Crime Soars in New Orleans as National Guard Pullout Nears
EmailMurders in the city of New Orleans jumped 182 percent in the first three months of the year, and police fear it could go even higher with the scheduled withdrawal of National Guard troops from the city next month. A new report by the New Orleans Police Department also found dramatic increases in armed robberies, up 160 percent, and in assaults, up 103 percent, compared to the first three months of 2006. "The problem is that while the city’s population has been increasing, the department’s officers have decreased in numbers," New Orleans Deputy Police Chief of Operations Tony Cannatella tells ABC News. According to New Orleans urban planning firm GCR & Associates, the city’s population has grown from 185,000 in January 2006 to 255,000 by March 2007 — still a far cry from the 454,000 people who called New Orleans home before Hurricane Katrina. The New Orleans Police Department recently requested Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco keep the 300 National Guard troops currently aiding its law enforcement efforts until it can beef up its ranks, Blanco’s office told ABC News. A spokesperson said she has not yet decided what to do. NOPD’s Cannatella said since Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans police have lost some 400 officers to other cities and states, and remaining officers are still forced to work out of poorly equipped trailers provided by FEMA. New Orleans FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Jim Bernazzani calls their working conditions "alarming." He said FBI agents are now assisting the New Orleans Police Department’s homicide squad. "These are agents with special training in solving homicide cases," said Bernazzani. New Orleans police are trying to fill their ranks by conducting a heavy recruitment drive using cash incentives, with the hope of putting many more officers on the troubled streets in time for the long, hot summer ahead. Do you have a tip for Brian Ross & the Investigative Team?
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NOPD…..check with Burns Security Company. I am sure there are guards there that would take your cash incentives.
Posted by: ribeye | May 24, 2007, 3:50 pm 3:50 pm
This reminds me of the Blotter posting awhile back regarding Blackwater, and the argument “for” or “against” the need for private security firms.
Posted by: Jazz | May 24, 2007, 4:07 pm 4:07 pm
And they wonder why we can’t just pull the troops out of Iraq?
Posted by: viewer | May 24, 2007, 4:26 pm 4:26 pm
Exactly who is “they”, viewer?
Posted by: Jazz | May 24, 2007, 4:30 pm 4:30 pm
“And they wonder why we can’t just pull the troops out of Iraq?”
For better or worse, New Orleans is still part of the United States…Iraq is not! It’s Bush’s war, so rather than sacrifice any more young American men and women, let’s give George, Laura and the twins a few guns, some ammo and let them fight his war!
If Bush hadn’t mishandled the Katrina disaster, maybe things in Nawleans might be better than they are today!
Posted by: Christine | May 24, 2007, 4:30 pm 4:30 pm
Of course, of course…blame the minorities and the poor for the fact there wasn’t much of a city left to keep its police force from leaving. It’s always somebody else’s fault because we know the buck never stops at the White House…unless of course, it’s to combat those evil stem cells and gay marriage. THOSE things, Bush can actually take action on!
Posted by: Eddie G. | May 24, 2007, 4:41 pm 4:41 pm
Bush’s war Jazz? So tell me….was Saddam Hussein a ruthless dictator while Clinton was in office? Even before then? I think the answer is yes, he was guilty of many transgressions over the years and basically had become so defiant to the United Nations that it took a nation such as the United States that still have the gumption to protect the world’s citizens to step in and smack him down. If we were to leave now, then it would no doubt turn into a worse terrorist training ground than Syria. More people die in the United States everyday from car accidents than die in Iraq, but I don’t see any call for a stop to driving. Face it, war is ugly, but so is civilization, and living every day is no guarantee. We all wish it were, but I for one do not wish to bury my head in the sand and pretend that another major terrorist strike will not happen if we leave everyone else alone and let them commit travesties of justice.
Posted by: Mike | May 24, 2007, 4:48 pm 4:48 pm
“I don’t know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don’t care. It’s not that important. It’s not our priority.”
- G.W. Bush, 3/13/02
Gosh, Mikey! I don’t know about the sand, but it sounds like you’ve got your somewhere else. Keep drinking that Kool Aid, okay?
