appropriations Committee I could easily project a loss of another HALF BILLION in lost matching Fed Funds. That is, unless one believes that Congress is going to bail-out a spend-thrift state that continues to taut them by spending $45 Million on goat shows.

At a minimum the projected shortfall in the state spending is NOT $971 Million. It is more likely $2 BILLION and that is optimistic.

Bottom-line: All of the above discussed funds go into determining the money for expenditure by LA state government. Depending on whose “ox is being gored” determines one’s position on what is the actual shortfall.

After almost 9 weeks Post-Katrina, the citizens of LA are still being misled by the politicians.
C.B.

October 28, 2005
Life in New Orleans today - a reality check!

Many have asked and wondered about life in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. As I’ve said before, it is IMPOSSIBLE to understand the depth of the devastation without seeing it one’s self and especially without going into the areas that flooded. The devastation of property is one thing, but the impact on the psyche of the residents is even worse.
There is a column in today’s Times Picayune by a columnist that normally writes about upbeat and humorous things around the city. He interviews visiting celebrities and he has a very wonderful sense of humor. He is to say the least an eternal optimist. It is because of knowing Chris personally and reading his columns regularly that I find his observations and first hand account on life in New Orleans today, that I send you this.

I’m not trying to depress you or to ask for sympathy, it is merely to enhance the understanding of those who have an interest in New Orleans. The local and national media have done a disservice to the people of the Metro Area and of America while serving the interests of the inept and negligent politicians by not revealing what really happened (and continues to happen) to and in New Orleans and the entire metro area.

From the notes I get from those in the “world” there seems to be a feeling that things are returning to the normal abnormal that used to be New Orleans. Baghdad is “normal”; New Orleans is a “war zone” with no plans to change it.

C.B.

October 27, 2005
Real leaders provide answers

After reading today’s media accounts of Mayor Nagin’s “town hall” meeting yesterday, I am even more disturbed than ever over the lack of information available to the public. A dearth of information is one of the reasons that I questioned (and still question) the basis for his decision to use Zip Codes rather than municipal addresses to determine who could return to the city to salvage their possessions.

Yesterday’s meeting showed the mayor was no better preparation to answer questions than before. Even some “information” he gave out was immediately contradicted by others. It makes one wonder about anything the mayor says.

As I understand what the mayor told the citizens who had questions, it could be summed up as: The mayor doesn’t know much. He doesn’t have any details about what he does know. What he says he knows may be inaccurate. He doesn’t know what he doesn’t know. He doesn’t know when he will know what he doesn’t know. Nothing is the mayor’s fault.

We are into our 9th week of an information vacuum. It’s time for answers. Real leaders provide answers.
C.B.

October 24, 2005
America is wise to LA’s elected officials

Elected officials in LA seem to think that they and their actions are invisible to the rest of American. There is an editorial from today’s New Hampshire’s Union Leader. It’s time for the LA politicians to stop peeing on America’s leg and trying to convince America that it’s really raining. It hasn’t rained in South LA in 6 weeks! It’s pee!

Our elected officials need to know that the rest of America is not as dumb as they think the people of LA are.

C.B.

October 24, 2005
Nagin a no-show; no mention

The residents of Lakeview held a meeting on Saturday to get an update from our “public servants” and others about the status of Lakeview. Mayor Nagin had been invited at least a week prior to the meeting. What the residents got was a no-show mayor and double-talk and misinformation from those who did. Where was the mayor? The meeting lasted several hours.

No mention in the Times Picayune story on Sunday about the meeting about the mayor’s failure to appear.

Mayor Nagin, after telling the Lakeview residents (8,000 households) that he would not meet with them except within the boundaries of New Orleans, then proceeded to travel around the state to meet with his constituents in the shelters in Shreveport, Monroe, Alexandria, Baton Rouge, etc.

No mention in the Times Picayune about this contradiction.

Mayor Nagin wouldn’t meet with New Orleanians at the Heritage Plaza Building (just across the 17th Street Canal) in Metairie, but he did travel to meet with others, including the Reverend Jesse Jackson who brought 150 non-New Orleanians to Jefferson Parish and with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan in Dallas (the mayor’s new home).

No mention in the Times Picayune about this contradiction.

