New Orleans recorded at least 17 murders in the first 26 days of January. That does not include “justifiable homicides” and other violent deaths. Nor do these numbers include bodies yet unfound or shooting victims still on their deathbeds.

While New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and NOPD Chief Warren Riley were holding a press conference on Friday, another body was found in a car burned beyond recognition. Friday night another dead body with two bullet wounds was found in Mid-City.

“So far so good,” Nagin said at the midday press conference. Times Picayune January 27, 2007

Just more platitudes and false hope from the mayor and chief.

Homicide is beginning to be as common in New Orleans as is running red lights (those that are working). Perhaps the NOPD will start classifying them as natural causes for those who live in New Orleans. Maybe only the violent deaths of non-residents and tourists should be classified as murders. That will reduce the statistics that the mayor and chief seem to be scaring everyone. No, Mr. Mayor and Chief Riley, what’s scaring everyone is the violence.

“So far so good.” Yeah, right!

C.B.