RAY NAGIN: I Am A Vagina-Friendly Mayor

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA -- New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin remarked he is "a vagina-friendly Mayor," while welcoming the author of the Vagina Monlogues, Eve Ensler to the city to promote the "V-Day" celebration in New Orleans next month.

Mayor Nagin began his comments at the news conference by saying, "How am I gonna stand up and say, I'm a 'vagina-friendly' Mayor to these cameras after 'Chocolate City' and some of the other stuff that I've done. But you know what? I'm in."

Listen to Nagin Audio on Demand at 99.5FM.

Orleans Parish District Attorney Eddie Jordan leaving office!

Orleans Parish District Attorney Eddie Jordan leaving office, a Halloween Treat for New Orleans!

After nearly five years in office, Orleans Parish District Attorney Eddie Jordan announced his resignation on October 31st. Jordan leaving is great news for the city suffering from high crime and a poor image. Jordan's depature is the most positive news I have heard in many, many years. This could have a positive impact on the city.

A federal judge ruled that the district attorney’s office assets may be seized to pay off a $3.65 million judgment pending from a 2005 case in which dozens of qualified white office workers successfully sued District Attorney Eddie Jordan for replacing them with inexperienced black workers.

Jordan ruled over this inexperienced, horribly disorganized office that rarely prosecuted criminals and consistently released them from jail to commit more crimes on the streets of New Orleans.

U.S. Rep. William "Bill" Jefferson is a man who knows what its like to be accused of criminal behavior. He was alledgedly caught with $90k of marked bills in his freezer during an FBI sting. Mr. Jefferson issued this statement:

I deeply regret that District Attorney Eddie Jordan was unable to complete his term in office successfully. I and many others had prayed for his success in that position. Like every other person of goodwill in this community, I do not condone the hiring or firing of any person based on race. It is Mr. Jordan's contention that this did not happen, however, the court has decided otherwise.

Much has been made about the assistance given by a member of my staff who took leave to provide administrative support at the D.A.'s office during transition. Of course, she had no decision-making power with respect to the persons who would be hired or fired in the D.A.'s office, and I personally made no recommendation as to who should be employed or retained. It is important to note that every white Assistant District Attorney was retained by Mr. Jordan and the persons replaced by Mr. Jordan's hires were non-legal personnel.

As the first African American District Attorney, Mr. Jordan was overwhelmingly supported by the African American community. The staff of the out-going D.A. was overwhelmingly white. Mr. Jordan's effort to hire qualified people whom he knew or who were supportive of his campaign naturally meant that the pool of such applicants would overwhelmingly be African Americans. Every D.A. has been accorded the right to let go the prior D.A.'s personnel and hire his own. It is unfortunate that in this case Mr. Jordan's effort to follow this well-established practice ended with the appearance that he was discriminating against a segment of the population. I did not believe then, and I do not believe now that this was ever his intention.

Why did Jordan stay in office for nearly five years? Where is the outrage from the people of New Orleans? Why was Jordan such a horrible DA?

Jordan was not qualified for the position of District Attorney – his buddies lied to voters who thought they were electing a tough as nails prosecutor, the man who convicted former Governor Edwin Edwards. Actually, Jordan was nothing more than a face man for the real team of federal prosecutors, led by Jim Letten who worked under him in the U.S. Attorney’s office and actually prosecuted Edwards.

In 2007, over 190 people have been murdered, bypassing the previous year and setting the stage for New Orleans becoming the murder capital of the nation, once again. The murder rate is encroaching pre-Katrina numbers when 175,000 more people were living in New Orleans, so by percentages, this current crime crisis is unfathomable.

Good luck everyone.

Nagin looks for investors in New York, again.

Nagin looks for investors in New York

NEW ORLEANS -- Mayor Ray Nagin is in New York this week, courting investors and looking for money to help fund the rebuilding of key infrastructure batted by Hurricane Katrina.

Again? WTF? How many times is Ray Ray going to go ask for a handout?