Minister Farrakhan claims that the flooding of New Orleans was a white conspiracy to “ethnically cleanse” black people from our city. Mayor Nagin’s silence has served to give credence to Farrakhan’s base-less claims. Neither Farrakhan or Nagin have explained why so many white and other races were killed in this “conspiracy.”

No mention in the Times Picayune about this contradiction.

According to the Times Picayune I am politically-incorrect for daring to questions the basis of the mayor’s seemingly conflicting positions. I am fair game as a “public figure.” The TP and its excellent lawyers understand how far they can go in trashing those who speak their minds while protecting those they favor.

No mention in the Times Picayune about this contradiction.

How far and for how long will the TP go in protecting the mayor and failing to provide the public with both sides of the story? How long will the TP stifle dissent by attacking those who dare to dissent?

C.B.

October 23, 2005
Why is dissent no longer acceptable?

“It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong.” Voltaire.

I’ve long been warned that one does not pick a fight with anyone who buys ink by the barrel and paper by the ton. I also know firsthand of what Voltaire meant.. However, here I go.

The United States was founded by dissent and particularly dissent by a minority. Unfortunately, many have forgotten that lesson and now dissent is found to be unacceptable and politically-incorrect. Dissenters are now derisively called “naysayers,” “Internet Kooks,” “boat rockers,” “curmudgeons,” “gadflies” and much, much worse, by the so-called “servants of the people” as well as the media.

Unlike little David, I don’t expect to the slay the giant, but I (not just the media) do have the First Amendment right to have my say with the giant, which has heretofore been denied me.

The Times Picayune has been less than balanced with those who dare to point out short-comings of certain of our “public servants.” Yes, there was a story in today’s paper where some individuals with less than favorable opinions of the mayor were quoted. Based, on my own personal experience, I can only imagine how the comments of dissenters have been edited.

Firsthand experience has shown me that when one dares to point out very serious shortcomings of the mayor they are met with the biases of the Times Picayune staff. In my most recent situation, my response to the reporter (who only was willing to communicate with me by email) which consisted of three short sentences were edited to make them fit some agenda. The story said that I was “blustering” when nobody had never spoken to me. How could they have known that I was crying.

Even the headline writer got into the act. The first headline on the story when it appeared on the TP’s website was: “White critic accuses Nagin of racism.” This from the paper who called me a “racist.” This from a paper who refuses to condemn the mayor’s anti-Mexican comments and refuses to even acknowledge his regular counseling with Nation of Islam leader, Louis Farrakhan.

The letters to the editor section of the Times Picayune are carefully edited (by the editorial writers apparently) to stiffle dissent. In my case, I know of several which supported me. None were ever printed. At least one letter attacking me was. Additionally, despite numerous attempts to get the editorial writers to correct a factual error in the editorial wherein they blasted me (without benefit of knowing the facts), they refused.

The New Orleans Metro Area is in desperate need of information but we need unbiased information if the area is to ever going to change for the better. Unless dissent (including politically-incorrect dissent) is once again found acceptable, how can we possibly determine the best course of action.

Finally, thanks to all who have fought and continue to fight to provide me with this right to speak my mind. I salute you! The First Amendment is what has made our country different and hopefully better than all other countries in the world.
C.B.

October 22, 2005
D.A.’s office in New Oleans

In a story in the Baton Rouge paper today is the following quote by Orleans Parish District Attorney Eddie Jordan:

“If we want to bring those people to justice, we have to have a district attorney’s office,” Jordan said by phone on a radio call-in program in New Orleans.

My recommendation is for someone in the D.A.’s office research the provisions of the LA Const. Article IV, Section 8. All Jordan has to do is “invite” the LA Attorney General in and the A.G. can prosecute all the cases. We may have to have a D.A. in Orleans, but we don’t have to have a staff or office to “bring people to justice.”
C.B.

October 21, 2005
Confession

Senator Landrieu and Mayor Nagin,

I must confess that in recent days, I hired two Hispanics to perform clean-up work from the man-made flood of our home and possession. One of these Hispanics lives in St. Rose, LA and the other lives in Slidell, LA. Yes, neither lives in New Orleans. As hard as I tried I could not find any politically-correct individuals to hire.

Had I been allowed back to my property after the flood waters receded there would have been much less destroyed. The clean-up is now monumental. Those actions made our losses 100%.

I am willing to take whatever punishment that is appropriate for my sin.