Posted by: Desslok | May 24, 2007, 4:52 pm 4:52 pm
Mike, when the National Guard is unable to respond to domestic disasters because its troops and equipment are bogged down in Iraq, I think is is important to question Mr. Bush’s decision. As far as Sadaam and Clinton, you conveniently seem to forget that he was also a ruthless dictator when Ronald Reagan was in office, when we were shipping him all the weapons to use against Iran he asked for and when Donald Rumsfeld was shaking hands with him. You really should consult a history book before you weigh in on world affairs. JMHO.
Posted by: Marlowe Dank | May 24, 2007, 4:57 pm 4:57 pm
Eddie, aren’t YOU blaming somebody else (Bush) for New Orlean’s problems? I’m blaming the people who are actually live there and commit the crimes. Remember the New Orleans police officers caught on video looting the Walmart? Leave it to a liberal to toss in the race card, BTW.
And what exactly is wrong with the concept of “personal responsibility”? Evidently you think the responsibility is entirely Bush’s.
Posted by: Eric | May 24, 2007, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm
No, I did not forget that, if you notice I also said BEFORE CLINTON, which was Bush I and Reagan….Do not get me wrong here, I am not saying Bin Laden is in Iraq, or that they were linked, but simply that it was time to do something in Iraq. I totally agree that domestic issues are indeed very pressing at this time, and need attention, but I do not agree that it is “Bush’s war” and that we should just pull out and screw what happens in Iraq. That was one of our earlier mistakes, when his dad pulled out too early after the Gulf War, a presence is needed in situations such as those for an indeterminant period, and once you commit, you can’t just go home, whether right or wrong, unless you really don’t care. And I simply think the United States should clean up its mess.
Posted by: Mike | May 24, 2007, 5:02 pm 5:02 pm
I think its important to note that Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein are two separate people. A lot of people get them confued.
Posted by: Sarah | May 24, 2007, 5:03 pm 5:03 pm
I am not the one confusing them. Osama is not the point. Where do you people see in my post “Osama”? Saddam Hussein WAS a cruel dictator who oppressed and killed his people. That is a fact.
Posted by: Mike | May 24, 2007, 5:05 pm 5:05 pm
Eric, I think those committing the crime in New Orleans should be locked up and the key thrown away, in many instances. (I lived in New Orleans and know there’s an entire generation of thieves and thugs that honestly believe the city is theirs for the raping!) But I also believe that in order to combat such criminals, New Orleans needs an decent infrastructure and police force, justice and prison system to cope. We helped re-build bombed out cities in Germany and Japan after WWII, but now in 21st Century America we can’t rebuild New Orleans??? That is a failure of leadership at the very top, my friend, and that rests with Commander Koo-Bananas in the White House.
Posted by: Eddie | May 24, 2007, 5:06 pm 5:06 pm
You get a decent police force by paying police officers better instead of wasting money on pensions for congressmen who commit felonies, “pork barrell” spending attached to the end of bills, and catering to big businesses. National Guard should not have to be used except during the actual emergency and for a short period after. Our goverment structure pays the most important people in our lives, teachers, fire fighters, paramedics and police officers WAY TOO LITTLE….
Posted by: Mike | May 24, 2007, 5:10 pm 5:10 pm
Hey kids, better wake up!!!!! On May 9, 2007 while the world was sleeping our deciderer Bush signed a directive that grants Bush near DICTORIAL powers to the
office of the president. What do you think
of that??? Our dictator may seize property, organize and control means of
prosecution,seize commodities, ASSIGN MILITARY ABROAD (WONDER WHAT BUSH GOT IN
MIND THERE, HMMMM….), institue martial law and control all transportation and
communication and have control of lives
in U.S. cities. Sounds like something
from a Karl Rove. If you don’t believe
me google “NSPD-51″ or called “National
Security and Security Presidential Directive”. Also, Bush has the power
to stop the next election!!!!!! Think
about that~~~~
Posted by: Mike | May 24, 2007, 5:10 pm 5:10 pm
Uummm, Mike, the poster’s name is written BELOW the post, not ABOVE it…please redirect your rant, thanks…
Posted by: Jazz | May 24, 2007, 5:20 pm 5:20 pm
I live in New Orleans and love it! I do not feel threatened where I live and work. There are whole areas of this city that are blighted from the storm and may not ever recover. There are other areas that were hardly touched.
