This post will be sans links as it's just a children's story, a cautionary tale, a narrative with a happy ending, suitable bedtime reading. It's also dedicated to those readers who will be belly laughing outside my hearing, behind their screens. I love them all---I think.
An announcement came to Slate's inbox: Book signing for Mark Folse's new book, Carry Me Home, at the Maple Leaf Bookstore. Proud of her friend, she ris-vipped, put it on her calendar and there it sat until the day before it was to take place. Slate then, being a good old geek, enters "Maple Leaf Books" in the Google map section of her computer screen and miraculously little icons appear showing the locations of not only Maple Leaf Books, but Octavia and three others. She confidently clicks on the correct icon and voila, a map appears in short order.
"Cool," she thinks. "I can take my bike! It's just down Rampart to Canal, then a right and I'll be there. No problem."
Something strikes her as strange. The location mapped before her would put her directly behind St. Louis Cemetery #2, three blocks from the Iberville Projects.
"Hmmm," she thinks. "Perhaps that isn't right. After all I've been in and around that area a lot and never saw a bookstore there."
Pondering for a moment, she decides to call the above mentioned Mr. Folse who, upon hearing the directions, laughs out loud then says the directions are wrong. He kindly points the seriously downtown impaired woman in the right direction, giving her a street address for the book signing and some suggestions as to how best to get there. No, the bike won't do it. It's gonna have to be the car. It's not that she's NEVER been uptown, but most of the times she's ventured there it was recon after Katrina or some medical lab to find out how many places her husband's bones were broken in. And she doesn't want to take the freeway as the only way she's ever found her way around cities was by using surface streets, once a street was seen she knew where she was when she saw it again.
She'd been to the zoo, the lake, the yacht club. She'd occasionally been to friends' homes but it had almost always been with another friend driving who knew the way. Not a problem. Slate was anything but faint of heart.
Confidently walking out her door, Slate got into her car and headed for Claiborne. There was some activity there blocking her way, maybe an accident, she never did find out, so she cut back down to the go through the Quarter to St. Charles since the map showed that she could surely get there via that broad and beautiful avenue.
Slate, however, had completely forgotten that it was a Mardi Gras parade day. After fighting her way down Dauphine, past all the people in line at Port of Call, she heads down (up?) toward Canal. The tourists are out in force, obviously believing mistakenly that the PT Cruiser is a spaceship made of some sort of malleable plasma to which their bodies will be impervious. It takes her 30 minutes to traverse the short blocks of the Quarter, make the left to Royal, a right on Royal and . . . .
"Oh my god, it's a parade day!" she says to herself noting police barricades already up at the Canal/St. Charles/Royal intersection. Bravely crossing Canal onto St. Charles, she curses WWOZ for betraying her in her time of need by playing a lot of Spanish music that she's not crazy about rather than something that will keep her trucking along into the foreign territory that is Uptown.
All the way up St. Charles people are already camped out for the parade that won't start for a couple more hours. Tents, ladders by the dozen, lawn chairs, coolers full of beer are all she sees on both sides of the street and along the neutral ground. Trucks stop with no warning in front of her, dropping off more furnishings for their outside parlors. Cars in front of her do the same, hailing an old friend off the neutral ground in order to carry on an extended conversation regarding logistics as she waits impatiently but curiously behind them.
Every corner has a vendor of wonderful food, port-o-lets painted as faces with big 3-D noses attached to their doors sit in the bed of a truck as the truck's owner contemplates how many dollars he'll make in the next two weeks. Stacks of bleachers line the stately avenue waiting to be filled up with shouting people, arms in the air. It's already nearly impassable, no parking signs deterring parking but not the never-ending stop and drops.
"Hey, so THAT is Fat Harry's," she remarks to herself seeing the green awning that she's never noticed before. She knows she's been out this far before but never paid attention much. Now she was on a deadline and it was a Mardi Gras weekend. The Spanish music kept up, words that sounded like Spanish, as they certainly weren't English words her mother had taught her poured out of her mouth.
"Cherokee. Turn right then left. I did it!" Slate says, patting herself on the back for finding a parking place just steps from her destination.
Upon her arrival, her friends from the blogosphere hear her tale of woe, and laugh or look amazed that she's never been here before. She has a wonderful time, eats King Cake, enjoys her Uptown friends, ogles books, gets directions to go home.
One of her friends, a Doctor so she can absolutely be trusted, tells her to go to Carrollton then to Broad to Esplanade. Slate has to ask which way Carrollton is.
"Just go straight and make a right. It's the big street," they tell her. She waited but they didn't tell her to look both ways before she crossed. That was kind of them.
Slate dutifully climbs into her car, goes to Carrollton, makes the right as she was told. Then she notices the Bed and Breakfast she stayed at on her first visit to New Orleans more than 15 years ago. She parks her car, gets out and takes a few photos. The house is now a private home, looks wonderful, she guesses the crazy woman who owned it must have passed on.
Back into the car, full of confidence and pride, she goes forth, homeward bound.
"Claiborne! Oh hell, I know where I am now," she says, grinning widely as she makes a right.
Driving down Claiborne she notices how wide it is, not like the part near her home. She's been told that at one time, all of Claiborne was a tree lined boulevard. Here she can believe it. At the Louisiana Street intersection, she notes a demographic difference, almost like a weird invisible line. The color and number of people at the bus stops change. She sees other cross streets she knows and thinks how wonderful it is that she might now have an alternate way of getting to her doctor, and some other places she has to go now and then. She's exhilarated, channelling Marco Polo, discovering spaghetti!
She knows where she is! Could actually point in the right direction if asked where her house is! Her chest swells with pride. Then there it is. Right in front of her. A dreadful, yellow, inescapable DEAD END sign.
"But I can SEE the Superdome," she wails. "Who knew Claiborne ENDED." (Evidently the Doctor she should have trusted did, thus telling her to take Broad.)
Forced to take a right, she finds herself confronted by Magnolia Street or an unnamed left turning rampy kinda thing. She is still confident so chooses the ramp.
"OMG, I'm getting on the Bridge! I don't live on the Westbank anymore and my toll tag is out of money!" Hysterical laughter overtakes the Spanish music on OZ. She contemplates taking the Ferry home but realizes that will take her to the end of Canal, not a good idea.
She turns around, digging in her purse for a buck, cursing at the drivers who didn't SEE the gigantic TOLL TAG ONLY signs and suddenly need to move over, finds herself convulsing in laughter at her situation, and pays the lady at the booth.
Breezing along the freeway, she goes to the Claiborne Ave sign that she knows well. Finally she is in home territory: hideous overpass on the left, cemeteries on the right. She realizes suddenly what a horrid disservice to the city that overpass was. It completely cut the city in half. Her Uptown friends knew that. She just saw how awful it was. St. Louis, St. Peter, Dumaine, familiar, unlike Maple, Spruce, Oak. Turning right on Esplanade, she tools home, finding her way easily through the maze of the Marigny.
Upon arrival Slate called a friend. She told him of her adventure. They laughed that she was the only one who could conceivably go from the Maple Street to the Marigny via the Westbank. They discussed maybe taking a trip to Gentilly one day, but he'd drive so they didn't go via Mandeville.
Moral of the story: Either take a cab or listen to the Doctor.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Monday, February 02, 2009
Buffa's Crime Meeting w/Riley et al 1.31.09
Here's what I typed up as fast as I could. Some is surely missing and/or paraphrased. I'll upload the photos as soon as possible. Today is busy for me so it might not be til tomorrow.
Some officer's names are not recorded here, the names went by too fast. I do know that Major E.C. Hosli, Major Bernadine Kelly and Chief Kirk Bouyelas were in attendance as well as the French Quarter Quality of Life Officer whose name is (I think) included in my notes. Supt. Warren Riley also attended, as did Councilmen Fielkow and Carter.
The one line comments at the bottom of these notes were statements made by the attendees as the meeting broke up.
The Lower Quarter folks sent out a great email with phone numbers, other contact information, and more names. Please check that email for those numbers.
Also check the NOLACrimeAlerts.com website to sign up for txt msg based crime alerts. Detailed sign up instructions can be found there.
Below are the notes, such as they are. Typos have not been edited, sorry about that:
____________________________________________________
January 31, 2009
Buffa's Crime Meeting 2
Lower Quarter Citizens
12:05 PM Fielkow arrives
News teams coming in
Roger Jones Local Cop/Quality of Life Officer Vieux Carre
Three NOPD: Hosli
Camille Burgin welcomes the NOPD
“We welcome you. We have had no burglaries or armed robberies in two weeks. We like the foot patrols.”
Google Group:
KW explains listserv and asks for participation, talks about bicycle safety escort program.
Four black faces, two are police.
Camille:
“Quarter is the economic engine that drives this city, we're the shopowners, the bartenders. We're the ones who welcome the tourists and we're also the ones walking home at 2AM after a 14 hour shift. We drive the city. We have to work together. I think we can do that and make it work. We have seen a great improvement.
Streetlights: We've sent a letter to Mr. James Carter. Robinson Industries is the subcontractor. By Feb 24 all Quarter streetlights should be working. If you see one out send info to Fielkow, Carter and Robinson Industries.
If you have lights at your house, TURN THEM ON.
If you have an elderly neighbor, and they can't change their lights, help them.
Aud: I have a ladder.
CB: We're a small town, we have to know each other.
Aud: If you see a shop whose lights are out let them know.
We need neighbors to shop in our neighborhood to keep the Quarter going,.
CB:
We have to help each other to stay open.
Block Monitors: Like hall monitors, we're seeking volunteers (KW speaking) to do citizen patrols on a monthly basis, as well as people to just keep track of their block. I will put together info and send it out as an email blast.
Julie: We originally wanted a big group organized but found that difficult so instead we decided to do it block by block, like crimewatch. Open shutters, watch for lights out. Whatever anyone can do on their own. We're trying to decide if we want weekly meetings, social. Chasing people off the stoops, but sitting on stoops, knowing who's out of town.
Aud: The cops can't stop someone who just looks suspicious but we can call and report someone that looks suspicious. Each local little area. At our house keep our windows open, people know we're there.
HOSLI:
Think back to our neighborhood, where every little old lady knew what was going on. That's the kind of talent you guys have. This is your neighborhood. We can come and police it, but you know who lives here. That's the difference. We will do everything we can on our part, but as the gentleman said you guys watch too.
What I say to you is don't call if there's nothing there or our patrol cars will be out there for nothing. If the hair crawls up your back, don't walk into it, CALL. If you have a problem w/the 911 system, you've got to let us know. Send me an email. Get the operator number and put it in the email. You guys will say, I called and no one came. I'll send that info to the research div and they'll look into it. You gotta help me. To make it right, I gotta know where to start.
Task force units work from 8-4 at night. They work a little differently.
Aud: We tend to get complacent, lights again and how often do we want to meet.
HOSLI:
If you have camera systems, we've asked before to get that information. If I had that info going into it, it helps me out.
Aud: Internet cameras? 10 bucks a piece.
HOSLI:
If the cameras can send info to computers, it doesn't take a lot to make it work and it will help.
Aud: Years ago cops knew the business owners, the bar owners, a more personal relationship. It seems that if I recognize you, and I know your name, I know you and you know me, and I can say I need help. . . . .
Without getting arrested (someone else said)
HOSLI:
We find ourselves going from call to call.
Aud: I can't remember the last time I've seen an officer on foot.
HOSLI:
They walk an hour on foot every shift. It's been for about the last year.
We have designated Bourbon, Chartres, Royal, Decatur, French Market walking beats, with patrol car designated to that assigned area. What's happening now is we're not allowing those cars to come out of their area unless it's an emergency.
Aud: We want to know who the officers are, and be their BFF's. We don't know who they are. But was on the corner of Dauphine, never saw one walking. Saw two cars, but not walking.,
HOSLI:
That officer is required to get out of the car for one hour and walk around and get to know you. There's lots of information there if we say hello.
Aud: We see the police patrols, I've seen your guys and we appreciate that. As long as we're seeing your presence we feel better about opening up our doors and windows.
HOSLI:
There are two things going on, leave lights on. The bad guys will go to another block. Sometimes my officers are out there with their hoodies on blending in, trying to see who's buying drugs, etc. Right now they're working nights. Task force 8PM to 4AM.
Aud: How many actual cops, actual bodies are floating around.
HOSLI: We got new officers, six are still in training. One car min, CBD, Ramp Corridor, Triangle, per shift. We also have paddy wagon. We found we were making arrests every 20 min. We found that that takes officers off the street, so now the prisoner wagon comes to them, they do their paperwork and the wagon takes the guy to lockup. By doing that the officer can stay in that area.
Aud: Some people don't like all the lights, but people will turn around if they see those lights on the patrol cars.
HOSLI:
I think something's happening that might not be happening. The patrol car cannot leave the area without contacting the supervisor.
Aud: Shopkeeper, my entire family is all on one corner all day, I want them to know who the local officer is, so they know you.
RILEY:
People are having problems with officers walking and not saying hello. We have a partnership with Harrah's Casino now. We're putting together a program to train our policemen in customer service. Harrah's (Hiegland?) knows how to deal with everything, our officers need that training. Some of our officers have trouble with customer relations. We hope that that program will address the problems of officers walking the beat and not relating to the people in the neighborhood.
Aud: Do the officers in the 8th Dist—is there a high turnover? Seems like I just get to meet them and they're gone.
HOSLI:
Yeah sometimes. We lose them to other agencies.
Aud: Night of Wendy's murder, the suspects were sitting on our neighbor's stoop. If your officers had seen them could they have asked them move them on or do we have to call and complain before you can act.
Aud: You can ask them to leave it's your property. I walk down the street every night, I”ve never had a patrol car asking me “how ya doing tonight.”
HOSLI:
WE have more officers coming on board, and the scooters work. They operate on Jackson Square, Dauphine, other areas. I like it because they're closer to the street, they're out of their cars, they hear more, they see more. Unfortunately we had one crash this week so he'll be out for a while.