Hopefully, others will be willing to forgive me.
C.B.

October 19, 2005
Race-based decisions in New Orleans

Apparently, the only people in America who don’t understand that Mayor Nagin is making decisions affecting the future of OUR city on other than what is in the best interest of all it citizens is the Times Picayune.

The silence from the local media and the Times Picayune, in particular, about the mayor’s racial comments, decisions and associations by with known racist, Nation of Islam head Louis Farrakhan is deafening.

Instead of “shooting messengers” the Times Picayune should examine its own news policy.

C.B.

October 19, 2005
How LA differs from Banana Republics

On Saturday, I talked to man from my New Orleans neighborhood who is originally from Brazil. His mother had been a high-ranking official in a Brazilian government that some years ago had been over-thrown by a military coup.

The native of Brazil made an interesting observation. He said that while there is a lot of incompetence and corruption in South American countries at least the people down there occasionally get fed up and takeover the government. My neighbor said in LA: “We just take it.”

We all should be embarrassed by that comment. By “taking it” the level of government incompetence and corruption has risen to the point that has turned two natural disasters (Katrina and Rita) into a catastrophe of Biblical proportions.

While incompetence is hard to eradicate, corruption can be reduced significantly by simply cutting taxes and red tape that provide the basis for the incubation of political corruption.

C.B.

October 19, 2005
A simple plan for LA’s economic woes

Now that, albeit two months too late, our governor has agreed to allow state finances be a part the upcoming Special Session of the lege, here is a simple plan to jump-start the LA economy and to bring businesses, jobs and thus people back:

1. Repeal ALL business taxes and FEES with the one exception of legalized gambling if there are those who still consider gambling a business.

2. Eliminate all regulatory agencies that are not required by Federal Law.

3. Cut the state budget to fit the revenues that remain from non-business. I don’t care what the priorities are (lege slush funds, lakes, etc.), just start at the top and fund it until the revenues from the above are used up and then eliminate the rest of state government.

As the economy recovers as a result of the lack of business taxes, fees and red tape, then government can grow, but only in relationship to the growth of the private sector and not in spite of it.

If LA would just do the above Congress might be willing to assist us more. Whining to Congress to make whole a bloated budget is simply not going to happen. And it shouldn’t happen. For too long we have allowed our leges to get away fiscally-irresponsible behavior. We cannot expect the rest of the taxpayers of America to open their wallets to fund our folly.

My plan might not be perfect, but in my not-so-humble opinion it is better than any plan currently on the table.

C.B.

October 18, 2005
Does the TP have a double standard?

In today’s Times Picayune there is a story about Mexican laborers in New Orleans wherein is found these comments:

Nagin was widely quoted as asking local business people, “How do I ensure that New Orleans is not overrun by Mexican workers?”

Previously, I noted the following comment by our mayor:

Nagin called for full public disclosure of all recovery spending, holding no-bid contracts to a minimum, hiring Louisiana residents instead of importing “Mexican workers ….” Associated Press, October 6, 2005

While the Times Picayune calls me a racist (editorial October 10) for mentioning that Nagin was discriminating against the white Lakeview residents, why is the mayor’s discriminatory comments against Mexicans not mentioned? Why is the fact that such hiring discrimination is a violation of Federal and state law not mentioned? Why no mention of our mayor’s relationship with the known racist Louis Farrakhan?

In the original attack piece in the Times Picayune (October 5) about my comments, why was the original headline posted on the TP’s website “White critic accuses Nagin of racism.” Why did the Times Picayune find it necessary to post such an inflammatory and racially-charged headline?

Why did the reporter fail to include my full response? Why has the TP published letters to the editor attacking me, but refused to publish any defending me?

Is there a double standard at the TP?
C.B.

October 17, 2005
LA must demand more

In the most recent issue of Time Magazine. I am quoted because apparently, despite what nearly everyone says privately, I’m the only one willing to say certain things to media for the record.

It seems that LA has been willing to accept anyone as a leader provided that they aren’t “corrupt.” “Corrupt” as defined by the LA media is any public official who has not gone to jail. In my lengthy interview with the Time reporter, I responded that it was not good enough for the people of LA to have someone that is merely not corrupt as a leader. Not being corrupt should be the minimum, just like being able to vote only requires that one be 18 years of age. We also need competent leadership.

