Owen Courreges: Big Brother and the new era of “good government”

 Posted by at 10:35 am  city government, crime, opinion, politics, public safety
Apr 292013
 

(cartoon by Owen Courreges for UptownMessenger.com)

Owen Courreges

“The care of human life and happiness and not their destruction is the only legitimate object of good government.”

– Thomas Jefferson, 1809

“Good government is practically applying the principles which make a man a good citizen.”

– Theodore Roosevelt, 1902

“We are trying to resolve this behind closed doors cause that is good government.”

– Jackie Clarkson, 2013

How does that old Sesame Street tune go? “One of these things is not like the others…” Continue reading »

Owen Courreges: I’m not down with O.P.P.

 Posted by at 10:11 am  city government, court, crime, opinion, politics, public safety
Apr 082013
 

(cartoon by Owen Courreges)

Owen Courreges

The ongoing clash over the cost of the consent decree governing Orleans Parish Prison (OPP) continues to bubble over.  This week we were greeted by the latest bombardment against Sheriff Marlin Gusman in the form of the release of a 2009 video featuring inmates openly mainlining heroin, smoking crack, popping pills, gambling, flashing cash, and even displaying loaded guns.  It looks like footage of a party at Marion Berry’s house.

Here’s a link to the video.  I’ve run it through a website that replaces the audio with “Yakety Sax” so it’s a smidge less depressing. Continue reading »

Owen Courreges: Trooper takedown

 Posted by at 11:58 am  city government, crime, opinion, public safety
Mar 112013
 

Owen Courreges

State Senator J.P. Morrell is not letting this go – nor should he.

A month ago, a video was released showing the detention of two young black males, Sidney Newman, 17, and Ferdinand Hunt, 18, by eight plainclothes state troopers.  The video, taken on February 10, 2013 just after a parade, shows the two teens leaning against a wall in the 700 block of Conti Street.   Suddenly they are surrounded by State Troopers.

One of the youths took a few steps away and was jumped, grabbed by his shirt and flung around to the ground.  The other is pushed up against a wall.  It was a very fast and violent confrontation between the teens and the troopers. Continue reading »

Owen Courreges: Another assault on assault weapons

 Posted by at 10:55 am  crime, opinion, public safety
Dec 312012
 

Owen Courreges

Never ones to resist the urge to milk a tragedy, politicians in favor of gun control have been feverishly scrambling to shoe-horn their agenda into the national consciousness following the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.   Among these opportunists has been our own friendly face in Congress, Representative Cedric Richmond, who took the House floor earlier this month to point his finger at the real culprit: assault rifles.

“Every once in a while we will have an event that will shake the confidence of our country and make us take a step back and rationally look at our gun laws in this country and say: “Wait, we’ve done far too much, we’ve extended the Second Amendment too far,” Richmond said. Continue reading »

Owen Courreges: All hail the Pelicans

 Posted by at 11:53 am  opinion, sports and recreation
Dec 102012
 

(Cartoon by Owen Courreges)

Owen Courreges

“The New Orleans Pelicans.”  That’s what Tom Benson wants to rename the New Orleans Hornets, our local NBA franchise.  Yes, dear reader – that was the sound of your jaw dropping.

The proposal has already ignited a firestorm amongst New Orleanians, providing a necessary distraction from far less sexy news stories, like the wholesale lack of transparency in the recent water and sewerage rate increases that were approved this week, the resignation of our U.S. attorney amidst a scandal in his office, and the results of the run-off election in City Council District B.  Snore! Continue reading »

Owen Courreges: The great Lower Garden District gas station drama

 Posted by at 10:16 am  business, city government, neighborhood groups, opinion, politics
Dec 032012
 

Owen Courreges

SCENE:                  GRAND INQUISITOR’S CHAMBERS, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION (FICTIONAL)

PLAYERS:

APPLICANT:        (Proposing a gas station on an industrial road)

INQUISITOR:      (The singular embodiment of the stubborn will of an association)

(Lights rise slowly.)

(The room is dim. A single spotlight shines on the applicant. He stands flustered before the tribunal as sweat drips from his brow.) Continue reading »

Owen Courreges: Can we trust the NOPD with more Tasers?

 Posted by at 8:30 am  city government, opinion, public safety
Nov 262012
 

(cartoon by Owen Courreges)

The New Orleans Police Department recently announced that it will be dropping the use of pepper spray and using Taser devices exclusively.  This reform came pursuant to the consent decree the city has entered into with the U.S. Justice Department, ostensibly over concerns of overuse of pepper spray and its greater potential for physical harm.

Sometimes, however, even good reforms can be a mixed bag. Continue reading »

Owen Courreges: Do we have a homelessness strategy, or just a Super Bowl punt?