Aud: If you see someone just sitting there, say “hi, how you guys doing” and it just let's them know that someone's watching them, but you don't have to profile to do that.
HOSLI: My task force guys, have been told if you see them sitting on a step, ask them who they are and do they belong there. If it's where I need to be, I won't mind being asked what I”m doing there.
Quality of Life Officer:
Basically I deal w/nuisance complaints, graffiti, abandoned vehicles, broken windows. If you have issues like that I'm the person to call.
HOSLI: Saw them putting up a light on St. Louis and Royal. New pole new light.
Aud: new lights make a difference.
KW: We have a couple more questions, then the officers will address us.
Aud: Do we have a curfew. (Yes)
Do we have truant officers? (Yes)
HOSLI:
We do deal with truants.
Aud: My husb comes in before dawn and go out at that time. It should be brought up to Nagin that I see more SDT than I see NOPD. I see an officer a week, maybe. I'm on Decatur St.
Aud: What's the deal w/city cameras. My house is surrounded. (Black man) St. Claude and St. Bernard, heavy drugs. I put up cameras. I can't call you cuz they're gonna hurt ME.
OFFICER: I'm not sure if those cameras are working but I”ll call that district and find out. What's the name of that club?
Aud: Sidney's Saloon.
CB:
We want to thank NOPD for our added patrols, we are grateful. We want you to know that we're not against each other. We want to work together.
RILEY:
We added 16-17 officers to the Quarter, we continue to add to the Quarter, but we want it to be the safest tourist area in the country. Because any incident in the Quarter goes national and international. I get emails asking me “should I come to New Orleans.” I hate getting those. We strategically put a plan in place, increased visibility on Bourbon, Decatur, Royal. We have cars on Canal and in the Warehouse dist. Not only on St. Ann but walking patrols Bourbon to Rampart. We have two cars St. Ann to Esplanade. Another patrol car from Esplanade to Elysian Fields.
There were some officers who were not doing their jobs. Those two supervisors are no longer part of the 8th district. Two new lieutenants have been brought in. We also know where every car is patrolling. From our end, if we put something in place, we expect it to be carried out. If it's not being carried out, and some weren't, we removed them. Every 40 min an arrest in the Quarter. Paddy wagon helps so the officer no longer leave the Quarter, only the paddy wagon team. So those people who get arrested have to sit a while in the back of a paddy wagon, it's not a good experience. That is working very well for us.
There are other officers who are in plain clothes. Some of those undercover teams are still working in the Quarter. We have increased significantly the number of officers in the Quarter. We have several new officers training now, you'll get some more officers in April. Some National Guard have joined us. They've been working here in NOLA for at least a year. You'll probably bounce to 145, we might get 150. Officers coming from around the state and country to join NOPD so as we get additional people we can get to 150. Once we reach 150, we will be able to up the foot patrols. Some officers have to be in cars for quicker emergency response but once the numbers go up, you'll see more foot patrols.
James Carter is here now.
Aud: Do we own the skytower cameras that we use during Mardi Gras. Why can't we use them the rest of the year?
RILEY: Yes we own them.
It's a good idea, but the people who work those skywatch cameras, we need civilian techs and officers, we don't have the money. But we do bring them out for special events, but we can't afford overtime pay to keep them there all the time.
Aud:
What can we do to help you do your jobs more efficiently.
RILEY:
We've gone to the state and asked for more officers. We can't have volunteers without them going through training.
2 cars, which could be 2-3, sometimes 4 officers. The majority of the time you'll have two officers per car. That does not include our task force people, you have plainclothes, some nights you're going to have 7-8 officers in an area if we notice a trend. We know by 8AM every morning if we know that we need to shift resources to a particular area. It used to be adjusted weekly, now it's done daily.
Jeff/Buffa's: re:Training from Harrah's. I've had incidents where I called and was treated like a criminal.
RILEY: Some of the old time officers are just not gonna get it. Harrah's is trying to get our officers to understand that the citizens of NOLA are our customers and we have to treat them with respect. Some officers do have a police against the citizen mentality. We're trying very hard to change that.
Aud: If we have to argue to get a case number
RILEY: Report that officer, give us the area and time, we'll know which officer was there. If you request an item number, you should get an item number.
Aud: Can your officers please be instructed to give us a report number?
(I took a break to take photos)
RILEY: We have some officers that just won't do what they are supposed to. Hold us accountable. Hold us accountable. We get rid of those people.
In many cases, once we turn them over to lockup, the DA gets our reports. There's no reason you shouldn't get a case number. Call and ask for a supervisor.
Aud: We need to know when we should start calling! We're a laissez faire city. How long before we should start complaining?
RILEY: You do have a responsibility to follow up. We need to sit down with you, get a small committee together to find out what you want to see on our website in order to get that information.
We need to give the citizens some insight as to what they can do.
Thanks all around. Cops and Riley still here. Also Carter and Fielkow.
Denzer: My goal is to provide you with access to crime info within 24-48 hours. What I want to point out is that there is more NOPD can be doing.
Dep Supt (?) should be commended for the email blast system. I don't view that as adequate. I was told that we couldn't have access to crime info until it was approved. We just heard Riley say they get a list of crimes every morning at 8AM. I want to know why we can't get that list too.
I was told we have to wait. If you go to the city's crime mapping website it takes up to two weeks to find out where crime has happened.
I don't want to disparage Riley, I want to work WITH him. I ran the data and the stats, and found that assault category was underreported, as well as other categories. I was told we had to wait 2-4 weeks in the interest of accuracy. I wrote Riley, what they did was eliminate that info from their crime mapping site. It looks like sabotage to keep us from knowing the truth. The icons are still there, but the description of the event.
They're getting information every morning at 8AM. We should have access to that.
Councilmember Fielkow is here as well as Councilman Carter. Two weeks ago they endorsed the NOLA/Stat policy. It's an open stat policy.
I want open records across the boards so we can identify problems and find solutions.
Andrea Garland: Text msgng alerts. NOLA crime alerts message. Every neighborhood has a group, send txt message and it's forwarded. Check website for full instructions. You sign up and are approved, then you can send msgs.
Meeting breaking up into little groups. Carter being interviewed outside.
CB: We have five Guardian Angels, we'll be talking to them for the next meeting.
We need to do regular meetings.
Big applause for Jeff.
No followup if we don't continue to meet. Once a month?
This was the first time I'd ever been heard.
The best crime meeting I've ever been to. If we don't batter Riley we get more info.
Some officer's names are not recorded here, the names went by too fast. I do know that Major E.C. Hosli, Major Bernadine Kelly and Chief Kirk Bouyelas were in attendance as well as the French Quarter Quality of Life Officer whose name is (I think) included in my notes. Supt. Warren Riley also attended, as did Councilmen Fielkow and Carter.
The one line comments at the bottom of these notes were statements made by the attendees as the meeting broke up.
The Lower Quarter folks sent out a great email with phone numbers, other contact information, and more names. Please check that email for those numbers.
Also check the NOLACrimeAlerts.com website to sign up for txt msg based crime alerts. Detailed sign up instructions can be found there.
Below are the notes, such as they are. Typos have not been edited, sorry about that:
____________________________________________________
January 31, 2009
Buffa's Crime Meeting 2
Lower Quarter Citizens
12:05 PM Fielkow arrives
News teams coming in
Roger Jones Local Cop/Quality of Life Officer Vieux Carre
Three NOPD: Hosli
Camille Burgin welcomes the NOPD
“We welcome you. We have had no burglaries or armed robberies in two weeks. We like the foot patrols.”
Google Group:
KW explains listserv and asks for participation, talks about bicycle safety escort program.
Four black faces, two are police.
Camille:
“Quarter is the economic engine that drives this city, we're the shopowners, the bartenders. We're the ones who welcome the tourists and we're also the ones walking home at 2AM after a 14 hour shift. We drive the city. We have to work together. I think we can do that and make it work. We have seen a great improvement.
Streetlights: We've sent a letter to Mr. James Carter. Robinson Industries is the subcontractor. By Feb 24 all Quarter streetlights should be working. If you see one out send info to Fielkow, Carter and Robinson Industries.
If you have lights at your house, TURN THEM ON.
If you have an elderly neighbor, and they can't change their lights, help them.
Aud: I have a ladder.
CB: We're a small town, we have to know each other.
Aud: If you see a shop whose lights are out let them know.
We need neighbors to shop in our neighborhood to keep the Quarter going,.
CB:
We have to help each other to stay open.
Block Monitors: Like hall monitors, we're seeking volunteers (KW speaking) to do citizen patrols on a monthly basis, as well as people to just keep track of their block. I will put together info and send it out as an email blast.
Julie: We originally wanted a big group organized but found that difficult so instead we decided to do it block by block, like crimewatch. Open shutters, watch for lights out. Whatever anyone can do on their own. We're trying to decide if we want weekly meetings, social. Chasing people off the stoops, but sitting on stoops, knowing who's out of town.
Aud: The cops can't stop someone who just looks suspicious but we can call and report someone that looks suspicious. Each local little area. At our house keep our windows open, people know we're there.
HOSLI:
Think back to our neighborhood, where every little old lady knew what was going on. That's the kind of talent you guys have. This is your neighborhood. We can come and police it, but you know who lives here. That's the difference. We will do everything we can on our part, but as the gentleman said you guys watch too.
What I say to you is don't call if there's nothing there or our patrol cars will be out there for nothing. If the hair crawls up your back, don't walk into it, CALL. If you have a problem w/the 911 system, you've got to let us know. Send me an email. Get the operator number and put it in the email. You guys will say, I called and no one came. I'll send that info to the research div and they'll look into it. You gotta help me. To make it right, I gotta know where to start.
Task force units work from 8-4 at night. They work a little differently.
Aud: We tend to get complacent, lights again and how often do we want to meet.
HOSLI:
If you have camera systems, we've asked before to get that information. If I had that info going into it, it helps me out.
Aud: Internet cameras? 10 bucks a piece.
HOSLI:
If the cameras can send info to computers, it doesn't take a lot to make it work and it will help.
Aud: Years ago cops knew the business owners, the bar owners, a more personal relationship. It seems that if I recognize you, and I know your name, I know you and you know me, and I can say I need help. . . . .
Without getting arrested (someone else said)
HOSLI:
We find ourselves going from call to call.
Aud: I can't remember the last time I've seen an officer on foot.
HOSLI:
They walk an hour on foot every shift. It's been for about the last year.
We have designated Bourbon, Chartres, Royal, Decatur, French Market walking beats, with patrol car designated to that assigned area. What's happening now is we're not allowing those cars to come out of their area unless it's an emergency.
Aud: We want to know who the officers are, and be their BFF's. We don't know who they are. But was on the corner of Dauphine, never saw one walking. Saw two cars, but not walking.,
HOSLI:
That officer is required to get out of the car for one hour and walk around and get to know you. There's lots of information there if we say hello.
Aud: We see the police patrols, I've seen your guys and we appreciate that. As long as we're seeing your presence we feel better about opening up our doors and windows.
HOSLI:
There are two things going on, leave lights on. The bad guys will go to another block. Sometimes my officers are out there with their hoodies on blending in, trying to see who's buying drugs, etc. Right now they're working nights. Task force 8PM to 4AM.
Aud: How many actual cops, actual bodies are floating around.
HOSLI: We got new officers, six are still in training. One car min, CBD, Ramp Corridor, Triangle, per shift. We also have paddy wagon. We found we were making arrests every 20 min. We found that that takes officers off the street, so now the prisoner wagon comes to them, they do their paperwork and the wagon takes the guy to lockup. By doing that the officer can stay in that area.
Aud: Some people don't like all the lights, but people will turn around if they see those lights on the patrol cars.
HOSLI:
I think something's happening that might not be happening. The patrol car cannot leave the area without contacting the supervisor.
Aud: Shopkeeper, my entire family is all on one corner all day, I want them to know who the local officer is, so they know you.
RILEY:
People are having problems with officers walking and not saying hello. We have a partnership with Harrah's Casino now. We're putting together a program to train our policemen in customer service. Harrah's (Hiegland?) knows how to deal with everything, our officers need that training. Some of our officers have trouble with customer relations. We hope that that program will address the problems of officers walking the beat and not relating to the people in the neighborhood.
Aud: Do the officers in the 8th Dist—is there a high turnover? Seems like I just get to meet them and they're gone.
HOSLI:
Yeah sometimes. We lose them to other agencies.
Aud: Night of Wendy's murder, the suspects were sitting on our neighbor's stoop. If your officers had seen them could they have asked them move them on or do we have to call and complain before you can act.
Aud: You can ask them to leave it's your property. I walk down the street every night, I”ve never had a patrol car asking me “how ya doing tonight.”
HOSLI:
WE have more officers coming on board, and the scooters work. They operate on Jackson Square, Dauphine, other areas. I like it because they're closer to the street, they're out of their cars, they hear more, they see more. Unfortunately we had one crash this week so he'll be out for a while.
Aud: If you see someone just sitting there, say “hi, how you guys doing” and it just let's them know that someone's watching them, but you don't have to profile to do that.
HOSLI: My task force guys, have been told if you see them sitting on a step, ask them who they are and do they belong there. If it's where I need to be, I won't mind being asked what I”m doing there.
Quality of Life Officer:
Basically I deal w/nuisance complaints, graffiti, abandoned vehicles, broken windows. If you have issues like that I'm the person to call.
HOSLI: Saw them putting up a light on St. Louis and Royal. New pole new light.
Aud: new lights make a difference.
KW: We have a couple more questions, then the officers will address us.
Aud: Do we have a curfew. (Yes)
Do we have truant officers? (Yes)
HOSLI:
We do deal with truants.
Aud: My husb comes in before dawn and go out at that time. It should be brought up to Nagin that I see more SDT than I see NOPD. I see an officer a week, maybe. I'm on Decatur St.
Aud: What's the deal w/city cameras. My house is surrounded. (Black man) St. Claude and St. Bernard, heavy drugs. I put up cameras. I can't call you cuz they're gonna hurt ME.