We, in South LA, are currently are living in conditions not unlike a Third World Country. That is simply unacceptable in the United States in 2005. Most of these conditions are simply a result of a dysfunctional government at every level. Not just the citizens of LA should be embarrassed, but all American citizens should be.

That said, the problem is not with our elected officials, it is with those of us, especially in LA, who only require our elected leaders not be convicted of crimes. While we in LA certainly deserve better, until we start requiring higher standards from our elected officials, not only will New Orleans not be rebuilt, but neither will the state of LA ever recover.

C.B.

October 15, 2005
Corps of Engineers unwilling to accept responsibility

Each day there is mounting evidence of that the negligence of man caused much of the massive flooding in New Orleans.

Yet, the one agency most responsible is still trying to blame God for the flooding. Here’s their latest pronouncement in a story in today’s Times Picayune:

Army Corps of Engineers officials say they must determine whether human error played a role in the breaches. If it did, they say, they may have to rebuild the canal walls immediately so they don’t pose an additional risk during next year’s hurricane season.

A few simple questions to the Corps should clear up their delimina:

1. Did God decide to build New Orleans below sea-level?
2. Did God design and build the Hurricane Protection System (I use that term very lightly)?

The mere fact that the Corps is still asking such basic questions all this time after the devastating flooding is a prima facie case of its ignorance.

Perhaps God can be faulted for providing weak soil on which to build the levees. But God should not be held accountable for the stupidity and negligence of man.
C.B.

October 15, 2005
Whose fault is it?

In today’s Times Picayune is found the following remarks by Commissioner of Administration Jerry Luke LeBlanc. He is commenting on the difficulty of cutting the state budget this late in the fiscal year.

LeBlanc said he doesn’t think it’s feasible to cut $1.5 billion in what’s left of the fiscal year. “I do not believe that at the end of the day . . . that in one-half of a fiscal year that you can cut this amount of money and not effectively shut down the entirety of state government.”

Let me remind Mr. LeBlanc and others that as early as September 1, I called for an emergency session (as provided in the LA Const.) of the lege to slash the budget. At that point, the state was just beginning the third month of the current fiscal year. The governor failed to call such a session and the leges failed to call themselves into session to address the obvious budget issues. As of today, there are no plans for such a fiscal session until at least January. Meanwhile the money from all the various slush funds flow freely. Yes, none of the governor’s executive orders stopped them and there is no freeze on capital projects.

The sooner our state officials begin cutting the budget, the less painful it will be. Stop with the rhetoric and start doing it! And please stop demanding that the U.S. Taxpayers pick up the tab for LA’s negligence in failing to assist itself with its budget problems.

It’s a good time to do a TRUE Zero-Based Budget.

C.B.

October 14, 2005
Mayor’s decisions are counter-productive

According to the latest AP story Mayor Nagin has once again changed one of his reactionary edicts. Nagin, earlier this week, enacted a Midnight curfew in the French Quarter. This was right after three of his NOPD/Gestapo were caught on video tape and in front of witnesses pummeling a 64-year old retired black school teacher.

According to the mayor’s “spin machine,” the curfew was necessary because of “public safety” concerns. (This is from the same man who has been traveling around the state to the various emergency shelters inviting citizens to return to the city.)

Suddenly, the public safety issues must have been resolved. Probably, the mayor decided to replace the NOPD patrols with some kinder, gentler, SEAL Teams.

As one “insider” told me recently: “For a guy who doesn’t like to make decisions, he’s very good at making all of the wrong ones!”

The bottom-line is that we are dealing with a mayor of a major city in the throws of a catastrophe whose reactionary and contradictory (inviting people into the city right before Hurricane Rita) edicts are decided, obviously, without any thought or input from others.

Regardless of whether one agrees with the curfew issue, these ill-thought-out decisions by a man with a Whim of Iron are counterproductive to the recovery of OUR city.
C.B.

October 12, 2005
Mayor Nagin must not like Metairie

Mayor Ray Nagin in response to Lakeview residents wanting to meet with him: “I am not interested in meeting in Metairie with New Orleans residents. If you want me there, find a location in New Orleans.” Times Picayune, October 2, 2005.