New Orleans was somewhat dangerous before Katrina and continues to be. Many poor people live here – the service industry that the city thrives on requires workers who have minimal skills and receive minimal compensation. The housing market here since so many of the homes were ruined is unreal – the poor have been priced out. As you can imagine, subsidized housing is not exactly at the top of the re-building list of priorities. And desperate people tend to do desperate things.
There’s still no city in America with a more interesting culture and more interesting people. It can’t be beat.
Oh yeah, this is America – when you have a shortage in a capitalistic society, you up the ante. Offer more pay to the cops.
Posted by: Jon | May 24, 2007, 5:27 pm 5:27 pm
N.O. is dead. Fill it with water and make a state park out of it.
Posted by: Joe | May 24, 2007, 5:34 pm 5:34 pm
Thats the best idea I’ve heard yet. Lots of money could be made. Glass bottom boats for tours. New recreation areas, fishing, camping and more.
Posted by: Barry | May 24, 2007, 5:41 pm 5:41 pm
Eric stated that New Orleans is filled with “innate thugs” and Eddie drew the conclusion that Eric was referring to minorities. Eric did not say anything about minorities. Regardless of whether they are white/black/red/yellow they need to be locked up and I agree with Eric, they ARE thugs. Minorities or not. Give it a break people, just because somebody refers to thugs DOES NOT mean they mean “black” people. Jeez…
The National Guard is doing their job there, just like other units are doing their job elsewhere. They need to stay and give the police department time to recruit and train. Just like the other units are giving the Iraqi military time to recruit and train before leaving Iraq.
Posted by: ARSailorMom | May 24, 2007, 5:48 pm 5:48 pm
We can fix all of the problems in NOLA – police, housing, infrastructure, etc … with the money we waste in a single day in Iraq. Where are our priorities in the country?
Posted by: Tim | May 24, 2007, 5:50 pm 5:50 pm
I get upset that everything is blamed on the president like he personnally makes all of the decisions and does all of this himself. First off, there has been BILLIONS of dollars sent to and spent in New Orleans and the Coast of Mississippi. The president nor congress can rebuild this area, that has to happen locally. Everything here has gone up in price and everybody’s answer is to throw more and more money around and hope that it does some good. Do they need more police, yes, can the president do anything about that, no. New Orleans had a government dependant socity before the storm and now everyone has their hand out to get more “free” money. The LA Road Home Program is joke. Paying people to come back and rebuild, they are taking the money and running. Now they are saying they will not have enough money to give it to all that have applied, that is BS. You could take a bull dozer and scrape all of NO East into the gulf and rebuild every house there with what has already been spent. People need to take responsibility for thenselves and quit blaming others for their lot in life and quit expecting someone to bail them out when they get into trouble. What do you expect to happen when you build in a place that is below sea level and protected by levies that were not designed to withstand major hurricanes. Another obeservation, it the murders keep on going like they have been, pretty soon it will go down because there won’t be anyone left to shoot.
Posted by: DAn | May 24, 2007, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm
Tim
Take a look at all of the money already wasted in N.O. Throwing more money at them only makes some of the people here richer and does very little for the people it is intended to help. People need to take care of themselves, not rely on someone else to take care of them.
Posted by: dan | May 24, 2007, 5:59 pm 5:59 pm
All those hands sticking out just bugs the heck out of me too. Funny…seen the footage of the tornados in Kansas where 95% of a town was wiped of the face of the earth? …footage of the snowstorms in the NW? …footage of the river flooding in the Mid-West? People helped people, nobody yelled because Bush wasn’t Johnny-On-The-Spot with government hand-outs. They took care of each other.
That’s what NO needs to do…take care of their own or give the area back over to the wet-lands. You people want to yell at someone…yell at the governor of LA and the mayor of NO. If it isn’t back together yet like it should be, they should be the ones to answer for it. LA g’ment should be footing the bill for the National Guard because it is still needed.
