http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/chocolatecity/ en-us Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:29:31 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2363833/posts Making his first visit to Louisiana since becoming the nation's 44th chief executive, President Barack Obama told a spirited crowd at the University of New Orleans on Thursday that he will help build a stronger Gulf Coast than the one Hurricane Katrina and broken levees wrecked four years ago. "I promise you this -- whether it's me coming down here or my Cabinet or other members of my administration -- we will not forget about New Orleans," Obama said. "We are going to keep on working. . . . Together, we will rebuild this region, and we will build it... The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2363833/posts#comment Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:29:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2363126/posts WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama, who accused former President George W. Bush of leading a government "that sits on its hands while a major American city drowns," is hearing directly from New Orleans residents who have struggled to rebuild their city since the 2005 hurricane season. Obama arrives in New Orleans Thursday on his first presidential trip to the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast. About 1,600 people were killed in Louisiana and Mississippi by Hurricane Katrina, which caused $40 billion in damages and displaced 1 million people from their homes. AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2363126/posts#comment Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:20:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2329852/posts A Florida contractor hired by the Housing Authority of New Orleans to oversee its finances embezzled more than $900,000 during the past three years, according to charges filed Monday by the U.S. attorney's office. Separate public records show that during the same time period the fiscal manager, Elias Castellanos, 43, bought a $1.6 million mansion in Davie, Fla., just north of Miami, and five late-model cars -- including a Lamborghini Gallardo worth more than $200,000, a Ferrari F430, a Porsche 911 and two Mercedes-Benzes. Federal prosecutors charged Castellanos with one count of embezzlement Monday through a bill of information, indicating... The Times-Picayune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2329852/posts#comment Tue, 1 Sep 2009 23:32:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2263195/posts New Orleans is once again the nation's murder capital after briefly losing the title. Fresh FBI statistics show that with 64 killings per 100,000 people in 2008, New Orleans had the highest per capita murder rate in the nation, well ahead of second-place St. Louis, which had 47 murders per 100,000 people. AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2263195/posts#comment Tue, 2 Jun 2009 20:32:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2227801/posts A 24-year-old man was arrested in connection with Saturday's execution-style triple murder in Terrytown, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office announced.Dayshawn Young, of 916 East Monterey Court, Apartment D, in Terrytown, was arrested after investigators identified Young as one of the two suspects believed to be involved in the killing, said Col. John Fortunato, JPSO spokesman. He was booked on three counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted first degree murder. The identity of the second suspect in the shooting remains unknown to investigators, Fortunato said. Four Overstreet, 6, Domonique Sterling, 19, and Sterling's 23-month-old son, Robert Claiborne... The Times-Picayune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2227801/posts#comment Mon, 13 Apr 2009 02:37:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2227027/posts <p>TERRYTOWN, La. - Gunmen in dark clothes kicked down an apartment door in a troubled New Orleans-area neighborhood and opened fire, killing two children and a woman, authorities said.</p> <p>A third child was in critical condition after the shooting around 4 a.m., and investigators were searching for suspects, said Jefferson Parish Sheriff's spokesman Col. John Fortunato.</p> AP Report http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2227027/posts#comment Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:18:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2211715/posts Throughout the week, police detectives and on-edge residents were looking for a man impersonating a police officer who burglarized and threatened residents in three home invasions, forcing some of them to strip. On Friday morning, New Orleans police announced they had found their man, and it turns out he wasn't an impostor. Rather, he is a rogue rookie cop who used his badge while off-duty to victimize Hispanic men and women in the Mid-City area, authorities said.Darrius Clipps, 36, a patrolman of almost one year, appeared for work as scheduled Thursday evening, showing up at roll call for his night... The Times-Picayune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2211715/posts#comment Sat, 21 Mar 2009 23:20:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2193914/posts WASHINGTON (AP) — FEMA is investigating allegations of cronyism and other misconduct at its hurricane recovery office in New Orleans. AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2193914/posts#comment Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:50:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2193096/posts NEW ORLEANS – Six people, including a one-year-old