The following is a statement from Mayor Nagin and a letter it has issued to the Louisiana Technology Council and a statement it has just issued in connection with the email controversy:
STATEMENT FROM MAYOR'S OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY
In April of this year, the Mayor's Office of Technology hired the Louisiana Technology Council (LTC) to conduct an impartial third party examination of the City's email server. The City voluntarily entered into this agreement to address ongoing litigation and pending requests for public records. Due to the confidential nature of the information being examined and to ensure an environment of impartiality, a confidentiality agreement with LTC was also executed.
Earlier this month, LTC held a press conference to announce findings that the organization has since admitted were flawed and led to unfounded conclusions. This resulted in the dissemination of misinformation and acted as a disservice to the citizens of New Orleans. LTC violated the confidentiality agreement.
After reviewing LTC's preliminary report that was submitted after LTC's public announcement, an assessment by the Office of Technology has found that LTC did not properly use the software employed for the search it was contracted to conduct. As a result of these actions, the Office of Technology terminated its contract with LTC.
Today, the City of New Orleans is releasing LTC's preliminary report, as well as the letter that I wrote in response to it. This letter clearly outlines the problems with LTC's processes, assumptions and conclusions.
The City Attorney has requested a meeting with LTC within the next 24 hours. This meeting is an attempt to resolve this issue without litigation. Prior to or during this meeting, LTC must return all information received from the City's server. Some of this information is the subject of ongoing legal action and other information is otherwise confidential. LTC must not distribute any of this information received from the City of New Orleans to anyone.
M. Harrison Boyd
Interim Director, Mayor's Office of Technology
It is unfortuanate that more than just the letter is discussed in this article. The Times-Picayune has had a more extensive coverage of the issue today and last night. While criticizing LTC, it has hired another firm to investigate - Sunblock Systems, a minority owned company. Since URL's are not allowed to be posted, we suggest that you run a search. Also look at their products - one called Bit Flare - there it is described as "a revolutionary new software tool that allows non-experts to perform computer forensics, electronic evidence discovery, and data preservation". Is that not what one needs. In fact a free trial download is available. As Rhett and I have tried to state elsewhere, we would be willing to to read the instructions and do the investigation for free. Why pay for it when it is allegedly free online. Just another bill to add to the stress of taxpayers who are dealing with the questionable antics of Ray Nagin and his team in City Hall, the cover up capital of New Orleans, Louisiana, and perhaps the U.S. Written by RhettsWife
on 7/28/2009
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Penya Moses-Fields needs a permanent retraining order. Written by CWM
on 7/27/2009
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As a tax-paying citizen of New Orleans, I urge the Louisiana Technology Council to maintain the information and continue their work on retrieveing the e-mails and/or finding out what happened to the e-mails. Nagin and his administration do not, and cannot, speak for the city in this matter -- they are the ones who deleted the e-mails. The e-mails belong to the residents of New Orleans, not the mayor and his minions. In reality, the LTC should go to Judge Rose Ledet and tell her that the mayor stonewalled their investigation into the illegal deletion of e-mails, and ask her to order the mayor's administration to allow them (LTC) to continue their work.
I would call Nagin and many of the people in his administration idiots, but that would demean idiots.
Written by CWM
on 7/27/2009
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"Prior to or during this meeting, LTC must return all information received from the City's server"....... He he he he..... Mr.Reade-- tell 'em "eat sh*t and die... c'ya in court, mo-fo"....... How many attorneys will represent LTC gratus?.....The big bully mayor.... Judges don't like that, oh no they don't. Written by KJ
on 7/27/2009
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What the heck is a "retraining order" (last graph)? I'm pretty sure they meant restraining order but mis-spelled the word...another small but telling reflection of the widespread ineptitude displayed by this administration every time they attempt anything. Nagin's attorney can't even draft a letter without mis-spelling simple legal terminology. Written by
on 7/27/2009
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If this wasn't so ludcrous, it would be laughable. Here we have a mayor and legal representative who condoned the illegal distribution of emails of (white only) city council members to a racist agitator, who then broke the law and made them public, putting out information on private citizens. The mayor, who obviously knew what he was doing when having his emails professionally and indelibly erased, presumably to cover up some illegal contracting and other activities, is now trying to bully an organization which, as part of a city contract, identified that the mayor's emails had been efficiently removed. Nagin is a crook and his appointees are either to stupid to have their own honest opinions or get some kind of kudos from the mayor for backing his foolish and ofter illegal activies. One wouldn't be surprised to find that the mayor himself let someone like his close friend and trip sponsor Mr Meffert into the secure server area so that they could efficiently erase his emails. Written by Noladude
on 7/27/2009
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Where is the preliminary report and rebuttal letter from the mayor's IT chief? Written by Smoke Means Fire
on 7/27/2009
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