Owen Courreges: A better ‘sanctuary’ city policy could mean a safer city

Long ago, the law respecting the idea of sanctuary was embedded in British common law. Fugitives would be immune from arrest in sacred places, such as places of worship. You’ve probably seen a movie where some neer-do-well runs into a church with police on his heels and yells “sanctuary,” as though he’s discovered some trump card against getting caught. However, sanctuary wasn’t quite the unequivocal boon to absconding felons as it would first appear. If he made it inside a church, the fugitive would then have 40 days to surrender to secular authorities or confess their crimes and be subject to forfeiture of their worldly possessions and permanent exile, i.e., “abjure the realm.”

This is the historical basis for the so-called “sanctuary city” movement, whereby local authorities are prohibited from inquiring about peoples’ immigration status, and are further restricted from assisting federal immigration agents.

Owen Courreges: Demolishing the Ninth Ward — the urban planner’s vile fantasy

It’s no secret that I’ve never been a fan of urban planning. The idea of some committee micromanaging what structure should go where, what uses should be permitted, what time we should be having our bowel movements (ok, perhaps they don’t go that far), has always unnerved me. A die-hard planner looks at a map of New Orleans and they don’t see an established city chock-full of independent decision-makers. Instead, they see an interactive game that they can manipulate and control. They see “Sim City.”

Exhibit “A” for this is Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), who decided to put her foot in her mouth while giving a speech before the House while arguing against an amendment to block funding for an Obama Administration Flood Risk Management Executive Order.

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: Who is paying for David Vitter’s bid for governor?

Sunday, May 3, should be a pretty good 54th birthday for U.S. Senator David Vitter, the clear frontrunner in the Louisiana’s governor’s race. Vitter has raised $1.1 million in the most recent campaign finance period which ended earlier this week and still has $4.2 million on hand, more than the other three major candidates combined. That total does not include Vitter’s SuperPac which is also sitting on millions. While money does not always dictate the outcome of campaigns, it certainly makes it easier to spread a candidate’s message through television, direct mail, phone banks, election day activities and all those other indicators of a truly successful campaign. Vitter also has to his advantage that he has been all-out campaigning for more than a year; has built strong relationships across the state with the growing number of local Republican elected officials; has a fairly successful record serving the citizens of Louisiana; somehow survived a sex scandal; and has emerged as one of President Obama’s most ardent critics.

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: Streetcar projects off track in some cities across America

New Orleans streetcars are our version of light rail transit, and they have made living in the city’s core more attractive. We know of a one-car family on Carrollton Avenue. The wife uses the SUV to ferry the three kids back and forth and handle the other daily necessities of life. The man of the house only needs to look as far as his neighborhood streetcar to give him access to downtown New Orleans. Though the new streetcar construction project now underway along Rampart/St.

Federal judges ask attorneys: What exactly is the purpose of marriage?

As expected, the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals made no decision on same-sex marriage in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi after hearing arguments Friday morning from attorneys on both sides of the issue in each state. Likewise, the U.S. Supreme Court has yet to reveal whether it will take issue up in its spring session, which would supercede any decision by the appeals court. But the three 5th Circuit judges — Judge Jerry E. Smith and Patrick Higginbotham, two appointees of President Ronald Reagan, and Judge James Graves, appointed by President Barack Obama — did each seem to focus on different issues in their questions during Friday’s hearings, shedding some light on which issues they felt needed more elucidation. ‘The right to marry’

In the Louisiana hearing, Kyle Duncan of the Louisiana Attorney General’s office had barely begun his presentation when Higginbotham asked if the U.S. Constitution provided a fundamental right to marry. “Probably,” Duncan replied, but said that same-sex unions would be a “brand new perspective” on marriage in the history of the institution.

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: Is Jeb Bush conservative enough for today’s Republicans?