OFFICER: I'm not sure if those cameras are working but I”ll call that district and find out. What's the name of that club?
Aud: Sidney's Saloon.
CB:
We want to thank NOPD for our added patrols, we are grateful. We want you to know that we're not against each other. We want to work together.
RILEY:
We added 16-17 officers to the Quarter, we continue to add to the Quarter, but we want it to be the safest tourist area in the country. Because any incident in the Quarter goes national and international. I get emails asking me “should I come to New Orleans.” I hate getting those. We strategically put a plan in place, increased visibility on Bourbon, Decatur, Royal. We have cars on Canal and in the Warehouse dist. Not only on St. Ann but walking patrols Bourbon to Rampart. We have two cars St. Ann to Esplanade. Another patrol car from Esplanade to Elysian Fields.
There were some officers who were not doing their jobs. Those two supervisors are no longer part of the 8th district. Two new lieutenants have been brought in. We also know where every car is patrolling. From our end, if we put something in place, we expect it to be carried out. If it's not being carried out, and some weren't, we removed them. Every 40 min an arrest in the Quarter. Paddy wagon helps so the officer no longer leave the Quarter, only the paddy wagon team. So those people who get arrested have to sit a while in the back of a paddy wagon, it's not a good experience. That is working very well for us.
There are other officers who are in plain clothes. Some of those undercover teams are still working in the Quarter. We have increased significantly the number of officers in the Quarter. We have several new officers training now, you'll get some more officers in April. Some National Guard have joined us. They've been working here in NOLA for at least a year. You'll probably bounce to 145, we might get 150. Officers coming from around the state and country to join NOPD so as we get additional people we can get to 150. Once we reach 150, we will be able to up the foot patrols. Some officers have to be in cars for quicker emergency response but once the numbers go up, you'll see more foot patrols.
James Carter is here now.
Aud: Do we own the skytower cameras that we use during Mardi Gras. Why can't we use them the rest of the year?
RILEY: Yes we own them.
It's a good idea, but the people who work those skywatch cameras, we need civilian techs and officers, we don't have the money. But we do bring them out for special events, but we can't afford overtime pay to keep them there all the time.
Aud:
What can we do to help you do your jobs more efficiently.
RILEY:
We've gone to the state and asked for more officers. We can't have volunteers without them going through training.
2 cars, which could be 2-3, sometimes 4 officers. The majority of the time you'll have two officers per car. That does not include our task force people, you have plainclothes, some nights you're going to have 7-8 officers in an area if we notice a trend. We know by 8AM every morning if we know that we need to shift resources to a particular area. It used to be adjusted weekly, now it's done daily.
Jeff/Buffa's: re:Training from Harrah's. I've had incidents where I called and was treated like a criminal.
RILEY: Some of the old time officers are just not gonna get it. Harrah's is trying to get our officers to understand that the citizens of NOLA are our customers and we have to treat them with respect. Some officers do have a police against the citizen mentality. We're trying very hard to change that.
Aud: If we have to argue to get a case number
RILEY: Report that officer, give us the area and time, we'll know which officer was there. If you request an item number, you should get an item number.
Aud: Can your officers please be instructed to give us a report number?
(I took a break to take photos)
RILEY: We have some officers that just won't do what they are supposed to. Hold us accountable. Hold us accountable. We get rid of those people.
In many cases, once we turn them over to lockup, the DA gets our reports. There's no reason you shouldn't get a case number. Call and ask for a supervisor.
Aud: We need to know when we should start calling! We're a laissez faire city. How long before we should start complaining?
RILEY: You do have a responsibility to follow up. We need to sit down with you, get a small committee together to find out what you want to see on our website in order to get that information.
We need to give the citizens some insight as to what they can do.
Thanks all around. Cops and Riley still here. Also Carter and Fielkow.
Denzer: My goal is to provide you with access to crime info within 24-48 hours. What I want to point out is that there is more NOPD can be doing.
Dep Supt (?) should be commended for the email blast system. I don't view that as adequate. I was told that we couldn't have access to crime info until it was approved. We just heard Riley say they get a list of crimes every morning at 8AM. I want to know why we can't get that list too.
I was told we have to wait. If you go to the city's crime mapping website it takes up to two weeks to find out where crime has happened.
I don't want to disparage Riley, I want to work WITH him. I ran the data and the stats, and found that assault category was underreported, as well as other categories. I was told we had to wait 2-4 weeks in the interest of accuracy. I wrote Riley, what they did was eliminate that info from their crime mapping site. It looks like sabotage to keep us from knowing the truth. The icons are still there, but the description of the event.
They're getting information every morning at 8AM. We should have access to that.
Councilmember Fielkow is here as well as Councilman Carter. Two weeks ago they endorsed the NOLA/Stat policy. It's an open stat policy.
I want open records across the boards so we can identify problems and find solutions.
Andrea Garland: Text msgng alerts. NOLA crime alerts message. Every neighborhood has a group, send txt message and it's forwarded. Check website for full instructions. You sign up and are approved, then you can send msgs.
Meeting breaking up into little groups. Carter being interviewed outside.
CB: We have five Guardian Angels, we'll be talking to them for the next meeting.
We need to do regular meetings.
Big applause for Jeff.
No followup if we don't continue to meet. Once a month?
This was the first time I'd ever been heard.
The best crime meeting I've ever been to. If we don't batter Riley we get more info.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Buffa's Crime Meeting Notes and Pics
Below are my notes from the meeting on crime held yesterday at Buffa's. I am a fast typist, but still a lot of it is paraphrased while holding the basic content of the statement together---lots of words, not enough fingers! I have put some of my personal notes in parentheses and I think I fixed all the abbreviations. Thanks to the always wonderful liprap for looking it over. I can't guarantee that all names are spelled correctly, and at some points lots of people were talking all at once. I hope that this gives you the overall picture of what was discussed and what recommendations were made.
I have to say that I was very impressed with the turnout, and with Councilmen Fielkow and Carter's patience in listening. I was also very happy that District Attorney Cannizzaro took such an active part.
As for NOPD, well, nothing to be said there really.
I really have to thank Terry Taravella for grabbing my camera and taking the photos. It was clear that there was no way I could type and take photos at the same time, and she just stepped right in.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
1.23.2009
Buffa's Crime Meeting Notes
Meeting called by Camille Burgin
(nola.com FQ forums – organized through there)
11:55AM approx 30 ppl in back room, WDSU outside covering it, another station, still unidentified coming in the door.
NOON: Lord David outside doing an interview. Someone in Buffa's refused entrance to the news crews. More people arriving every minute.
12:01PM James Carter arrives.
Camille Burgin opens meeting.
“I know everybody's scared. I know I am., Husband works at in Quarter, walks to get his car at St. Louis and Rampart every night 2AM or later. She waits for him with fear every night.
We're all upset. The thing I don't want us to do is let the fear and horror to go away. We need to channel it so that we can prevent it from happening again.
FBI Stats:
Three times the violent crimes of Mobile between January and June of last year.
I don't know the answers. I don't want us all to think alike. I want to get some solutions.”
Our city council man, James Carter, introduced.
Carter:
I'd like to say that it's really shameful what happened to the woman who lost her life.
We have to make sure we have visible patrols in these areas. That is going to happen. The city has dispersed the light people to fix the lights throughout the Quarter. We have to continue to focus on these violent repeat offenders who prey on the citizens of NOLA. DA's representatives are here, I want to thank them for attending. Councilman Fielkow is here. I want to hear what you all have to say.
Lord David:
I never see patrols. Who can we call to get patrols?
James Carter
Major Kelly (? Not sure if that’s the name said)
Brian Denzer did a presentation and Carter doesn't know why he was turned down.
He (Denzer) came and did another presentation.
The above came from Lord David saying go to NOLA website tons of places to pay fines no place to report crime, why wasn't Denzer's proposal accepted.
No answer.
Fielkow: Denzer has been in front of us for two weeks now. DC has something like his proposal. Yesterday council voted have those people meet with Denzer immediately.
Harrison Boyd Tech Director-- Barrage his office, reference council CapStat (I think that’s the name) program, tell him to talk to Brian Denzer to implement it immediately.
Applause
Fielkow: This is ridiculous. Long term needs to be reformed, but for shorter term it's crime cameras that aren't working, lights not working, strategic problems.
Major Hosli couldn't get clearance to come here because he was not invited. Make sure police have formal invitation to come to ANY meeting like this.
Crowd has grown. Folks are starting to shout out complaints.
We're being outsmarted by 15 yr old kids with no education (attendee comment)
Carter: Outside of Bourbon St do you ever see patrols.
Entire room says NO.
Woman complaining about the tap dancers, calling them pickpockets and gangsters.
Carter again asked re:foot patrols.
One in audience says she saw one the other day, the cop said he had to do it for a couple weeks.
Woman saying she comes home from gigs at 2AM carries a blade.
The cops are certainly around when a car needs to be towed.
How long can we have MP's here. Safer with them than NOPD.
Guard term has been extended four times, can't be done again.
Lord David: telling story from his post re: Billy Sothern's robbery report of a theft involving a cell phone. (Humid City)Re-read Lord David's Humid City post as reference.
658-6800 number for Internal Affairs.
Fielkow: you need to come up with a laundry list of what you think needs to be done. Schedule a meeting w/Hosli and Riley asap, let council participate with you.
What comes out of this has to be fed and put into action, get some representatives and schedule a meeting. James Carter is the head of the Crime committee.
NEWS CREWS NOW LET IN.
Fielkow: If the DA will also attend the meeting you schedule that would help.
Aud: is there anything the council can do to get Riley to respond.?
A call for his resignation gets applause.
We work mostly in the service industry. If this keeps happening we'll have no revenue brought into the city.
George Kulman “DamnYankees” screenname
Lives on Gov Nicholls betw Bourb and Royal, he's from NYC, raised Lower Eastside.
He says has been actively following things, had lived here part time for years, moved permanently after Katrina. What he's seen is horrendous event happens, everyone gets up in arms, in two weeks everything goes away. We must organize and hold every responsible party's feet to the fire.
I am not for vigilantism, but I will be getting a conceal carry license. I will also assist anyone else who wants one. It'll cost you 350 or so, but if we get a couple hundred people applying for carry permits, even if we don't CARRY the gun, it's the police dept's worst nightmare.
Second, city built on tourism. I don't want to hurt it. The people who can prevent that from happening are our council people, the mayor. We need our group to put banners, get a local news contact committee, national news contact. Tell people from out of town to rethink coming here.
MOST THINK THAT IS A TERRIBLE IDEA. (Basically the whole room disagreed)
George: Local patrols. Formal organization, crimewatch is a defunct organization but maybe we can take it over.
CANNIZZARO IS HERE IN BACK.
Geo: We will not be placated if action isn't taken. I will not be appeased like Chamberlain was appeased by Hitler.
Traceman: Wife and I live in the Marigny a couple blocks from the robbery. Thousands and thousands of banners and armbands so everywhere anyone goes in Quarter or Marigny will see “We're watching YOU.” You can wear them over your Mardi Gras costumes. Print on the armband “Ray Nagin is fill in the blank.” Make it yellow like police tape and a purple lightning bolt.
Aud: Armbands won't stop a bullet.
We need the police to do something.
5 armed robberies and one car jacking within the same area as Wendy's murder in the last month.
I tell my husband's story. Reference my post. (For the record, NOPD finally did call him back, asked him to come down and look at photo arrays. He was doing that as I was at this meeting.)
Terry Taravella says her hubs saw cop tried to get his attention, couldn't get the policeman's attention.
We just want the cops to do their jobs. There are no patrols. We're upset. We don't want to carry guns, we want the cops to do their jobs.
We also want them prosecuted.
DA:
Very sad circumstances that bring us together, but am glad to see the large number of people here who want to do something. It's going to take your involvement. You have to be vigilant, you have to call.. We ARE going to prosecute them to the full extent of the law. I have certain ethical and procedural rules because they are juveniles. We like to think of out 14 yrs olds as children, but if the put a gun in your chest they're not kids anymore. We need to get them off the street. We couldn't even give the names of the juveniles til we got permission from the court. The 14 yr old offender, we can not give the name or the nature of the charge until we file juvenile file court judge to transfer. We will probably be setting transf hearing for Monday. The 15 yr olds will probably be in front of a magistrate asking for bond, improbable that they will get it, that will happen this weekend.
60 day murder: Legislature has changed that to 120 days. We're still investigating that case. Saturday night our (DA’s office) investigators were on the crime scene. Team of three people with every investigative police unit.
I have to thank the council, we wouldn't have been able to get the funding to do the job we need to do. Information has to be gotten immediately, in the past DA's didn't get involved until 30, 60, 90 days after the arrest, now the witness has changed his mind, might not be locatable, or has been intimidated or killed. It's our game plan to get hold of those witnesses immediately to encourage them to stay with us as we prosecute the case.
The arrest does us no good unless or until we can get this person charged. We want to make sure these people are taken out of circulation forever.
I've had the misfortune of sitting with families of victims. I can't bring them back. I pledge to you that we will put them away. Please, I need your help.
I can't make any public statements (re:suspects). Many have been in the system before. It's important that we prevent them from moving up the crime ladder. Education is important, drug rehab is important. It's almost unthinkable that we have 15 yr olds like that in our society, we want to prevent other kids from escalating to these other crimes.
Get involved. Don't NOT prosecute if you're robbed, stay with it.
AUD: Can we call YOUR office?
DA: Lots of people don't want to file charges. I'm hearing that.
AUD: We're accused of being involved!!! (in the crime) Who do we call??? The cops accuse me of being part of an armed robbery and you want me to call THEM. What about police intimidation of someone reporting a crime? It's very common. (Lord David with others chiming in.)
DA: Call our office, but I need a police report.,
Lord David: What if that doesn't work.
AUD: Don't be so cynical. Make the call.
DA: I can't do anything without a complaint filed.
AUD Member to Lord David: I think your attitude is what's causing your problem.
DA: There MUST be a record. When something happens we can't say we didn't KNOW but we won't know if you don't report it. There's not good in every profession.
