Is it trash talk or racism?Two New Orleans' two highest-paid trash vendors are arguing over who gets city trash jobs and it appears that a racial clash might be brewing.As the Times Picayune pointed out on Tuesday, dozens of black ministers and civil rights activists alleged that the City Council has singled out the deals because they are held by minority-owned firms.
According to the Times Picayune, “Supporters of Richard's Disposal and Metro Disposal, both New Orleans companies owned and run by African-Americans, told council members during a hearing in advance of Friday's vote on the city's 2008 budget that any attempt by the council to change terms of the agreements, which Mayor Ray Nagin signed last year, would amount to racism and could incite activists to abandon the city in the throes of the winter tourism season.”
"What is out of compliance if these men are doing their job?" Spiver Gordon, national treasurer of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, asked the council. "We don't need to come back here and dance around your cash registers. We're talking about economic boycott."
Imagine getting ready to take over a state agency and finding out that the State might be in 100 million dollars of bond debt.That is what newly elected Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain is claiming as he told the Baton Rouge Press club that outgoing AG, Bob Odom’s Office, has accrued about $100 million in bond debt through various projects and equipment purchases.Strain is citing the Bond Commission.
Louisiana Law Suit
U.S. District Judge
Lewis Kaplan in New York has tossed out a lawsuit filed by Louisiana officials against Pfizer Inc. (PFE).The lawsuit attempted to recover state Medicaid payments for prescriptions for a diabetes drug Rezulin which had been pulled off of the market.Louisiana continued to sue Pfizer to recover Medicaid payments for Rezulin prescriptions and the costs of treating injuries allegedly caused by Rezulin.
Louisiana had claimed that another company which Pfizer took over, Warner-Lambert, misled the public Rezulin. Louisiana argued that its Medicaid program for the poor wouldn't have paid for the Rezulin prescriptions if it had known about the drug's risks.
One of the factors cited by Kaplan is that Louisiana's Medicaid program was bound to cover Rezulin under federal law because the drug was approved by the Food and Drug Administration
Noose
There has been more talk about nooses since the Jena 6 incident.Also, there are more lawsuits which are being filed by individuals who are claiming that they had been encountered by a noose intimidation situation.However, some believe that the noose on the loose is nothing but racial hysteria prompted by a high-profiled case in Louisiana and which alleged claims continue throughout Louisiana and throughout the nation.There is a movement towards specifically citing the display of a noose as a “hate crime” while others are suggesting it is “free speech” like a rebel flag.WWL TV on Monday night featured a claim being made by a man who says that he was victimized offshore by co-workers who utilized a noose and has suffered damages since.http://www.wwltv.com/video/index.html?nvid=196051&shu=1
Trent Lott
US Senator Mary Landrieu (D-La) made these comments after discovering that her associate Trent Lott of Mississippi would be resigning:
“Through 35 years of service in the House and Senate, Trent Lott has repeatedly found the right balance between powerful leadership for his party and the wisdom to broker common ground when achievable. His friendship and counsel were especially important to me and the people of Louisiana as we faced the long road of recovery from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
“Senator Lott’s partnership in fighting for the GulfCoast states’ fair share of offshore oil and gas revenues was a key factor in our bill’s passage. I have also deeply valued his ability to reach across the isle to create pragmatic consensus on vital national priorities. Our partnership on insurance issues, the Water Resources bill and a host of necessary FEMA reforms has been a true collaboration.
“But Senator Lott is not simply a trusted colleague and experienced mentor. He and Tricia are also very special friends whom I will miss very much. I admire Senator Lott for his service, and wish him and his family nothing but best wishes as they embark on the next chapter of their journey together.”
HAS IT OCCURRED TO ANYONE THAT LOUISIANA'S MOST IMPORTANT EXPORTS, NAMELY ITS MUSIC AND CULTURE, HAVE NEVER BEEN EXPORTED AND PROMOTED NEARLY AS WELL AS THEY CAN BE? AS IT STANDS, LOUISIANA'S UNIQUE MUSIC AND ITS LEGENDARY MUSICIANS (PAST AND PRESENT) REMAIN ANONYMOUS TO MUSIC FANS IN MOST PARTS OF NORTH AMERICA. YOU MAY CONTINUE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT INADEQUATE POST-KATRINA RECOVERY EFFORTS, BUT I FEEL THAT LOUISIANA IS EQUIPPED TO HELP ITSELF, BY SOLVING THESE ISSUES. IN MY OPINION, IF YOU EXPOSE THE OUTSIDE WORLD TO LOUISIANA MUSIC (SUCH AS WITH DANCE PARTIES AND BETTER C.D./D.V.D. MARKETING), THE STATE'S REVENUES AND TOURISM WILL SURELY INCREASE. THE OFFICIAL LOGO OF QUEBEC PROVINCE (WHERE I LIVE) IS ALSO THE FLEUR DE LYS AND IT'S JUST ONE OF MANY THINGS WE HAVE IN COMMON. I'M TRYING TO DO MY PART, AS A PROMOTER HERE IN MONTREAL, CANADA, UNFORTUNATELY WITHOUT ASSISTANCE FROM ANYONE IN THE STATE. AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO SEES THIS POTENTIAL? WHAT DO YOU THINK? Written by Anthony D.,
on 11/28/2007
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Watchdog, dear, we are glad to see you post. This one of ours may be long and we hope it gets clearance. Racism still exists in many ways but the only way to truly eliminate it is to unite in one grand effort. We remember times gone by with those hideous signs and white men sitting while black women, pregnant and old, stood. As children we were taught otherwise. We moved signs, we stood, etc. We were not ashamed but some of our high bred fellow students snickered at us. We remember the failure of the churches to unite in an effort to erase this scourge on our city. When Archbishop Rummel acted, he was faced with the wrath of many of his congregation. This also occured in public sectors of life. Now it continues in churches and in public arenas and in public office because of fear, fear, fear. Out of this must come union and a definitive determination to unify regardless of our ancestries.