A recent WSJ/NBC News poll pointed out that the majority of voters were pleased with the results of this year’s midterm elections and thought the Congress — rather than President Obama — should take the lead in setting policy for the country.  Though an overwhelming majority felt that not much change in direction for the country will result from the election, the numbers are a good starting point for former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, 61, as he aims to clear the field in advance of a brutal campaign against Hillary Clinton. Although there are other GOP candidates worthy of voter consideration (including Mitt Romney and Chris Christie), Bush — with his “Double B” presidential pedigree and easy access to donors — is the early favorite, ramping up pressure on potential rivals and reshuffling the GOP’s policy debate. Bush had much success as a popular, notably conservative Republican governor in Florida, cutting taxes many times and leading K-12 reform. He will not be able to run as a moderate and expect to win the nomination, as John McCain and Jon Huntsman can both testify. GOP conservatives will be looking for a champion for their principles, not someone who supports immigration and Common Core.

Owen Courreges: Would “universal” background checks actually prevent any gun crime?

It’s a catchy title: “91%.” However, it stands for something far less significant. Local documentary filmmaker John Richie has certainly adopted a theme. His previous effort, “Shell Shocked,” aimed to portray the gritty reality of youth gun violence in New Orleans. He now plans to follow up that film with “91%,” which is being pitched as “a film about gun background checks and the people whose lives they impact.”

Where does the “91%” come from? It comes from a 2013 national poll showing that 91% of Americans support universal background checks for firearms sales.

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: Undeniable surge of racism trying to block Mary Landrieu’s re-election

Excitement was definitely in the air at the Windsor Court Monday night as 150 well-heeled donors patiently waited for an intimate concert by the great Stevie Wonder to begin.  Attorney Tim Francis convinced Wonder, his old boss, to perform at the big ticket fundraiser for Mary Landrieu and served as master of ceremonies. Wonder told the crowd he and Landrieu “shared the same values” and that’s why he came. Hosted by Darryl and Louellen Berger, who savored every minute from their front row seats, the crowd included such Wonder enthusiasts as Paul Flower, Joe Jaeger, Elie and Daniella Khoury, Marcel Wisznia, Bill and Susan Hess, Buddy Bart, Rico Alvendia, Sandy Rosenthal, Conny Willems, Bart Kelly, Helena Moreno, Jared Brosssett, the Walt Legers (father and son with Danielle), Blake Jones, C. J. Blache, Justin Augustine, Vincent Sylvain, Shelby LaSalle, Vaughn Fauria, Angela O’Byrne, John Etter, Peter and Meg Babin, Roland and Mary Von Kurnatowski, Bobby Major, Ronnie and Shelia Burns, Winston Burns, Ruth Kullman, Michael Valentino, Madlyn and Robert Schenk, and Karen Carter Peterson with husband Dana, sister Tara C. Hernandez and mother Gwen. Wonder also shouted out fondly to his old friend, longtime New Orleans producer and engineer John Fischbach, with whom Wonder had worked.

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: Team Landrieu revving up the base for runoff election

Like other remaining Democratic candidates around the country, U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu knows she must increase her support among black and white females to emerge victorious on Dec. 6. That’s why Norma Jane Sabiston, Kristin Palmer, Angele Wilson and others are again reaching out to 5,000 key women supporters statewide to build Mary’s Army, highly committed grassroots warriors who will knock doors and work phones non-stop for the next three weeks. Armed with pink t-shirts and lists of likely voters, these women clearly understand the campaign’s success rests largely on their ability to persuade voters one person at a time. Not only does the Landrieu camp need to turn out a larger number of African-American voters, they also need to convince white voters to switch from Cassidy.

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: Mary Landrieu is staggering under the weight of President Obama

For Democratic candidates in Deep South and Border States, carrying President Barack Obama on their backs is a bone-breaking load that may very well end their political careers. There is no better example of that than the multi-talented U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu who has every right to feel exhausted from carrying the weight of the unpopular President every day, every hour and every minute. But Landrieu isn’t alone. In Arkansas, U.S. Senator Mark Pryor is also staggering under the Obama load. And, in a border state like Kentucky, Democratic challenger Allison Lundergan Grimes would surely defeat Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell if it were not for the Obama load that threatens to sink her in a race so close that the winning margin may well be one percent or less.