Being a cop is a difficult job, but we expect them to do it right. We make the decision in the DA's office whether or not to accept the charge. They take the complaint, present it to us, then we determine if there is a case.
(Personal note: I see only three people of color at this meeting with the exception of one of the camera man and one of the DA's assistants. I’m bothered by that as once again it is a white woman’s killing causing this outpouring. I’m wishing the group was more racially balanced.)
AUD: Wendy's murder is a totally predictable consequence. Go to the crime commission website and look at the numbers. Violent arrests here are less than 10 percent. (Metropolitan crime commission website) What are you gonna do to MAKE NOPD do their jobs. They are not making arrests for violent crimes.
DA: We will be on crime scenes to assist. Murders and rapes. Second: we've sat down with the superintendent and many of the deputies, we're trying to get them to improve their report writing and get people to testify. We're trying to improve the quality of police work. Everyone has to be treated with dignity and respect. We're working and trying to get the violent off the street. This is the first time the DA's office has brought people to the scenes of crimes in the history of NO. We have roughly 200 murders/1000 armed robberies (Personal Note: I believe those numbers were per year). We can't be at every crime scene, not enough money.
AUD Lord David: HOW DO WE MAKE THE COPS DO THEIR JOB?
Fielkow:
To have a good criminal justice system we have to have police/DA/public defenders/judges. From a money standpoint we have given. Fielkow believes we have the right DA and judges. The mayor hires the police chief. The council can fire the executive branch, rarely used. Frustration in the council re:crime problems. Cops weren't invited, but it's BS that they didn't attend.
(At this point Camille Burgin says, they WERE invited. Fielkow says, “That’s even worse then.” He was visibly upset that they weren’t there.)
Here's what we can do for accountability:
We have a committed city council, who would like not to have to go to that extreme measure. Start at the top. Have your list, let Carter, Clarkson and I help you get your suggestions get to Riley. If that doesn't work, you'll see us move to the next level.
I do want to make a point. Please do not do anything that will hurt the economy. If we start to go on a national campaign to keep dollars out of here, then we can't get the money we need. So let's not do that.
AUD: So we get the list together and do what you recommend what timeline are we looking at?
Fielkow: Get your three reps, meet with us, then we'll get hold of the DA, and get Riley to meet with you. If he doesn't appear at the meeting, we can issue a subpoena for his appearance at that meeting.
AUD: We don't want to make this a racist thing, but there is a profile. (There was talk of profiling and black men being just as frightened by the cops—fear of being pulled over for no reason.)
Kaye: I've lived here since 1974 I can't live anywhere else. I opened another biz in the Quarter. It's been hard since K. Brother robbed at gunpoint at one point. From a biz person's standpoint any banner will HURT, do irreparable damage to the businesses. Visible patrols, lighting, these things must be done. I will not become a prisoner in our own home. We need to know our neighbors. We need to meet once a month.
AUD: the people in this room need to become leaders for the rest of the city. Crime is killing our city.
AUD: Police need to do their job.
AUD: Question for DA: Can we know when hearings are so we can be a force.
DA: Courtrooms are open. I would encourage that. We are waiting now for the police reports, they will turn them over to us, then we will do our investigation, we will then have 120 days to issue an indictment. You can find out which section of court they're allotted to, if you get a representative to get hold of an ADA. You have a right to follow it from arraignment to sentencing. We want you to be in there supporting us. Often the defendants have a lot of people in the courtrooms, we very much encourage you to get involved and come to the hearings. Sometimes we have to ask citizens to leave while we are choosing jurors, but once that's done you have a right to be in there.
Fielkow: That applies to council meetings also. The silent majority doesn't come. You have to come en masse so when we're talking budget or DA or whatever we can hear what you have to say. We the legislators need to hear from the majority of the city. Come to our meetings and make your voice heard.
Lord David: Texting as crime watch. Activate yourself as individuals. Exchange contact info. I can be contacted at Skull-Club@cox.net. I am collecting stories of NOPD neglect. I've received many in just 72 hours. Please take advantage of our collective.
(sp)Jimmy Delery: I was one who with Harry Anderson put together town hall meetings after K. This is groundhog day for me. We've done this before. Some so full of people that they couldn't get in the place. Let's not walk out of here and forget. If we don't change the management of this police department we can't change anything. We have a great new council and DA. Last night at Aunt Tiki's, 12 police cruisers outside to arrest 2 street musicians. Frenchman St. we can't get one regular policeman down there.
Audience alternately groaned and laughed at the 12 cruisers vs 2 street musicians.
AUD: What can you councilmen do to get us better lighting in the lower end of the Quarter. We gotta get more light below St. Philip St. What can you guys do to get public works to get us better lighting. Warehouse district is well lit.
Carter/Fielkow talking to each other.
Meeting deteriorating into a bitch session.
Back to lighting:
Carter: two different issues, one is the ones that are out, the company that the city commissioned to deal w/lights are in the Quarter every night. Second issue is prioritization, we as a council can prioritize, and it's also a question of money.
Fielkow: if it's a question of resources there's nothing we won't put resources to if it will keep people safe. Stacy Head chair of Public Works. Come to the meeting, come out w/50 people to the Public Works meeting. Alert media that you're doing it. You all have power. Use it.
If it's a money issue we'll allocate what we can, let's get public/private groups to fund, more teamwork, talk to Steve Parry.
AUD: In the last two days I saw lots of cops with their windows down, I said hi and thanked them. The ideal situation would be if they knew who we are and we knew theirs. Make the cops a part of the community.
1:25 Meeting attendance is dwindling.
AUD: Mr. Fielkow we don't feel very powerful. We need to attend meetings to get street lights replaced?
Councilmen and DA have left. News crews have left.
New Orleans Crime Meeting Buffa's
I have to say that I was very impressed with the turnout, and with Councilmen Fielkow and Carter's patience in listening. I was also very happy that District Attorney Cannizzaro took such an active part.
As for NOPD, well, nothing to be said there really.
I really have to thank Terry Taravella for grabbing my camera and taking the photos. It was clear that there was no way I could type and take photos at the same time, and she just stepped right in.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
1.23.2009
Buffa's Crime Meeting Notes
Meeting called by Camille Burgin
(nola.com FQ forums – organized through there)
11:55AM approx 30 ppl in back room, WDSU outside covering it, another station, still unidentified coming in the door.
NOON: Lord David outside doing an interview. Someone in Buffa's refused entrance to the news crews. More people arriving every minute.
12:01PM James Carter arrives.
Camille Burgin opens meeting.
“I know everybody's scared. I know I am., Husband works at in Quarter, walks to get his car at St. Louis and Rampart every night 2AM or later. She waits for him with fear every night.
We're all upset. The thing I don't want us to do is let the fear and horror to go away. We need to channel it so that we can prevent it from happening again.
FBI Stats:
Three times the violent crimes of Mobile between January and June of last year.
I don't know the answers. I don't want us all to think alike. I want to get some solutions.”
Our city council man, James Carter, introduced.
Carter:
I'd like to say that it's really shameful what happened to the woman who lost her life.
We have to make sure we have visible patrols in these areas. That is going to happen. The city has dispersed the light people to fix the lights throughout the Quarter. We have to continue to focus on these violent repeat offenders who prey on the citizens of NOLA. DA's representatives are here, I want to thank them for attending. Councilman Fielkow is here. I want to hear what you all have to say.
Lord David:
I never see patrols. Who can we call to get patrols?
James Carter
Major Kelly (? Not sure if that’s the name said)
Brian Denzer did a presentation and Carter doesn't know why he was turned down.
He (Denzer) came and did another presentation.
The above came from Lord David saying go to NOLA website tons of places to pay fines no place to report crime, why wasn't Denzer's proposal accepted.
No answer.
Fielkow: Denzer has been in front of us for two weeks now. DC has something like his proposal. Yesterday council voted have those people meet with Denzer immediately.
Harrison Boyd Tech Director-- Barrage his office, reference council CapStat (I think that’s the name) program, tell him to talk to Brian Denzer to implement it immediately.
Applause
Fielkow: This is ridiculous. Long term needs to be reformed, but for shorter term it's crime cameras that aren't working, lights not working, strategic problems.
Major Hosli couldn't get clearance to come here because he was not invited. Make sure police have formal invitation to come to ANY meeting like this.
Crowd has grown. Folks are starting to shout out complaints.
We're being outsmarted by 15 yr old kids with no education (attendee comment)
Carter: Outside of Bourbon St do you ever see patrols.
Entire room says NO.
Woman complaining about the tap dancers, calling them pickpockets and gangsters.
Carter again asked re:foot patrols.
One in audience says she saw one the other day, the cop said he had to do it for a couple weeks.
Woman saying she comes home from gigs at 2AM carries a blade.
The cops are certainly around when a car needs to be towed.
How long can we have MP's here. Safer with them than NOPD.
Guard term has been extended four times, can't be done again.
Lord David: telling story from his post re: Billy Sothern's robbery report of a theft involving a cell phone. (Humid City)Re-read Lord David's Humid City post as reference.
658-6800 number for Internal Affairs.
Fielkow: you need to come up with a laundry list of what you think needs to be done. Schedule a meeting w/Hosli and Riley asap, let council participate with you.
What comes out of this has to be fed and put into action, get some representatives and schedule a meeting. James Carter is the head of the Crime committee.
NEWS CREWS NOW LET IN.
Fielkow: If the DA will also attend the meeting you schedule that would help.
Aud: is there anything the council can do to get Riley to respond.?
A call for his resignation gets applause.
We work mostly in the service industry. If this keeps happening we'll have no revenue brought into the city.
George Kulman “DamnYankees” screenname
Lives on Gov Nicholls betw Bourb and Royal, he's from NYC, raised Lower Eastside.
He says has been actively following things, had lived here part time for years, moved permanently after Katrina. What he's seen is horrendous event happens, everyone gets up in arms, in two weeks everything goes away. We must organize and hold every responsible party's feet to the fire.
I am not for vigilantism, but I will be getting a conceal carry license. I will also assist anyone else who wants one. It'll cost you 350 or so, but if we get a couple hundred people applying for carry permits, even if we don't CARRY the gun, it's the police dept's worst nightmare.
Second, city built on tourism. I don't want to hurt it. The people who can prevent that from happening are our council people, the mayor. We need our group to put banners, get a local news contact committee, national news contact. Tell people from out of town to rethink coming here.
MOST THINK THAT IS A TERRIBLE IDEA. (Basically the whole room disagreed)
George: Local patrols. Formal organization, crimewatch is a defunct organization but maybe we can take it over.
CANNIZZARO IS HERE IN BACK.
Geo: We will not be placated if action isn't taken. I will not be appeased like Chamberlain was appeased by Hitler.
Traceman: Wife and I live in the Marigny a couple blocks from the robbery. Thousands and thousands of banners and armbands so everywhere anyone goes in Quarter or Marigny will see “We're watching YOU.” You can wear them over your Mardi Gras costumes. Print on the armband “Ray Nagin is fill in the blank.” Make it yellow like police tape and a purple lightning bolt.
Aud: Armbands won't stop a bullet.
We need the police to do something.
5 armed robberies and one car jacking within the same area as Wendy's murder in the last month.
I tell my husband's story. Reference my post. (For the record, NOPD finally did call him back, asked him to come down and look at photo arrays. He was doing that as I was at this meeting.)
Terry Taravella says her hubs saw cop tried to get his attention, couldn't get the policeman's attention.
We just want the cops to do their jobs. There are no patrols. We're upset. We don't want to carry guns, we want the cops to do their jobs.
We also want them prosecuted.
DA:
Very sad circumstances that bring us together, but am glad to see the large number of people here who want to do something. It's going to take your involvement. You have to be vigilant, you have to call.. We ARE going to prosecute them to the full extent of the law. I have certain ethical and procedural rules because they are juveniles. We like to think of out 14 yrs olds as children, but if the put a gun in your chest they're not kids anymore. We need to get them off the street. We couldn't even give the names of the juveniles til we got permission from the court. The 14 yr old offender, we can not give the name or the nature of the charge until we file juvenile file court judge to transfer. We will probably be setting transf hearing for Monday. The 15 yr olds will probably be in front of a magistrate asking for bond, improbable that they will get it, that will happen this weekend.
60 day murder: Legislature has changed that to 120 days. We're still investigating that case. Saturday night our (DA’s office) investigators were on the crime scene. Team of three people with every investigative police unit.
I have to thank the council, we wouldn't have been able to get the funding to do the job we need to do. Information has to be gotten immediately, in the past DA's didn't get involved until 30, 60, 90 days after the arrest, now the witness has changed his mind, might not be locatable, or has been intimidated or killed. It's our game plan to get hold of those witnesses immediately to encourage them to stay with us as we prosecute the case.
The arrest does us no good unless or until we can get this person charged. We want to make sure these people are taken out of circulation forever.
I've had the misfortune of sitting with families of victims. I can't bring them back. I pledge to you that we will put them away. Please, I need your help.
I can't make any public statements (re:suspects). Many have been in the system before. It's important that we prevent them from moving up the crime ladder. Education is important, drug rehab is important. It's almost unthinkable that we have 15 yr olds like that in our society, we want to prevent other kids from escalating to these other crimes.
Get involved. Don't NOT prosecute if you're robbed, stay with it.
AUD: Can we call YOUR office?
DA: Lots of people don't want to file charges. I'm hearing that.
AUD: We're accused of being involved!!! (in the crime) Who do we call??? The cops accuse me of being part of an armed robbery and you want me to call THEM. What about police intimidation of someone reporting a crime? It's very common. (Lord David with others chiming in.)
DA: Call our office, but I need a police report.,
Lord David: What if that doesn't work.
AUD: Don't be so cynical. Make the call.
DA: I can't do anything without a complaint filed.
AUD Member to Lord David: I think your attitude is what's causing your problem.
DA: There MUST be a record. When something happens we can't say we didn't KNOW but we won't know if you don't report it. There's not good in every profession.