I wonder what the difference is between the 145 New Orleans residents at the shelter in Shreveport and the 400 New Orleans residents who live in Lakeview? Perhaps if the LakeView residents had offered to meet with him in Dallas, he might have been more receptive. Obviously, the mayor doesn’t care for Metairie.
C.B.

October 12, 2005
NOPD needs a break, counseling and reorientation

The City of New Orleans continues to send mixed signals. Citizens are asked to return and rebuild. Others are asked to help with support the returnees and the rebuilding.

What happens to citizens and volunteers is another story. Here is the latest confrontation with volunteers and the NOPD. The NOPD is obviously out of control. We now must have military from other states to protect citizens and volunteers from the NOPD and their Gestapo/bullying tactics.

I have witnessed the NOPD’s attitude firsthand as I have tried to re-enter New Orleans even when I was armed with a pass from the Superintendent of the LA State Police.

It’s time to give the NOPD furloughs. Let them come back after they have rested up and received counseling. Even after that, they need re-orientation and supervision by law enforcement agencies or military personnel from outside of New Orleans before they are allowed to patrol on their own.

It makes one wonder whether in the haste to pump up the numbers of the NOPD pre-Katrina, adequate screening was done and whether the recruits received the proper training in the first place. Military and Para-Military personnel are supposed to be trained to operate under adverse conditions, there is simply no excuse for what is going on in New Orleans.

The only thing worse than the actions of the individual members of the NOPD is the failure of Mayor Ray Nagin and Police Chief Warren Riley to address the matter.
C.B.

October 12, 2005
Nagin inconsistency is consistent

Recently, Dictator Nagin wrote to Lakeview residents who wanted to meet with him: “I am not interested in meeting in Metairie with New Orleans residents. If you want me there, find a location in New Orleans.” Times Picayune, October 2, 2005.

Yesterday, The Dictator met with Rev. Jesse Jackson and returning residents (and non-residents) of New Orleans at the Piccadilly in KENNER. Times Picayune, October 12, 2005.

It gives one pause to wonder what is the basis on which Nagin’s decisions are made.
C.B.

October 12, 2005
Kudos to Gov. Blanco

Governor Kathleen Blanco, like most of the public officials in LA, have made a lot of bad decisions in recent weeks. However, she has made some good decisions and those need to be acknowledged. Unlike Governors Treen, Roemer and Foster (interestingly, all are Repubs) Blanco has been consistent when it comes to opposition to the expansion of gambling.

Yesterday, Blanco put the kibosh on Dictator Nagin’s economically-challenged, thoughtless, shoot-from-the-lip, idea to create Las Vegas South on Canal and Poydras Streets in New Orleans.

Thank you governor. It seems that you are the only public officials in this state with the courage to stand-up to The Dictator’s dumb ideas. Why the others are afraid to be willing to say a dumb idea is a dumb idea regardless of one’s position on gambling is question that must be answered. Otherwise, it is business-as-usual in LA.

Until we start doing things differently in LA, we can hardly expect the perception of LA to change in the minds of those outside of LA. If we are to talk the talk, we must walk the walk. In this case, Gov. Blanco walked the walk. It’s refreshing in these Post-Katrina days. It’s a start.
C.B.

October 7, 2005
How far will their compassion go?

Apparently, the local and state officials believe that they can continue to spend as usual and the U.S. Taxpayers will bail them out. That’s the only explanation for the lack of special session of the lege to deal with fiscal matters before January, 2006.

We know that there is no freeze on the State Capital Outlay Budget and all its pork. The supposed “freeze” on the State Operating Budget does not include all the slush funds nor pork projects and really doesn’t amount to anything, but some words. State Treasurer John Kennedy is the only state official that I know of who has truly frozen his budget.

What has been totally missing from the little public discussion there has been of the state fiscal matters is the affect on the state and local retirement systems. There will be thousands of local and state employees taking unanticipated early retirements. The ages old problem of the Unfunded Accrued Liability (”UAL”) could bankrupt the state. (Not all bad.) Can we really expect the U.S. Taxpayers to also foot the bill for decades of fiscal irresponsibility and abuse of the retirement systems.

The people of America are very compassionate and concerned about our situation in LA. However, I don’t think their compassion extends to underwriting the on-going fiscal irresponsibility. The fact that despite this catastrophe, we are failing to help ourselves. We certainly aren’t making a very good case for others helping us.

C.B.

