Katrina Live Thread, Part XIV

I understand, but:
I wasnt teasing about the weapons thingy.
I will say again, arm yourself.

5,461 posted on 09/03/2005 6:30:42 PM PDT by 76834 (There's nothing wrong with sobriety in moderation.)

"armed guards at the grocery warehouses in Baton Rouge"

Maybe this is why.............

From 08 23 05
The Scream
At the current pace, New Orleans will exceed 300 murders by the end of the year.

New Orleans, the city we were born to love, lay in a pool of blood -- again -- last week. Raped by hate. Beaten, stabbed, strangled and bludgeoned to death by violence. She screamed for help, over and over, just as she has always done, year after year. We all saw it happen, if not on the evening news then in the daily paper. Yet, we -- her own children -- failed to save her.
It is a nightmare from which we cannot awake. Cold statistics underscore the stark reality: The number of homicides in our city last week topped 200 for the fifth year in a row. At the current pace, we will exceed 300 murders by the end of this year, according to Peter Scharf, a criminologist at the University of New Orleans. If we had New York City's crime rate, New Orleans would finish the year with only 36 murders, Scharf says. If New Orleans had the same homicide rate as Cleveland, whose poverty rate is far higher than ours, our city would finish this year with 62 murders, he adds. Other cities are experiencing double-digit declines in their homicide rates -- as high as 30 percent. By contrast, our murder rate has been rising steadily since hitting a recent low of 162 in 1999.

Our national reputation was recently underscored in an Aug. 5 editorial in the Los Angeles Times, titled "The Cancer in Compton." Wrote the Times: "With 42 homicides so far in 2005, Compton is on a pace to displace New Orleans as the nation's murder capital." This is not how we want other cities to be talking about us. Vigorous self-promotion campaigns cannot obscure the statistics.

Why are we slipping? Mayor Ray Nagin and Police Chief Eddie Compass have offered various explanations as their own best crime-fighting efforts (improved police pay, security cameras in high-crime areas, and domestic violence training for cops) fail to stem the tide of bloodshed. For example, the mayor and the chief have tried to assure us that many of our murder victims are drug addicts and criminals. That may be a factual explanation, but it is not an excuse.

Other explanations for our homicides deserve consideration. Veteran civil rights attorney Mary Howell argues that there is a resurgence in police misconduct that is undercutting NOPD's crime fighting efforts. "You cannot fight crime with a corrupt and brutal police department," Howell says. "There is a correlation between crime and integrity, discipline and accountability in a police department."

We agree. We find it unsettling that the private Metropolitan Crime Commission, a staunch supporter of law enforcement, has clashed repeatedly with Compass and NOPD's Police Integrity Bureau over a recent string of police disciplinary cases. Among those cases were allegations of misconduct involving three valedictorians from Jefferson Parish high schools, including one who was allegedly roughed up by NOPD officers. PIB concluded there was no evidence to support the students' claims, despite the Crime Commission's objections. Moreover, Deputy Chief Warren Riley's recent shake-up of top police commanders, following a spate of homicides, appears to have done more to increase internal friction and public uncertainty than to reduce violence.

The police reforms that followed the 1990s crime wave showed New Orleans what it's like to live without constant fear. We loved it. We want to do it again. We know the effort requires constant vigilance and effort. Our city also requires a strong mayor and a strong police chief to keep crime under control. Former Mayor Marc Morial and Police Chief Richard Pennington learned how to lead the fight against crime -- after the public marched on City Hall. Nagin might need only a change of style. The people of New Orleans want to be led, not managed. The mayor cannot delegate responsibility for crime and police reform to a department head, especially not during a crisis. We need a goal. Pennington once promised to cut the murder rate in half. With the public's help, he did it. Nagin's administration should aim equally high.

We also suggest that NOPD should bring the city's many community service providers into its weekly COMSTAT crime strategy meetings. They have ideas that are worth hearing. Mental health professionals, public housing advocates, life-saving medical providers -- anyone who has positive contact with the criminal element --Êshould be sought out. The goal is not to "snitch" but to save lives.

Finally, we need an overarching public education project that reaches into the neighborhoods most affected by the increased violence. This goes beyond reforms in public schools. For example, the city's Web site should include "best practice" links on how our children can protect themselves from bullies, and how the public can avoid armed robbery, rape, murder and crime-related addictions. Most importantly, each of us needs to learn that we have a crucial part to play in helping our beloved New Orleans when we hear the cries for help. Those cries are our own. Any one of us could be next.

http://bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/current/commentary.php

5,462 posted on 09/03/2005 6:30:53 PM PDT by combat_boots (Dug in and not budging an inch. NOT to be schiavoed, greered, or felosed as a patient)

Then the National Guard were issued with orders to shoot to kill. Louisiana’s governor, Kathleen Blanco, said that among the soldiers were 300 “battle-tested” guardsmen: “They have M-16s and are locked and loaded. These troops know how to shoot and kill and I expect they will.”

She sounds like an innocent bystander.

5,463 posted on 09/03/2005 6:31:43 PM PDT by bjs1779

several people who evacuated from NO have been interviewed on the Atlanta news here.

They hate the refugee tag. It sound a bit p.c. but they want to be called "displaced American citizens".

I saw alot of proud eyes misty saying "we're not asking for handouts, we just need some help right now."

5,464 posted on 09/03/2005 6:31:55 PM PDT by WoodstockCat (General Honore: "The storm gets a vote... We're not stuck on stupid.")

Duct tape(the good stuff) and chicken wire rock! I held a '72 Caddy Coupe DeVille together with both items. This was years ago. I'm stuck driving a 4 cylinder Olds, but someday....