Being a cop is a difficult job, but we expect them to do it right. We make the decision in the DA's office whether or not to accept the charge. They take the complaint, present it to us, then we determine if there is a case.
(Personal note: I see only three people of color at this meeting with the exception of one of the camera man and one of the DA's assistants. I’m bothered by that as once again it is a white woman’s killing causing this outpouring. I’m wishing the group was more racially balanced.)
AUD: Wendy's murder is a totally predictable consequence. Go to the crime commission website and look at the numbers. Violent arrests here are less than 10 percent. (Metropolitan crime commission website) What are you gonna do to MAKE NOPD do their jobs. They are not making arrests for violent crimes.
DA: We will be on crime scenes to assist. Murders and rapes. Second: we've sat down with the superintendent and many of the deputies, we're trying to get them to improve their report writing and get people to testify. We're trying to improve the quality of police work. Everyone has to be treated with dignity and respect. We're working and trying to get the violent off the street. This is the first time the DA's office has brought people to the scenes of crimes in the history of NO. We have roughly 200 murders/1000 armed robberies (Personal Note: I believe those numbers were per year). We can't be at every crime scene, not enough money.
AUD Lord David: HOW DO WE MAKE THE COPS DO THEIR JOB?
Fielkow:
To have a good criminal justice system we have to have police/DA/public defenders/judges. From a money standpoint we have given. Fielkow believes we have the right DA and judges. The mayor hires the police chief. The council can fire the executive branch, rarely used. Frustration in the council re:crime problems. Cops weren't invited, but it's BS that they didn't attend.
(At this point Camille Burgin says, they WERE invited. Fielkow says, “That’s even worse then.” He was visibly upset that they weren’t there.)
Here's what we can do for accountability:
We have a committed city council, who would like not to have to go to that extreme measure. Start at the top. Have your list, let Carter, Clarkson and I help you get your suggestions get to Riley. If that doesn't work, you'll see us move to the next level.
I do want to make a point. Please do not do anything that will hurt the economy. If we start to go on a national campaign to keep dollars out of here, then we can't get the money we need. So let's not do that.
AUD: So we get the list together and do what you recommend what timeline are we looking at?
Fielkow: Get your three reps, meet with us, then we'll get hold of the DA, and get Riley to meet with you. If he doesn't appear at the meeting, we can issue a subpoena for his appearance at that meeting.
AUD: We don't want to make this a racist thing, but there is a profile. (There was talk of profiling and black men being just as frightened by the cops—fear of being pulled over for no reason.)
Kaye: I've lived here since 1974 I can't live anywhere else. I opened another biz in the Quarter. It's been hard since K. Brother robbed at gunpoint at one point. From a biz person's standpoint any banner will HURT, do irreparable damage to the businesses. Visible patrols, lighting, these things must be done. I will not become a prisoner in our own home. We need to know our neighbors. We need to meet once a month.
AUD: the people in this room need to become leaders for the rest of the city. Crime is killing our city.
AUD: Police need to do their job.
AUD: Question for DA: Can we know when hearings are so we can be a force.
DA: Courtrooms are open. I would encourage that. We are waiting now for the police reports, they will turn them over to us, then we will do our investigation, we will then have 120 days to issue an indictment. You can find out which section of court they're allotted to, if you get a representative to get hold of an ADA. You have a right to follow it from arraignment to sentencing. We want you to be in there supporting us. Often the defendants have a lot of people in the courtrooms, we very much encourage you to get involved and come to the hearings. Sometimes we have to ask citizens to leave while we are choosing jurors, but once that's done you have a right to be in there.
Fielkow: That applies to council meetings also. The silent majority doesn't come. You have to come en masse so when we're talking budget or DA or whatever we can hear what you have to say. We the legislators need to hear from the majority of the city. Come to our meetings and make your voice heard.
Lord David: Texting as crime watch. Activate yourself as individuals. Exchange contact info. I can be contacted at Skull-Club@cox.net. I am collecting stories of NOPD neglect. I've received many in just 72 hours. Please take advantage of our collective.
(sp)Jimmy Delery: I was one who with Harry Anderson put together town hall meetings after K. This is groundhog day for me. We've done this before. Some so full of people that they couldn't get in the place. Let's not walk out of here and forget. If we don't change the management of this police department we can't change anything. We have a great new council and DA. Last night at Aunt Tiki's, 12 police cruisers outside to arrest 2 street musicians. Frenchman St. we can't get one regular policeman down there.
Audience alternately groaned and laughed at the 12 cruisers vs 2 street musicians.
AUD: What can you councilmen do to get us better lighting in the lower end of the Quarter. We gotta get more light below St. Philip St. What can you guys do to get public works to get us better lighting. Warehouse district is well lit.
Carter/Fielkow talking to each other.
Meeting deteriorating into a bitch session.
Back to lighting:
Carter: two different issues, one is the ones that are out, the company that the city commissioned to deal w/lights are in the Quarter every night. Second issue is prioritization, we as a council can prioritize, and it's also a question of money.
Fielkow: if it's a question of resources there's nothing we won't put resources to if it will keep people safe. Stacy Head chair of Public Works. Come to the meeting, come out w/50 people to the Public Works meeting. Alert media that you're doing it. You all have power. Use it.
If it's a money issue we'll allocate what we can, let's get public/private groups to fund, more teamwork, talk to Steve Parry.
AUD: In the last two days I saw lots of cops with their windows down, I said hi and thanked them. The ideal situation would be if they knew who we are and we knew theirs. Make the cops a part of the community.
1:25 Meeting attendance is dwindling.
AUD: Mr. Fielkow we don't feel very powerful. We need to attend meetings to get street lights replaced?
Councilmen and DA have left. News crews have left.
New Orleans Crime Meeting Buffa's
Monday, January 19, 2009
Senseless, Stupid, Sad--Torrential Rage
Anyone living in the city of New Orleans right now knows exactly what I'm talking about. For the record, the "victim," as she keeps being referred had a name: Wendy Byrne. I keep hearing Brando whispering, "The Horror, the horror."
I am not going to go on and on about this, as others have done so much better than I could, over at Humid City there are several, read Lord David's post "At the Cost of a Life" for sure. Via Twitter, another rage against violence posted by Penny Dreadful. The NOLA Krewe of Wenches has written a rant on their MySpace page. There are others, many others, all of them worth reading.
I am going to copy/paste a comment I left on Lord David's piece, followed by his response:
I've been thinking about this all day. The nola.com article gives the lead detective's name, Homicide Detective Richard Chambers. The article ends there but is followed by this:
The cost of a life indeed. They should have posted Detective Chambers direct line and cell. BTW, the composites drawings of the alleged perpetrators have been released. The one on the right is an exact depiction of the kid my husband saw running.
Humid City's site posted the Decatur Street memoriam. Below is the Governor Nicholls and Dauphine memoriam. It's utterly incongruous on that quiet corner. No more words. Blogger won't let me upload the last three. Not sure they're needed anyway.
EDIT 8:45PM: Blogger finally let me upload the rest of the photos. But more importantly, my husband called the homicide detective today to report his information. He made that call at 11:24AM. He has not received a return call yet.
I am not going to go on and on about this, as others have done so much better than I could, over at Humid City there are several, read Lord David's post "At the Cost of a Life" for sure. Via Twitter, another rage against violence posted by Penny Dreadful. The NOLA Krewe of Wenches has written a rant on their MySpace page. There are others, many others, all of them worth reading.
I am going to copy/paste a comment I left on Lord David's piece, followed by his response:
Slate Says:
January 19th, 2009 at 10:52 am
My husband was heading to work just about that time. As he drove his carriage down Esplanade, he saw what he believes to be one of the shooters running across Esplanade as though his life depended on it, and it probably did, (he didn’t know at the time any shooting or robbery had happened, he just noticed that the kid was running blindly). The kid ran across Esplanade into the Marigny. It bothered my husband all evening. When he got home he checked NOLA.com, found a number for Crimestoppers (no number posted for NOPD). He called it. It’s out of state. He had to repeat “New Orleans, yes ma’am, New Orleans. NEW ORLEANS. He then explained what he’d seen, by then he knew the intersection that the crime had happened on, he told them that too, gave a description of the kid he saw including hair, build, jacket, jeans and shoes. He was told, “Call back if you have a name or address for him.” He was never asked his name. He’s going to try NOPD, but we aren’t holding out much hope.
Nevermind, I’m gonna post this. It’s outrageous.
Lord David Says:
January 19th, 2009 at 11:08 am
The above post is a perfect example of the reaction of the local police.
“Call Crimestoppers.”
Nevermind that they’re an out of state information center.
I wonder if my waiter said, “Maybe that lady at the next table can bring you some water. I hear she’s a waiter at another place”, how long they would be employed. What happened to all the Beat Cops we were promised, who were around for a week? Was it too hard to walk around all day? Try tending bar during Mardi Gras. Of course, you might get killed on the walk home.
If the cops are going to ignore any calls they don’t feel like going on and focus on seatbelt violators and a few pot heads to get their statistics up and raise City Cash, then we are merely at the mercy of another huge armed gang, with Riley & Nagin as their Leaders.
To Protect and Serve.
Do it or go home.
That includes you, Ray.
Do your fucking job.
I've been thinking about this all day. The nola.com article gives the lead detective's name, Homicide Detective Richard Chambers. The article ends there but is followed by this:
Citizens with information that can help solve this crime are asked to call CRIMESTOPPERS at 822-1111, toll-free 1-877-903-STOP(7867). You could receive a cash reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the responsible person(s). You do not have to give your name nor testify to receive the reward.
The cost of a life indeed. They should have posted Detective Chambers direct line and cell. BTW, the composites drawings of the alleged perpetrators have been released. The one on the right is an exact depiction of the kid my husband saw running.
Humid City's site posted the Decatur Street memoriam. Below is the Governor Nicholls and Dauphine memoriam. It's utterly incongruous on that quiet corner. No more words. Blogger won't let me upload the last three. Not sure they're needed anyway.
EDIT 8:45PM: Blogger finally let me upload the rest of the photos. But more importantly, my husband called the homicide detective today to report his information. He made that call at 11:24AM. He has not received a return call yet.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Algiers Point Anger
I know it's the holidays. I know that I could and probably will post something cheery this week.
Or not. I am beyond furious, crying as I type this. Anger in my bones wanting to explode out. I can even say that though I'm an avowed pacifist, that there are a couple of people in the video below that I'd like to do in on a public square.
Just prior to Katrina, we lived in Algiers Point. What we did after the storm can be found chronicled at my sister blog, Katrina Refrigerator. On our block there were only four of us. My husband and myself, and Mr. Mitchell and his wife. Mr. Mitchell and his wife are black. The four of us shared a generator for two households, running it about one hour a day. We looked out for each other, made sure we had ice, water, food. Whatever we got, we got enough for them and vice versa.
During that time, my husband and I were running all over the Point and beyond, making food drops, finding people that no one even knew were there. Most of them were old, sick, out of their medication, had no ice, no food and were black. There were some white people, an elderly man not on the Point who couldn't quite navigate the MRE's physically or mentally, the family on the tip of the Point who all needed psych meds and menstrual supplies-one of them is a Vietnam Vet who wouldn't come out of his house, so the rest of the family got his medications together for us to see what we could do. There was old Bernice. She had been born and raised on Algiers Point. Had lived her entire life in a two block area. Well into her 80's maybe 90's, I can't remember now, she had been at an assisted living home and was told the night before the storm that if she had a place to go she should go there, so she did. They put her in a taxi and she went back to the home she had shared with her husband for decades and weathered the storm by herself. Nearly blind and almost deaf, she made it, amazingly.
In our travels around the Point and Algiers area, we learned about guerilla networking. We learned who had what kind of equipment, what kind of supplies. You never knew what you'd need. In fact, we once traded a bottle of Absolut vodka for one jar of mayo that had been kept cold as we had a ton of tuna and nothing to mix in it. Nevermind there were still folks over at the Convention Center. We didn't know that. It was a complete news blackout. One only knew what was going on where they were, period.
We'd heard some guys bragging about shooting other guys. We heard of some guys who had strung beer cans all over the street as a sort of burglar alarm. We knew that some of them had said they'd taken turns as lookouts. But it was the bragging about shooting people that my husband and I talked most about. We thought these guys were idiots, and more to the point, we didn't believe them. We really didn't. They had signs on boards saying they'd shoot if they saw looting. They had a big easy chair in the street, apparently that was where the person on duty would sit for their shift. But again, we talked about their reports of shooting people and decided that they were stressed out and just doing a lot of dick measuring. No way these people would actually shoot anyone "just cuz."
I distinctly remember my husband saying, "They're full of shit."
Evidently, we were stupidly naive.
At the time, we lived in a double on Elmira Street. Our landlords became our friends, and remain so. They sent this article from nola.com to me in an email titled "A Familiar Face and Old Wounds." I read it immediately. Then I watched the video below. It's chilling. I simply cannot wrap my head around my neighbors laughing about shooting people, black people. "Pheasants in South Dakota?"
I am so upset by this on so many levels that I can barely comprehend it. Shot of a house with bunches of American flags on it, oh yeah, this is what America is about. A guy saying he had earned his wings as a New Orleanian by shooting at black people, while his wife says, "He learned about the N word" and nods knowingly.
Over time, my husband and I still agreed that the guys we talked to had to be full of shit as we had heard of no one being prosecuted. Now I see why no one has been prosecuted, and that makes me even sicker to my stomach. These guys were telling us at the time that they'd shot people and tossed them into the river. Evidently they did, and they're still living in their houses patting themselves on the back while the number of "missing" remains over 700.
Why is the national media picking this up before locals? Why aren't the local people talking about it? There has to be something we as New Orleanians can do to get this story up front, get these people prosecuted and put away. I will tell you that I'm not going to let this one go. We were there, we were helping, we were weeping.
I'm still weeping. Now for a different reason. I just don't know where to put my grief, my anger and my shame for not believing this could be true. I guess I thought my neighbors were better than that. I guess I thought wrong.
