forgotston.com

In a story in Thursday’s Baton Rouge newspaper we find the following statement:

Louisiana Recovery Authority Executive Director Andy Kopplin reminded the legislators that Congress did not fund the “Road Home” program until 10 months after Katrina hit on Aug. 29, 2005.

Thursday morning, U.S. Senator David Vitter, appeared on the Moon Griffon statewide radio show. When asked about Kopplin’s statement, Vitter refuted Kopplin’s contention that Congress was at fault and put the blame right back on the Blanco Administration.

I have been informed that President Bush signed an appropriation for the Blanco Road Home Program on December 30, 2005. If that is correct, and I have no reason to believe that it isn’t, Kopplin is at best guilty of obfuscating the truth.

If Kopplin spent less time rationalizing the irrational and more time getting Governor Blanco’s Road Home Program up and running, perhaps the billions of dollars that Congress HAS appropriated would not be sitting in the U.S. Treasury and would be helping over a hundred thousand citizens, literally, rebuild their lives. Currently, the largest portion of the money spent on Governor Blanco’s program has gone to company in Virginia.

We want action! No more excuses!

C.B.

Uncategorized CB 8:00 am

As of this writing, 15 murders have been reported in New Orleans in the first 21 days of the year. At that rate the city is on its way to over 350 murders in 2007. There were 3 more shootings over the weekend, but as far as we know all three victims remain alive.

As bad as the violent crime statistics are, its worse than you think.

Violent deaths classified

Many of you have inquired as to the difference between murders and homicides.

According to the story in Sunday’s Baton Rouge paper, the authorities in East Baton Rouge Parish report all homicides in the city.

The authorities in New Orleans distinguish between murders and “justifiable homicides.”

If a killing is classified as a “justifiable homicide” the public is not made aware of these violent deaths. What’s “justifiable” may be just a matter of opinion or hold on to your seat — politics. The determination could depend on the competence of the defense attorney the hired by the killer.

If Baton Rouge and other cities are reporting all the violent deaths (justifiable homicides, murders and accidents resulting from criminal actions) and New Orleans they are not, it obfuscates the amount of violent crime in New Orleans.

East Baton Rouge Parish which arguably has twice the population (435,000 in July) of New Orleans recorded 83 homicides in 2006. In the same period New Orleans reported 162 murders and 176 justifiable homicides and murders combined. More than
twice the number of East Baton Rouge with half the population.

Suggestion

The media in New Orleans is either a witting or unwitting accomplice to downplaying the violent deaths statistics. Until a couple of days ago, when the information was given to me, I never heard the figure of 176 homicides in New Orleans for the year 2006.

Why not report all of them. It’s a matter of public safety.

By contrast every American who dies in Iraq is prompting and loudly reported. Why not the Americans in New Orleans.

I’m not suggesting that the media unnecessarily frighten (more than they already are) the residents of New Orleans. I am suggesting that the media in stop giving the residents a false sense of security which may result in more lives lost.

Reporting all the violent deaths may be the only way to maintain the pressure which NOPD Superintendent Warren Riley requested on himself and others responsible for the safety of the residents of New Orleans.

C.B.

Uncategorized CB 8:00 am

If I hadn’t heard this with my own ears, I wouldn’t have believed it.

Thursday morning, NOPD Superintendent Warren Riley was on a radio show in New Orleans. The topic was: Whether the Saints would win the NFC Championship. Just kidding! It was about the crime wave in the city.

When asked what the citizens of New Orleans could do to help solve the crime problem, one of the solutions offered by Riley was to “keep pressure on the leaders.” He then went on to include himself and said to keep the pressure on him.

Say what!

There have been 12 murders in New Orleans in the first 17 days of the year. Other forms of violent crime are out of control. Citizens of New Orleans are afraid to go out of their homes at night. Recently, thousands of angry citizens marched on City Hall, literally got in the chief’s face and called for his resignation.

Apparently, that failed to sufficiently motivate Riley. You have to admit, he’s pretty cool under fire.

As far as the unnamed (by Riley) “leaders”; if they were leaders they wouldn’t need pressure. Leaders lead and solve problems. The people behind them are following, not pushing.

I strongly recommend that Chief Riley get off the talk show circuit until the people of New Orleans once again feel safe in their own homes. His tough talk isn’t getting the job done. Community policing is about walking the beat. I suggest that Chief Riley stop talking the talk if isn’t going to walk the walk.

C.B.

Uncategorized CB 8:00 am