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2006-02-11 Home Front: Politix

New Orleans - Two Sheriffs in every pot!

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Posted by PFC Pyle 2006-02-11 16:10|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 This article and the one on the assessors show how LA is blowing the opportunity to reform NO politics and, at the very least, save the taxpayers some money.

As usual, anything that might even hint at reforming the bloated, corrupt New Orleans governmental system is met with the standard charges of racism since nearly everyone involved in it is black. The attitude generally being that the white guys stole everything during all the years when they were in charge, now its our turn to be at the trough.

Two sheriffs, seven assessors, multiple police units (NO sheriff, NO city, levee board, state, bridge, etc.); levee board managing properties not pertaining to the levees (airport, rental property, a riverboat for crying out loud); a totally frelled school system (janitors making 70+K a year, incompetent teachers, violent schools and low, really low grades) and an anti-business attitude by the state have made this one of the periennial bottom dwellers in the ranking of states. LA is generally dead last in everything good and number one in everything bad.

The paper is full of letters from people demanding that LA sue the Corps of Engineers since they built the flawed levees but so far not one of the overpaid layabouts on the NO Levee Board has been fired for their failure to inspect and maintain the levees (they generally took a short tour and then went to an expensive lunch on the taxpayers' dime).

The Feds would be wise to insist that any monies given to LA be tied to major overhauls in the system and demand that non-LA auditors be used to ensure the money doesn't end up in someones pocket. Governor Blanco (out of her league in everyway imaginable) wanted to have a hadn-picked board detemine where the money went. The legislature is up in arms over this since they wouldn't get a say (or a taste) in the spending priorties.

I think the President is right to insist LA come up with a plan before any money is spent. Unfortunately, I don't think the Congress or the President can withstand the constant drumbeat of negative publicity that's tied to Katrina's aftermath.

I've lived here now for 21 years and it is unbelievable what these folks allow the politicians to get away with. If it wasn't for NJ, I would say it's the most corrupt state in the US.

Katrina was terrible but the failure to take advantage of the moment to fix some systematic flaws is a true calamity.

davemac

Posted by davemac 2006-02-11 17:37|| 2006-02-11 17:37|| Front Page Top

#2 Davemac, I've only visited NO, but loved everything about your beautiful city while there. My heart breaks for all that locals are having to endure and deal with.
I see a great opportunity to rebuild this city above sea level. I only hope it doesn't take too much longer to get started, but I don't know the answers. It would be nice to see the corrupt government types get sacked. To know this is a city in the United States, I'm just so very sorry.

Posted by Jan 2006-02-11 17:57|| 2006-02-11 17:57|| Front Page Top

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