And…has anybody noticed it is NO that is in the press once again. The coast of MS isn’t rebuilt…everyone hasn’t moved back…but there aren’t a bunch of thugs there trying to rape & plunder. NO has a really long way to go, but until the people that live there accept responsibility for what direction the city goes, it will never get better.
Posted by: ARSailorMom | May 24, 2007, 6:00 pm 6:00 pm
What is more important, keep National Guard troops in Iraq or bring them home to help their local states? Al-Qaida followed us into Iraq they weren’t there first. I think we should bring our National Guard troops home to help deal with US natural disasters such as tornados, floods and hurricanes. The Iraq disaster was created by our President’s preemptive choice. I think he made the choice to ensure Haliburtan and big oil profits. Terrorism claims are just a smoke screen to keep sending Billions of $$ to GWB’s friends. He doesn’t care how many people get killed or wounded as long as he makes money now.
Posted by: InFavorOfPeace | May 24, 2007, 6:02 pm 6:02 pm
Personal Responsibility is the key.. I was poor growing up and I worked hard to get out of it. I am an upstanding citizen and take responsiblity for my actions.
Posted by: Linda | May 24, 2007, 6:04 pm 6:04 pm
BTW, for those that expect the citizens of New Orleans to accept all responsibility and deal with all problems themselves, why don’t you expect the same of Iraqi people? If its OK for New Orleans to not have enough National Guard troops, why isn’t it OK for Iraq to not have our troops there?
Posted by: InFavorOfPeace | May 24, 2007, 6:05 pm 6:05 pm
Dear Rob. The thugs in New Orleans do not constitute a national disaster requiring the response of the National Guard. That is unless you would advocate for the imposition of martial law, which would result in swift and summary execution of many of the offenders there. My guess is that you would not like that result either.
Posted by: Scott | May 24, 2007, 6:08 pm 6:08 pm
All you twits defending Bush, saying stuff like, “nobody yelled because Bush wasn’t Johnny-On-The-Spot with government hand-outs,” and the like! Why do so many of you absolutely refuse to hold Bush accountable for NOTHING!!!??? He’s the President of this country, for God’s sake! He’s SUPPOSED to be our chief executive and if the CEO of a company ignored as much as Bush has domestically, then that company would ultimately fail! Harry Truman had a sign on his desk that says, “The Buck Stops Here.” Maybe Bush should have an arrow pointing back to himself and the caption, “I’m with stupid!” I’m glad the folks in Kansas can pitch in and help eachother out, that’s wonderful…but the government needs to do it’s part too, sometimes. Don’t forget, when people were trying to leave New Orleans, they were sometimes met by police with shotguns telling them they weren’t allowed any further. There is racism and prejudice in this country and you can’t blame all the poor in New Orleans for the crime and mendacity of a few among them.
Posted by: Port | May 24, 2007, 6:10 pm 6:10 pm
I have new socks on!
Posted by: Joji | May 24, 2007, 6:28 pm 6:28 pm
Saddam was a cork in a bottle and we pulled that cork out. Yea he was not a nice person, but he kept the factions back from fighting.
He is gone and the peace is gone
1+1=2
Posted by: marshakat | May 24, 2007, 6:28 pm 6:28 pm
I cant wait to go on vacation there & get mugged, shot, stabbed, or killed! Sounds like just the place I want my kids to go.
Posted by: Dirka Dirka | May 24, 2007, 6:50 pm 6:50 pm
“he kept the factions back from fighting.”
Quote of the day.
And this shows that evil can do good, not the opposite. Iraq and the entire world are alot worse off now.
Posted by: elfranche | May 24, 2007, 6:52 pm 6:52 pm
I never blamed all the poor. In fact, I didn’t blame the poor at all. I said “thugs” regardless of what race or creed they belong to. Some of those thugs are very wealthy, which is why they kill and plunder, so they can keep getting more.
The National Guard troops need to stay there, just like they need to stay in other places they are needed. I said in an earlier post, they need to stay in order to assist the NOPD in recruiting and training new officers until that police force can manage on their own.
