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Day 568: Nagin’s “They” Meaning Him

Mayor Ray Nagin’s latest foray into idiocy is the kind of Needless Foot Shooting we have to put up with during a city rebuilding, not to be confused with a walk in the park.

… Nagin told editors and publishers that the slow recovery is part of a plan to change the racial makeup, and hence the political leadership, of the city. “Ladies and gentlemen, what happened in New Orleans could happen anywhere,” Nagin told the association. “They are studying this model of natural disasters, dispersing the community and changing the electoral process in that community.”

… Nagin referred to Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, his opponent in last year’s mayor’s race, as “the golden boy,” and said Landrieu’s chances in the election seemed good because “they dispersed all of our people across 44 states with one-way tickets.”

The man should not open his mouth when, clearly:

a) New Orleans was a majority black city before the storm and flood. Returnees to date include whites and blacks who (mostly) have the financial wherewithal to make it in this economically and emotionally unstable city, as well as the poorest of the poor who have nowhere else to go and nothing else to lose. Everyone in between is fighting FEMA, ungutted homes, insurance companies and Road(block) Home, or is not going to come back because of better jobs or better schooling for children elsewhere.

[Aside: The black flight problem isn’t a post-Katrina one. For instance, when my friend S left New Orleans, she stated one of her reasons for leaving as “There simply isn’t a vibrant dating pool of black male professionals in this town. Those who are successful in school leave New Orleans and Louisiana never to return. Beyond the oil business and law, there is nothing here to prevent the black brain drain.”]

b) If anyone prevents former citizens from re-entry, it’s Nagin and his administration, who haven’t achieved any milestone and have no feasible plan for the recovery of this city. What have the mayor, his officials and hired recovery help done to offer affordable housing, stable jobs and a better public schools district? They is him,

c) White Republicans helped Nagin get elected. Was Nagin oblivious to his own campaign ads that attacked liberals, the core black voting constituency in Orleans Parish before the storm and flood? In that case, if there is a They, Nagin is one of them, and

d) Who are these They? The Illuminati? The Stonecutters? The Erudite Society of One-Way Ticketers? Please name one, sir.

So, what is really behind this latest outbreak of Foot In Mouth disease? It:

Takes attention away from real problems that plague the city, including Meffert’s latest revelations and the slow pace of recovery. As per David, “There’s nothing Nagin would rather have people discuss than his latest verbal gaffe. As I type this, the morning talk radio discussion isn’t about the crime camera contracts and city overtime, but Nagin’s conspiracy theories.”

Deflects speculation from self and places blame on Mitch Landrieu, who incidentally isn’t the Mayor of New Orleans. Louisiana is gearing up for gubernatorial elections whose main contenders are current governor Kathleen Blanco, who needs the black vote, and Piyush “Bobby” Jindal. Never mind that Nagin & Co. used black voters to win the mayoral election, this is an attempt to erode Landrieu’s good name in case he runs for other office here in Louisiana.

What do you want, Mr. Nagin? Is it sympathy from non-New Orleanians who haven’t a clue how behind you are on delivery? A vacation? Someone else to take over your job for a while? Or was your frying pan simply getting too hot, so you threw the cameras over to another invisible dish?

Shame on you, however, for further besmirching the good name of a city that is working so hard to come up, minute by minute, wall by wall, person by frustrated person. You do not represent your citizenry’s hard work, dedication and buildup of goodwill in any capacity. If anyone should be suspicious, it should be us of you.

Related: Adrastos – Typical; dangerblond – it just makes you wonder; Hammhawk – Wow! I Agree With Rob Couhig; World Class New Orleans – Takes One To Know One

3 comments… add one
  • Blair March 19, 2007, 3:59 PM

    What is happening in NOLA is a national disgrace for which there is more than enough blame to cover all parties, races and, with a few exceptions, public and private organizations.

    That said, your mayor provides a kind of macabre humor for some of us.

    Stay strong!

  • liprap March 19, 2007, 5:09 PM

    The Walking Id’s big frickin’ mouth is wearing thin, however…

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