October 7, 2005
Job losses not just from Hurricanes

We’ve been hearing and reading and experiencing firsthand the job losses as a result the hurricanes that hit South LA. Today, we read about job losses in North LA that are solely the result of neglect by our public officials who put government ahead of the private sector. See story here.

These 98 jobs in Shreveport might have been saved had business taxes, fees and red tape been reduced long ago. When anyone in the business community suggests the need to give businesses some relief, the suggestions are met with “it will hurt the state budget too much.” Well, how much is the loss of 98 jobs going to hit the budget.

I seriously doubt that FEMA is going to pick up the tab or that the President can be (but likely will be) blamed for these losses.
C.B.

October 7, 2005
It must be nice to eat well!

Mike,

I saw this statement in today’s Advocate:

“Ever had an MRE, or a peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich that’s 2 days old from Florida? Great mercy,” Olivier said.

My answer to your question is YES.

Have you ever been hungry? These MREs were a God-send. A two-day old peanut butter and jelly sandwich is better than no sandwich.

Have you ever been three weeks without power? Ever wonder what our soldiers are eating in Iraq.

I’m happy that you are safe and not hungry, but don’t put don’t down what many others have survived on and been grateful for having. It’s a hell of a lot more than the State of Louisiana provide us.
C.B.

October 6, 2005
Why The Dictator singling out Mexicans?

Nagin called for full public disclosure of all recovery spending, holding no-bid contracts to a minimum, hiring Louisiana residents instead of importing “Mexican workers” and an end to minority set-aside contracts, which have long been a source of abuse in the city. Associated Press, October 6, 2005

Based on a cursory look at those working to clean up the city of New Orleans, I notice, blacks, whites, yellows and non-Mexican Hispanics working in New Orleans and around the state. Are the only non-resident workers Mexicans or of Mexican descent?

I thought that it was illegal under both Federal and State Law to discriminate in the “terms or conditions of employment” on the basis of a person’s race or color.

I strongly believe that any discrimination solely based on race or national origin is wrong whether practiced by whites, blacks, browns, yellows or whatever.

C.B.

October 6, 2005
Re-inventing government in LA

We are hearing a lot of poor-mouthing from local public officials to get the taxpayers of the United States (That’s where the Feds get their money.) to make the payrolls of local governments in LA. Not only is there no need of local governments without people to serve, but it’s long past time to decide exactly how much government we need in LA. To that end, below is a commentary that I wrote on December 4, 2004.

C.B.

I recently read about a small town in New England that had decided to abolish its municipal government. The town was no longer financially self-sufficient without taxing its citizens to the point of literally running them out of town. The citizens voted to dissolve the town into the county which would provide all the basic services to the citizens.

The story reminded me about a conversation that I had a year or so ago with a prominent LA mayor. The mayor reminded me about why we have cities, towns, villages and parish governments. We had an agrarian economy with poor methods of transportation and communication. As such, people tended to live in isolation in various parts of the state. As society evolved it was necessary to band together to provide for the basic necessities of a civilized society like police and fire protection, sanitary water, sewerage, etc. Thus were formed villages, towns and then cities.

Today, there are few communities in our state without adequate means of transportation and communication. Many parish governments now provide basic public services to the unincorporated areas. As a result there are over-laps and redundant services (and more taxes) including the multitude of government bureaucracies with which the public must deal.

Recently, the business community passed legislation to reduce the number of local Sales Tax collectors from hundreds to 64. Isn’t it time to consider having only 64 local governments? Then perhaps we can consider merging some parishes rather than have the citizens of our state live with less than equal services.

Mine is not a new or novel idea. The municipalities within Orleans Parish did this years ago. Lafayette and East Baton Rouge Parishes already have consolidated city-parish forms of government.

In LA we have grown comfortable with the status quo. Unfortunately, the status quo means that we are in last place in all the positive categories and first place in all the negative categories when compared with the other states. We have a stagnant population and a dismal economy neither of which will change with more government and more taxes.

It’s time to start looking at new ways to do the same old things.

C.B.

October 5, 2005
How not to rebuild LA

Neither America or LA were built by first establishing government and then populating them and then building an economy. The fact that LA pre-Katrina ranked either dead last nor next to the last in nearly every comparison among the 50 states is substantial evidence that allowing the same people to rebuild LA will not work.
Right after the winds of Hurricane Katrina died down, I had hope that there would be positive changes in LA as a result of our public officials trying not to repeat the same mistakes. Our public officials (at all levels) turned the largest natural disaster in the history of the United States into a man-made catastrophe of Biblical proportions.