Posted by: ARSailorMom | May 24, 2007, 7:17 pm 7:17 pm
two days of the budget in the war in Iraq could completely rebuild New Orleans, facilitate return of residents to their homes.
Posted by: Louisa Hosein | May 24, 2007, 7:20 pm 7:20 pm
Dang! How much more government money do we need to send those people? They have been sent billions and it has been squandered! And, I know, before anybody yells it, the war in Iraq had cost billions as well. But, our troops are there, they need the budgeting so they can shoot back.
Posted by: ARSailorMom | May 24, 2007, 7:22 pm 7:22 pm
Why do you say the money has been squandered? Sixty modular building were put in at Southern University with all the equipment, etc. so that students could continue to better themselves. The same was done at various other elementary and high schools, and not just in New Orleans, also where Hurricane Rita hit. Billions of cubic feet of debris have been disposed of. The insurance companies continue to screw people over, offering them to settle for nineteen cents on the dollar of what their home was worth. What do you do when your home is gone, you still owe the mortgage, and by the way, your job is gone too? Some of you people are so heartless – you’d like the world better if you got off your bitching ass and came down and helped some people.
Posted by: Jon | May 24, 2007, 7:34 pm 7:34 pm
I do help people you jerk. I know SOME of the money was put to good use. What I also know is the facts regarding the number of people that used the money given to them to go buy new large screen TVs, go to gambling houses, get boob-jobs done, etc. Then those SAME people wanted more money because they didn’t have enough to buy groceries. I do feel for those that have tried and have spent wisely and still can’t crawl out from under. The problem is, those people are few and far between in that town.
Posted by: ARSailorMom | May 24, 2007, 7:50 pm 7:50 pm
As someone who has served in Iraq and who is from New Orleans, I have two views:
On New Orleans and crime: The State aand Fed Gov has a responsibility to help repair some of the problems in New Orleans and alot of the aid disappeared. But the people do have a personal responsibility to not commit crimes. I don’t commit crimes and I am a minority. I do not use drugs and I am a minority. And everyone who is commiting crimes and using drugs are not minorities. It isn’t Bush’s fault that violent crime is happening in New Orleans, but his Administration is not helping apart of their country while putting much needed resources into a country that doesn’t want his help or in a war that the U.S. can’t “win.” Iraqis don’t want us there. I have been there and talked to them. The average person just wants us to leave their country. They will never stop fighting us, and we are truly having no effect other than to postpone a civil war that will happen whether we are there or not. Iraq was not the cause of terrorism against the U.S. and no matter how people try to justify it, this war is only protecting U.S. (Bush’s) interest, not protecting the American people.
Posted by: T Streetz | May 24, 2007, 8:40 pm 8:40 pm
just read first two paragraphs!!!!!
Posted by: nicole | May 24, 2007, 9:15 pm 9:15 pm
OK….. I have read many post and I wasn’t going to say anything but I just have to say my piece. First off this is BUSH’S WAR! We went to war because of what happend on 9/11 and it has already been proven that Saddam had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks. We invaded Iraq because our “esteemed” president said Iraq has WMD (weapons of mass destruction). WHERE ARE THEY!
Yes Saddam should have been removed and held accountable for his actions but what about taking care of one problem before starting another? What about that terrible day in NY when hundreds of people died? Where is their justice.
George Bush is fighting his fathers war. He wants daddy to be proud of him for completing a job he could not finish. Some of us are so quick to defend our government and saying the White House can’t fix it all. BULLCRAP!
The citizens of New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina were tax paying citizens for several years but what is their tax dollar paying for. In times like this if you can not call on the government for assistance then I think we all need to be asking that question. Where are your tax dollars going.
Answer, Iraq! Bottom line the U.S. needs to mind their own business. Just as African Americans had to fight for freedom the Iraqi people need to do the same. If the people of a Nation is not willing to change it why should someone else. Many people have died for us to live the type of lifestyles we have and when the U.S. can’t take care of home then that is a problem!
