With the revelations about Stone Age, the Nagin family granite countertop business landing contracts with Home Depot stores in New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has sunk to new depths of inappropriate behavior. The disclosures about his family’s new business raise many disturbing questions.
Did Stone Age LLC receive contracts at four Home Depot locations due to the Nagin name and not due to the qualifications of the company?
Why were more experienced competitors rejected?
What ownership stake does the Mayor have in the business?
Did he play a role in lobbying Home Depot for the business?
Was he involved in the permitting process for Home Depot and their application to purchase city streets?
For the past several years, we have seen Mayor Nagin as an incompetent leader. He has a propensity to say the wrong things at the wrong time and basically embarrass the citizens of New Orleans. However, he did not have a reputation as corrupt. Ever since the crackdown on illegal practices among taxi cab drivers and brake tag stations attendants in the beginning of his term, Nagin had an undeserved reputation as a corruption fighter.
As Mayor, Nagin has never really shown an interest in pushing ethics in government. The Inspector General was hired in spite of Nagin and not because of him. Ever since the IG has been in place, Nagin has been an obstacle by first presenting budget roadblocks and then having his legal staff demand that the IG use the services of city attorneys.
The independence of the Inspector General is critical and at this point, he may want to start investigating the Mayor’s ties to Stone Age and its dealings with Home Depot. It does not look good for the Mayor of New Orleans to be involved in a business with his sons that relies on a retail outlet that must seek permits and buy property through City Hall.
Nagin has not responded to questions about this issue. Maybe he will threaten to “cold cock” any member of the media who tries to get answers about this latest controversy.
On the bright side, this business could provide an exit strategy for Nagin. Maybe he can devote his full time and energy to building Stone Age into a top flight granite countertop business. Therefore, Nagin should consider resigning his City Hall position to make sure Stone Age receives the proper attention. If the Mayor pursues this route, I will be glad to hire Stone Age to install granite countertops at my house and I’m sure thousands of New Orleans residents will do likewise.
I wish Stone Age nothing but success and hope that it prospers so much that Mayor Nagin will be forced to leave City Hall early and devote his full-time efforts to building his business. Mr. Mayor, the private sector is calling, heed the call!
Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7 till 11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. For more information, visit his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com
Investigate now. See what the truth was at the time of the meeting, and then decide if it is appropriate. Already, we know the part-time mayor was focused on something else during company time. How obvious is it? The City Attorney signed the corporate documents! Written by nola man
on 3/26/2008
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Great column,Jeff. It's all about the "appearance of impropriety". Nagin doesn't get this and never will. To make it even more pathetic he whines about a conspiracy by WWL and the Times Picayune by crying "see what I have to put up with", oh, and don't forget the vast right wing Aryan Nation attacks on the blogs. SO SAD.Part of the problem is that too many in business and elsewhere have hung their star on this loser and now have to hold their collective breath every time he opens his mouth, then defend him when he utters yet another embarrasing statement. Two more years and then he can go back to Dallas or wherever,no doubt to write a book about how much he did for New Orleans. Written by poboy1
on 3/26/2008
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Thank you for your article! Nagin certainly used his influence to get the contract for the company. "The mayor's 2007 daily planner shows a meeting with "Home Depot" on Feb. 1 at Stone Age's offices, then located on Earhart Boulevard. Stone Age got the contract with the retailer two months later" (http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/03/nagin_familys_company_got_deal.html). As for the "25% rule," he has been listed on official documents as a Vice President of the entity, so that should automatically negate any claim that he has no interest in the company's well-being. During today's interviews, Nagin just claims that he does not have "majority" ownership in the company, but does not go into detail... hmmm.
Interestingly, looking up his corporation on the Secretary of State's website (http://www400.sos.louisiana.gov/cgibin?rqstyp=crpdtlC&rqsdta=35868097K), his corporation is currently NOT in good standing, as the company has failed to file its annual report.... this simple act must be too much work for him and interferes with his all-too-precious "down time." How much do you want to bet that his name disappears from the updated record when the annual report is finally filed? Written by CWM
on 3/25/2008
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Jeff trust me you know not of what you write, so i reply (vitter please). Written by anthony
on 3/25/2008
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