forgotston.com

OVERNIGHT on Saturday, a REBUILT levee South of New Orleans being constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sunk by over SIX FEET. See story here.

It seems that our public officials and the U.S.A.C.O.E. have learned nothing from the loss of over 1,500 souls and hundreds of thousands of houses, businesses and billions of dollars in personal property.

The Corps appears to be using the “trial and error” method of design. Is it simply that the U.S.A.C.O.E. doesn’t possess the knowledge and ability to design the necessary flood protection for South LA? Are the constructors building the levees incapable of building according to the U.S.A.C.O.E. designs?

Engineering is supposed to be a science. Can’t engineers determine whether a structure will stand before it is built? Don’t they do that with all forms of structures from high-rise office buildings to offshore oil rigs?

Are politics being put ahead of science in the building and rebuilding of South LA’s flood protection? Are the promises of our politicians from the President on down responsible for the false sense of security being given our citizens?

Have our public officials been honest with the citizens of LA? Isn’t it better for us to know the truth rather than suffer more loss of life and property? If our safety cannot be guaranteed, simply tell us and stop covering the butts of our elected officials.

Enough of the political rhetoric and false hope. We need answers, we need the truth and we need it NOW. Lives and property are literally at stake.

C.B.

Uncategorized CB 8:00 am

Somehow in the last few days erroneous information regarding the state’s budget has once again been circulating. This is not the first time. I’ve been circulating information to the media and others for years about this matter. As the saying goes: “I can explain it to you, but I can’t understand it for you.”

In a story in Monday’s Monroe paper about the lege activities is written:

Spending bills: The House approved more than $26 billion in spending bills for Senate consideration. Most of that money is in federal funds, as the state’s income from general fund taxes paid to the state is about $7 billion.

Assuming that “most” still means a majority, then the statement is simply wrong.

Before the latest revenue estimates, approximately $8 BILLION of the $21 BILLION in the State’s Operating Budget were Federal Funds. See budget here: http://www.state.la.us/OPB/pub/FY07/SupportingDocument/OutlookSection.pdf

The “State General Fund” is only one account in the State Treasury for the deposit of STATE revenues. It is the account into which money not specifically designated for expenditure goes. Saying that most of the state budget is Federal Funds is simply misleading.

Please give us the facts.

C.B.

Uncategorized CB 7:55 am

“Do not allow the few to speak for the many.”

Louisiana Federation of Teachers President STEVE MONAGHAN, speaking in favor of a bill to allow unionizing of public employees in state, parish and local governments and school boards. Times Picayune, May 26, 2006

Isn’t that precisely what unions and union bosses do?

Uncategorized CB 2:09 pm