Posted by: Stacy | May 24, 2007, 9:16 pm 9:16 pm
what has happened to this place? Have all the good and honest people left and not returned? This saddens me, it really was a nice place to visit. Come on people get your morals back. Get the scum out of your city and reclaim it!!
Posted by: donna | May 24, 2007, 9:21 pm 9:21 pm
AMEN, T Streetz………..The bible says “do you think that those things which are hidden, will not be revealed, for everything done in the dark, will be revealed”..it’s only a matter of time…Don’t worry, He who promises is faithful…
Posted by: Mskash | May 24, 2007, 9:40 pm 9:40 pm
New Orleans and Andy Jackson gave the British Army its greatest military defeat ever, ending the war of 1812. The Port of New Orleans supplies the rest of the nation with billions of tons of oil, gas, and other essential commodities. New Orleans is the mother of 1/3 of the nation. Until the Civil War, New Orleans was the second largest city in the nation; it remained one of the largest cities into the 1960’s. The United States Government was (and still is) responsible for the levee system and river commerce. The levee system and flood protection were known to be grossly inadequate since the 1970’s, yet the feds never stepped up to the plate. You can pay me now or pay me a hell of a lot more later. As demonstrated by this new so-called immigration reform [dajavu all over again], the federal government has gotten into the habit of ignoring problems until it is too late. Just as Katrina was the beginning of the end of New Orleans, so is this despicable immigration reform the beginning of the end of the nation. New Orleans will never be rebuilt and the nation’s sovereignty will never be restored. Adios, America. Hola, citizens of the North American Corporate Dictatorship.
Posted by: Corbon | May 24, 2007, 10:51 pm 10:51 pm
The ignorance of some of the comments here is astounding.
–to the “personal responsibility” rants, what about holding the federal government “responsible” for the failure of the levee system that it built and maintained that failed under conditions well BELOW their alleged strength? Why are you so willing to absolve the government of responsibility for that?
–to the “hand out” crowd, I notice that you are perfectly willing to accept the lavish offshore drilling royalties and make abundant use of our river and port. Did you know that if Louisiana received the same percentage royalties as Texas and Florida that we’d receive an additional $2 billion per year. Why aren’t you ranting about the government with it’s hands out for those royalties?
–to the “all of the money has been wasted” crowd–do you realize that over 90% of the funds devoted to the storm were always 100% under the fed’s control. Only the CDBG money was allocated directly to the states. If you think money was wasted how do you think the people here feel that the feds have completely botched the funds they were supposed to use to help the people here.
–to the “they just bought plasma TV” ranters–do you realize that as many people from California were found to have misused Katrina relief funds as Louisianians? Why don’t you rant agains the people from other states who CLAIMED to be from NO to get their greedy paws on relief funds?
–My mother-in-law is a professor at a local university. She works 50-60 hours per week and has been driving 1 1/2 hours each way to work–living out of a trailer for nearly 2 years–and yes, she was FULLY insured. It’s a joke to compare the devastation here to tornadoes or snow storms.
Some people here are truly ignorant and need to inform themselves beyond the 30 second clips they hear on talk radio.
Posted by: James | May 25, 2007, 12:03 am 12:03 am
I find it interesting I did not see ( or may have missed) anyone asking why the mayor and governor there can not do their jobs after all this time. I would think since everyone but the people in NO are paying for the guard and everything else there it is time for them to step up to the plate and do more than raise the crime rate.
Posted by: Dragonsbreath | May 25, 2007, 5:29 am 5:29 am
I’ve read all these comments and while I’ve never been to NO I watched the tragedy and devastation from my TV and from the online news reports and blogs. I can’t quite you numbers and figures, history and percentages.. what i do know is that it took two days for the federal government to respond to a tragedy that should have been responded to in 12 hrs.
Along the way the news of personal triumphs and tragedies brought out the best in the human spirit and help came pouring in even before FEMA could shake themselves awake long enough to figure out HOW to respond.When they did it was too little too late and has continually been that way for almost three years.
Stop politicizing this and simply ask why? Why was this bungled so badly, why is it STILL being bungled this badly and why aren’t we standing up and demanding actions, as a whole, from a government that doesn’t OWE us, but has PROMISED to
serve and protect the people. Last I knew.. NO were still The People, just like the rest of us.