Why doesn't Mr Nagin clean up the city and ATTRACT bonified investment capital??? Spend some of the millions (billions?) the Feds gave you and clean house!

What exactly is Ray pitching this week? We have the BEST murders? We have the BEST corrupt schoolboard? We have the BEST revolving door in a justice system? We have strong drinks?

RAY, Katrina was a catrosphy but don't rewrite history, the town was in a downward spiral BEFORE Katrina! The time to take a lead has passed, do it NOW! Put down the beer, turn off the microphone, take off the makeup, roll-up your sleeves and kick some ass.

Thank You.

Nagin heartily supports Rep. Jefferson

In Louisiana, Politicians strive for Prosecution
Their own prosecution

October 08, 2006

Nagin heartily supports Rep. Jefferson

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin says he's enthusiastically supporting eight-term US Representative William Jefferson, the subject of an FBI investigation who was found with $90,000 in cash in his freezer.

The FBI is investigating allegations that Jefferson took bribes to help promote business deals in Nigeria.

Jefferson has not been charged, and he denies any wrongdoing.

Nagin told reporters he was returning a favor by endorsing Jefferson. "Wink-wink-nudge-nudge"

"Until he's indicted, I think we ought to presume he's innocent until proven guilty," Nagin said.

Two former associates of Jefferson have pleaded guilty to bribery charges and have agreed to cooperate with investigators.

In June, Jefferson was removed from the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.

SEE THE COMMENTS FOR "NEW ORLEANS BEST OF" POLITICS and be sure to add highlights from your own NOLA political scrapbook.

Confederate Mayor Seeks Yankee Investors

Ray Nagin, the Mayor of New Orleans, is seeking all the Yankee investment dollars he can get
http://secondline.fortunecity.com/nagin_carpetbagger.htm

FIVE murders in New Orleans early on Saturday morning.

Police Investigating Murder of Five

New Orleans police are investigating the apparent shooting deaths of five teenagers in an early morning incident at the intersection of Danneel and Josephine streets in Central City. New Orleans Police Department Capt. John Bryson said at an 11 a.m. news conference Saturday that police had no suspects but believed, based on the gruesome and brazen nature of the crime, that the incident was sparked by drug dealing or was a retaliatory killing. Officers from the 2nd and 6th police districts responded about 4 a.m. Saturday to reports of shots fired.

They found a Ford Explorer that had hit a pole. Inside were two men, ages 17 and 18, and a 16-year-old boy, each with multiple gunshot wounds.

A fourth victim, age 19, was found lying on a sidewalk, also with multiple gunshot wounds. A fifth man, age 19, who also had been shot died later Saturday morning after being taken to a local hospital in critical condition. The last victim had been found lying in the street a short distance from the vehicle. The other four victims were pronounced dead at the scene, police said.



The New Orleans Police Department is asking anyone with information to contact Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or toll free at 1 (877) 903-7867. Callers may remain anonymous, and can receive up to $2,500 for tips that lead to an indictment.

Moving back to New Orleans

An acquaintance sent this to several of us. I read it as a joke, but he confirmed. It is great people are moving back to New Orleans, but this man is taking his family back so he can have hot sauce on the table and drink on the street? Do they get any dumber?

After months of living in exile with long stretches of sadness, we decided to move back home. Leaving San Diego after 9 months will be very hard as I have a good job, we made met nice people, and kids seem to be pretty happy, but as they say "the Buick is packed". As soon as the school year ends we're heading back to New Orleans. A lot of variables played into our decision but nothing more than having a bottle of Crystal Hot Sauce on the table and joining a second line parade down Dryades. You know what I am talking about! Don't dwell on the violent crime rates, corrupt education system, unemployment, racism and poverty—that is just being negative. Tell me where else but New Orleans is stumbling down the street with a bottle of MadDog, celebrated so much? This will be our first trip back to town, we are prepared for some changes. Rents went up a bit and jobs are scarce but I'm willing to put the time in for a decent job.

I am confident you will soar with references from Jack Daniels and Jim Bean. Best of luck and give us a ring when you get settled.