opinion

Viewpoint: Should July Fourth 2022 be a day of celebration or reflection?

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My ancestors had yet to arrive in America for the first Independence Day in 1776 or even 100 years later for the 1876 Centennial. But by America’s Bicentennial in 1976, my family was a part of all the revelry that included hot dogs, hamburgers and too much potato salad. We were proud to be Americans and still are today. Somehow this year I just don’t feel like celebrating. Sure, I am blessed to be alive, in generally good health and living a relatively comfortable lifestyle in America — still the greatest country in the world.

opinion

Viewpoint: Sheriff Susan Hutson faces rocky road ahead

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With two unexpected deaths in less than a week and an ongoing staffing crisis that — in her own words — has “destabilized” the Orleans Justice Center, Sheriff Susan Hutson must have quickly realized that her honeymoon was ending sooner than expected. All new sheriffs get tested by their deputies and inmates (let’s not be so naïve to refer to them as “residents”) to gauge the rules. Hutson was no different. The inmates searched for a weak spot — in this instance not enough staff on the tiers — and exploited it. During the campaign, Hutson pounded on the concepts of care, custody and control.

opinion

Viewpoint: Are there secrets in the Smart Cities documents Cantrell would prefer to hide?

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Many New Orleanians would agree that Mayor LaToya Cantrell is pugnacious, uncompromising and used to getting what she wants. She seemed set on launching a controversial project that was supposed to increase internet connectivity while making retired NBA player Magic Johnson and his partners even richer. Her plans abruptly came to a halt when a skeptical City Council stepped in with a mountain of detailed questions that Cantrell and her staff fought and are finding extremely hard to avoid answering.   

By the middle of their second term, most mayors are thinking about life after City Hall. Mayor Moon Landrieu quickly landed himself a Cabinet position under President Jimmy Carter. Mayor Dutch Morial began practicing law with an eye toward a U.S. Senate race, which was derailed due to his untimely death.

opinion

Viewpoint: Supreme Court reminds us ‘there are no permanent victories’

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“How dare they tell a woman what she can do or not do with her body,” exclaimed Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday (May 3) as she vented her frustration about the U.S. Supreme Court’s leaked draft ruling on abortion written by conservative Justice Samuel Alito. As early as June, the country’s highest court, led by its conservative majority, is expected to release an opinion that will reverse a precedent that millions of women have used to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. 

When the Roe v. Wade case was initially filed half a century ago, public opinion supported the right to choose and the majority of justices concurred. Over the decades, liberal Democrats became complacent that the existing law would remain in effect forever. Unfortunately, Republicans around the country began waging a slow but strategic campaign to sway public opinion and elect or appoint for more conservatives. The rise of Donald Trump — with his convenient, new-found anti-abortion rhetoric along with his ability to appoint judges and endorse candidates — was indeed a major tipping point. 

The mood of the public had also changed.

opinion

Viewpoint: Reflections on taming the demons within

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With the ongoing war between Russia and the Ukraine and with New Orleans’ never-ending crusade against crime and corruption, there is much for Christians, Jews and Muslims to reflect upon during Holy Week, Passover and Ramadan. Everyone has demons that haunt them. New Orleanians, it seems, have more than their fair share. The ability to fight off temptation often determines the quality of a person’s character and the kind of life they lead. Yet the longer I observe people — including politicians at all levels of government — the more I wonder what makes integrity fade away.

Viewpoint: New Orleans needs Russel Honoré to lead a war against crime

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Many New Orleanians were disappointed in yesterday’s press conference (Feb. 2) featuring Mayor LaToya Cantrell and NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson. Cantrell correctly described the city’s current crime wave as “domestic terrorism,” a hot buzz word on the national crime scene. Yet instead of hearing a full-fledged plan with fresh new solutions and a real sense of urgency, citizens mostly saw the mayor deflect criticism from her office by lavishing praise on the police chief and blaming the other branches of government. 

Instead of talking about new recruitment and retention efforts to build back our historically understaffed police force, Ferguson described how old techniques could be retooled using an ever-shrinking workforce. While Ferguson appears to be a nice guy, he may not be up to the task at hand.

opinion

Viewpoint: There’s no quick fix for the city’s crime problems

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The underlying conditions that precipitated the pandemic of crime New Orleanians are facing today were centuries in the making. Hopefully, they will finally be addressed. According to a Pew Research Center poll taken last summer, almost six out of 10 Americans believe that violent crime is a “very big problem” in the United States today. Across the country mayors and other elected officials are already working collaboratively on solutions old and new.  Many solutions harken back to an era when arresting and incarcerating perpetrators was more important than the current emphasis on such lenient policies as reduced bail, shorter sentences and more rehabilitation. 

Recently elected New York Mayor Eric Adams, a former police captain, ran on a promise to make the Big Apple safe. “Public safety is my administration’s highest priority,” Adams said repeatedly.

opinion

Viewpoint: It’s time for action from all criminal justice partners

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Every partner in New Orleans criminal justice system is partially responsible for the city’s spiraling crime rate and every partner must do their job to help alleviate it, Councilman at-large JP Morrell said on WWL-TV earlier today (Jan. 20). “People are afraid to leave their homes,” Morrell said. “No one is walking in their neighborhoods.”

The City Council has begun two days of criminal justice hearings, which are already exposing the deep rifts between cops, prosecutors and judges. District Attorney Jason Williams said yesterday that New Orleanians want and deserve to be safe.

opinion

Viewpoint: City leaders must work together to get a grip on crime

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As with most mayors entering a new term, LaToya Cantrell delivered an upbeat message at Monday’s Covid-restricted inauguration on the steps of Gallier Hall: Though New Orleans has endured a tough four years, citizens are resilient and many opportunities lie ahead. “Our time is now, and the best is yet to come,” Cantrell proclaimed. Like many New Orleanians, I soaked up her words, wanting to believe the city will change. It wasn’t long before the latest crime statistics brought me back to reality. Just 13 days into the New Year, seven innocent people have died.

opinion

Viewpoint: Crime and Covid will not mix well with Carnival

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It’s Twelfth Night. I rushed out this morning to the King Cake Hub’s annual Carnival Kick Off Party, held this year at Zony Mash Beer Project. As I surveyed all the offerings, I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of impact Mardi Gras will have on Covid and crime, both of which continue to break records. Carnival should be a record-breaking event as well. People are tired of being cooped up and want to celebrate.