Posted by: Jax | May 25, 2007, 6:56 am 6:56 am
This is a tough problem to solve, with many different causes. There is a good article that describes some of those causes at: http://www.thenewsroom.com/details/327183c_id=bh
Posted by: Akhilleus13 | May 25, 2007, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm
To all the lefties out there screeching about the goverment: the goverment that should have taken care of New Orleans is the STATE and LOCAL goverment. Of course they are incompetent DEMOCRATS.
Also, it is up to the people of New Orleans to rebuild. Why the Hell should I give New Orleans money when no one wants to rebuild there?
Oh yeah – were dumb mminorities, who need smart White lefties to tell us what to do.
Posted by: Rudy | May 25, 2007, 5:39 pm 5:39 pm
If you need to blame anyone blame mayor Ray Nagan & that governor Blanco. the mayor promised to hep do this & that but hes a terrible leader & the idiots that voted for him a 2nd time must want there city to go nowhere, which is the direction its been goin.
Posted by: Dirka Dirka | May 25, 2007, 6:59 pm 6:59 pm
When criminals know an area is vulnerable, it will be targeted for victimization. This is nothing new. People who live in these types of communities are victimized from all fronts. They are victimized by the media, other citizens making judgements about them, as if they are attached to the criminals, government officials who would rather they go away and, especially as of late, who move them to others areas instead of working with the communities to solve the problems and the realization that they don’t know who to trust because many want to use them to prove their particular point about how bad they are, as indicated by the very selective photos and captions after Katrina hit.
Posted by: Sharon Dupree | May 26, 2007, 5:11 pm 5:11 pm
Desperate people do desperate things. Has anyone done any surveys to see if the crime is going up because conditions are getting worse? I don’t like seeing non-fact arguements out there and we should be asking for a full range of facts before we jump all over victims of the worse disaster in our generation’s history. By that I mean “Hurricane Katrina”, not 9-11. But then again, if you look at the facts, GWB is not a good President because 9-11 happened during his watch, he’s a bad President because 9-11 happened on his watch.
Posted by: Jeff Smith | May 27, 2007, 10:08 pm 10:08 pm
The problems in New Orleans are a grand reflection of the true nature of the constituents of that beleagured city. All the advertising in the world will not change that one simple truth — New Orleans is dead!
Posted by: Jake | May 28, 2007, 9:05 am 9:05 am
As a graduate of Benjamin Franklin High School in New Orleans, I am following the “progress” of New Orleans. I remember when the principal of Benjamin Franklin rolled up her sleaves and went to work and rebuilt her school and made a charter school saying to hell with state and local money.
I spoke to my son the other day who was raised on Child Support and State Handouts in Illinois. After working parttime to put himself through college in California, he has decided that he will not go back on handouts. He wants to retain his dignity.
I am sad when I hear about the corruption in New Orleans, but I say what else is new. It always was there, just not as prevalevant and in the light as much. I suspect that the reason, that New Orleans was not helped out was it was Democratic and less votes.
What did the Democratic party do for New Orleans? Has anybody in the Democratic Party shown up to help New Orleans? What have the Clintons done for New Orleans? What have any of the other Democrats done for New Orleans?
So It is really a matter of how many votes can New Orleans deliver? Less people registered and alive, less of a threat.
Bring all of our troops back from Iraq. To Hell with Iraq. Let them have the oil fields. Let the gas prices go to $10 a gallon. Let all of the 100,000 men who had jobs go back to their jobs and then jobs be found for those who they replace.
As far as Amnesty, Bring all of those in the country in and have them clean up New Orleans and rebuild New Orleans for the Low wages that they are willing to work for.
No more government handouts for anybody, except Veterans and those on Social Security and literally cannot work for themselves.
We have created a welfare state and made jobs for those who lookout after those on the welfare, that is all it is about. New Orleans was caught up in the middle of that and Katrina blew it all away. Now the welfare state in New Orleans cannot function any more and so what to do???
