New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin did it again. Once again in a televised interview, Nagin made an asinine remark. In response to a question about whether the murder rate hurts the city's tourism economy, Nagin said it was a "two-edged sword." How can the murder rate be anything but horrible for citizens, business owners and community leaders in New Orleans? Being the Murder Capital of the nation leads to horrible publicity, gives people hesitation about visiting here and discourages business leaders from investing in New Orleans. Any sensible person should realize this, but, of course, Nagin does not fit into that category.
According to Nagin, “Do I worry about it? Somewhat, it’s not good for us, but it also keeps the New Orleans brand out there, and it keeps people thinking about our needs and what we need to bring this community back. So, it is kind of a two-edged sword”
These comments are incredibly foolish. So, Nagin is only “somewhat” worried about the city being the Murder Capital of the nation? This explains his lack of action and his abdication of leadership on the most critical problem facing New Orleans. Back in January, Nagin was signing a different tune and saying that the fighting murder would be his number one priority. He has spectacularly failed in dealing with his number one priority, as 118 people have been killed so far this year. It is unfathomable that Nagin is less concerned about a problem that has become worse throughout the year and one that he has unfortunately not addressed effectively.
In the interview, Nagin subscribes to the policy that any publicity is good publicity, even if it is news about a horrific murder rate. Does Nagin really believe that the bad news about the murder rate will lure business here or tourists? In fact, Baghdad is in news everyday, do people want to travel there for their next vacation? Of course not, and many people feel the same way about New Orleans.
When asked about the killing of the Phillips brothers, Demond and Michael, who were linked to 18 murders in New Orleans, Nagin said “It is unfortunate that they had to die, but it did kind of end the cycle that we were struggling with.”
Mr. Mayor, the cycle will continue until the city implements law enforcement strategies that work and have a criminal justice system that is not a revolving door. The killers will not just kill each other into oblivion and end the cycle of violence, since new murderers are being recruited on the streets of New Orleans every day.
New Orleans needs more community activists, religious leaders, business owners and politicians speaking out against this crime wave. There should be marches on City Hall everyday until Mayor Nagin and the other political leaders of New Orleans truly make the crime problem the number one priority of city government. To effectively deal with this problem, New Orleans needs more than just rhetoric, but politicians who are committed to dealing with an out of control murder rate. The high murder rate is not “somewhat” of an issue or a “blip”, but a crisis that threatens the very survival of New Orleans.
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 5 till 9 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.
It's time to move forward!
What will happen? There are a few scenarios being talked about:
1. Appoint Kristin Palmer for the short term.
2. James Carter goes for at large as he hates Distric C spot.
3. Palmer runs for Disctirct C race. A very winnable race. We get talent, integrity, and a work ethic on the council.
Who else is being talked about?
1.Jay Batt to run for at large to tick Midure off
2. jackie Clarkson wants the at large spot.
3. Karen Carter (BOLD) is cutting a deal to have James go to Congress and she is handed the reigns to at-large.
4. If Nagin runs for governor it solidifies a black back in office. (That is racism - never the best person for the job, only color matters - I am sick of it!) No white could win if Nagin runs.
5. Carter might be cutting a deal with Booth to support him for at large and he would support her for C.
6. The business council of new orleans has already picked their candidate (the krewe of money). Let's see who they have come up with.
More to follow - insider here
Written by truthbeout
on 8/13/2007
Jeff, I like how you say that we can't expect criminals killing criminals to end the violence because "new murderers are being recruited on the streets of New Orleans every day," and yet you think we can end the violence through a stronger criminal justice system. We'll put away more and more people, but there'll always be more on the way. It's like fixing the leaking pipe by getting a bigger bucket to catch the water. ----- As for Nagin, if he really wants to keep people thinking about the city and how bad off we are, comments like these should do the trick. The whole nation will be talking about the city was laid low by the double-edged sword of bad flood protection and a mayor gone crazy.
Written by David (neither Vitter nor Duke)
on 8/10/2007
Ray Nagin is an idiot. The worst thing New Orleans could do, in the eyes of the rest of the nation, was re-elect Nagin as mayor. The next worst thing would be to elect him governor.
He's looking at the murder rate as a PR campaign? As a native New Orleanian, it is painful to me to see how so much of the country has gone from wanting to help, to being turned off by Nagin.
Something has to change.
LewisC
<a href="http://www.about-neworleansla.com/">http://www.about-neworleansla.com/</a>
P.S. The word "Right" in the button below is misspelled.
Written by LewisC
on 8/10/2007
So it's a two edged sword, on one hand it is bad for tourism because of the crime rate but on the other hand it's a good thing because it's criminals killing criminals ?
Written by Sid
on 8/10/2007
Cripes. Someone please don't let C Ray speak without a script. Jeff, you're spot-on with regard to how foolish he sounds, but I have a question for you - did you support the candidacy of Mitch Landrieu, or were you one of the rightards singing the praises of "Businessman Nagin"???? You get what you clamor for, I say.
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin did it again. Once again in a televised interview, Nagin made an asinine remark. In response to a question about whether the murder rate hurts the city's tourism economy, Nagin said it was a "two-edged sword." How can the murder rate be anything but horrible for citizens, business owners and community leaders in 
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