Mayor Ray Nagin says the city has to lay off as many as 3,000 workers.

WWLTV ^ | 10/04/2005

[LA Woman3]

Mayor Ray Nagin says the city has to lay off as many as 3,000 workers.

[dolander2002]

I wonder if any of these laid-off employees will be talking to the FBI?

[LA Woman3]

Betcha dollars to donuts that by this time tomorrow, the good Mayor and the MSM will be spinning that this is *also* the President's fault.

Think it will take that long??

[NC28203]

>>>Evidently, FEMA money couldn't be used in that manner.

From an article in USA Today
Blanco appealed to the Bush administration and to Congress to amend or suspend a U.S. law that prohibits the use of federal money to cover basic expenses of local governments, including the payrolls of public safety and health departments.
The law allows for federal funds to pay local overtime costs in some cases. But Blanco said several parishes won't have enough to cover payrolls because the storms wiped out commercial districts and neighborhoods that provided millions of dollars in property tax revenue. Much of that money helps to fund fire and police service.

[LA Woman3]

Thanks for the information!

[dalebert]

Why not lay them off. There is half the population so they need half the workers.

[billhilly]

Black politicians live by an entirely different standard. They mostly don't give a damn what anyone who isn't black thinks. At least that is my perception, and I have been around since 1937 and have seen a lot of history. Same with black comics. Their material is filled with their disdain for whites.

I expect I'll get flamed for saying this, but I'm frankly tired of having to kow tow to everybody who expresses outrage over the slightest criticism.

[LA Woman3]

Check out the photo on this web page. Here is a description...
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1183264

A water line runs across a billboard ad for a public television show featuring New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin on the side of a flood-damaged New Orleans streetcar, flooded after Hurricane Katrina, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2005, as it sits in a lot in the Mid City section of New Orleans. Over a month after Hurricane Katrina, the city's transit system is still recovering. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

[billhilly]

I posted my response at 4:36, and only had to wait less than two hours for this affirmation, right here in my back yard.


Former DC Mayor Marion Barry (now Councilman) failed to file taxes for 7 years.

[LA Woman3]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1492670/posts


Another thread on the phantom police....

[Fritzy]

You are right... re: FEMA.. but there are other federal funds available ... the tax collections (million of property taxes) are not usually collected on a monthly basis... I still think there should have been reserves..

FEMA does cover overtime.. as you have reported.. but if a city is almost bankrupt.. what about the State stepping up to bat?? Are the State coffers empty too.. do they have reserves??

Thank you for the information... we all need to appreciate the policies.. but I still think that the Feds could loan NO some $$s.. which leads me back to Reserves...

On the other hand.. perhaps all of NO should be closed, everyone terminated and then have a strong, experienced community building group (from the private sector) take over the operations.. until which time NO could get back on its feet...

This could be financed through some of the the billions in the Red Cross and the two Ex Presidents fund.. piece of cake... but it would demand a contract with the building group that was iron clad.. with very specific outcomes.. measurable..timely..

Another thought.. what about US Venture investors.. putting up a Billion with a healthy ROI and community respect.. a sort of double bottom line..

With about a year, complete review/overhaul of every city policy.. all new leaders trained and seated.. a plan for the economic, social,education, administrative structures in place.. almost like a new city..

How about Disney taking a leadership role.. or Dr. Michael Porter from Harvard.. or let's get international - how about some of the planners working on Dubai.. they have created a wonder for UAE.. or some of the development people in WalMart.. They could be "loaned Executives" on loan for a year to provide a rising phoenix from old NO.. Dr. Porter, along with key leaders from the field and from La.. could lead this effort...

WOW.. this is a project I would really like to work on.. there are many FReepers with the knowledge and vision to work on this...

OK.. stop laughing... I have to get back to work..

Cheers to all..

[Fritzy]

7 years??? Source???

[YaYa123]

I bet the stink from this hasn't begun yet.


Funny thing how everyone of us immediately thought of the phantom cops when Nagin announced 3,000 city workers would lose their jobs. I bet every reporter in the country thought the very same thing, but have we heard anyone even suggest hanky-panky? Not yet, anyway.

[billhilly]

Both the Washington Post and NBC. Just google Marion Barry.

[Ellesu]

[all_mighty_dollar]

>>>>They mentioned the FEMA money on the radio (United Radio Broadcast-formally WWL). Evidently, FEMA money couldn't be used in that manner.<<<<

I heard on the MSM report tonight that the remaining 50% of the phantom employees will do the work via overtime. The MSM reported that the 'overtime portion/costs' are covered by FEMA.

This layoff then must be mostly a bookkeeping trick where the remaining 50% phantom employees will have to 'bill' using overtime for two people, allowing NO to get half of their money via 'fast-trak' immediate FEMA payments rather than waiting for 100% Congressional funding - funding delays which has 'spawned' the little known local axiom "corruption delayed is Democrat politics frustrated" to be oft repeated around NO.
/sarcasm off

[Fritzy]

Thanks!!!!!

[winodog]

All that money that has been coming into state and city gov.org for the past 20+ years and a great place like NO is living paycheck to paycheck?

[NC28203]

>>>All that money that has been coming into state and city gov.org for the past 20+ years and a great place like NO is living paycheck to paycheck?

I don't think there are a lot of governments that are operating with large "rainy day" funds. Heck, the fed gov is doing worse than living paycheck to paycheck, it's living off cash advances to keep itself going.

[winodog]

I agree. Actually that line worked much better in 2000 after 8 years of bj's peaceful, fantastic, wonderful, money, job producing, best ever in the history of the universe economy. It seemed very strange for everyone and everything especially gov.org to be broke in jan. of 2001 after Bush was elected and we were in another recession caused by evil reps.