In New Orleans, Life Goes On

For Some, Though, It Doesn’t… But For Those, Who Really Cares?


Five months and counting. Has it really been that long since Hurricane Katrina slammed into Southeast Louisiana? Driving through some New Orleans neighborhoods, one might think the event happened only a few weeks ago. Certainly, after 153 days, some progress should be seen in every area of the once life-filled city. Yet, in many parts, time seems to remain still, as miles upon miles of streets lie dormant, reminiscent of dusty ghost towns.

To say nothing is happening in the city would be a betrayal to the truth. Much is indeed going on behind closed doors and in front of the media. There have been gatherings of committees and politicians, both locally, nationally, and abroad. Our elected officials have been traveling to Washington, the Netherlands, here, and there. Legislators from outside of our region have visited devastated areas of our city and state. As a result of all of this activity, we have yet to see anyone do anything but project a voice. Promises of this and that fill our airwaves, but nothing tangible has been offered as proof of true interest and concern. Assurances sound awfully good to those who are suffering, but do absolutely nothing to move the mountains standing in the way of progress.

Each day continued in utter stagnation leads to significant losses from within our community. As each day progresses, families who want to return to their homes make the decision to abandon their once-loved neighborhoods in favor of the ability to achieve a more immediate and guaranteed stability. Business owners who cannot find sufficient staffing discover that they cannot operate efficiently and are permanently closing their companies’ doors. As these businesses cease operation, employment opportunities are lost for those who have returned and are dependent upon their paychecks. As a result, these families are looking to relocate to more economically suitable environments. Procrastination is quickly becoming more damaging than the storm was, itself.

Sending the city’s problems to various committees will continue to offer no viable resolutions. I, myself, have worked on many a committee--each with the goal to start an innovation or improve the workings of some already existing project. For the most part, I have found such committees to be intellectually stifling, especially when they contain too many people and lack effective leadership. The worst committees to be a part of are those with supposed "authorities" who purport to know everything about a certain topic. Each has their own answer to every problem and not one solution corresponds with the others'. Round and round for hours and hours, with nothing accomplished in the end but an agreement on the next date to continue with the disagreement. In these groups, taking leadership is almost like steering a dinghy upriver from an impending waterfall. Even when decisions were finally made, the individuals destined to be the most impacted were often overlooked in the process. Why consult a homeless person when he obviously doesn’t know what’s best for him anyway? If, at some point, the object of the philanthropic need was included, his or her comments would be heard and then dismissed as uneducated, misguided, and useless discourse. This organization and treatment sounds akin to that of our present-day Bring Back New Orleans Commission.

In New Orleans, we, ourselves, are quickly cascading downstream, waiting to plunge over the last and most devastating fall. No effort is being made to paddle upstream and attempts to drop anchor and maintain the status quo are only propelling us faster toward approaching doom. What is the solution? It lies in strong leadership and the commitment to do the right thing and make tough decisions. Dancing the dance expends energy needed elsewhere and speaking reassuring words does nothing but blow wind into non-existent sails. Only as a community, working together in unison, can we distance ourselves from the brink of annihilation. To accomplish this, we need to entrust the helm to the best possible leader, one who can bring our citizens together to work toward rebuilding the whole, rather than just random parts. We have yet to see an example of such effective stewardship, but only hope it will surface before it is too late.

The New Orleans Mayoral Campaign

Let the Race Begin!

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

Photograph from the Associated Press - Tue Jan 24, 2006, 806 PM ET

In the picture above, Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco shows the state’s evacuation guide to reporters on January 24, 2006. Blanco used the publication to prove that the state was prepared for a catastrophic storm. “These brochures fold out to reveal a lovely state map—the perfect instrument to guide an evacuation. Though few residents actually have possession of one of these plans, they are perfect for lamination and ready to be posted in a person’s cabana or recreation room.” The governor had trouble unfolding the brochure, eventually giving up. “Isn’t this just a beautiful graphic on the front cover?” she asked reporters as she fumbled with the document. When asked about the plan for evacuating people without transportation, she replied that, when unfolded, the information sheet can be patterned into a large paper airplane; one which her advisors guaranteed could be used as a vehicle of escape. Blanco went on to identify the ink used in publication as a soy derivative, able to provide nutritive benefits, once chewed. “This is actually a comprehensive survival tool, able to meet the needs of any person stranded in a dire situation.”

More Waiting and Guessing in New Orleans

I have moaned and groaned for quite a while now, but, unfortunately, still more of the same seems on the horizon. In the nearly five months after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans is no closer to revitalization than it was immediately following the storm. In fact, the most impressive work done, to date, was accomplished in the first few weeks after Katrina’s original onslaught. The whole rebuilding effort has become nothing more than stale and reeks of something worse than the offending aroma of black mold.

