the levee

Class Warfare

Story here:  HANO hits roadblock.

The unraveling of Dollar Bill

This article is a little bit dated, but I wanted to bring it to everybody's attention, since I don't know how many Conde Nast Portfolio readers there are in New Orleans, or for that matter, anywhere.

The article provides an eye-opening look at the Vernon Jackson case that led to the discovery of $90,000 wrapped in aluminum foil packed in a Pillsbury piecrust box at Jefferson's house, in the process framing Dollar Bill as a greedy, fast-talking swindler, more focused on his cut than his constituents.

There is not a ton of new information, though I do come off reading the piece asking myself if Vernon Jackson is closer to Stringer Bell (with Dollar Bill playing the role of Clay Davis), than white-collar criminal Dennis Kozlowski.  I suspect that the details will come out in time, as Jefferson winds his way through trial, but for now, you can't help but feel that Jackson got fucked by Dollar Bill. 

Does fast food "bring jobs" to New Orleans?

In this article about a local franchise group that plans to open eight new Arby's in New Orleans, including one on the outskirts of the French Quarter, the writer reports that the plan will "[bring] an estimated 200 new jobs to the city."

Has New Orleans fallen so far that the announcement of eight new fast food chains qualifies as economic progress? 

I may be way off base here, and it may be that any jobs are good jobs, but I don't believe that there is currently a shortage of low-wage service jobs in New Orleans, and that many businesses actually continue to struggle to hire a full staff (on the low-wage service end of the spectrum).

So forgive me for not being excited about this news.

NY Times: Rental shortage in New Orleans continues

The NY  Times covers the rental shortage in New Orleans.  While the take-away is that it is unfortunate that rental rates have increased by 46% over pre-Katrina levels, it should be remembered, as the article states, that this situation exists because "demand is outpacing supply."

So, people want to live in New Orleans, but are constrained by high rental rates.  This is far preferable to a city that no one wants to live in with an oversupply of cheap housing (see Buffalo).  We can solve a shortage (theoretically), we wouldn't be able to solve an oversupply.  This is a positive, and we'll all just need to be patient while development and rehabilitation of affordable housing occurs.

Inspector General's office to be fully funded

Good news on the corruption front, as the City Council endorsed funding the newly-created Inspector General's office, which is headed by Robert Cerasoli.  The council supported Cerasoli's full request of $3.2 million.

Transparency and accountability will be key to New Orleans' future, so this is an important first step.  Combined with the recent indictments and elections, it almost seems like the tide is turning in New Orleans, if only a little.

AD: New Orleans After the Deluge :: Update

Chapter 8, part 2 is now up on Smith Magazine.

If you haven't seen this web-based graphic novel yet, you should definitely check it out.

Sanitation & Racism

And so it is that another real issue gets derailed by racial rhetoric.  Nevermind the facts, nevermind the circumstances.  The ministers get involved, and it is suddenly not about executed city contracts, or sound business practices, or what is right for the hard-working citizens of New Orleans, it is about racism.  And threats of economic boycotts.  OK.

Until open and public discourse about real issues affecting New Orleans can occur without cries of racism every other word, recovery will stagnate.  It is impossible to run a business, run a city, if you can't question a sanitation contract without being accused of racism, when this has absolutely nothing do with race, and has everything to do with whether New Orleans is getting a fair deal.

Someone remind the ministers that their allegiance and support should lie with the citizens of New Orleans, not the business owners who are receiving $24.6 million to provide a city service.  Is the contract legitimate, and are the sanitation companies meeting the guidelines set forth by the contract?  These are the the only two relevant questions here, and now I'm not sure we'll ever know the answer.

Update: The Times-Picayune has a good follow-up article on this issue here, by Jarvis DeBerry.

Update II: New Orleans CityBusiness echoed the sentiment, also adding that in their opinion, under the existing contract, the two contractors in question should be fulfilling the contract as written, i.e. unlimited bulky waste pick-up.

The Hot 8 in New York City

The venue lacked the fine layer of grime one typically associates with a New Orleans show.  There were no Christmas lights strung behind the bar, and the acoustics were impeccable.  A Jim Beam on the rocks cost $11 and the stage lights shone bright, undiluted by a haze of cigarette smoke.  The crowd, with a few glorious exceptions, seemingly just got back from a New York Times wedding page photo shoot.  But this was the Hot 8 Brass Band and I got the last ticket, and I wasn't gonna let a shiny stage or a couple of self-absorbed culture vultures get me down.

At first, instead of being swallowed up and exhaled in a cloud of gyrations and exhilaration, the music hung in the air, unsure of where to settle.  But the Hot 8 brought energy and tenacity straight from New Orleans, and they blared, screeched and pounded away, undeterred by the disengaged crowd.  The beat was steady and the trumpets were fierce, and if you closed your eyes you could almost smell the sweat, humidity and worn wood of New Orleans, and for just a moment, Katrina didn't happen, 200 murders didn't happen and hopelessness didn't happen.  A woman behind me wiped tears from her eyes during a dramatic cover of Sexual Healing.  And by the end, even the most jaded New Yorker was clapping his hands, stomping his feet, and whooping it up.

It was different than what you know.  It wasn't Chocolate Bar, it wasn't Treme, and it wasn't even Jazz Fest.  But it was still New Orleans soul, and it brought New York to its stilleto-heeled feet.

At a time when the airwaves are jammed with stories about corruption, about crime and incompetence, the soldiers of culture are alive and kicking, and spreading the gospel that is New Orleans, and will always be New Orleans,  sink or swim.

For those in New York that missed Saturday's show, the Hot 8 will participate in the Lincoln Center Tree Lighting ceremony tonight.

Other Links:
Village Voice column on the Hot 8
Joe's Pub

Thanksgiving Break

I am taking a break from posting for Thanksgiving Weekend.

Will be back Monday.

AM News :: Debate Edition

What do Oxford, MS, Nashville, TN, and Hempstead, NY have in common?  They are all considered more suitable sites for a presidential debate.  The commission that is in charge of these types of things passed on New Orleans as a site for one of the debates leading up to the 2008 presidential election, stating that New Orleans 'has not sufficiently recovered from Hurricane Katrina' to host the event.   Someone tell that to the NBA and  the NCAA, which will be hosting the 2008 All-Star game and BCS Championship Game (the Sugar Bowl) in New Orleans this year.  This reeks of republican shenanigans unfortunately, and who can blame them - why would they want to be subjected to questions about New Orleans in New Orleans, one of the current administration's greatest failures?   The New York Times touched on the issue as well.  Update: The Times-Picayune published a stinging editorial as well.

Big news coming at 9AM (New Orleans time) this morning - Mayor Nagin, along with acting DA Keva Landrum-Johnson will hold a press conference to discuss 'future operations' of the DA's office. Update: Not bad. Probably the best we could have hoped for.

 

NOPD Chief Warren Riley says recent reforms to the department are working.  Though he attempts to connect the reforms to the study completed by consultant BGI, they appear to be unrelated. 

HUD will take over a housing program affecting more than 30,000 residents still receiving temporary assistance.  The program had been administered by FEMA since the hurricane.  Pick your poison I guess.

Trouble brewing for former mayor Marc Morial.

More reaction to the City Council Member runoff victory for Jackie Clarkson.