 Posted by at 10:31 am  city government, health, opinion, politics, public safety
Nov 192012
 

(Cartoon by Owen Courreges for UptownMessenger.com)

Owen Courreges

The Pontchartrain Expressway homeless encampment is no more.  This past Friday morning, police swept the remaining homeless people from the encampment in the underpass that separates the Central Business District from Uptown New Orleans.  The number of persons removed was 55 persons by the city’s count, but closer to 100 according to the New Orleans Mission, which adjoins the expressway.  By either count, it was a significant encampment. Continue reading »

Owen Courreges: “Cleaning up” your Constitutional rights in Jackson Square

 Posted by at 10:10 am  city government, opinion, public safety
Nov 122012
 

(Cartoon by Owen Courreges)

Owen Courreges

Last week, another salvo in the seemingly never-ending battle between New Orleans and the U.S. Constitution was lobbed by Mayor Landrieu.  This time Landrieu has proposed an ordinance with its sights on Jackson Square, the iconic public space at the heart of the city.

Now technically the target isn’t actually the square, but the surrounding streets and sidewalks (i.e., public rights of way) that the city has come to dub the “Jackson Square Pedestrian Mall.”  Through Councilwoman Palmer, whose district includes the French Quarter, Landrieu has proposed an ordinance for the mall that would:  1) mandate “clear lanes;” and, 2) provide “closing times” between  1 a.m. and 5 a.m. to persons “stopping, standing, or loitering.”

Both parts of the proposed ordinance are problematic, but the latter is blatantly unconstitutional. Continue reading »

Owen Courreges: After Sandy, should New York City be moved inland?

 Posted by at 11:04 am  business, city government, environment, opinion, politics, public safety, recovery, weather
Nov 052012
 

Owen Courreges

The word of the day is “Schadenfreude,” a loanword of Germanic origin that refers to satisfaction received from the misfortunes of others.

Oh, I should use it in a sentence?  OK. “I felt a warm feeling of Schadenfreude when the man who stole my bicycle was struck by lightning, died in intense pain, and then a swarm of rats appeared and urinated on his remains.”  (Note to readers: I really hate bike thieves).

Following Hurricane Sandy, regrettably if understandably, many New Orleanians felt a whiff of Schadenfreude.  We had been told so many times by so many people after Hurricane Katrina that we were poor, stupid, and our city had been built in the wrong place.  People asked if we should bother rebuilding New Orleans, as if we were all just going to pack up our bags and move. Continue reading »

Owen Courreges: The Owen Courreges voters’ guide to the District B City Council election

 Posted by at 5:30 am  city government, elections, opinion, politics
Oct 292012
 

Owen Courreges

There’s an old “Bloom County” cartoon I recall reading once.  They’re holding a political convention, and Milo Bloom, ever the political realist, is at the podium speaking about the sundry scandals and distractions that will govern the upcoming election.  Watch a few minutes of cable news commentary and you get the same effect.

All of a sudden Opus (who, incidentally, is a penguin), shouts out, “ISSUES!” Milo says, “What’s that?” Opus then responds: “I THINK AN ELECTION SHOULD BE ABOUT ISSUES!”

In the final panel, Opus is seen tied upside-down to tree, his mouth taped shut, below a large sign emblazoned with the word “BLASPHEMER.” Continue reading »

Owen Courreges: 10 questions for the District B City Council candidates (and their answers)

 Posted by at 5:29 am  business, city government, opinion, politics
Oct 292012
 

Owen Courreges

Hello, dear readers. What follows are the results of a policy questionnaire that I sent to all the candidates in the city council District B race. I received responses from Marlon Horton, LaToya Cantrell and Dana Kaplan, but did not hear back from Eric Strachan.

Please bear in mind that positions taken during a campaign are not set in stone and that working as a single member of a legislative body requires negotiation, trade-offs, and prioritization. Sometimes politicians fail to take specific positions during campaigns to avoid alienating voters or being called hypocrites later. When that is the case the electorate itself is mostly to blame.

I would like to thank all the candidates who responded. Their candor was refreshing, and I hope that these questions and their answers will assist District B voters in making their selection. Continue reading »

Owen Courreges: The Rise and Fall of DJ Luddite

 Posted by at 9:47 am  arts, books and music, city government, opinion
Oct 222012
 

Owen Courreges

D.J. Luddite is no more.

Some explanation is required.  My day-to-day persona is that of Owen Courreges, Attorney at Law.   However, on Thursday evenings I have been breaking out my 1923 Brunswick suitcase phonograph at the Bayou Bar in the Hotel Pontchartrain.  There, I play 78 rpm records as my alter ego – D.J. Luddite (because D.J. Luddite eschews modern technology).

It’s kind of like Garth Brooks and his rock alter ego Chris Gaines, only far less lame and pretentious.  Well, at least less pretentious.