Depressing though it may seem, we still have yet to see any official plan of action. Local, state, and federal leadership is still as inept as it was before and during the storm. No one has come forth to shepherd the flocks run away as a result of the hurricane and its aftermath. The only steps taken by Mayor Nagin have been divisive. Governor Blanco’s moves have exemplified complete confusion and utter ineffectiveness. President Bush has maintained his course of indifference and lame ignorance. None of this should really shock any of us, but what is most appalling is the lack of support from our other elected officials. Sure, it’s nice to visit affected areas of New Orleans on the tax-payers’ dime and take posh trips to Holland to see how they handle their flooding situation. Unfortunately, trips get us nowhere, especially when the ones who go have nothing to offer but, “Ooh’s,” and “Ahh’s.” When these are the only remarks heard, everyone finally winds up with one big, expensive, “Duh.”

The longer we wait in rebuilding New Orleans, the more ominous the outlook for the city. Time is not a friend to equitable solutions, as the people forced out of their homes and neighborhoods lose patience and give up on the city they once loved. Perhaps the stalling tactics being used are meant to do just that. At this point, nothing would surprise any of us.

Eminent Domain and the Lost Liberty Hotel

In early summer 2005, the United States Supreme Court ruled that local governments have the right to seize a person’s home or business, against his or her will, for private economic development. This was, and still is, seen as a severe breach to Americans’ civil liberties. The Supreme Court has always been seen as the protector of our Constitutional rights; in this instance, it upheld the rights of greedy big-business.

Now, a group wants to take Supreme Court Justice David Souter’s home, in Weare, New Hampshire, and turn it into a hotel. According to Weare’s description on the state’s website, this does not appear to be such a bad idea. A venture such as the proposed “Lost Liberty Hotel” could certainly do quite well for a location such as Weare, revenue-wise. As of last summer, over one thousand people pledged to stay at the development after its completion. This fact alone promises a significant financial boost for this sleepy community.

Using positive financial impact as a motive for Souter’s forced eviction makes sense, as he, himself, ruled in favor of such removal for the purpose of economic growth. As a fellow American, Justice Souter should abide by the laws he helps to uphold. Even so, I’m almost certain that he will fight to retain his property, should this upcoming vote usurp his rights. It will be interesting to see if the ensuing battle goes to the Supreme Court, and, if it does, how the other justices might try to protect one of their own. If this is to happen, any decision made against the Weare development should effectively overturn the decision made in the New London, Connecticut, case. Hopefully, for some, this about face won’t come too late. As for me, I anxiously await the opening of the Lost Liberty Hotel and look forward to placing my name somewhere on its impressive reservation list.

What Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Would Have Said

Monday, we, as the people of this city, were assailed by the comments of Mayor C. Ray Nagin. Regardless of individual ethnicity, we were all disparaged by his tale of an angry God and his sermon of God’s pre-ordained composition of New Orleans. Hearing Nagin’s speech, I sure hope that his god isn’t the same as ours. Adding insult to injury, these words were uttered on the birthday of the greatest civil rights leader of all time, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Reverend King worked tirelessly and gave his life for the cause of equality. He did not preach that African Americans should have more than Caucasians. Though his support of instituted systems of Affirmative Action as a means of balancing years of disparity is probable, his true dream was that all people would see and respect each other as human beings who each possess the inherent rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Dr. King’s prayers and teachings proclaimed that everyone, regardless of skin color, is equal in the eyes of the Lord. His ideas were, indeed, fact—but many still cannot see this through blinders of intolerance. Even today, people are viewed as red, yellow, black, or white. Adding to this mix, one of the most egregious forms of discrimination, presently, seems to be founded in the judging of others on the basis of religion. As to this point, unfortunately, King’s corresponding message of peace seems to have been lost a long time ago.

Nagin’s remarks were meant to pander to a demographic that he usually ignores—poor African Americans. He probably figured that his off-color, racist remarks would make up for his years of indifference. His plan fell solidly, plunking to Earth and bouncing back through intergalactic airwaves. Nagin’s imagined communication with Dr. King would be better perceived as a spiritual channeling with a maniacal extremist, such as Adolf Hitler, who eventually led his own “chosen” people to slaughter. If Nagin had actually spoken with Dr. King, “chocolate” would not have been a word brought up in conversation. Our unique chance to bring people of all ethnicities together as one is something that Dr. King would have certainly expounded on. This great opportunity to build unity crashed into a heap of racist garbage. While I have the idea that Nagin has very few “chosen” people, besides himself and, perhaps, his family, it’s truly unfortunate that he has to take the entire city with him when he commits suicidal acts such as this.

