Mayor Nagin speaks out (highlights)

Times-Picayune ^ | 10 September 2005 | Gordon Russell, Staff Writer

[Ellesu]

Pay as you go
Saturday, July 30, 2005
The state is supposed to reimburse the city of New Orleans for police and other services to Harrah's mammoth gambling hall on Canal Street, but Mayor Ray Nagin can't get the governor or Legislature to make good on their promise.

Despite a $1.2 billion increase in the state budget this year, Gov. Kathleen Blanco claims there is no way to pay the city the $12 million it is owed. Her poor-mouthing simply isn't believable.


Besides, the state has a formal agreement to reimburse the city for the roughly $3.6 million per year it spends on support services to Harrah's. The money is supposed to be paid, period. Yet the state allocated only $1 million for the city in the budget approved during the legislative session this spring. That is essentially the same amount the city got in each of the previous couple of years, which leaves roughly $12 million unpaid since 2001.

In frustration, Mayor Nagin said this week that the city simply can't continue to provide the services if it isn't going to be reimbursed. Good for him. New Orleans has many pressing needs, and it can't afford to focus so many resources on Harrah's without any hope of getting the money back.

For instance, the city is spending $1.5 million per year on police overtime to provide round-the-clock protection at the casino. Given the level of violence in New Orleans, that money would be better spent on crime-fighting efforts citywide.

Despite the efforts of the New Orleans legislative delegation, the city's request for reimbursement keeps getting bogged down in the state budget process. Lawmakers from elsewhere in Louisiana claim that the city gets enough from the state and from Harrah's already.

But this argument ignores the strain on city services from the huge gambling operation that the state allowed to be built here. And it also ignores the fact that the state, which approved the license allowing the casino to be built, promised to repay the city for expenses related to Harrah's.

If lawmakers don't understand that the state ought to pay its debts, Gov. Blanco should.



http://www.nola.com

[expatguy]

And what specifically did Mary Landrieu do?

Must be big since you seem to want to give Nagin a pass.

If you have something other than speculation that I think everyone here wants to see it.

An American Expat in Southeast Asia

[Jrabbit]

Why is the state paying for the protection at Harrah's? Why isn't Harrah's paying for it?

[YaYa123]

Oh come on, you know the drill.

These slimeballs , Jesse, Nancy, and everyone else of their ilk always say, "I'm not pointing the finger at anyone", or "I don't want to get into the blame-game". But they only say that after they've polluted the air with vile accusations.

[Clock King]

Lord, when are Black people gonna realize that the 'Rats DON'T CARE ABOUT US?!! I really hope the poor of NO are learning that whites are not the devil. They will also learn that in places like Utah and Texas, that "street" attitude and the mess that goes along with it won't be tolerated. This Act of God may be the sea change needed for the Black community in America.

[Colonial Warrior]

Great reference link!!

Thanks for post!!

[Ellesu]

That was the deal. I don't know why it was in the contract. I think it's just another thing Nagin is mad @ Blanco about.

[cajungirl]

What did Mary do about what?

I am not saing Nagin needs a pass. I am saying the really serious culprits, the serious players here are the Gov and the Senator.

What speculation are you talking about other than reading between the lines about the meetings here in BR to plan the future of NO?

[TheClintons-STILLAnti-American]

"These slimeballs , Jesse, Nancy, and everyone else of their ilk always say, "I'm not pointing the finger at anyone", or "I don't want to get into the blame-game". But they only say that after they've polluted the air with vile accusations."

And of course their lapdogs, i.e. Katie Couric, never point out their constant contradictions of themselves.

[Jrabbit]

That would certainly explain why she's not one of his favorites!

[expatguy]

Im uncomfortable with the conspirasy theories when the evidence is so clear cut.

From what I have seen, 99% of all this rested on Nagin's shoulders.

Concerning the Superdome, how many people were there? Less than during a football game - and he can't prevent the breakdown of law and order.

Perhaps it becomes difficult to prevent anarchy from erupting when you have given you citizens the green light to loot and steal property from others.