Anecdotal evidence indicates that the same people are making the same mistakes which will only result in the status quo. Much of what is going on in LA and especially New Orleans is the equivalent of attempting to build a house by starting with the roof and then the walls and finally the foundation. Need I explain that such an effort is impossible. Apparently, it must be explained to our public officials.

It appears that, as it was before Katrina, that the efforts of our public officials are aimed first re-establishing a dysfunctional (local and state) government (the roof) to the same levels it was pre-Katrina. Of course, it was this same governments that failed us just like the hurricane protection levees in New Orleans failed us. The entire plan seems to consist of asking the U.S. Taxpayers to give the LA public officials $250 BILLION to rebuild a failed system starting with the roof. There are no efforts at the state level to reduce spending on unnecessary programs, employees, etc. Why should the taxpayers of America be asked to provide money to a state that refuses to help itself.

We are being threatened with the loss of public employees unless the taxpayers of America pay them for us. Yet, there is little concern for those in the private sector who have no businesses and no jobs who make up the vast majority of the people of LA. They aren’t asking the taxpayers of America to pay them a salary. They merely want government to stop being an impediment (taxes, red tape and dumb decisions like building house from the top down) to their efforts to help themselves.

Government in LA has, since the 1927 and the coming to power of Huey P. Long and the Populist form of government has served to create a large segment of our population that is dependent as opposed to being independent. Even as I write this, what is left of our independent population is being thwarted from caring for themselves which only serves to make more people dependent upon government.

Without the people (the foundation), there is no reason for government. The lack of need for government as a priority in LA is confirmed by its failure to provide before, during and after Katrina the basic purpose of government — public safety.

Until, the public officials begin focusing all their efforts on the citizens (and businesses) there will be no need for government in South LA or New Orleans now or in the future.

Build the foundation and then worry about the color of the roof.

C.B.

October 4, 2005
More refugee questions

I read stories in the media that people are in the process of fixing up their houses in some of the flooded areas of New Orleans. This raises some questions. Since the Dictator says I’m an uniformed, ignorant, peon, who needs his prayers for salvation, I need help from those who are well-informed and not in need of salvation:

1. Has a determination been made by the appropriate governmental agencies that rebuilding will be allowed in those flooded areas?

2. Has it been determined whether to BUILD (not re-build) a new Hurricane Protection System for the flooded areas? Rebuilding on top of an obviously flawed levee system would be further evidence that the U.S. Corps is stuck on stupid. Rebuilding by June 1, 2006 up the same level as the protection was pre-Katrina is totally unsatisfactory as the levees at that point were flawed.

3. Has a determination been made whether rebuilding of houses in flooded areas will be allowed before the hurricane protection is completed? Thus far, we’ve been lucky with only one day of serious rain since Katrina. How many more dry days can we expect between now and June 1?

If anyone who is educated and saved has answers to these questions, I’d appreciate a response.

C.B.

October 3, 2005
Week 6 of the information vacuum

Today marks the beginning of the SIXTH week of an “information vacuum” in Louisiana.

As best that I can determine, the only LA citizens being denied access to their homes and property are those in certain neighborhoods in New Orleans.

Each day, there are conflicting reports and rumors coming out in the media and from our public officials about what is going on the city of New Orleans where many of us are being forceably kept from entering. We hear that we will be allowed back into our neighborhoods on Wednesday, October 5. Then we hear that we can only return for three days. People are scattered all across the country. Many of us still lack even basic communications whereby we can find out what is going on. Equipment and manpower to move our remaining possesses are difficult, if not impossible to find. How can all of us locate the equipment and get it moved in 3 days.

Despite these unconfirmed rumors, there is still no information on ingress and egress routes to the now dry areas. After 6 weeks there is still no place to get accurate and specific information. The city’s website offers stale information that is often in conflict with reality.

Only law-abiding citizens are being punished. Non-law-abiding persons remain free to roam around our vacant neighborhoods with no security in sight.

C.B.