Dateline January 16, 2006 -- New Orleans' Mayor C. Ray Nagin

New Orleans' Mayor C. Ray Nagin, today, predicted that New Orleans “will be chocolate at the end of the day.” “This city will be a majority African-American city. It’s the way God wants it to be.” He further said that the numerous hurricanes of 2005, were sent to the United States as God's punishment for "being in Iraq under false pretenses.” Additionally, he reported that he had a conversation with the late Martin Luther King, Jr., prior to the address.

This is yet another case of Nagin pandering to a particular demographic. His rhetoric will turn again when he faces another, different crowd. During the past several months, he has been a near enemy to African Americans displaced by Hurricane Katrina- today he is Martin Luther King Jr.'s self-proclaimed heir apparent.

The following is an article I published in December 2005.


Smoke and Mirrors Still Litter New Orleans' Political Scene
An ending may be in sight, but here, one never knows.

Carson W. Maxwell
December 7, 2005

It is well-known that, in Louisiana especially, many politicians seek only to improve the lives and welfare of themselves. It appears that each self-embodies their own special interest group. Even so, a promise of leadership change still brings attention and hope. Such was the case when C. Ray Nagin was elected Mayor of New Orleans. A political newcomer, Nagin seemed to possess integrity and leadership skills. Unfortunately, the qualities that drew initial interest have yet to surface.

During his first year in office, Nagin's administration uncovered areas of corruption in City Hall. This was no big surprise to anyone locally, nationally, or internationally. An investigation ensued whereby several city employees and numerous taxicab drivers were arrested for illicit permit violations. No big fish were netted in this operation, but, as a result of the accompanying media frenzy, Nagin was crowned a foe to the corruption of old. This recognition for honor might normally be considered perplexing, as most of his upper-echelon executive appointments came from within his circle of friends at Cox Communications, where he worked prior to being elected. Without the sacrifice of a few poorly paid cab drivers, his own hiring practices would have been seen as little more than outright favoritism-- jobs for friends rather than for ability. As time went by, most could not handle the positions awarded and were tossed aside like freshly soiled disposable diapers.

Problems, yes, we had them long before Hurricane Katrina. The city's violent crime rate was sky-rocketing. This year, we were on pace to trounce former murder rate records. Multiple nightly homicides filled the front pages of our daily newspaper and took up a significant portion of local nightly newscasts. Illegal narcotics sales ran rampant; drug use was sky-rocketing, along with the crimes one must commit to obtain addictive substances. Conferences were called to find answers and form solutions, but the final results were non-existent. Meetings without leadership and backbone give an outward appearance of stalwart dedication, but, in the end, bring about no tangible outcomes. Today, after Katrina, we still see the same procrastination by seemingly unguided committees.

The city has always had a problem finding jobs for their high number of unemployed citizens. There were many reasons for city's high rate of unemployment. Many work-aged people in New Orleans could not read or write, as, on a whole, education levels seem astoundingly low. The number of employers throughout the area had also shrunk as the local economy faltered. Over the years, we lost many local companies and, further, lost many industries considering a move into the area. We finally arrived at a point where the city was almost entirely supported by the tourist trade. Our economic situation can not be blamed entirely on Mayor Nagin, but he must carry his share of the responsibility. Since his election, enterprises entered here and there, but these certainly could not offset the number that departed. For the area's unemployed, Nagin reorganized the city's workforce development office. The main part of this transformation was completed by simply changing the department's name to Job1. Persons interested in obtaining employment or other services from Job1 still had to jump through bureaucratic hurdles, seemingly meant to weed out the poorest or least educated applicants. The name changed, but the atmosphere and true utility remained the same. Finally, yet another key department head, the director of Job1, disappeared silently without acknowledgment or a given reason.