However, for the past few weeks I’ve been absent.  Music has been silenced at Bayou Bar.  This is regrettable, because Bayou Bar has a storied history in the music community.  Reportedly Cole Porter played here somewhat inconsistently on weekends for about twelve years.  Frank Sinatra and Frankie Lane used Bayou Bar as their watering hole, and are even rumored to have performed on occasion. Continue reading »

Owen Courreges: Reasonable protection for gun owners

 Posted by at 11:37 am  elections, opinion, politics, public safety, state government
Oct 082012
 

Owen Courreges

It’s nighttime.  You awake to a noise outside.  Is it a prowler?  You aren’t sure.  You grab a small pistol from your nightstand and shove it in your pocket as you proceed out to your driveway to investigate the disturbance.  If it’s nothing, you reason, you don’t want to be walking around in plain view with a gun in your hand.

Congratulations.  You just committing the crime of carrying a weapon illegally, and you did it without ever leaving your own property. Continue reading »

Owen Courreges: Cracking down on cabbies

 Posted by at 12:31 pm  business, city government, opinion, public safety
Oct 012012
 

Owen Courreges

About a year ago I was in a United Cab with a friend headed for Banks Street Bar to see a band perform. Although I normally maintain a “no conversations” rule with cabbies due to my own social awkwardness, the driver was friendly and we started a conversation.

He was from Pakistan. I received my undergraduate degree in political science, and I was interested in a native’s take on the political turmoil there. The discussion was enlightening. After the ride, the driver continued to converse with me for a while as we parked – my friend had to come grab me to tell me I was going to miss the music if I lingered much longer.

A few months ago I read an article that a Pakistani cab driver had been murdered in Eastern New Orleans. I recognized the man I had spoken with from his photo. He had been robbed, shot and left for dead. Continue reading »

Owen Courreges: If he’d leave us alone, we would have a happy home

 Posted by at 7:37 am  arts, books and music, business, city government, opinion
Sep 242012
 

Owen Courreges

The debate over live music continues in New Orleans.  The latest volley was lobbed by Kermit Ruffins, New Orleans’ premiere jazz trumpeter, who presumably needs no further introduction.  From his Facebook page, Ruffins has announced a meeting this Wednesday to discuss “a plan of [action] to stop the city from taking live entertainment away from small clubs.”

Ruffin’s announcement coincided roughly with three developments: 1) Ruffin’s Mother-In-Law Lounge received its rezoning and permitting for live music; 2) Mimi’s in the Marigny canceled its live music schedule; and, 3) Siberia lounge announced it would be resuming live music in October with obscenely expensive one-shot event permits.

Accordingly, Ruffins is sitting pretty.  Everybody else, not so much. Continue reading »

Owen Courreges: Flushing more money down the drain

 Posted by at 10:01 am  city government, flood protection and drainage, opinion, state government
Sep 172012
 

Owen Courreges

I think the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWB) needs to adopt a new motto to shift attention away from its staggering waste, corruption and general incompetence.   That motto should be: “Hey, at least we don’t still have a horseshoer on staff!”

It recently became news that Detroit Water and Sewerage Department actually still employs a horseshoer, although it has no horses.  Apparently this man does nothing but collect a paycheck, and a decent one at that — $29,245 in salary and about $27,000 in benefits.  Apparently union rules keep the man on staff, and the union isn’t budging. Continue reading »

Owen Courreges: Demolition denied, St. Charles Avenue-style

 Posted by at 11:18 am  blight and demolition, city government, neighborhood groups, opinion
Sep 102012
 

Owen Courreges

What follows is one big “I told you so.”

Last month, at the August 20th meeting of the Neighborhood Conservation District Committee, a proposal to demolish the mansion located at 4706 St. Charles Avenue was denied. The mansion, built in 1887, appears to be in sound condition and could easily be returned to commerce.

Typically, when a well-funded party wants to bulldoze a historic mansion on New Orleans’ signature avenue, they succeed. As I noted in my previous column, “How to Tear Down Anything in Three Simple Steps,” the key to destroying the fabric of this city’s history is getting the neighborhood association on your side. For those with money and influence, this should be a relatively simple task. Continue reading »

Owen Courreges: The story of Isaac

 Posted by at 7:09 am  city government, state government, weather
Aug 272012
 

Owen Courreges

As I write this column, there’s a storm in the Gulf.  The Tropical Storm that has us in its sights is named Isaac, after the Biblical figure on whom God ordered a hit vis-à-vis his father, Abraham, but then reneged at the last possible second because it was merely a test of faith.

Isaac, presumably, wandered away confused and rubber-legged. Continue reading »

Owen Courreges: Dare to be the best New Orleans yet

 Posted by at 5:30 am  blight and demolition, city government, crime, opinion, recovery
Jul 302012
 

Owen Courreges

Frank Lloyd Wright, the legendary architect, was blunt in his hatred of cities. Wright described city-dwellers as “human beings, all crawling on hard pavements like ants to hole somewhere or find their way to this or that cubicle.” They were, he believed, “herd-struck morons our present sky-scraperism has cultivated.” Continue reading »

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