Turning point?
I'm hoping that we'll look back on this day as a major turning point in Ray Nagin's administration, and in the rebuilding of New Orleans.
Why?
Because Ray Ray put away the Mr. Cool routine and actually addressed the crime problem with a serious attitude, and with a serious call for action, requesting Louisiana State Police and National Guard to help patrol New Orleans.
For responding affirmatively to the request within a couple of hours, Bravo Governor Blanco!
I'll never understand why Mayor Nagin and NOPD Superintendent Warren Riley thought the National Guard could leave the city in the first place.
I called for the National Guard to return on at least two other occasions (here and here).
New Orleanians will not tolerate thugs and murderers.
I hope Ray Ray is now going to get serious and become vocal about the array of other issues that require his attention.
Tags: Hurricane Katrina | Katrina | New Orleans | Louisiana | We Are Not OK | Nagin | Ray Nagin | Rebuild New Orleans | New Orleans crime
posted by Schroeder @ 8:15 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
I'm not holding my breath about C Ray getting serious about things. Oliver was the one who called the press conference. But at least Mayor Sleepwalker showed up.
I thought it interesting that Nagin was in the background for most of the press footage.
I also found it interesting how Warren Riley blamed the press for New Orleans' bad image. How dare the press actually report murders!
when i heard the national guard was coming my reaction was 'good for you blanco! let's get them into central city where a glut of killings are happening.'
then i heard the national guard will be relieving the NOPD from guarding property in less-populated areas, so the NOPD can return to policing 'high profile areas' - presumably the quarter & other spots frequented by tourists.
quite how this is supposed to prevent the next disgusting slaying in central city or a similar neighborhood i don't know...but i feel somewhat angry.
what's the formula? a tourist is worth more than how many young black males exactly?
The problem with the National Guard patrolling is that in reality, they can't truly function in a law enforcement capacity where they're doing reports. They can detain people who are breaking the law. They can shoot if they're threatened. Beyond that, a bunch of guys with AR-15's in Hummers rumbling down the street are pretty intimidating.
I agree that the Guard should patrol the empty areas for looters. The property crimes are wearing our people down. The Guard are not trained civilian police, so they are better off protecting property.
I hope Duncan is wrong. I hope the cops are patrolling in places where children are getting killed. I am going to try to find out. However, Duncan, it is very important that we protect visitors to the city. They are not more important, but they are our guests. We should at least send them home alive.
julie stott is the name of the first tourist i recall being murdered after i moved here, in march 1992. it made a big impression on me as she was from england, like myself.
i also recall someone made a glass sculpture of a tourist (another woman, from boston i believe) killed by a falling bullet. due to the likely negative impact on tourism, no-one would give the work an outdoor home of any prominence, and i think it's warehoused on the westbank, last i heard. of course, making and exhibiting statues of all the young black people gunned down since march 1992 would be a problem
of an entirely different scope.
sincerely hope i'm wrong about deployment locations of NOPD, and they are today reported to have been 'sweeping' central city. i also hope they can recruit many good officers and protect everyone.
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