The sidestep was probably invented in Louisiana and its moves are learned at a high cost to its citizenry. Prior to Nagin's running for Mayor of New Orleans, he was registered in the Republican Party, but, before qualifying, he changed his political affiliation to the Democratic Party. After his successful bid for office, as a now-prominent member of his newly chosen party, he decided not to follow the party line but, instead, endorsed Republican Bobby Jindal for Governor of Louisiana over Democrat Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, the eventual winner. In hindsight, his decision might not have been a bad one, but at the time, he seemed to be a traitor to the Democrats who both endorsed his candidacy and voted for him during his election. Later, he hesitantly backed Democratic Presidential Candidate John Kerry during the last Presidential campaign. His diffidence was quite noticeable and the final endorsement seemed more coerced than heart-felt. There is little question in my mind of whose lever he actually pulled on Election Day. Why is this important now? It shows a pattern-- evidence that he is willing to do or say whatever it takes to achieve his desired outcomes. Changing political parties to the predominate local party was simply a way to sway public sentiment and win support, regardless of whether or not he subscribed to the policies and beliefs of the party. It's just another way of hiding the truth in an attempt at pandering to the public. Whether it's seen in his support of the Urban Land Institute before their report effectively alienated large segments of the voting population, or his latest admission to a group of Katrina evacuees in Atlanta, his recent vocalizations follow in the same ilk. Over the past weekend, in Atlanta, he kowtowed to a roomful of opponents to the upcoming carnival celebration by stating that he was against holding parades and related events in the city. Everyone locally knows that Nagin has been supporting the 2006 Mardi Gras celebration since immediately after the storm (see http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05257/571047.stm). In fact, I heard his promise of an "awesome" celebration on the radio, while I was misplaced, nearly 200 miles from my home. Additionally, in recent weeks, his office has been busy trying to obtain corporate sponsorship for the event. It's just another ending to another show, or, perhaps, just the flavor of the day.

It seems as though we have an additional number of months to continue with indecisive and deceptive leadership. Of course, when the time comes, it will be up to the voters once again. Perhaps the devil we know is better than the politician we do not. Maybe inaction is better than some action in the wrong direction. Only time will tell, as those living in the affected areas will eventually find out what the true story really was and will certainly be able to tally all recorded attempts at deception.


For a story I wrote soon after this article was published, please read "Tale of the Donkeyderm," linked from my web site, http://cwmaxwell.atspace.com.

We’ll Send You Home Again, Kathleen

Alas, the recall process has begun for Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco. As you read this, thousands are downloading, adding their signatures to, and passing along the recall petition, found at http://recallgovernorblanco.com/BLANCO_PETITION.pdf. Will this attempt at improving Louisiana leadership be successful? Probably not, but it is definitely worth a try.

Louisiana’s citizens seem constantly content with the mediocre. Being corrupt seems to be a precursor for qualifying to run in state and local elections. Finally, with Blanco, many had hopes that the old clannish and crooked political cycle would vanish. It didn’t take long for us to discover that undertones of cronyism were still very much apparent. The only real difference was in the intellectual composition of the state’s new leader. As one of the least effective governors in recent history, she tried to veil her unproductive style by holding community meetings on important issues. These summits were a complete waste of taxpayers' money, as Blanco had no real interest in the outcomes, nor did she have any intentions of following recommendations made to her on any of the topics. Most everything she did was a public relations campaign—one making it appear as though she was actually working on something.

It takes some semblance of intelligence to be a cunning crook. For a while, we were content in knowing that Blanco did not have what it takes to be so. I guess to some, having a dim-witted figurehead was better than having a brilliant, but potential shyster run the state. With the landfall of Hurricane Katrina, we soon found that the possession of gray matter should have carried more weight during the election. People on her side of the ring say that she has always been an overly cautious leader, one who deliberates over every decision. In actuality, stalling is just her way of letting someone else make tough choices for her. This time, it didn’t work and she was miserably caught in her own folly.

Now, some are saying that the recall attempt is doing nothing but expanding a chasm within the community. On the contrary, the community should be coming together to do what is best for our state. This is not a partisan issue, nor is it gender-based. The people suffering the most from her lack of leadership, understanding, and compassion are registered in her own political party. As for the gender issue, the leader of this recall drive is a woman. At this point, the consensus is that anyone is better than Ms. Blanco. Ineffective leadership does nothing for any of us, especially now, when we need the best money can buy, so to speak. This recall effort is an attempt to repair a massive problem, one that has impeded, and will continue to impede, our recovery. The federal government should not be asked to entrust billions of dollars to our current doltish state administration. By cleaning up our own mess from the top, we, as citizens, could send no better message to Capitol Hill.

In Response to a Reply

Someone recently sent this reply to one of my posts:

“Who do you call when you are sick? A doctor. Who do you call if you are being sued? A lawyer. Who do you call when you are going to build a house? A contractor.

So tell me, if you have to rebuild a city who are you going to call for input in accomplishing that? A self ordained minister? An old lady who runs the neighborhood watch? A politician with no education but a gift for gab? NO your going to hire people who have some idea of what they are talking about and the reason they know what they are talking about is because they are in that line of work. Get off all this conspiracy foolishness and do something productive.”


In Louisiana, you call on your cronies who can have a sizable stake in the misadventure. Just because someone is a supposed expert doesn’t mean he or she is above moral reproach. Whatever happened to outside, impartial expertise? I’d prefer an honest opinion rather than one interested in only one thing—expanding an already bulging personal back pocket. The best monetary payback for political contributions often comes as a result of being on a “committee” such as the Bring Back New Orleans Commission.