An American Expat in Southeast Asia

[Colonial Warrior]

"Naglin's Navy" Commandeered

Sadly the school buses of New Orleans which should have been originally utilized by New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin to evacuate the citizens of New Orleans remain underwater having never been used.

'The primary means of hurricane evacuation will be personal vehicles. School and municipal buses, government-owned vehicles and vehicles provided by volunteer agencies may be used to provide transportation for individuals who lack transportation and require assistance in evacuating"... - Louisiana Disaster Plan, pg 13, para 5 , dated 01/00

Perhaps if the Mayor would have done his job in the first place and familiarized himself with his city's own "Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan" lives could have been saved and the citizens all evacuated in an orderly manner. He might even have read the following -
"The person responsible for recognition of hurricane related preparation needs and for the issuance of an evacuation order

An American Expat in Southeast Asia

[maggief]

"Phyllis Landreiu, Mary's aunt. The former Mayor Landrieus sister or sister in law. There is a thread on this with minutes from the NO school board."

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1478905/posts

Minutes From June 5 Meeting Of Orleans Parish School Board: Using School Buses In Evacs
Orleans Parish Shool Board ^ | June 5 2005 | None

Posted on 09/06/2005 8:19:29 PM CDT by angkor

Found this in the Google cache, the minutes from a June 5 meeting of the Orleans Parish School Board.

The Board members had a very specific discussion about releasing school buses to the City Of New Orleans for hurricane evacuations.

Sorry for the length, but it does provide some valuable insights, e.g., what took the City so long to conclude this deal? They'd been talking with the School Board for at least a year.

(snip)

Click link above for the transcript.

[NonValueAdded]

You think the President set up Nagin??? Where did that come from?

[etcetera]

I hope you and yours are well and wish you the very best.

[singfreedom]

Blanco deserves a GREAT deal of the blame as well. She and her: "I need 24 hours" bs-----and not having the guard on alert and positioned to go into NO in force.

Did anyone hear what she said the other day when a reporter asked her if she was going to sign the "mandatory evacuation order"? She said she "needed to wait for the results of the flood water analysis" to come back before she could sign the order. Man, I was rolling. The woman is consistent, if nothing else! I guess she'd wait 'til hell froze over.

[singfreedom]

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm getting sick of these folks thinking the whole country revolves around New Orleans! Folks in Mississippi and Alabama are suffering, too. For New Orleanians to think the President, the Director of Homeland Security, and the Director of FEMA (and every other Tom, Dick, and Harry in Washington), should be "down there", holding their hands 24/7, is just absurd! The rest of the country needs them, too.

[singfreedom]

Blanco doesn't like Nagin because he supported the person-Jindal-who was running against her. Maybe she wasn't just "deciding" in those 24 hours, but had already "decided" to get some revenge.

[cajungirl]

What conspiracy theory?

The breakdown in the dome occurred after a day without air conditioning, sweltering conditions, a crowd that came in and halfway thru entrance were not searched for weapons. Then the ceiling started to open up and rain came in. There was inadequate security, no lights at night and the rest unfolded. There were also backed up not working toilets. And thousands of people.

Gov Blanco with Mary Landrieu at her side were together, conferring the entire time. Blanco refused to order the Guard in, as only she could, to provide security. She minimized the looting and was dismissive of its seriousness. She blocked the Pres from assuming control and using troops. She did not use her powerr to call in neighboring states national guard units. She blocked Red Cross and Salvation Army from entering.

All the while Nagin was screaming for help,in NO.

Why did Blanco and Landrieu block everything up? Why did they not accept the offer of federal help? Why were they so shortsighted about the dome,,the year before in another evac the dome was trashed and their were difficulties with evacuees?

why did Blanco refuse to issue a mandatory evac even after being called by Bush and the Weather people? Why did she delay and then she and Landrieu started the blaming of Pres Bush.

There is no conspiracy here,,the record is all available.

[singfreedom]

Or Landrieu! I understand she consorts with that type (from friends in Louisiana).