More straights are marching under the gay rights banner. credit: Creative Commons In light of my last post on President Obama’s repositioning in support of gay-marriage rights, I found this recent GOP strategy memo fascinating. It’s from President George W. Bush’s 2004 pollster, Jan R. van Lohuizen. Within a few years of Bush’s re-election victory […]
Category: Government & Politics
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Obama catches gay marriage trend, but what about Louisiana?
Last week President Barack Obama publicly unveiled his now fully “evolved” belief that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry. Media reports called his announcement a “watershed move.” I disagree. While Obama’s statement might be historic, it merely follows a watershed change in American attitude that occurred over a year ago. It’s important to remember […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Investigations, Land Use
Katrina Cottages: Years late and $1 million over budget in the 9th Ward
An emergency housing program finally reaches the market at a cost half again as high as budgeted.
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Why the hurry, Congressman? A legal payoff lay ahead
Lee Zurik’s Fox 8 report on allegedly fraudulent oil leases owned by Gov. Huey Long’s “Win or Lose” corporation, worth hundreds of millions in royalties over the years, and passed down to Long’s friends and descendants, is a fascinating investigation. Remember that Long, the Kingfish, rose to fame campaigning against Big Oil. But once in […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Earl updated: Don’t tweet or blog what you can wink or nod
Earl Long: close-lipped Eight years ago, I was up at odd hours of the night, helping my wife care for a newborn. After a bit of noodling on the internet I discovered and joined the wonderful (and wonderfully small) community of South Louisiana bloggers. We discussed politics and current events and mocked the stupid things […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
NOAH contractor changes plea to guilty; stole post-Katrina federal funds for blight removal
Yes, but was the work actually performed? By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | Appearing Thursday in federal court before Judge Nannette Jolivette-Brown, former New Orleans Affordable Homeownership contractor Earl Myers changed his plea from not guilty to guilty of conspiring to commit theft of federal funds. Until the city agency was shut down […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Schools
Interview with OPSB's Thomas Robichaux: Looking beyond school system's past
Thomas Robichaux Thomas Robichaux, 43, a former city attorney who now works as a lawyer for a gaming distribution company, ran in 2008 as a reform candidate for a seat on the Orleans Parish School Board and today is its president. Few dispute that change was sorely needed. For years the city school system had […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Head to take at-large seat immediately — even though it costs her a shot at 2 full terms
Stacy Head By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | Defying political speculation, Stacy Head told The Lens Wednesday she plans to take office as one of the City Council’s two at-large members before May 7, meaning she would not be eligible for two full terms after this partial term is over. “I think it […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Planning chief storms out of closed session called to evaluate her performance
Yolanda Rodriguez Yolanda Rodriguez, long-time executive director of the New Orleans City Planning Commission, stormed out of a closed executive session 20 minutes after it began Tuesday afternoon. Commission members did not elaborate on Rodriguez’ evident annoyance, and she could not be reached for comment. A day earlier, commission chairman Craig Mitchell had informed Rodriguez […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Head won far fewer precincts, but turned out more voters, map of at-large results shows
By Jessica Williams, The Lens staff writer | Racial crossover voting and low black voter turnout appear to be the keys to City Councilwoman Stacy Head’s narrow victory Saturday in the election for an at-large seat. Head, who is white, won far fewer precincts than challenger Cynthia Willard-Lewis, who is black, but the turnout was […]