Get off your butts and go to work…Buy guns and shoot back!!! The terrorists are in New Orleans, we just call them thugs. In Iraq they are called terrorists because they use explosives.
Time to take care of terrorists on our own turf, G.W.
Posted by: Bill , Sarasota, Fl | May 28, 2007, 10:01 am 10:01 am
ditto on the 2 days in iraq budget…
why is it so easy to spend on destruction and
not on construction and human welfare in our country??
Posted by: justaperson | May 29, 2007, 1:09 am 1:09 am
Crime goes up just before the troops are pulled out? No freaking way! You gotta be kidding!
Well, the democrats should be pleased! Looks like we are going to cut and run from New Orleans. Let them fend for themselves.
They must really want things to get worse in Iraq…
Posted by: TexBork | May 30, 2007, 11:43 am 11:43 am
I’m sick of hearing people blame George Bush for the catastrophe in New Orleans. New Orleans has been a disastor waiting to happen for a long, long time. At fault are the State government of New Orleans and its local citizens for failing to deal with the flood threat. The local government of New Orleans and the local citizens are also to blame for the poverty stricken condition/slums of New Orleans. They allowed both problems to fester untreated. Things wouldn’t have been so bad if the government of New Orleans had done it’s job in the first place to re-engineer the sea walls. If the New Orlean citizens had demanded that inner-city poverty and crime be dealt with before Katrina, then the poverty and crime after Katrina wouldn’t have been so bad. The blame for the current condition of New Orleans rests on the locals; local politians, citizens and business owners that were there before Katrina hit.
Posted by: Cynthia | May 31, 2007, 3:58 am 3:58 am
Hey, all you folks that wanted to have SH taken out, its time to get on the plane!!
Posted by: jd | June 1, 2007, 1:14 am 1:14 am
Well nagin wanted a “chocolate city” and now he has one.Let the idiots kill each other!!!!
Posted by: john oakman | June 4, 2007, 10:08 am 10:08 am
Why do we keep comparing everything to “two days of war in Iraq would pay for this that or the other thing?” Why not compare it to two days of national welfare payments or two days of social security payments to everyone under the age of 65? I checked my block yesterday and did not see a single tank driving down it or a National Guard checkpoint. I would prefer to keep it that way, and anyone who thinks about it should also. Stop whining about what the government did or did not do and do it yourself! The amount of time you complain about George Bush or Bill Clinton you could fix it yourself! Why would you expect the same system you complain about to fix anything? Has the US Govt EVER fixed anything? Or have they only created bigger problems? Keep the Govt AWAY from me!
Posted by: kalenakc | June 4, 2007, 7:43 pm 7:43 pm
Remember all of the looting that was taking place in and around NO and the Kenner area? Even the police and rent-a-cops were smashing and hauling. Well according to the PC crowd, it is wrong to call them looters! Yup, the PC name for these thugs is now “non-traditional shoppers”
Posted by: Cserpent | June 5, 2007, 11:47 pm 11:47 pm
New Orleans, was and still is a corrupt city, big surprise eh? you have MR. Brown town, the Mayor, what an idiot!
8.5 Billion un accounted for, given to who knows? all in the name of Katrina. What a load of discrace! Hurrican season is hear again, look out!
Posted by: JB | June 6, 2007, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm
hey mike get real. If the controling factors in the world, BIG BUSINESS did not make a profit from war and politicians were not control freaks there would be no war. Further more no country has a ” manifest Destiny’ The people at the top do not have the right to force their beliefs, morals or mores on any person or country. Grow up.
Posted by: cldwestervelt | June 6, 2007, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
New Orleans was a crime infested swamp before Katrina, and now things are just going back to normal. I don’t know why anyone would live there. Sure, there are some places that are beautiful like the French Quarter, but once you step outside that, good luck!
Posted by: msk13 | August 30, 2007, 11:54 pm 11:54 pm
new orleans has been purged several times during it’s existance, both natural and man-made disasters have either burned the place to the ground or washed it out to sea. Every time, it eventually rose from the ashes. It will rise again. eventually
Posted by: cimodri | October 29, 2008, 7:30 pm 7:30 pm