boy, were injured on the parade route in a shooting on Fat Tuesday, according to spokesman EMS spokesman Jeb Tate. wwltv http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2193096/posts#comment Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:16:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2166624/posts Actually, that would be Chocolate City II. Spike Lee is heading to "Chocolate City" for the Inauguration of the post-racial president: Gateway Pundit http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2166624/posts#comment Sun, 18 Jan 2009 00:14:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2156920/posts Black survivors of Hurricane Katrina said Tuesday that racism contributed to the slow disaster response, at times likening themselves in emotional congressional testimony to victims of genocide and the Holocaust. The comparison is inappropriate, according to Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla. “Not a single person was marched into a gas chamber and killed,” Miller told the survivors. “They died from abject neglect,” retorted community activist Leah Hodges. “We left body bags behind... The people of New Orleans were stranded in a flood and were allowed to die.” Angry evacuees described being trapped in temporary shelters where one New Orleans resident said... MSNBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2156920/posts#comment Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:28:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2133095/posts As we thankfully near the end of the Nagin administration, everything seems to be falling apart at City Hall. Therefore, it is interesting that there are sources reporting this morning that Ray Nagin is being considered for the position of Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the new Obama administration. According to one leading Democrat, Nagin is on the short list for the job because of “his experience leading New Orleans during the post-Katrina period.” While there has been significant rebuilding in New Orleans including a major revitalization of the public housing developments in the past three year, there... Bayou Buzz http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2133095/posts#comment Sun, 16 Nov 2008 17:47:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2112658/posts Police departments in cities across the country are beefing up their ranks for Election Day, preparing for possible civil unrest and riots after the historic presidential contest. Public safety officials said in interviews with The Hill that the election, which will end with either the nation’s first black president or its first female vice president, demanded a stronger police presence. Some worry that if Barack Obama loses and there is suspicion of foul play in the election, violence could ensue in cities with large black populations. Others based the need for enhanced patrols on past riots in urban areas (following... The Hill http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2112658/posts#comment Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:07:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2071549/posts NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CNN) -- New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin ordered a mandatory evacuation of the city beginning 8 a.m. Sunday morning but urged residents to consider escaping "the mother of all storms" before then. New Orleans residents leave Friday via Interstate 10 westbound ahead of Hurricane Gustav. 1 of 3 more photos » "You need to be scared," Nagin said. "You need to be concerned and you need to get your butts moving out of New Orleans right now. This is the storm of the century." CNN http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2071549/posts#comment Sun, 31 Aug 2008 01:26:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2058021/posts The Mayor has been jailed do to violating the terms of his bond. He went to Windsor without permission and the Judge Giles had him sent to jail wjr radio http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2058021/posts#comment Thu, 7 Aug 2008 14:52:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044923/posts Census Bureau says New Orleans is the fastest-growing large city in the nation, recovering from being wiped out by Hurricane Katrina. NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- After being pummeled by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, New Orleans is showing signs of recovery - ranking as the fastest-growing large city in the nation, according to a government report released Thursday. The Census Bureau said New Orleans' population rose 13.8%, to 239,124, in the year ended July 1, 2007. That was a faster growth rate than any other city with a population of 100,000 or more. CNN Money http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044923/posts#comment Sun, 13 Jul 2008 22:30:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2043238/posts New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin refutes the findings of the latest UNO Quality of Life Study that show his approval rating has declined from 40 percent to 31 percent. "I think UNO needs a little more money in its budget. The sample size was pretty small, as well as, the margin of error was at 10 percent in Orleans Parish, which is unusual for somebody trying to assess the approval rating of a political leader. Nobody does that," said Nagin in an exclusive interview with Rush Radio 99.5 WRNO. According to the UNO poll, 49 percent of black respondents approve... WRNO, Rush Radio, 99.5 FM, New Orleans, LA http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2043238/posts#comment Thu, 