Imagine that I have been granted the authority to make all decisions for you. I gather an impressive group of my buddies to decide your fate. In my assembly are doctors, builders, elevator installers, lawyers, and the like. Our first decision is that you need to pay to have your leg amputated. Since we have a physician on the panel, and since he has some idea of what he is talking about, you have no qualms about heeding our recommendation. You lose your leg and the doctor finds financial bliss. Next, we tell you that your house needs a second story. Our builder told us that your home is the only one-story in your neighborhood and, as such, it looks awkward. He’s an expert and knows what he’s talking about, so you add the additional level to your home without hesitation. He also knows the exact way it must be built, so he must be the one to build it. It’s completed, he gets paid and you get a thousand extra square feet you can’t access because you can’t climb the stairs with your one leg. Don’t worry, our elevator man has his hand out, ready for your business. He gets more than his fair due, monetarily, and you get access to your new second story. Finally, we tell you that you need to sign your house over to us, as our lawyer says it is a necessity. He, too, has some idea of what he is talking about, so you, again, heed our recommendation. You sign your house over, paying all of the lawyer’s fees to do so. You have nothing—we have a nicely renovated property to do with, and profit from, as we please. See, we knew exactly what we were doing all the while.

Like you in the above story, the people in the most devastated areas have little voice in their futures. Priveledged people with comrades in high places are telling them what to do and they have little recourse. Sure, lawsuits will be likely, but those will take years to come to some conclusion… in that time, these poor people will be forced away from their homes.

Yes, doing something productive includes the occasional use of gray matter.

Democracy and the Iraqi Incursion

There are still many supporters of our intrusion into Iraqi affairs who believe we, as a country, are doing the right thing. They refuse to believe that the war in Iraq was nothing more than an attempt by George W. Bush to redeem his family honor and an effort by Dick Cheney to increase his personal wealth and influence with Halliburton when he retires from office. It’s a shame that we have suffered so many losses because of this war, both human life-wise and money-wise. When it comes to being followers, most of us were obedient sheep, duped into sticking our necks out for slaughter.

I won’t say that Saddam wasn’t an evil man and a ruthless dictator, but an immediate threat to us, he wasn’t. It was highly unlikely that he would have ever been, as no physical proof was ever produced to that effect. The evidence given was anything but concrete, but it was handed to us like the Gospel. At this point, it’s too late. Now, Bush and his cohorts are labeling us as “spreaders of democracy” to condone a useless attack on a once-sovereign nation. Indeed, this is the biggest affront to democracy, in the name of democracy, the world may have ever seen. Basically, we’re telling all nations, “You’re going to have a democracy and live in peace, whether we have to come over there and kill for it or not.”

Being against this war is not the same thing as being against the troops who served (or are presently serving) in it. The whole country was tricked into thinking Iraq was somehow involved in the World Trade Center attack. Anyone who stated otherwise when this plot was evolving was brutally criticized and labeled un-American. With all we know today, supporters of the war still call opponents idiots and wimps. This is not the case; they simply want to prevent further American bloodshed on Iraqi soil. Since the beginning of this incursion, many thousands of our troops have been injured or killed. Countless more Iraqi innocents have also met untimely, hideous deaths. George W. Bush, through his well-conceived, manipulative war, has killed far more Americans and Iraqis than Saddam Hussein could have ever dreamed possible. I’m certain this will bring some comfort to Mr. Bush later, when he is in a much warmer climate.

Through all of this, we have yet to see Usama bin Laden face the music for his part in the September 11th attacks. We, as a country, lost focus on the reportedly true villain of the worst terrorist assault on U.S. mainland soil and turned our attention to something far less threatening to our national security. After September 11th, our emotions ran wild, making it easy for Bush to press his will on the American people with ill-constructed evidence. Instead of conducting a massive manhunt for bin Laden, we wound up fighting Bush and Cheney’s personal war. Their sinister plot has cost us more than just the many young soldiers who were killed, it cost us international respect. In truth, our country is fighting one battle and losing many wars.

New Orleans’ Canal Street Revitalization

Can Canal Street be brought back to life equitably?

Carson W. Maxwell
January 8, 2006


I grew up in Algiers, the portion of Orleans Parish on the west bank of the Mississippi River. My childhood home was less than a mile from the river, and due to its relative proximity, I often made the journey to walk its levee. Without fail, one could look out over the channel and see ships from all corners of the world. As a child, it was awe-inspiring to view the colossal vessels and imagine all the foreign ports each had visited. I spent many hours daydreaming of the adventures faced during their innumerable, lengthy voyages. At night, as I lay in my bed, I could hear the occasional blasts of ships’ horns coming from the river. On many evenings, the sounds of distant river traffic, heard from an open bedroom window, actually lulled me to sleep. This was just one of the great aspects of growing up in New Orleans.