5,465 posted on 09/03/2005 6:31:55 PM PDT by TheSpottedOwl ("President Bush, start building that wall"!)

The red thing, right? But it is still in the canal in that pic. It was there for repairs.

I don't think it's in the canal. It's on top of the houses. The bridge goes up and over the canal, I would think.

But yes, the red rectangular thing toward the left in the photo.

5,466 posted on 09/03/2005 6:32:02 PM PDT by Cboldt

There's an excess of food (MRE's) at the Dome and there is discussion about moving them to those communicating via radio.

Two tractor trailors of sandwiches being delivered in the AM. Ice is the biggest "need" as there are 2 trucks of MRE's onsite and two water trucks. Two more trucks of MRE's also being delivered tomorrow. Site coordinator says they need "two trucks of everything, everyday".

FTR, I do not know who or what area is communicating nor with whom they are communicating. However, it is being reported that operations are "very smooth" at this time.

Maybe someone with some understanding of the area and military lingo can get a better understanding of who is who and where "they" are.

5,467 posted on 09/03/2005 6:32:35 PM PDT by PleaseNoMore

Algiers was once an affluent New Orleans suburb

That may have been true once upon a time, but I doubt it, and certainly not in my lifetime. Movies were made about this rough and raw in the flesh locus of the human experience. The Brit (convention "centre" let the cat out of the bag) was just trying to embellish a story, to his readers, who don't have a clue.

5,468 posted on 09/03/2005 6:33:54 PM PDT by Torie

To: PleaseNoMore

they delivered 17 million MREs as of yesterday....probably double that today.

they were dropping them to people all day too....should probably have done that AKA Afghanistan from the beginning....

we probably have warehouses of them left over from Afghanistan.

5,469 posted on 09/03/2005 6:34:01 PM PDT by BurbankKarl (u)

your ex sniffs too much DU.

5,470 posted on 09/03/2005 6:34:24 PM PDT by WoodstockCat (General Honore: "The storm gets a vote... We're not stuck on stupid.")

I think we're discussing two different issues, though -- whether it was possible for the media to have done more hands-on lifesaving themselves and whether they adequately informed the authorities of the presence of the people on the freeway overpass (which is how the conversation started) or the slant of the media casting blame, which is another topic.

5,471 posted on 09/03/2005 6:34:35 PM PDT by GOPrincess

Some of those housed at the shelters here are helping out -- cleaning, helping with meals, washing clothes, etc. However, several of the shelters are filled with nursing home patients and disabled persons. Those shelter residents can't help out and they need a lot more volunteers per capita than shelters filled with able-bodied families. I know a few volunteers who are living at the shelters because they don't have gas to go back and forth. They won't be able to do that indefinitely, because some of them have young children at home.

Thats great to hear it; it was just a thought, and I'm glad that it wasn't original. Great job. God bless to evacuee's and are Armed Forces din' the job.

5,472 posted on 09/03/2005 6:34:40 PM PDT by fedupjohn

women, children and grown men are being raped and killed in alley-ways;

They're raping men, too? Must be former prisoners for sure...

5,473 posted on 09/03/2005 6:35:06 PM PDT by conservative cat

Isn't Algiers in the Bayou?

5,474 posted on 09/03/2005 6:35:06 PM PDT by RDTF

One thing I learned working in Homestead after Hurricane Andrew - looking at people, you couldn't tell rich from the poor when they were all thrown out into the dark by 150 mph winds. I use common sense, and I believe there are women who would like to wear some nice clothes to church on Sunday. There are a lot of proud church going people in Louisiana.

I have also packed up plenty of lightweight clothes, keeping in mind the heat and humidity. These are shorts, t-shirts, capris, slacks, etc.

5,475 posted on 09/03/2005 6:35:09 PM PDT by NautiNurse ("I'd rather see someone go to work for a Republican campaign than sit on their butt."--Howard Dean)

:::Blanco will pay Witt out of the FEMA and congressional money sent to Louisiana. unreal, isn't it?:::

Well now the real looting continues.

5,476 posted on 09/03/2005 6:35:25 PM PDT by CajunConservative ("Dems can bus people to the polls but can't bus them out of danger to save their lives.")

Evening folks, been out all day. NOw I am home and ready to pass out. Someone stole about a 1/4 a cord of firewood out of our woodpile today while we were out and hubby is furious. Looters even in Utah...

I went to a reenactment today dressed up in my 1790 clothes, mostly cause this is a once a year event that hubby was determined to go to, and I wanted to go there.

While I was there, I met a friend of mine who had come in from Corinth, MS, which is right by the Shiloh battlefield, at the northern top of Mississippi. She said she had 10 inches of rain at her place and 50 mph winds...and she lives a 7 hour drive to the coast. Her FIL was in a hospital at Faraday, LA, which is near Natchez, MS and had a frightening time of it - but better than the time people further south did.

I was really amazed to hear that the winds were still in the tropical storm range that far north. Wow.

5,477 posted on 09/03/2005 6:36:11 PM PDT by Knitting A Conundrum (Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)

At least they did not call you Zippy!
I have done some great bird hunting in Coleman. Protecting the sunflowers from the ravishes of the deadly dove.

5,478 posted on 09/03/2005 6:36:33 PM PDT by ARealMothersSonForever (Bless those in need this day)

Here's a bigger one ...

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/images/news/photos/katrinaprep050831.jpg

The mispelling "Navigaional" made Google particularly useful. Google "Inner Harbor Navigaional" and you'll find a slew of articles associated with this press pool photo.

5,479 posted on 09/03/2005 6:36:43 PM PDT by Cboldt

To: PleaseNoMore

Those guys are funny on the scanner with their 'HOORAHs'

5,480 posted on 09/03/2005 6:37:12 PM PDT by RDTF

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