New Orleans, Louisiana-- According to the Nagin Administration, Mayor Nagin will be returning from Merida earlier than previously scheduled in order to continuing addressing 2010 budget challenges, Mayor Nagin will return to New Orleans on Tuesday.
In a press release on Monday, the Mayor’s office said, “Mayor C. Ray Nagin departed this morning for Merida, Mexico, where he and Merida Mayor Cesar Bojorquez Zapata will sign a new SisterCity agreement.
Mayor Nagin and Mayor Zapata will kick off an international business conference Tuesday in Merida.
Historically, New Orleans and Merida have had close ties and signed the first SisterCity Agreement in 1990. Since that time, the relationship between the cities has weakened.
Working to build a better international relationship that will benefit citizens of both cities, in September, Mayor Zapata visited New Orleans and both Mayors signed a letter of intent to sign a new SisterCity agreement to begin rebuilding the relationship between the cities.
Merida is the latest port city with whom the City of New Orleans has sought to strengthen ties in an effort to enhance international business opportunities and in preparation of the widening of the Panama Canal in 2013 that could double the trade business in the city.
In addition to Mayor Nagin's focus on recovery, he has worked to develop and enhance relationships with growing international markets, such as Cuba and South America. Other Southern ports, such as Houston, Mobile and Gulfport/Biloxi have been working for many years to develop these relationships.
Currently, Merida has a population of only 204,000 which is less than New Orleans post-Katrina.
Nagin has been criticized for the Merida trip and for other trips.Critics claim that the trips are junkets paid for by taxpayer money.Nagin leaves office in the spring of 2010.
Well deanslist2 on 12/7/2009, after someone kicks you in the butt, you can stand around rubbing your butt, or you can pry that foot out out of your ass. A new technology to reduce the costs of multi-level parking garages, improved mass transit, even increased use of wind power to offset some of the charades. I have a fairly balanced plan that encompasses all of those paradigms. I try not to restrict myself to single dimensional thoughts and approaches, but then again, when it comes to talking to a wall I suppose that is the best mindset to possess.. Bear in mind though, one cannot make chicken salad out of chicken sh^t. Folks either have their minds made up they want to evolve, or just keep on revolving in the water funnel as you are flushed down the toilet. I had mentioned; Destrehan, St. Rose, Kenner, Metarie, Marrero, Harvey, Gretna, Algiers, Chalmette, Arabie, Westwego, Terrytown, New Orleans, BridgeCity, Meraux, just a few places to start…….. $10 million per year savings for the taxpayer on one line item, perhaps even as much as $20 million per year or more…… I would wonder if anyone out there even cares?- - - - This contemplation and willingness to provide of course would not be a one time occurence, it would happen year after year after year... 10 years? Anywhere from 100 to 200 million dollars and that is no small change my friend. 20 years? 200 million to 400 million bucks.... Couple that with addtional approaches I have in mind and it simply goes hog wild when it comes to tax savings for the inhabitants of Destrehan, St. Rose, Kenner, Metarie, Marrero, Harvey, Gretna, Algiers, Chalmette, Arabie, Westwego, Terrytown, New Orleans, BridgeCity, Meraux, which are just a few places to start…….. Over the course of the past few years I have pretty much kept my designs and specifications for technologies I wish to pursue in my head. It turns out this was a good practice to follow. I am still laughing about the azz clowns that broke into one my storage locations and took some of my old paperwork. People are so predictable, they didn't even know I left that stuff there on purpose. Probably thought they were hurting me. Oh well, time goes on. Enjoy your upcoming new reality, you folks have all worked so hard for it. It is a shame you don't even fathom the manipulations that are being worked against you by your leaders and politicos right now. Poor-Poor-Poor Louisiana, and Poor-Poor-Poor New Orleans, and Poor-Poor-Poor Louisiana Gulf Coast, and Poor-Poor-Poor U.S.A. You don't even see how they are doing it, but you know its comming. Sort of like a dog sitting on death row at the Animal Shelter. It knows it's time is comming, but as long as a food bowl is put in front of it each day, and the crap is hosed out of its pen once or twice a week it is satisfied with its position in life....... Written by
on 12/8/2009
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The word is in now, in today's paper. Parking meters will be in effect until 9 p.m. and on Saturdays. So this is Nagin's great legacy; a final kick in the butt to the rest of us who choose to stay on as he prepares to leave office and move to Dallas. Thanks a lot! Maybe that will discourage even more local people from coming into the French Quarter. Just what the city's economy needs right now. Supposedly this will bring in another $1.7 million a year. Has Hizzoner's people calculated how much business the merchants in the Quarter and on Magazine Street will LOSE when people decide to shop elsewhere where they can park for free? Written by deanslist2
on 12/7/2009
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Progreso, a few kilometers away from Merida. Really nice port, I would suppose that it will be the focus of a lot of ‘foreign aid’ dollars in the future…. President Bush wanted to strengthen U.S. influence in governments south of our borders by implementing Plan Colombia, and the Meridia Initiative (also known as Plan Mexico). Both programs allow for a lot of U.S. taxpayer dollars to be funneled to these governments for the purpose of bolstering their military and police, organizations that in both countries have atrocious human rights records. But then again, the criminal element that thrives in those regions are no wonderful example of humanity their own selves.
In effect, the diplomatic/trade relationship with these ‘strong’ U.S. “allies” coupled with the financial and military aide acts to prop up south of the border governments, legitimized by the typical rhetoric: the U.S. is helping Colombia and Mexico fight against “narco-terrorists.” Obama is dancing around with that, and Afghanistan. It would seem that Nagin is looking for opportunity. It is a recent occurrence in the New Orleans area that Heroin is becoming easier to locate on the streets. Not sure if it is Afghani or Columbian in origin, depends on whether it is ‘China White’ or ‘Mexican Brown’….. I suppose Metro Narco for N.O.P.D. could answer that. But still there is the pressing problem of the Cocaine trade. Speaking of Ports of entry, it would be interesting to see how our ports and rail systems are being utilized for export purposes. Washington State has convenient port entries for Eastern trade routes as do the San Francisco Bay Region, Los Angeles/Long Beach and San Diego to a certain extent… It would seem if we were export growth orientated that our rail system would be greatly improved upon. For each strengthening there is a weakening of something. Improve employment in Mexico/South America, reduce employment in the U.S.A. And as has been the case, manufacturing concerns that have moved to Mexico, then jump off for Malaysia and other points east. Cap and Trade? We are getting capped. Time for us to even the keel line a little I do believe.
Written by
on 12/7/2009
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Poor RayNay. Can't he find anyone to go on a junket with him to Chichen Itza to help him spend we tax-payer's money. Or must he dash back home because the kickbacks are being reduced. Or maybe he's got to ensure that his two cronies get a sweet deal for the Municipal Auditorium so that we tax payers foot the bill and they get the bennies. Nagin sucks. Written by Noladude
on 12/7/2009
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Instead of pig flu in China, likely get the trots in Mexico. First wise decision in years. Written by jk
on 12/7/2009
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