Today’s News of Note from New Orleans
At today’s New Orleans City Council meeting, New Orleanians have once again been treated to a new installment of politics as usual. Action by inaction and elaborate backtracking, as always, were the highlights of the day.
First, Greg Meffert, Orleans Parish’s Chief Technology Officer, accomplished the most remarkable turnaround by agreeing that only individual property owners would determine the fate of the city’s most devastated structures. This was quite a departure from the city administration’s previous stance that it was the city’s right, and its right alone, without interference or owner notification, to demolish any structure tagged with an official orange sticker. I guess the city attorneys found some legal issues or, rather, illegal ones, that intimidated them to do an about-face. In ice skating terms, Meffert performed a difficult Triple Axle, with a remarkable score of 9.8, plus or minus a few points. Keep them coming, as practice makes perfect.
Next, guess who came to lunch on the taxpayer’s dime? Governor Blanco, direct from her photo opportunity, as the final side of the “Twin Spans” to Slidell was opened to vehicular traffic. It is nice to take credit for someone else’s hard work, isn’t it? Well, Ms. Blanco offered, so kindly, to mediate a meeting between the New Orleans City Council and Mayor Nagin, with the hopes of brokering a deal on FEMA trailer placements in the city. Images of the Mad Hatter moderating a dispute between Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum instantly come to mind. Perhaps the White Rabbit will be available to remind them, feverishly, that, “It’s getting late!” while the Cheshire Cat grins just like the many happy Republicans who are snickering at ineffective Democratic leadership. How unfortunate.
Good news did come out of the governor’s visit, however. Next week, she will be traveling with a delegation to the Netherlands and studying their phenomenal levee system. I understand that the governor’s pre-printed thank you cards had to be destroyed, as they listed Peter Pan as the Netherlands’ leader. I certainly hope Blanco was not allowed to arrange the group’s transportation, as, if she was, they might, instead, be viewing the bumper cars at the Neverland Ranch, in Santa Barbara, California.
On another note, community leaders are gearing up for the release of the Bring Back New Orleans Commission’s plan for recovery. Though skeptical, members of a panel composed of community and religious leaders are welcoming this plan as a starting point. I guess even a handout of moldy bread could be considered a blessing to someone who is starving. After long periods of intense suffering, Cyanide starts looking good, too. Grab some murky water and get ready to swallow a difficult pill.
First, Greg Meffert, Orleans Parish’s Chief Technology Officer, accomplished the most remarkable turnaround by agreeing that only individual property owners would determine the fate of the city’s most devastated structures. This was quite a departure from the city administration’s previous stance that it was the city’s right, and its right alone, without interference or owner notification, to demolish any structure tagged with an official orange sticker. I guess the city attorneys found some legal issues or, rather, illegal ones, that intimidated them to do an about-face. In ice skating terms, Meffert performed a difficult Triple Axle, with a remarkable score of 9.8, plus or minus a few points. Keep them coming, as practice makes perfect.
Next, guess who came to lunch on the taxpayer’s dime? Governor Blanco, direct from her photo opportunity, as the final side of the “Twin Spans” to Slidell was opened to vehicular traffic. It is nice to take credit for someone else’s hard work, isn’t it? Well, Ms. Blanco offered, so kindly, to mediate a meeting between the New Orleans City Council and Mayor Nagin, with the hopes of brokering a deal on FEMA trailer placements in the city. Images of the Mad Hatter moderating a dispute between Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum instantly come to mind. Perhaps the White Rabbit will be available to remind them, feverishly, that, “It’s getting late!” while the Cheshire Cat grins just like the many happy Republicans who are snickering at ineffective Democratic leadership. How unfortunate.
Good news did come out of the governor’s visit, however. Next week, she will be traveling with a delegation to the Netherlands and studying their phenomenal levee system. I understand that the governor’s pre-printed thank you cards had to be destroyed, as they listed Peter Pan as the Netherlands’ leader. I certainly hope Blanco was not allowed to arrange the group’s transportation, as, if she was, they might, instead, be viewing the bumper cars at the Neverland Ranch, in Santa Barbara, California.
On another note, community leaders are gearing up for the release of the Bring Back New Orleans Commission’s plan for recovery. Though skeptical, members of a panel composed of community and religious leaders are welcoming this plan as a starting point. I guess even a handout of moldy bread could be considered a blessing to someone who is starving. After long periods of intense suffering, Cyanide starts looking good, too. Grab some murky water and get ready to swallow a difficult pill.
posted by Carson W. Maxwell at 5:26 PM
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