Katrina NOLA New Orleans Hurricane Katrina Louisiana Algiers Point We Are Not OK
Or not. I am beyond furious, crying as I type this. Anger in my bones wanting to explode out. I can even say that though I'm an avowed pacifist, that there are a couple of people in the video below that I'd like to do in on a public square.
Just prior to Katrina, we lived in Algiers Point. What we did after the storm can be found chronicled at my sister blog, Katrina Refrigerator. On our block there were only four of us. My husband and myself, and Mr. Mitchell and his wife. Mr. Mitchell and his wife are black. The four of us shared a generator for two households, running it about one hour a day. We looked out for each other, made sure we had ice, water, food. Whatever we got, we got enough for them and vice versa.
During that time, my husband and I were running all over the Point and beyond, making food drops, finding people that no one even knew were there. Most of them were old, sick, out of their medication, had no ice, no food and were black. There were some white people, an elderly man not on the Point who couldn't quite navigate the MRE's physically or mentally, the family on the tip of the Point who all needed psych meds and menstrual supplies-one of them is a Vietnam Vet who wouldn't come out of his house, so the rest of the family got his medications together for us to see what we could do. There was old Bernice. She had been born and raised on Algiers Point. Had lived her entire life in a two block area. Well into her 80's maybe 90's, I can't remember now, she had been at an assisted living home and was told the night before the storm that if she had a place to go she should go there, so she did. They put her in a taxi and she went back to the home she had shared with her husband for decades and weathered the storm by herself. Nearly blind and almost deaf, she made it, amazingly.
In our travels around the Point and Algiers area, we learned about guerilla networking. We learned who had what kind of equipment, what kind of supplies. You never knew what you'd need. In fact, we once traded a bottle of Absolut vodka for one jar of mayo that had been kept cold as we had a ton of tuna and nothing to mix in it. Nevermind there were still folks over at the Convention Center. We didn't know that. It was a complete news blackout. One only knew what was going on where they were, period.
We'd heard some guys bragging about shooting other guys. We heard of some guys who had strung beer cans all over the street as a sort of burglar alarm. We knew that some of them had said they'd taken turns as lookouts. But it was the bragging about shooting people that my husband and I talked most about. We thought these guys were idiots, and more to the point, we didn't believe them. We really didn't. They had signs on boards saying they'd shoot if they saw looting. They had a big easy chair in the street, apparently that was where the person on duty would sit for their shift. But again, we talked about their reports of shooting people and decided that they were stressed out and just doing a lot of dick measuring. No way these people would actually shoot anyone "just cuz."
I distinctly remember my husband saying, "They're full of shit."
Evidently, we were stupidly naive.
At the time, we lived in a double on Elmira Street. Our landlords became our friends, and remain so. They sent this article from nola.com to me in an email titled "A Familiar Face and Old Wounds." I read it immediately. Then I watched the video below. It's chilling. I simply cannot wrap my head around my neighbors laughing about shooting people, black people. "Pheasants in South Dakota?"
I am so upset by this on so many levels that I can barely comprehend it. Shot of a house with bunches of American flags on it, oh yeah, this is what America is about. A guy saying he had earned his wings as a New Orleanian by shooting at black people, while his wife says, "He learned about the N word" and nods knowingly.
Over time, my husband and I still agreed that the guys we talked to had to be full of shit as we had heard of no one being prosecuted. Now I see why no one has been prosecuted, and that makes me even sicker to my stomach. These guys were telling us at the time that they'd shot people and tossed them into the river. Evidently they did, and they're still living in their houses patting themselves on the back while the number of "missing" remains over 700.
Why is the national media picking this up before locals? Why aren't the local people talking about it? There has to be something we as New Orleanians can do to get this story up front, get these people prosecuted and put away. I will tell you that I'm not going to let this one go. We were there, we were helping, we were weeping.
I'm still weeping. Now for a different reason. I just don't know where to put my grief, my anger and my shame for not believing this could be true. I guess I thought my neighbors were better than that. I guess I thought wrong.
Katrina NOLA New Orleans Hurricane Katrina Louisiana Algiers Point We Are Not OK
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
What on Earth is the MATTER with These People?
I saw this article headline today: Store Refuses to Make Birthday Cake for Child. The reason given was the child's name: Adolf Hitler.
This article explains that these idiots named their 3 year old boy Adolf Hitler Campbell. Oh yeah, and his sisters' names are equally bizarre.
What is going to happen to these kids when they get to school? The mother says: "What's the big deal. They're kids. They're not gonna hurt anyone." Um, no, you MORON, but some kids might hurt THEM.
Good god, what were these people thinking.
This article explains that these idiots named their 3 year old boy Adolf Hitler Campbell. Oh yeah, and his sisters' names are equally bizarre.
What is going to happen to these kids when they get to school? The mother says: "What's the big deal. They're kids. They're not gonna hurt anyone." Um, no, you MORON, but some kids might hurt THEM.
Good god, what were these people thinking.
Friday, December 12, 2008
My Humble Entry Brought to You by General Motors
Okay, after suffering and laughing through all the entries in the "hostilidays" video postings, I humbly offer up two pieces of a really horrid, very long (two hrs running time, Lucas must have been hard up for bucks)piece done in 1978. The entire thing is on You Tube in pieces. I give you the first and last piece.
The first piece contains dialogue, if you can call it that, that must be what a GM Board meeting sounds like combined with CNN's election coverage visuals, and ya gotta love the cast:
The entire torturous piece (and I am a Star Wars fan!) ends with this:
How very low I've sunk.
The first piece contains dialogue, if you can call it that, that must be what a GM Board meeting sounds like combined with CNN's election coverage visuals, and ya gotta love the cast:
The entire torturous piece (and I am a Star Wars fan!) ends with this:
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
RIP Polaroid Film
Polaroid film will no longer be produced. This CNN article found yesterday made me sad. While digital photography is wonderfully immediate, that was also what made Polaroid film so great. Instant, well nearly instant, gratification. There is a Polaroid camera in a box behind me as I write this. I guess I'll decorate it in Mardi Gras beads and turn it into sculpture. It will soon be useless as anything other than an old time curiousity.
I remember being a kid before the faboo Polaroid 600 came out. The Polaroid was shot and out would shoot this kind of black paper thing. We'd all stand around peeing our pants with anticipation as the adult holding the paper counted off the time. Finally, FINALLY, the developed photo could be peeled from its backing revealing the picture. It was miraculous. I even remember that it had a very recognizable, almost sweet smell.
As Polaroid progressed, we learned the shoot and shake method. No one was ever really sure that shaking the ejected photo would develop it faster, but we were convinced that it might not develop if we didn't shake it. Besides, shaking it seemed to shorten the wait time as our impatience got lost in the action and giggles of shaking the thing.
Years later I decided to get a degree in photography (never got it, math requirements got in my way). I learned about things like ASA and F Stops. I absolutely loved the sensuousness of the darkroom. Black, dank, the sound of running water, the sloshing of the trays full of chemicals, even the smell of the chemicals---the whole thing was a creative womb.
With great care the film would be extracted from the camera then the cannister, hands hidden in a lightproof bag, always with a bit of paranoia---was there light leaking in anywhere? Would the little slice of life made by light briefly, ever so briefly, flicked onto the film be forever destroyed by the very light that made it? Phew! Did it. The end of the film cannister fell to the floor and the film pulled out. Now I could put it perfectly on the developing reel. I knew how to use the old metal ones, but really liked the plastic ones in the 70's that kind of ratcheted the film onto the reel. Less chance of bending it, I thought, until of course I did bend one roll. From then on I wasn't quite so cavalier. Now to develop the film itself. Chemicals, lid, agitate, let it sit, watch the clock, agitate again, let it sit watch the clock, listen to the timer clicking off the minutes, wait! What kind of film is in there? 400 or 250? Oh yeah, 400, cool, it's cool. Agitate, zen, rinse. Now I had negatives. The negatives made me happy in their reversal. Looking at them as I hung them to dry was like looking at a parallel universe.
Once dry, one frame was chosen for printing. Not always the right one, but I'd figure that out as I went along. Line it up just right on the enlarger, don't scratch it, any dust on it? No? Make sure. Okay. It's good. Flip the switch on the enlarger, play with it. Make it HUUUUUUUUUUGE, no don't like that, make it tiny, no don't like that much either. Get out your box of filters. OOOOOOOOO, loving that red filter, nah, maybe mess with the contrast a bit. Choose my paper stock. Damn, look at that lower left corner. How did that guy's hand get in there? Shit. Well, no problem, dodge it out, gently, gently now. The timing had to be perfect.
Now to put that piece of paper into a tray. Grab the tongs, I hope these aren't the old ones with the crack in it that scratched that last print. Slosh, slosh, slosh. Magic, magic, magic. An image formed, slowly like something coming out of the ethers in a dream. ENOUGH. Into the next chemical to stop the developer. Made it. Slosh, slosh, slosh, RINSE. Okay, it'll be there a while. Don't want that glorious black and white to yellow cuz I was too impatient to rinse all the chemicals out. Go have a cigarette and come back.
Hang the final product up, I was now looking at it in the light, safely. The silver glowed, the blacks were inky, not a spot on it that I didn't mean to be on it. Wow. A miracle. That face smiling back at me. That leaf caught just as the wind hit it and at just the right angle to see all the veining under it. The guy trying to bash another guy's head in at a Ku Klux Klan rally in San Francisco. Harvey Milk in a parade! Mayor Moscone there too. Those cool old doors on that building they've torn down now. The cops in riot gear with big shields coming down Market Street in San Francisco during the riots after the Dan White verdict.
Photography. Love it. All of it. Don't do enough of it anymore.
Digital photographers have tried to explain that my computer is now my darkroom. Besides, I no longer have a darkroom in my house (although in years past, I'd been known to use my bathtub for developing film.) I get it. I really do. I still prefer Black and White 400 ASA film shot with just the right exposure to give it a great grain without clicking a button to turn my color photo into a b/w, then pushing another button to give it grain in standardized increments. The silver just isn't there. The zen just isn't there. The miracle isn't there.
As for the miracle of Polaroid film, it will no longer be made. That is really a damn shame.
Of all the photos yearned for in the nostalgia piece above, Hurricane Katrina only spared a few. Those few were Polaroids. Something in that film allowed it to survive the chemical stew of the floodwaters on Tulane. Polaroid photos survived Katrina. That's a good enough reason to mourn its passing.
Katrina NOLA New Orleans Hurricane Katrina Polaroid
I remember being a kid before the faboo Polaroid 600 came out. The Polaroid was shot and out would shoot this kind of black paper thing. We'd all stand around peeing our pants with anticipation as the adult holding the paper counted off the time. Finally, FINALLY, the developed photo could be peeled from its backing revealing the picture. It was miraculous. I even remember that it had a very recognizable, almost sweet smell.
As Polaroid progressed, we learned the shoot and shake method. No one was ever really sure that shaking the ejected photo would develop it faster, but we were convinced that it might not develop if we didn't shake it. Besides, shaking it seemed to shorten the wait time as our impatience got lost in the action and giggles of shaking the thing.
Years later I decided to get a degree in photography (never got it, math requirements got in my way). I learned about things like ASA and F Stops. I absolutely loved the sensuousness of the darkroom. Black, dank, the sound of running water, the sloshing of the trays full of chemicals, even the smell of the chemicals---the whole thing was a creative womb.
With great care the film would be extracted from the camera then the cannister, hands hidden in a lightproof bag, always with a bit of paranoia---was there light leaking in anywhere? Would the little slice of life made by light briefly, ever so briefly, flicked onto the film be forever destroyed by the very light that made it? Phew! Did it. The end of the film cannister fell to the floor and the film pulled out. Now I could put it perfectly on the developing reel. I knew how to use the old metal ones, but really liked the plastic ones in the 70's that kind of ratcheted the film onto the reel. Less chance of bending it, I thought, until of course I did bend one roll. From then on I wasn't quite so cavalier. Now to develop the film itself. Chemicals, lid, agitate, let it sit, watch the clock, agitate again, let it sit watch the clock, listen to the timer clicking off the minutes, wait! What kind of film is in there? 400 or 250? Oh yeah, 400, cool, it's cool. Agitate, zen, rinse. Now I had negatives. The negatives made me happy in their reversal. Looking at them as I hung them to dry was like looking at a parallel universe.
Once dry, one frame was chosen for printing. Not always the right one, but I'd figure that out as I went along. Line it up just right on the enlarger, don't scratch it, any dust on it? No? Make sure. Okay. It's good. Flip the switch on the enlarger, play with it. Make it HUUUUUUUUUUGE, no don't like that, make it tiny, no don't like that much either. Get out your box of filters. OOOOOOOOO, loving that red filter, nah, maybe mess with the contrast a bit. Choose my paper stock. Damn, look at that lower left corner. How did that guy's hand get in there? Shit. Well, no problem, dodge it out, gently, gently now. The timing had to be perfect.
Now to put that piece of paper into a tray. Grab the tongs, I hope these aren't the old ones with the crack in it that scratched that last print. Slosh, slosh, slosh. Magic, magic, magic. An image formed, slowly like something coming out of the ethers in a dream. ENOUGH. Into the next chemical to stop the developer. Made it. Slosh, slosh, slosh, RINSE. Okay, it'll be there a while. Don't want that glorious black and white to yellow cuz I was too impatient to rinse all the chemicals out. Go have a cigarette and come back.
Hang the final product up, I was now looking at it in the light, safely. The silver glowed, the blacks were inky, not a spot on it that I didn't mean to be on it. Wow. A miracle. That face smiling back at me. That leaf caught just as the wind hit it and at just the right angle to see all the veining under it. The guy trying to bash another guy's head in at a Ku Klux Klan rally in San Francisco. Harvey Milk in a parade! Mayor Moscone there too. Those cool old doors on that building they've torn down now. The cops in riot gear with big shields coming down Market Street in San Francisco during the riots after the Dan White verdict.
Photography. Love it. All of it. Don't do enough of it anymore.