I often visited my grandmother, a frail little lady who lived in New Orleans all of her life. Each weekend, she enjoyed going to the public library, downtown, and window shopping at the many department stores on Canal Street. I remember many occasions that I went with her on her expeditions. We would take the bus to the Algiers ferry and then ride the ferry across the river. It was a grand passage, indeed, even though the trip lasted less than ten minutes. The ferry unloaded at the foot of Canal Street, where the next adventure would soon begin. We would walk up Canal Street, hand in hand, looking at the many storefronts along the way to the library. I vividly remember walking in front of the Woolworth Department Store and being bribed by the promise of a slice of hot apple pie later in the day, if I behaved myself in the library, of course. Sometimes I would deserve a piece, other times, I didn’t; but I can’t remember an excursion when I didn’t get one. Topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it seemed to be the best apple pie on earth. Actually, I have never found an apple pie, since, to match.

The best time of the year to make this trek was during Christmas time. All the stores along Canal Street were decorated with colored lights and mechanical holiday displays. Each store presented a scene of Santa’s workshop, or some other whimsical view. Back then, there was still a bustle of anxious shoppers along the corridor, thus making the panorama reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell creation. Of course, after dark, the return trip on the ferry was often blistery cold. Thank goodness there was an indoor passengers’ lobby.

The comings and goings on the Mississippi River remain the same; however, the atmosphere of Canal Street has changed significantly since these days, seemingly long ago. Today, aside from the few upscale stores at the foot of the street, near the ferry landing, the avenue sits practically barren. All of the old department stores that once graced the busiest street in New Orleans have left and the grand old buildings that housed them are now either deserted or are accommodating either hotels or tawdry tourist-related shops. With the loss of these tasteful establishments went much of the excitement of Christmas in New Orleans.

Now, there appears hope that this old thoroughfare will rise from its ashes, once again becoming the mecca of commerce in the city. At what price will this remarkable feat be accomplished? Over the last few decades, parts of Canal Street have been almost too dangerous to travel, due to the city’s endemic crime problem. Outings to see plays at the Saenger Theater seemed paramount to trudging through a war zone, where one had to be constantly vigilant as to his or her surroundings and ready to bolt at less than a moment’s notice. Hurricane Katrina seems to have become the catalyst to put into motion a plan that has been in the works for many recent years. The destruction of the Iberville Housing Development to build expensive condominiums in its space is seen as the best and only chance to revitalize this once prestigious and prosperous area.

If Canal Street is to return to its former glory, I agree that the demolition of the Iberville has to occur. At the same time, it must be done in a way that improves the lives of those it misplaces. Unlike the River Gardens debacle, where many hundreds of families were dispersed from the St. Thomas Development without any regard for their welfare, there must be some input from the residents in the targeted community. People must be given a say in what happens to them and where they are sent after being kicked out of their homes. It is only right to do so. Forced relocation does nothing for human beings, but ignoring these citizens seems to be the main goal of the city’s administration, HANO, and HUD. Right now, the residents of this development are scattered throughout the South, and, following the wishes of the before-mentioned agencies, are not allowed a voice in their own futures. After Katrina, most were shuttled to sites far away, without any apparent guarantee of a return trip. This treatment is almost reminiscent of how the Jews were treated by the Nazis in Germany. The only difference is that, right now, only dignity is being savagely slaughtered.

Is revitalization worth the cost? Financially, yes; but if the process is done without proper feedback and contribution from the community that currently calls the area home, the resulting long-term damage will certainly offset any short-term benefit. There are many ideas as to how this process can be equitable to everyone involved, but why express ideas when they consistently fall on deaf ears?


http://cwmaxwell.atspace.com
http://cwmaxwell.blogspot.com

The Orleans Parish School Board Selects a New Board President

Note: Hopefully, this change will bring a new era of leadership to a struggling public school system. The following is a re-publication of an editorial from late last year.

Just When You Thought It Was Over
One last gasp of corruption for a dying Orleans Parish School Board.

Carson W. Maxwell
November 28, 2005

We are finally at a crossroads with Orleans Parish’s public school system. Finally, thanks to Hurricane Katrina, our schools will see a new lease on life, and hopefully, so will our city’s students. Opposition to the state takeover and the implementation of charter schools became an incessant battle cry to some members of the current school board. The latest discovery in finances illustrates their true incentive for antagonistic consternation.