October 3, 2005
The impossible mission

Rumor (we are still in an information vacuum) has it that the Dictator of New Orleans, a.k.a. Mayor Ray Nagin, will finally allow more of the masses back into his city on Wednesday, October 5. His edict is that those homeowners and renters (almost half the population of the city) will have just THREE DAYS to find and remove all their worldly goods.

In the LakeView area of New Orleans, alone, there are over 8,000 dwellings. Try to imagine 8,000 moving vans (if there are that many in the U.S.) trying to get in and out in 3 days. Couple that with thousands and thousands of more dwellers and I predict that it’ll make the evacuation for Hurricane Ivan look like a well-oiled machine.

Of course, it’s an impossible mission. But when one is subject to the whims of a dictator, one is not allowed to question even the most ridiculous decisions. Apparently, the media is not allowed to either.

C.B.

October 3, 2005
N.O. becomes a dictatorship

“The politician plays the servant in order to become the master,” Charles DeGaulle.

Democracy has broken down in New Orleans. We are no longer refugees because of a catastrophic storm and the negligence of those we trusted to protect us, but because of the wishes of one single man.

The mayor of New Orleans has assumed dictator-like power. He refuses to meet with the citizens of New Orleans. He refuses to listen to and inform the elected representatives of those citizens. The mayor controls all access to information about the city. The mayor unnecessarily incites fear in the citizens. The mayor issues arbitrary edicts, without input from the citizens. His edicts are then unquestionably enforced by his Gestapo-like NOPD.

It’s time for OUR city be returned to a democracy where citizens can have input and get information from our public officials.

C.B.

October 3, 2005
LakeView residents’ Catch 22

When the citizens of LakeView in New Orleans tried to get information from our mayor about when they would be allowed back into the city of New Orleans here was his reaction:

Some in the audience grumbled afterward about the poor showing of public officials [at the meeting on Saturday of Lakeview residents].

Nagin e-mailed the group last week to say he wouldn’t attend the meeting, first saying that any gathering in Lakeview was unsafe. When organizers made clear that the meeting would be on the Metairie side of the 17th Street Canal, he wrote: “I am not interested in meeting in Metairie with New Orleans residents. If you want me there, find a location in New Orleans.” Times Picayune, October 2, 2005.

The mayor controls all access to OUR city. The mayor insists on meeting in New Orleans, but the people who want to meet with the mayor are not allowed to enter New Orleans by order of the mayor.

Catch 22!

C.B.

October 2, 2005
LakeView residents victims of discrimination

The story in today’s Baton Rouge paper explains some of the frustration of the residents of the largest, mostly white middle class area of the City of New Orleans. There is no other way to describe it except as BLATANT RACIAL DISCRIMINATION.

The idea of using Zip Codes from the USPS to determine who gets into a city would be laughable if it wasn’t so sad. In some Zip Codes that are open in the City of New Orleans there is still standing water, downed power lines, blocked access roads. In my neighborhood which is in a NON-OPEN Zip Code, there is no standing water and hasn’t been for weeks. There are no downed power lines because all the utilities are underground. There is running water and sewerage, but no electricity. So why are we homeowners and business owners being forceably kept out by the NOPD? Why is the NOPD so surly and arrogant about keeping us out?

We keep hearing our public officials tell us that they want us back. They say they want businesses to open. They say they want things to get back to normal as quickly as possible. Obviously, they aren’t talking about a large segment of the white population of New Orleans that make up an ever decreasing minority of the city’s citizens. Other than Senator Ed Murray, who is black, none of the elected officials who claim they want people to return even bothered to show up for a meeting of their constituents.

Perhaps, we should just hang a sign on I-10 coming into New Orleans — WELCOME HOME — WHITES NOT WANTED.

C.B.

October 1, 2005
Sad New Orleans irony

I’ve seen a lot of media reports about how despite the city of New Orleans being re-opened on Friday to some of the citizens there have been only a trickle back in.

Perhaps I can offer some insight into why:

First, over 60% of the geographical area the city, including long dry parts, are still closed to citizens and small business people.

Second, a lot of independent people, who have never depended on government live in the dry, but still closed areas.

Third, many of those areas where people are allowed to return have no transportation and lack the means to get anything done if they would return.

It’s rather sad that those who would like to return and take care of themselves aren’t being allowed to, while those being allowed to return can neither get back nor fend for themselves when they do.

C.B.