Digital photographers have tried to explain that my computer is now my darkroom. Besides, I no longer have a darkroom in my house (although in years past, I'd been known to use my bathtub for developing film.) I get it. I really do. I still prefer Black and White 400 ASA film shot with just the right exposure to give it a great grain without clicking a button to turn my color photo into a b/w, then pushing another button to give it grain in standardized increments. The silver just isn't there. The zen just isn't there. The miracle isn't there.
As for the miracle of Polaroid film, it will no longer be made. That is really a damn shame.
Of all the photos yearned for in the nostalgia piece above, Hurricane Katrina only spared a few. Those few were Polaroids. Something in that film allowed it to survive the chemical stew of the floodwaters on Tulane. Polaroid photos survived Katrina. That's a good enough reason to mourn its passing.
Katrina NOLA New Orleans Hurricane Katrina Polaroid
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Glory at Sea
A while back, I was sitting at Buffa's. There were some kids, at least from my perspective they were kids, talking about making a movie. They even considered my grandson for a part in it. They wrote the screenplay in Buffa's. You'd see them in the front room or the back room, all gathered around a table talking seriously as the rest of us cranked the jukebox or played bad pool.
The result was this amazing short film, Glory at Sea. Buffa's cook, Mama Jo is in the cast along with others from Buffa's including Cedric, whom we haven't seen in forever and miss a lot.
I got an email from Benh Zeitlin, who had brought it up to Buffa's one afternoon so we could all see it. I bought one from him that day it was so beautiful. His production website is www.court13.com, although I'm not sure if you can purchase a copy there or not. I've emailed him to find out.
This film has garnered many awards. I'm so delighted for them.
YouTube's Screening Room has posted Glory at Sea in its entirety (and an interesting tidbit learned at Buffa's that day was that Obama loved the score). I am posting it here for you. (Hit the "high quality" button, it was shot on HD video.) It's one of those pieces you'll watch over and over again. Hope you like it.
I'm so proud of them!
Glory at Sea Court 13 New Orleans
The result was this amazing short film, Glory at Sea. Buffa's cook, Mama Jo is in the cast along with others from Buffa's including Cedric, whom we haven't seen in forever and miss a lot.
I got an email from Benh Zeitlin, who had brought it up to Buffa's one afternoon so we could all see it. I bought one from him that day it was so beautiful. His production website is www.court13.com, although I'm not sure if you can purchase a copy there or not. I've emailed him to find out.
This film has garnered many awards. I'm so delighted for them.
YouTube's Screening Room has posted Glory at Sea in its entirety (and an interesting tidbit learned at Buffa's that day was that Obama loved the score). I am posting it here for you. (Hit the "high quality" button, it was shot on HD video.) It's one of those pieces you'll watch over and over again. Hope you like it.
I'm so proud of them!
Glory at Sea Court 13 New Orleans
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Hey, Anonymous, Grow a Pair
Okay. OKAY. I already blew it with the title of this post proving no doubt that I'm a sexist who thinks only men post anonymously, or can write, or something like that.
Well, I'm not changing it now. Take it in the spirit in which it was written, as I will take your comments, Anonymous 1 and Anonymous 2 (or is it the same person?) in the spirit in which they were written.
It's pretty cool to put something out there anonymously, with a nice protective screen between you and the receiver of your comments. Safe. No repercussions. You can sit and gloat, happy that you got your jabs in, then probably check back daily to see if Slate had the nerve to publish your comments. Much to your chagrin, I did not publish them in the comments section. Probably grated ya. This should make you very happy, then. I decided that I'd publish them front page center. Give you the milk crate on the corner of the blogosphere with a spotlight on it instead of relegating your insights to the less visited comments section.
I checked some other blogs prior to writing this. Many of whom had put up similar posts to the "History" post. None of them had comments like these. You're special. Thanks so much for visiting my little blog.
Anonymous 1:
Well, looking past the obviously nasty use of the word retard (do people still say that? Who knew? Like in public and everything?), I'm curious which two you are referring to? William Henry Harrison and John Tyler, both Whigs? Andrew Johnson and Ulysses S. Grant, both corrupt? Or are you thinking in more current terms? Ronald Reagan and George Bush the first? Bill Clinton and George W. Bush? Or maybe you're thinking of two terms of George W. and thinking it was a different person each term?
Let's just go back a little. Clinton was a philanderer and not good at hiding it, nevertheless he was anything but an unintelligent man, or as you would so kindly put it, a retard. George W. Bush, his assault on syntax aside, was in my opinion misguided and I didn't like him, but again, he is not a stupid man. Barack Obama, definitely not a stupid man. None of these three qualify for your "retard" label. Then again, I don't know anyone who does since it's not a term I use.
As for "God Bless America! We'll need it." I tend to agree with you. As long as there are folks like you around we need all the prayers we can get. Now why don't you go to your mega-church and volunteer to help some special needs members. It will do you good.
Anonymous 2, your comment will be broken up a bit to make it easier for me to respond. I'm a bit retarded that way.
I went back and read the entry for 10/2/08. It was a two part piece completely quoted from an email I had received. I said in that post--that it was not necessarily my opinion but the opinion of the writer, so it wasn't me who questioned whether it would matter, it was the writer of the piece I published verbatim to see what other folks thought of it. I'll see if I can contact him and ask him your question.
Because he's a democrat? Well, the Dems have made their share of mistakes, that's for sure, but given what the Republicans have done in the last eight years, I'd have to say yeah, that is one reason it's cool. Perhaps the new administration can do a better job than the Republicans have done. Hope does spring eternal, doesn't it?
White-guilt-ified. Wow. I think we should make some tshirts. I never owned slaves and I've always treated people as people no matter what color they were, so I carry no guilt. I am prejudiced against people who won't stand up for what they believe, so I'll give you that one. Mark it on your side of the tally sheet. And what exactly is a "goper"? Is that a GOP-er or something I need to look up in the new slang dictionary?
I will absolutely admit that as a child of the sixties who watched the Civil Rights era unfold on television followed by the televising of the Vietnam War, that yeah, his ethnicity is a factor in my thinking it's cool. I didn't think I'd see this happen in my lifetime. I was dismayed that racism (and I see it every day, don't you?) seemed to be so entrenched in this country. But then I looked at the faces of the crowd in Lafayette Square. It wasn't just Jesse Jackson crying, it was white people. Lots and lots of white people and brown people and yellow people. It was AMERICAN people. I think the emotion stemmed not just from the fact that a man of color was elected, but that there was a feeling of hope in a time when hope is very much needed. I actually wondered what President Bush was thinking at that moment. I believe that as much as I disagreed with him on just about everything, that he truly felt he was doing the right thing. If he was watching those faces that night, it had to sting. Your reference to McCain as McStain makes me curious for whom you voted, or if you voted at all. And I do agree with you that McCain did as much to distance himself from W as was humanly possible, in the end he couldn't.
Now that is a truly curious statement, "the bummed out that Joey McCarthy and Bobby F Kennedy ruined." Ruined? Lessee, McCarthy certainly ruined a lot of people's lives and deprived them of their livelihoods through blacklisting. So okay, score one for you. Exactly how did Bobby Kennedy ruin people? Unless of course you're talking about his nearly obsessive investigation and prosecution of the Mafia, or maybe his hatred of that pillar of the community J. Edgar Hoover. If you're truly comparing our President-elect to a socialist dictator, well I'm gonna have to ask you what you "smoked." Nevertheless, by your "Heads I win, Tails you lose" scenario, I guess I do lose. Not sure what I've lost yet, but I guess I'll know when I can't find it.
As for Obama's ideology, I don't agree with him on everything, but I agree with him on much, much more than I could ever have agreed with McCain. So yeah, that's cool. It was the first time in a long time I voted FOR someone rather than AGAINST someone. It's a subtle difference but a really cool one, at least for me.
Hmm, so you've been here before if you know that I have a grandson and you live in Louisiana, or at least are pretending to. I expect we will still be in Iraq in 12 months. I will leave out the part where I say we shouldn't have gone there to begin with. Ooops, it slipped out. A draft. Well, again, this will probably be an unexpected statement from me, but I think perhaps we need a draft. That having been said, I don't think the draft should consist of only military service. I think they should have their choice of the military (and you bet I'm praying that my sweet grandson doesn't have to go over there or anywhere else where people are shooting at him. I can't imagine how hard it is for all the mothers, grandmothers and wives of service men.) I think the kids should be given choices like the Teach America program, or the Peace Corps, or volunteering in inner city daycares or homeless shelters. There are a lot of alternative ways to serve one's country, and I don't think it would be so bad for some of these kids to see that not everyone has an iPod. Oh yeah, and NO exemptions for Senators' kids or others who can pull strings. Two years volunteering, then we pay for their college. Think how many kids we could have put through college on the money we spent in Iraq. Don't tell me we can't manage some kind of program like that.
Rahm Emanuel? I'm thinking I could like him too from what I've read. Time will tell whether he's too much of a political pitbull to get bipartisan legislation passed.
As for the deficit, Bush came in with a surplus and squandered it. Now we will all pay the price, and yes, my grandson's generation will pay it heavily. Corporations being taxed? Um, YUP, and again, YUP. Eisenhower was right. He saw all this coming but no one listened to him. Corporations have run amuck, I'm surprised people with stock portfolios aren't standing in front of banks and corporations with torches and pitchforks. Gordon Gekko was NOT right. Greed is NOT good, and the Oracle, Mr. Greenspan should have known better. The rampant deregulation naively let the foxes mind the henhouses and now all we have is feathers.
Well, I'm gonna put my foot squarely in my mouth again here I suppose, at least as far as you're concerned. I'm simply not much of a nationalist. I guess that makes me unpatriotic in your eyes. I don't see it that way at all. I do want America to be as wonderful as she can be, which btw, doesn't involve things like wiretapping her citizens or torturing her enemies. So CO2 brownouts won't make me feel patriotic, neither did the Katrina blackouts. I really love your cigarette remark. Makes me think ya really actually might KNOW me a bit. I don't mind paying taxes on my cigarette (or 20). I DO mind that I pay those taxes and can't own a business with a big sign outside saying "This is a smoking establishment. Please know that before you come in." And I do so love the folks standing next to their running Escalades and Yukons crinkling up their nose because someone is smoking a cigarette twenty feet down from them in the open air. No score for you on that statement.
Oh dear. A fixed sign are you? Nevermind. "Nothing we've done makes a difference." What are you saying? Much has changed because "we" did something. Child labor laws. Hate crime laws. Anti-discrimination laws. I'll leave you to find some others. "'Change' was big with Hitler"--HUH? Tell me you're not comparing Obama to Hitler. If you are, show me what criteria you're using.
You're right. Change isn't always good. Cutting back on Veteran's Benefits, cutting money for the upkeep of infrastructure, not good. Again I'll leave you to find some more examples. And no, the thesaurus doesn't have "good" next to "change." So what. It's pretty damn good when that little tree you planted ten years ago finally changes and starts making fruit isn't it?
"Cool means: not so hot." Right now I stick by my WOW, this election was so COOOOOOOOOOL. While I don't expect Obama to get everything right, or wave a magic wand and fix everything overnight, I do think that his priorities are more in line with mine. Bush's priorities would fall into the not so hot category for me.
And while we're talking about change, I'm still baffled by California voting for more room for chickens but voting against gay marriage. A chicken before a friend I always say. But maybe none of those California PETA folks have any gay friends. No matter. I'll eagerly await your Anonymous comment.
Unless of course, you grow a set and put your name on your statements. At least stand behind them.
Well, I'm not changing it now. Take it in the spirit in which it was written, as I will take your comments, Anonymous 1 and Anonymous 2 (or is it the same person?) in the spirit in which they were written.
It's pretty cool to put something out there anonymously, with a nice protective screen between you and the receiver of your comments. Safe. No repercussions. You can sit and gloat, happy that you got your jabs in, then probably check back daily to see if Slate had the nerve to publish your comments. Much to your chagrin, I did not publish them in the comments section. Probably grated ya. This should make you very happy, then. I decided that I'd publish them front page center. Give you the milk crate on the corner of the blogosphere with a spotlight on it instead of relegating your insights to the less visited comments section.
I checked some other blogs prior to writing this. Many of whom had put up similar posts to the "History" post. None of them had comments like these. You're special. Thanks so much for visiting my little blog.
Anonymous 1:
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "History":
Yes! Incredible. I would have never thought in my lifetime that we could have *2 consecutive* retards as president! God Bless America! We'll need it.
Well, looking past the obviously nasty use of the word retard (do people still say that? Who knew? Like in public and everything?), I'm curious which two you are referring to? William Henry Harrison and John Tyler, both Whigs? Andrew Johnson and Ulysses S. Grant, both corrupt? Or are you thinking in more current terms? Ronald Reagan and George Bush the first? Bill Clinton and George W. Bush? Or maybe you're thinking of two terms of George W. and thinking it was a different person each term?
Let's just go back a little. Clinton was a philanderer and not good at hiding it, nevertheless he was anything but an unintelligent man, or as you would so kindly put it, a retard. George W. Bush, his assault on syntax aside, was in my opinion misguided and I didn't like him, but again, he is not a stupid man. Barack Obama, definitely not a stupid man. None of these three qualify for your "retard" label. Then again, I don't know anyone who does since it's not a term I use.
As for "God Bless America! We'll need it." I tend to agree with you. As long as there are folks like you around we need all the prayers we can get. Now why don't you go to your mega-church and volunteer to help some special needs members. It will do you good.
Anonymous 2, your comment will be broken up a bit to make it easier for me to respond. I'm a bit retarded that way.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "History":
tell me, exactly why is this cool? because he's a democrat? if so, in a recent entry, you questioned whether it would matter (10/02/08 but, i'm sure you can explain or excuse it), and i agree.
I went back and read the entry for 10/2/08. It was a two part piece completely quoted from an email I had received. I said in that post--that it was not necessarily my opinion but the opinion of the writer, so it wasn't me who questioned whether it would matter, it was the writer of the piece I published verbatim to see what other folks thought of it. I'll see if I can contact him and ask him your question.