It seems that, prior to Katrina, the board was scheduled to vote on a $25,000 a year pay raise for Interim Superintendent Ora Watson. As Ms. Watson was already receiving a whopping $160,000 yearly salary, this increase would raise her total take to an exorbitant $185,000. For some reason, a vote was never taken on this matter, but miraculously, by signature of Board President Torin Sanders, her raise was granted. During the aftermath of the hurricane, while Orleans Parish school teachers were laid off and went unpaid, Ms. Watson received her regular salary, plus a $481 per week bonus.

Who discovered this so-called error? A representative from Alvarez & Marsal, the company hired to run the school board’s despoiled financial operations. Of course, Ms. Watson did not come forward to disclose her overpayments until getting busted. Perhaps she thought that FEMA was adding the extra money to her bank account as a result of her being displaced and needy. Regardless, once confronted, she reported the whole matter to be nothing more than an oversight, though she apparently has no intention of repaying the purloined funds—finder’s keepers.

So, here we have the two most vocal opponents to both charter schools and the state takeover—Board President Torin Sanders and Interim Superintendent Ora Watson. This dynamic duo now seems to have been attempting to protect more than just a corrupt and underperforming school system. Truly, power and lifestyles appear to be their main objective in trying to maintain the status quo. If using the race card and spreading malicious rumors throughout the community is the only way to preserve their Golden Calf, so be it.

In this city, the best interests of our children have always taken the back seat to graft and greed. Will this inherency disappear with the takeover? Perhaps, but regardless, a dramatic change in leadership can certainly do no harm. This, you can take to the bank.

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.

We Need an Election

In New Orleans, we need an election-- the sooner, the better for all involved.

Carson W. Maxwell
Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005


All through the traumatic past several months, I’ve amazed at the overall lack of leadership in our governing officials—local, state, and national. Each let us down significantly, and continue to do so today. Not one can give answers to tough questions and no one is taking a strong stand for the area’s citizens. In New Orleans, we should have an opportunity to change leadership relatively quickly; however, following suit of previous dreadful decisions, Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco decided yesterday to put off local elections, previously scheduled for early February, indefinitely.

New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin has never been a truly great leader. Press coverage of his early attack on City Hall corruption influenced many to think of him as the white knight of change. It seems amazing what capturing a few low-level employees and low-paid cabdrivers can do for one’s public opinion. Nothing more came of these investigations, but his status in the eyes of many remained the same. This was not the case within the poorer neighborhoods, however. Nagin never seemed to care much for his less privileged constituency. He reorganized one or two programs, such as the city’s workforce development office, claiming great improvements. Actually, the only difference in this workforce office was its new name, Job1. In this unit, where so much good could have been done, it was business as usual—assist the best candidates and leave the less educated or problematic ones out in the cold.

During Nagin’s tenure, crime rose dramatically. Violent crimes swept the city on a daily basis. One could wake up in the morning and wager as to how many people were killed the night before. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans was on pace to set a year-end murder rate record. Drug-related crimes ran rampant, as did petty economic offenses. Unemployment was phenomenal in the poorest communities—the neighborhoods where criminal activities were seen the most. The mayor did nothing to focus on these areas in any way but increasing law enforcement presence. No educational, job training, or other programs were entrenched in these zones to actually help the inhabitants, unless incarceration is considered assistance. The mayor’s overall lack of support and understanding led to a rise in heated racial tensions and intense public outcry. It almost seemed as though civil rights advancements were knocked back by decades.

The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina came as no great surprise, as everyone knew of the immense numbers of poor living within the city. There was no way the majority could have evacuated the area, as many were reliant on the lacking public transportation system. No plans were ever made to usher the multitudes to safety—corralling in the Superdome was always considered the most feasible and simplest solution. In hindsight, more thought should have been given to protecting the city’s most valuable commodity—life.

Today, we still witness the overall insincerity of Mayor Nagin. A few days after Katrina made landfall, Nagin stated that he was looking forward to an “awesome” celebration on Mardi Gras day. This is interesting, as only a few weeks ago, he stated, to a group of displaced storm victims in Atlanta, that he never thought the Mardi Gras celebration should take place in 2006, but was pressured into the idea by the governor’s office and by the local tourist industry. All of this was said while his office was actively pursuing corporate sponsors for the event. This adequately testifies to blatant, false compassion.

Here we are, over three month after Hurricane Katrina. We have seen no great ideas coming from the mayor, nor any plans of action. The committee he organized, composed of wealthy local businesspeople, seems stuck in the same quagmire of uncertainty. No one has taken the bold step in assuming a leadership role. Citizens, both living in New Orleans and relocated, are tired of the same old spineless routine. It’s time for a change—the sooner, the better.