Yesterday we listened to Mr. Cerasoli and we were impressed by his determination. We wonder why there is fear to let him carry out his responsibility. While the Rev. Wilde may have been correct in his statements, we would have preferred to see another leader present, Dr. Norman Francis. WWL-TV listed the most prominent leaders in our community. He was number one and rightly so. He grew up in times of segration, he fought discrimination, but he learned from those who began to fight against discrimination throughout their lifetimes, the sisters of the order founded by Mother Drexel, with the huge Drexel inheritance. She was an inspiration for those who were discriminated against. He was chosen to be the first lay president of Xavier by that order. He has overcome and he challenges his students to do the same regardless of their ancestry. It is this challenge that all of us must accept. Dr. Francis sitting next to Mr. Cerasoli would have made it clear to all factions in this community that the citizens of this city mean business. Not business as usual but a business that is generated by ethics and honesty. This state will soon be operated by a man, who following the national trend for ethics in government, may accomplish this on the state level. We in this city may beat him to the punch with Mr. Cerasoli, his staff, and others if he is properly funded. Don't give us the baloney that there is not enough money. Just eliminate some of those free cars and other unnecessary items and let's roll up our sleeves and say New Orleans is truly number one in excellence of leadership and government. What faction of our city's leadership could argue against that. Ray, spew up the bucks. While we are at it let's get the bucks for the DA's office. Yes indeed, we like the cut of that woman. Let's get some money into the police department for some beefing up. We like the cut of Riley also. Now we will be criticized but at our ages that is more fun. Yes, Watchdog, dear, we still believe. One more thing, add Leah Chase to that list of leaders. She did what some would have thought impossible in her day. Engough for now. We have had only one cup of java and we need more. Written by RhettsWife
on 11/28/2007
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You said it right, RhettsWife! They who are looking behind the door are busy standing there before and now re: racism. I can't begin to recall the last time that I've seen true racism in this town - maybe decades ago - but I am oh so weary of the claims of it with not even a whiff of it on the horizon. On another topic: Have I missed any articles recently on Cerasoli (sp?)? RhettsWife, have you noticed the troubles he is having trying to secure funding for his office? Could it be that those that he wants to investigate are trying to do a squeeze play to prevent him from having funds to investigate those with the purse strings, perhaps???? Written by Watchdog
on 11/27/2007
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Unfortunately many of the people who are being harmed by the refusal to pick up the debris are Americans of African ancestry. In other words, to hell with you if we cannot make more bucks by picking up your trash. It is time for the racists to stop using the race card all of the time. The racists themselves are Americans of African Ancestry. Will someone finally face reality? Written by RhettsWife
on 11/27/2007
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Unfortunately many of the people who are being harmed by the refusal to pick up the debris are Americans of African ancestry. In other words, to hell with you if we cannot make more bucks by picking up your trash. It is time for the racists to stop using the race card all of the time. The racists themselves are Americans of African Ancestry. Will someone finally face reality? Written by RhettsWife
on 11/27/2007
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I don't suppose the problem with Richard's Disposal and Metro Disposal is that - despite the 24 million dollars per year contract that calls for them to have a once-weekly collection of "unlimited bulky waste collection from residential units and small businesses," including "demolition material" - they will not do so; no it must be the White Man trying to hold down the Black Man. So... I guess the only city officials who are supposed to be able to terminate the services of minority contractors must themselves be minorities? I think not. The taxpaying homeowners of this city are entitled to get the most trash collection service for the best price. Let Waste Management and SWDI compete with these two disposal services - and whichever agrees to do the most for the least is who we should use - we do not have money to waste (like, let's fill some potholes with the savings perhaps). Written by kerry fox
on 11/27/2007
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