10 Jul 2008 03:02:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2034241/posts Laura slaps down an idiot racist on the factor. This is a direct link to the video but they have a commercial at the beginning. Link Fox news http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2034241/posts#comment Sat, 21 Jun 2008 07:01:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2034000/posts SILVER SPRING, Maryland (Reuters) - Director Spike Lee, whose movies often cast a sharp eye on U.S. racial politics, predicted a presidential victory for black Democrat Barack Obama that would mark a "new day" for the United States. "It's going to be before Obama, 'B.B.,' and after Obama -- 'A.B.' -- and some folks need to get used to this," Lee said. "And I'm going to be at the inauguration -- getting my hotel reservation now." Lee said that like Katrina in 2005, the levee breaches now flooding the Upper Midwest were a sign of misplaced priorities by the national... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2034000/posts#comment Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:54:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2033965/posts Still bitter from his spanking at the hands of Clint Eastwood (background here), conspiracy nut and race-monger Spike Lee is clinging to Barack Obama for revenge. He told a film festival crowd this week that he has gathered 1,000 hours of footage of his Obamessiah on the campaign trail and will produce a documentary about the candidate. The dour director instantly cheered up. Via SilverDocs, Lee gloats: Discussing his Hurricane Katrina epic When the Levees Broke, Lee referenced the current flooding in the midwest and said, “The infrastructure of this country is crumbling, and money’s going elsewhere.” He paused, then... michellemalkin.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2033965/posts#comment Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:29:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1931189/posts New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin recently pronounced himself "disgusted" with apathy among city residents, saying it was "unacceptable" that only about a quarter of registered voters bothered to cast a ballot in the Oct. 20 primary. Turns out the mayor himself has skipped a few elections, according to state records. Nagin did not vote in the October primary, or in two citywide elections in March and May, according to Secretary of State Jay Dardenne's office. Turnout in the Oct. 20 primary -- when Nagin could have had a say in electing key officials he would work with, including the governor,... The Times Picayune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1931189/posts#comment Tue, 27 Nov 2007 16:25:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1918548/posts NEW ORLEANS—District Attorney Eddie Jordan disclosed plans to resign Tuesday amid a $3.7 million discrimination verdict against his office and a rising murder rate since Hurricane Katrina. Jordan's spokesman, Dalton Savwoir, said the district attorney told his staff he would resign on Wednesday. Jordan lost the discrimination lawsuit against dozens of his former employees in 2005. The white former employees said they were fired by Jordan, who is black, because of their race. Jordan has consistently lost the appeals in that case and earlier this week, a federal judge refused to delay payment of the judgment. That opened the door... AP via CoCoTimes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1918548/posts#comment Tue, 30 Oct 2007 19:51:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1894435/posts New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin (D) has decided against running for governor of Louisiana. Notorious for his inaction during the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina’s devastation of his city, Nagin was advised that his slogan “not everyone who could’ve died did” was not the confidence inspiring catchphrase he thought it was. AZCONSERVATIVE http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1894435/posts#comment Tue, 11 Sep 2007 06:28:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1892316/posts Baton Rouge, La. (AP) -- Keeping speculation alive until the very end, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin opted not to join the Louisiana governor's race Thursday — a decision that became clear only when the qualifying deadline passed. Many in Nagin's city were surprised he was even considering a run, with more than 2 1/2 years left in his second term, a painfully slow hurricane recovery effort in the city and a gubernatorial candidate — U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal — who has held a commanding lead in polls. Thirteen candidates qualified for the Oct. 20 ballot, most notably the Republican... AP via SFGate http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1892316/posts#comment Fri, 7 Sep 2007 01:19:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1886667/posts Aide to New Orleans mayor describes chaos after storm in new book — NEW ORLEANS — After Hurricane Katrina inundated his city with floodwaters, leaving in its wake a wave of human suffering and lawlessness, Mayor C. Ray Nagin surveyed what already was being called the nation’s worst natural disaster from the window of a sweltering hotel suite he’d commandeered. “Are you OK?” his press secretary, Sally Forman, asked. “This was God’s plan for me, Sally,” Nagin said. “What was?” she asked. “To rebuild New Orleans.” That exchange is one of the many insights into the man and the chaos... AP via KnoxNews http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1886667/posts#comment Sun, 26 Aug 2007 05:58:04 GMT