My favorite New Orleans nickname is the “CrescentCity” and I also don’t mind the “Big Easy,” but I hate the new name that has been given to New Orleans, “Murder CityUSA.”Last night, Anderson Cooper of CNN reported from New Orleans and the title of the entire two hour show was “Murder CityUSA, 24 hours in New Orleans.”
It is an accurate title for New Orleans is the Murder Capital of the United States. Despite protests and concern from thousands of honest citizens, the murder rate is still out of control. So far this year, at least 22 people have been killed, as the true number could be much higher. Last year, the murder rate was five times the national average for a city our size and this year it is on pace to be even worse.
Why? For one, we have a dysfunctional criminal justice system, in which the police, judges and district attorney do not work together. There are real questions about the competency of District Attorney Eddie Jordan and Police Chief Warren Riley. The Mayor of New Orleans Ray Nagin also inspires no confidence. Criminals are back on the street days after being arrested. Witnesses are too scared to come forward because there is no witness protection program anymore. So, it is truly a disturbing situation, one that threatens the survival of the most important industry in New Orleans, tourism.
The City of New Orleans can spend millions on marketing, but if reports like the one on CNN continue, it is money wasted. The bottom line is that if this negative publicity continues, people will be afraid to visit New Orleans and for good reason, too many people are being killed.
Although the French Quarter and Central Business District are relatively safe, the rest of the city is not. We all know that perception is reality, so the report last night, coupled with negative crime stories in many of the nation’s top newspapers, make the job of marketing New Orleans almost impossible.
The murder problem has to be solved. New Orleans is far past the stage of platitudes and promises, ineffective proposals and meaningless news conferences. Unfortunately, such nonsense is what citizens are receiving from their leaders today. Recently, a crime czar was hired to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Shouldn’t the police chief be the real crime czar? It seems like more waste and very little effective action.
Now is the point at which the Louisiana Attorney General and the U.S. Attorney General have to step in and provide assistance to New Orleans. A broken criminal justice cannot be allowed to continue, for it will lead to anarchy.
There is no excuse for the lack of progress since Katrina. The fact that courthouses are not open, crime labs remain closed is appalling. Our lack of competent political leadership has certainly exacerbated the problem.
At this point, state and federal leaders have to do much more, for the local leadership is incapable of dealing with the serious challenges that lie ahead.
Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 8:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and Noon till 2 p.m. weekdays on several Louisiana radio stations. For more information, visit his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com.
163 murders to date and still 2.5 months left in the year!!!!
Written by js
on 10/18/2007
Mr. Crouere,
I read your article "New Orleans; Murder City USA," with interest. And although I agree with your premise that bad exposure on the subject, such as offered by CNN, I am increasingly frustrated by such reports, and yours, for failing to identify the true problem.
Let me ask, what do the New Orleans Mayor, Police Chief and District Attorney have in common. Furthermore, what do all high criem areas in the U. S. have in common? If the light goes on for you, you will understand the problem.
Written by Howie Farrell
on 4/7/2007
By "computer training" I mean the basics. We take basic skills for granted- I take basic skills for granted- but to someone who's never gotten the oppourtunity to learn how to use a computer, i.e. turn one on, do simple tasks, search the internet, open a word document to write something etc. it is a very intimidating proposition.
Learning the basic skills gives a foothold to gaining more- it opens doors.
Written by Leslie Smith
on 2/15/2007
I can Buzz, RIGHT back. On Oct.29, 2006 my fiancee and I were at a N.O. Saints game. He is a disabled offshore crane operator, with the #2 vertabrae in his neck is broken,who smokes cigaretts. We were on level C you were only allowed to smoke on levels B&D. He could not walk to those areas, as his walking is limited.He was brutally beaten by N.O.P.D. officer J. Jackson,Jr..His offense was to smoke a cigarette in the mens room. Because we live 1 mile into Mississippi, we could not bond him out. HE was placed in O.P.P. It took 28 hours, and $1,900.00 CASH to get him out.Officer Jackson, added 3 other erronious charges, which were supposedly dropped, after 1st court date. When Joseph Landry, city prosecutor, saw the pictures of R. Schane's injuries, and KNEW we were going to sue, he told the Judge, we are going to have to prosecute on these first 3 charges. So, the Judge set a new court date. THE 2 OFFICERS NEVER SHOWED UP FOR COURT. Thru this ordeal,I, who am BORN OF NEW ORLEANS, WATCHED as MANY people were paraded before the judges. One man for trespassing, by sleeping in a vacant Catholic church. When the Judge released him, the judge said, "AH, And if you go back for your belongings, be advised, THEY may arrest you AGAIN." ALL this has to STOP!!!!!!!!!!I have picketted alone in front of the Superdome. Was threatened by Dome security, arrest, which I have tape recorded. So even my own civil rights have now been violated. BUT, I WILL NOT GIVE IN OR UP. I WILL SAY It for you,NEW ORLEANS, " SET MY PEOPLE FREE." I will stop here, for NOW. Janie Gaudet 1-601-798-3317. godto87infinity@AOL.com Thank-you Jeff for STANDING UP..................
Written by Janie Gaudet
on 2/14/2007
Jeff:
I agree with your comments. I do not think that Warren Riley is incompetent, but Eddie Jordan certainly is. He also seems to be reluctant to convict black criminals.
Sally Reeves
Written by Sally K. Reeves
on 2/13/2007
Leslie---and by computer training I guess you mean they learn to computer program in such computer languages as FORTRAN (or one of the FORTRANS), and/or "C", and/or "C++", and/or Visual Basic, and/or "Linda" ???
Written by tensor
on 2/10/2007
how many people get job skills training and then get jobs in ANY city in the USA ???---how many PHDs in engineering, or physics, can't get decent jobs, every year, in their fields of training ??
Written by tensor
on 2/10/2007
Our crime problem in my opinion, stems from a broken education system. If we ever want our City to grow and thrive, we have to have an educated population.
When a man or woman looks around at their community, and sees no hope of a good future for their family or children, or peers, anger and bitterness begins to breed and crime follows.
We don't have any faith in our elected officials, we don't trust our government, we're probably all still suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome, and our President cares more about crime and education issues in the Middle East than in New Orleans.
Meanwhile, we still have schools that can't open, teachers that can't be paid, and more and more of our best working class tax payers being forced to move elsewhere to feed and educate their families. Our city is in a freefall. Somehow, our most at-risk citizens have to be given hope that things will be better. They need a choice for a life worth living.
A few years ago I did some work with a Post-Skills Release Program directed by Ms. Brenda McGee under the VOA umbrella. This program was for people who had been incarcerated that had minor children to support. Her program offered job skills training, GED classes, anger management, computer training and job placement. The results she acheived were amazing. In the end her funding was cut, but her results were undeniable.
If we keep on abandoning our children, we should expect them to lash out when they grow up.
Written by Leslie Smith
on 2/9/2007
Formula for crime:
1 part federal imposition outlawing freedom of choice in schools. That will get the educational dysfunction cooking. Mix 1 part of two-generational unaccountability with huge welfare program, causing family dysfunction. 1 part bad Democrat politicians to cause judicial dysfunction. 1 part drugs. 1 part hip-hop junk music, removing the great NOLA soul and jazz of the 50s and 60s. 1 part bitching at the feds about everything as an excuse to cover own heinie. A dash of unemployment and loitering and hanging out on the corner. A pound of stupidity. It's ready.
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