Nagin Cleaning Up New Orleans

Times-Picayune ^ | 07/22/02 | Gordon Russell

[bigeasy_70118]

Three months on the job and I love what this guy is doing. This is not business as usual.

[Types_with_Fist]

I was born and raised in Louisiana. Look for this guy Nagin to be found accidentally killed in his driveway.

[SuziQ]

New Orleans politics always makes me think of Haiti with Papa Doc and Baby Doc. It even has the voodoo!

[Atlas Sneezed]

"This is a battle for the soul of New Orleans"

Stay away from the restaurants, and the soul will be just fine.

[southerngrit]

I lived in New Orleans in the '70s. Moved when the kids started coming along. You couldn't PAY me to move back. Too much traffic, too much corruption, too much crime. I had 3 deadbolts on my front door, and still worried about getting robbed. When we moved to Lake Charles I felt like I had crossed through to another dimension -

I hope Mayor Nagin stays safe.

[Types_with_Fist]

I forgot to mention: A few years back, the FBI had some undercover cops trying to get the goods on drug trafficing in the NOPD. They had to pull them out because the department had them marked to be exterminated. No kidding !

[thegreatbeast]

Posh & nonsense! New Orleans' politics is writ in stone: Corrupt! Gawd, I hope that they've stopped shooting their mayors. If they haven't, you heard it here first: It was the Black Hand that did the mayor!
We try to put a more subtle face on it but NO has no more hope of going straight than my home turf of Taxachusetts. Our guys don't even bother loosening their ties when they want to get down and dirty.
Good luck anyway.

[Red Jones]

I was going to say that I wish president bush was like mayor nagin; but if we did have a president like nagin, then he'd be assasinated.

[alnick]

I wonder if Nagin will ever go after Morial. Regardless, it's refreshing to see the new mayor doing some much needed housecleaning.

[chemicalman]

Hopefully he can get english re-established as the official language of New Orleans. < / sarcasm >

[southerngrit]

New Orleans' politics are an embarrassment to the state of Louisiana - quite an accomplishment in this day and age. I know a lot of really great people who work in NO, but most don't live in the city. They live across the Causeway or upriver. Why? A failed public school system, crime in the streets, breakdown of services, etc. The experts have been telling us for years the whole city's going to float away 'cause the infrastructure is not equipped to handle the next big hurricane. You can smell the reek of corruption (or is that mildew?)

[Fresh Wind]

Three months on the job...

He'll be lucky to make to six. Might get hit by a speeding cab.

[bigeasy_70118]

We certainly have our problems in this city. But 6 million visitors a year can't be wrong. Uptown is absolutely gorgeous, the Warehouse District has been renovated and now the Marigny Triangle is significantly improved.

I am sorry but I think this is the best place to live in the country. Even with a heat index of 114 degrees.

[southerngrit]

I didn't mean to insult you or the citizens of the city of New Orleans. I have family there. I grew up in Baton Rouge, spent my 20's in New Orleans, and enjoyed time (for the most part)spent there. My husband was transferred to Lake Charles and it took me 2 years to make the adjustment from big city living to the boonies. Talk about culture shock (lol). Now, I find I am thankful my kids are growing up in a smaller community. I hope I didn't offend you, it was certainly not my intention.

I stand my ground on the corrupt politicians, though.

[geaux]

Since it appears that the last time you set foot in New Orleans was thirty years ago, maybe you should get some information that's a little more accurate before you start trashing the city. And try getting it from people who actually live in Orleans Parish, instead of those posers across the lake. To Morial's credit, he cleaned up the NOPD and most random street crime. As for the traffic, HUH? The traffic is in out in da Parish -- Metry. The only congested traffic in New Orleans is at a few spots on Magazine Street and in the French Quarter.

[southerngrit]

The last time I set foot in New Orleans was a month or so ago, when my niece graduated from Tulane. The traffic sucked and the roads were in disrepair. I go there several times a year, on business and to visit family and friends. Sorry you don't live across the lake - maybe you would have picked up some manners over there. There's no need to insult me or get all puffed up. I am as entitled to my opinion as you.

Why don't we agree to disagree?

[mikenola]

Amen, brother.

New Orleans is a world apart, in many ways its own little city-state, part of the United States but at the same time so different from every other place in that country. Our history, people, architecture, food, music and traditions make New Orleans a great place, warts and all. The land of Mardi Gras, jazz, King Cakes, streetcars, cafe au lait and beignets, muffulettas, neutral grounds, heat, humidity, crawfish, Yats, hurricanes (both the storm and the highly intoxicating drink), the French Quarter, gumbo, and red beans 'n rice is a great place to visit, and you might just wanna live there after all!

For the life of me I can't think of anyone who wrote any songs about Slidell ;-)

[Delbert]

How come when I offer beads to girls in Dallas, they dont lift their shirts like they do in Nawleans?

[sphinx]

I'm aware of NO's bad rep, but I was able to find a Ben Butler chamberpot at the confederate museum. A successful trip.

Butler was probably the last good Massachusetts Democrat, even if unsuited to military command. Many consider him to have been the best "mayor" NO ever had. Gotta respect his ladies-of-the-town order.

[MissAmericanPie]

I've always loved New Orleans, and would hop on a plane in a moments notice just to shop the French Quarter. I use to be sure I made it there at least once a year, but my last trip was at least three years ago if not more.

The French Quarter smelled of urine and beer, and was down right seedy looking.

I hope after he cleans up City Hall, he starts to work on cleaning up the French Quarter.