Because he's a democrat? Well, the Dems have made their share of mistakes, that's for sure, but given what the Republicans have done in the last eight years, I'd have to say yeah, that is one reason it's cool. Perhaps the new administration can do a better job than the Republicans have done. Hope does spring eternal, doesn't it?
Is it because of his ethnic origins? if so, you are white-guilt-ified or prejudiced, at best, because there are better available and quite frankly, McStain was just as antagonistic to the idiot-in-cheif as Obama has been("I voted with the president 90%" ad, notwithstanding, i'm sure you know that, but who cares, he's coddling those gopers).
White-guilt-ified. Wow. I think we should make some tshirts. I never owned slaves and I've always treated people as people no matter what color they were, so I carry no guilt. I am prejudiced against people who won't stand up for what they believe, so I'll give you that one. Mark it on your side of the tally sheet. And what exactly is a "goper"? Is that a GOP-er or something I need to look up in the new slang dictionary?
I will absolutely admit that as a child of the sixties who watched the Civil Rights era unfold on television followed by the televising of the Vietnam War, that yeah, his ethnicity is a factor in my thinking it's cool. I didn't think I'd see this happen in my lifetime. I was dismayed that racism (and I see it every day, don't you?) seemed to be so entrenched in this country. But then I looked at the faces of the crowd in Lafayette Square. It wasn't just Jesse Jackson crying, it was white people. Lots and lots of white people and brown people and yellow people. It was AMERICAN people. I think the emotion stemmed not just from the fact that a man of color was elected, but that there was a feeling of hope in a time when hope is very much needed. I actually wondered what President Bush was thinking at that moment. I believe that as much as I disagreed with him on just about everything, that he truly felt he was doing the right thing. If he was watching those faces that night, it had to sting. Your reference to McCain as McStain makes me curious for whom you voted, or if you voted at all. And I do agree with you that McCain did as much to distance himself from W as was humanly possible, in the end he couldn't.
Is it because of his ideology? duh, I'll count the bummed-out that Joey McCarthy
and Bobby F Kennedy ruined; you count the dead that any single socialist dictator smoked: you'll have the higher score and you will lose.
Now that is a truly curious statement, "the bummed out that Joey McCarthy and Bobby F Kennedy ruined." Ruined? Lessee, McCarthy certainly ruined a lot of people's lives and deprived them of their livelihoods through blacklisting. So okay, score one for you. Exactly how did Bobby Kennedy ruin people? Unless of course you're talking about his nearly obsessive investigation and prosecution of the Mafia, or maybe his hatred of that pillar of the community J. Edgar Hoover. If you're truly comparing our President-elect to a socialist dictator, well I'm gonna have to ask you what you "smoked." Nevertheless, by your "Heads I win, Tails you lose" scenario, I guess I do lose. Not sure what I've lost yet, but I guess I'll know when I can't find it.
As for Obama's ideology, I don't agree with him on everything, but I agree with him on much, much more than I could ever have agreed with McCain. So yeah, that's cool. It was the first time in a long time I voted FOR someone rather than AGAINST someone. It's a subtle difference but a really cool one, at least for me.
McCain (and the Bushling) is high fiving president-elect Obama, and don't you forget that."The Bushling"!!! Kudos for that one. I really like that, no sarcasm intended at all. I like it much better than Shrub. As for high fiving, which at one time was a mostly urban black cultural greeting but has become acknowledged as a greeting world wide, I'm gonna let your subtle racism slide because I'm not sure you knew it was there in that statement. However, given your sophistication, I think you should understand protocol and manners. Here in America we hand over the reins of power in a civilized fashion, rather than put a bullet through the outgoing Prez's head, no matter what our secret desires might be. McCain was very gracious in his concession speech, and again, although I'm not a fan of McCain I do think that he sincerely believes in a civilized transition. He will also have to work with our new President as long as he remains in the Senate. Yeah, I think it's cool that we don't have to have a coup d'etat to change leadership.
call me in 12 months when we're still in iraq, the debt is even bigger, the draft (Rahm Emanuel, read him...good guy in some ways, i could like him) is looming for your oft-mentioned grand-kid, and even more corporations are being taxed higher overseas because it is cheaper than being taxed here(especially HERE in la).
Hmm, so you've been here before if you know that I have a grandson and you live in Louisiana, or at least are pretending to. I expect we will still be in Iraq in 12 months. I will leave out the part where I say we shouldn't have gone there to begin with. Ooops, it slipped out. A draft. Well, again, this will probably be an unexpected statement from me, but I think perhaps we need a draft. That having been said, I don't think the draft should consist of only military service. I think they should have their choice of the military (and you bet I'm praying that my sweet grandson doesn't have to go over there or anywhere else where people are shooting at him. I can't imagine how hard it is for all the mothers, grandmothers and wives of service men.) I think the kids should be given choices like the Teach America program, or the Peace Corps, or volunteering in inner city daycares or homeless shelters. There are a lot of alternative ways to serve one's country, and I don't think it would be so bad for some of these kids to see that not everyone has an iPod. Oh yeah, and NO exemptions for Senators' kids or others who can pull strings. Two years volunteering, then we pay for their college. Think how many kids we could have put through college on the money we spent in Iraq. Don't tell me we can't manage some kind of program like that.
Rahm Emanuel? I'm thinking I could like him too from what I've read. Time will tell whether he's too much of a political pitbull to get bipartisan legislation passed.
As for the deficit, Bush came in with a surplus and squandered it. Now we will all pay the price, and yes, my grandson's generation will pay it heavily. Corporations being taxed? Um, YUP, and again, YUP. Eisenhower was right. He saw all this coming but no one listened to him. Corporations have run amuck, I'm surprised people with stock portfolios aren't standing in front of banks and corporations with torches and pitchforks. Gordon Gekko was NOT right. Greed is NOT good, and the Oracle, Mr. Greenspan should have known better. The rampant deregulation naively let the foxes mind the henhouses and now all we have is feathers.
oh, and the cap and trade CO2 brownouts will surely feel more patriotic than our katrina blackouts, especially after a (equitably taxed) cigarette or 20.
Well, I'm gonna put my foot squarely in my mouth again here I suppose, at least as far as you're concerned. I'm simply not much of a nationalist. I guess that makes me unpatriotic in your eyes. I don't see it that way at all. I do want America to be as wonderful as she can be, which btw, doesn't involve things like wiretapping her citizens or torturing her enemies. So CO2 brownouts won't make me feel patriotic, neither did the Katrina blackouts. I really love your cigarette remark. Makes me think ya really actually might KNOW me a bit. I don't mind paying taxes on my cigarette (or 20). I DO mind that I pay those taxes and can't own a business with a big sign outside saying "This is a smoking establishment. Please know that before you come in." And I do so love the folks standing next to their running Escalades and Yukons crinkling up their nose because someone is smoking a cigarette twenty feet down from them in the open air. No score for you on that statement.
nothing we've done makes a difference and "change" was big with hitler, too. doesn't say "good" in a thesaurus next to it. all i can say is wow, how cool is that? cool means: not so hot.
Oh dear. A fixed sign are you? Nevermind. "Nothing we've done makes a difference." What are you saying? Much has changed because "we" did something. Child labor laws. Hate crime laws. Anti-discrimination laws. I'll leave you to find some others. "'Change' was big with Hitler"--HUH? Tell me you're not comparing Obama to Hitler. If you are, show me what criteria you're using.
You're right. Change isn't always good. Cutting back on Veteran's Benefits, cutting money for the upkeep of infrastructure, not good. Again I'll leave you to find some more examples. And no, the thesaurus doesn't have "good" next to "change." So what. It's pretty damn good when that little tree you planted ten years ago finally changes and starts making fruit isn't it?
"Cool means: not so hot." Right now I stick by my WOW, this election was so COOOOOOOOOOL. While I don't expect Obama to get everything right, or wave a magic wand and fix everything overnight, I do think that his priorities are more in line with mine. Bush's priorities would fall into the not so hot category for me.
And while we're talking about change, I'm still baffled by California voting for more room for chickens but voting against gay marriage. A chicken before a friend I always say. But maybe none of those California PETA folks have any gay friends. No matter. I'll eagerly await your Anonymous comment.
Unless of course, you grow a set and put your name on your statements. At least stand behind them.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Don't Blame Me, Blame Polimom!
I have had a cold for days now so although I have a couple of serious things I want to blog about, I think I'll just play tag with Poli, since she tagged me.. She's been such a good friend for so many years now that although I don't usually do this kind of thing, it's easier on my cold filled head than what I was going to write about.
Here are the rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.
Fine, six random things about me. I'm pretty random so narrowing it down to six might be difficult.
1. I love the smell of jasmine on a humid summer night, corny but true.
2. I have given up dying my hair, let it go gray and am considering dreadlocks.
3. I pull the covers up over my ears at night for no reason other than I've always done it.
4. Mardi Gras Indian music can always put me in a good mood (I should be reaching for Wild Tchoupitoulas as I speak)
5. I have rescued German Shepherds for years and have the hair in my hallway to prove it.
6. My bicycle, which is my primary transportation, is covered with a motley collection of stickers.
Okay, so now I have to tag six more huh? Oh they're gonna love me.
I'll buy y'all drinks next time I see you.
TAG
Mark Folse at Toulouse Street
EJ at No It's Just Me
Maitri at the inimitable Vatul Blog
Morwen at Gentilly Girl
Greg Peters the Suspect Device (just to see if he'll do it and if he does it will be worth seeing what he writes as it will probably something you'll want to put your coffee cup down to read)
Charlotte at Traveling Mermaid (because I think she'll enjoy it!)
So many more I could have tagged, although if you've never read any of the above, you'll find a very diverse group. I'll leave it to these six to get to LisaPal and GBitch (whose blog seems to be down? Anyone know what's up with that?) and Liprap and Sophmom and Zombie and Oyster and Adrastos and Gloomy Pants and Loki and Ray and and and.
Okay, Poli, you happy?
Here are the rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.
Fine, six random things about me. I'm pretty random so narrowing it down to six might be difficult.
1. I love the smell of jasmine on a humid summer night, corny but true.
2. I have given up dying my hair, let it go gray and am considering dreadlocks.
3. I pull the covers up over my ears at night for no reason other than I've always done it.
4. Mardi Gras Indian music can always put me in a good mood (I should be reaching for Wild Tchoupitoulas as I speak)
5. I have rescued German Shepherds for years and have the hair in my hallway to prove it.
6. My bicycle, which is my primary transportation, is covered with a motley collection of stickers.
Okay, so now I have to tag six more huh? Oh they're gonna love me.
I'll buy y'all drinks next time I see you.
TAG
Mark Folse at Toulouse Street
EJ at No It's Just Me
Maitri at the inimitable Vatul Blog
Morwen at Gentilly Girl
Greg Peters the Suspect Device (just to see if he'll do it and if he does it will be worth seeing what he writes as it will probably something you'll want to put your coffee cup down to read)
Charlotte at Traveling Mermaid (because I think she'll enjoy it!)
So many more I could have tagged, although if you've never read any of the above, you'll find a very diverse group. I'll leave it to these six to get to LisaPal and GBitch (whose blog seems to be down? Anyone know what's up with that?) and Liprap and Sophmom and Zombie and Oyster and Adrastos and Gloomy Pants and Loki and Ray and and and.
Okay, Poli, you happy?
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Monday, November 03, 2008
Halloween in New Orleans with Election Sidebar
Well, I couldn't figure out what to do for Halloween in terms of a costume. Just hadn't given it much thought this year. So I went as St. Gouttiere, patron saint of the gutter punks. I figured since I was a little goth gutter punk in my misspent youth, I was currently of the age to be their patron saint, and lord knows they need one. The kids on Decatur Street loved me.
I looked in the mirror and thought I couldn't have looked MORE like a drag queen if I'd tried, but overall the look worked.
Husband went as Che Guevara and ran into Fidel in the new cigar shop down on Decatur. Some folks took their pictures together, both with stogies hanging out of their mouths.
We made the rounds to our favorite places, running into people we knew everywhere. Had a great time, checked out the Molly's parade start, continued on to Pirate's Alley and loved the costumes we saw. San Francisco does a good Halloween, at least they did when I lived there, but New Orleans has to be the best. The spirit of Halloween just takes over the entire city, and this is a city that likes masks. We seem willing to dress up in costume at the slightest provocation. Dressing up and parading. The mayor knicked his head today while shaving it::::::::::PARADE::::::::::DRESS UP:::::::::::So Halloween is always a blast. You could tell some people had spent a lot of time and effort on their costumes, unlike me who slapped something together that morning putting a beauty queen banner across my chest explaining who I was. I was a bit surprised how successful it turned out to be.
Meanwhile, Blaine Kern's Krewe of Boo parade was slated to start at 7PM. Never having been in or to a parade that actually started on time, we got down to Decatur and Esplanade about 7:30. We'd already missed it, but heard that our neighbor who had gone as Joe the Plumber, complete with plumber's crack had had a "wardrobe malfunction" and apparently the plumbing in front was hanging out til a friend told him to yank his pants up. We had asked him earlier how he thought he was gonna navigate those pants down so low, he felt he had it under control. Apparently not.
All of the above aside, the streets were electric. Groups gathered on corners, all in costume and makeup, discussing the election. It was fascinating. They were voicing fear and hope simultaneously. The conversations centered around the who, the possibility of another election being stolen, the fact that we could feel history being made in this election. It was remarkable. Total strangers discussing this stuff without rancor or anger, maybe a little sarcasm here and there, but so very hopeful. It was hope tinged with that fear I mentioned though. It was clear that everyone has invested themselves in this election, to a degree I haven't seen in decades. And these discussions were everywhere, street corners, stoops with ghouls gathered around, bars. Amazing.
Let's hope we can continue that kind of discussion after the votes are tallied.
I doubt it though. A family member told me today that they didn't want to hear my opinion. I'm afraid that regardless of the outcome, we're going to go back to our corners and stay silent.
Halloween NOLA New Orleans election
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)