Crime and Economic Disparity in Pre-Katrina New Orleans

Note: I originally wrote this article with the idea of imploring others to think beyond mundane definitions. By looking at the whole picture without unjust preconceptions, one might discover a story more intricate than just plain deviance when it comes to the perpetration of illegal acts. Certainly, my goal was not to justify unlawfulness, as no one can, or should, approve criminal activities of any type. While this remains the case, rehabilitation can, and does, occur. More importantly, a whole group of people should never be subject to discrimination on the basis of a few bad eggs.

In a new New Orleans, strategies that have worked elsewhere to reduce crime should be implemented. It takes more than a competent police force to rid a city of crime. Included in the comments section, below the article, are two of the many replies I received about this article. Please read these, along with my accompanying responses.


If you read blogs and forums on the internet, you will certainly find countless disparaging words about Katrina evacuees. Even New Orleans locals are posting crude messages regarding their devious desires for many of the poorest victims displaced by the storm. Many writers make a plea for condemning the least fortunate to a permanent existence outside of the city and state.

News articles are posted and reposted, telling of dramatic rises in crime within areas where evacuees have been sheltered. Many of the stories are true, but we could have surmised as much, ourselves, without any outside media interference. New Orleans’ crime rate has been high and rising for many years. We have done nothing to address the root causes of our crime problem, but seem awfully happy to get rid of it the easiest way possible, by sending it to burden someone else.

Prior to Katrina, employment opportunities in New Orleans were rapidly dwindling, as employers were either leaving the city or looking outside the area to fill positions. This decline led to high unemployment rates throughout the parish. One reason for the grand exodus was that we couldn’t offer a large, well-educated workforce. Many of the people in the poorest communities were African Americans who never had a real chance for a quality education. After segregation ended and public schools were integrated, many Caucasians removed their children from these schools in favor of a private education. Before long, the area’s public schools were forgotten and the school board leadership’s interests turned from being educators to becoming greedy swindlers. The system’s surreptitiously depleted finances made it difficult to retain quality, certified teachers. For quite a while, most teachers in the Orleans Parish School System were not qualified to baby sit, let alone educate. Adding to the educational woes for African Americans was the historic lack of a first-rate education for them in the city. Many parents and grandparents found it difficult to reinforce, or even correct, their children’s classroom assignments. Over 70% of the people in Louisiana’s correctional system are African American. The majority can not read or write and most did not even graduate from elementary school. Can you imagine the difficulty of finding employment when you can’t even complete a job application? For many of these unfortunate people, criminal activity was the city’s only economic engine.

Pre-Katrina, drug use and illegal narcotics sales ran rampant throughout New Orleans and the surrounding parishes. Many children grew up in households where marijuana leaves outnumbered tea leaves ninety-nine to one. Apparent hopelessness leads to many negative behaviors. Some drowned their sorrows in alcohol; others tried to visit an induced paradise by snorting, smoking, or injecting illicit substances. For many, this might have been the only way to fathom an escape from roach and rat-infested surroundings. Those living in the worst areas of the city may have found drug dealing as the only way to rise from incessant poverty. One does not have to read instructions to sell drugs. Profits were high, but so were the risks. With luck, one might have wound up in jail, where he or she could have earned a General Equivalency Diploma; without luck, one might have become just another murder statistic for the city’s Uniform Crime Report. Regardless, both provided the potential for escape.

Isn’t it shameful that the Orleans Parish Prison graduated more people with a General Equivalency Diploma than any other provider in the city? In reality, very few places offered the coursework for the G.E.D. prior to Katrina. Not only that, hardly any services were available for poor and uneducated people to improve their lives. Substance abuse clinics were under funded and could not accommodate the numbers that requested treatment. People returning home from prison could find no counseling to help them remain on the straight and narrow and few employment opportunities to assist with their goal. We talk about how awful these people are and how we don’t want them back, but, perhaps, we are the abominations, not them.

Other states have impressive programs geared at helping people who are returning home from jail and more programs for people who never want to see the inside of a prison. Louisiana is thirty years behind the times when it comes to restorative justice. Programs like the Safer Foundation, in Chicago, and Project Rio, in Texas, have shown great promise in reducing the numbers of people returning to jail in those states. Other states have similar and equally successful programs. The only difference between those areas and here is that they have a sincere interest in improving the community. Yes, programs such as these cost money, but the savings at all levels (financial, life, etc.) have been far greater than the expenditures.


http://www.corrections.state.la.us/Statistics/PDF_QSPR/A.pdf
http://saferfoundation.org/
http://www.workforcelink.com/html/rio/servicesrio.html