city government

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: Should we give the World Trade Center to the firefighters?

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Now that all the glitz and glamour of Monday’s inauguration is over, it’s time to get down to business. First on the list should be how the Mayor and Council are going to come up with all the millions to fund the two consent decrees and the firefighters’ judgment while keeping money flowing to other agencies in need, like the public libraries and the Sewerage and Water Board. The World Trade Center could well be part of the solution. During Ray Nagin’s term, dialogue took place about giving the WTC to the firefighters to settle the lawsuit. We understand that firefighters liked the idea, but it was opposed by several councilmembers.

city government

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: Farewell to Jackie, Kristin and Cynthia, and welcome to Jason, Nadine and Jared

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Monday, May 5, begins the new four-year terms for Mayor Landrieu and the City Council. Thus we thought it appropriate to bid farewell to old friends and welcome to new ones. Jackie Clarkson has served the public for more than 20 years as a Councilmember and a State Legislator. If Jackie was invited to an event, she would always be there. Jackie worked tirelessly for the causes she truly believed in – building a strong Algiers; keeping the French Quarter safe for residents and tourists; the Saints; the military; UNO and the World War II Museum.

Congress

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: Can Edwin Edwards overcome obstacles to win a seat in Congress?

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The conventional wisdom is that former Governor Edwin W. Edwards can’t be serious about running for the open seat in the Sixth Congressional District or, if he is serious, has no chance to win. The 86-year-old Silver Fox, still looking good and as engaging as ever, made it as clear as he could at a recent reception that drew hundreds of his Metro New Orleans friends that he is running, expects to run first in the Nov. 4 primary and believes he’ll have a chance in the Dec. 6 runoff against whichever Republican comes out of a crowd of candidates to take him on in the general election. His critics say that it is incredible that Edwards, who just completed an eight-year prison stint in a federal pen three years ago, could actually have a chance to go to Congress.

business

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: World Trade Center development needs new bids

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The City’s announcement last week that after months of meetings, negotiations were still ongoing with Gatehouse Capital should prompt the New Orleans Building Corporation to re-open the bid process and invite new proposers. This is especially true with several new Council and NOBC members coming on board in a few weeks and the change of NOBC leadership when Deputy Mayor Cedric Grant moves on to the Sewerage & Water Board.  With the multi-million dollar high-end outlet mall by the Howard Hughes Corporation set to open at the Riverwalk next month, the WTC development project would attract new bidders – possibly including the Hughes group. Hughes’ portfolio is very diverse and the WTC could be a good fit for them, especially if they do not choose to build condos or a hotel on top of the Riverwalk in a second phase. Why haven’t negotiations been completed?

business

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: Higher minimum wage will help build middle class

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We have been watching with much interest the national and Louisiana debate regarding increasing the minimum wage to $10.10. The latest polls show that support is growing across the nation, although only seven states and the District of Columbia have raised starting pay. According to today’s New York Times, Louisiana is one of five states – the others being Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee – that currently does not have a minimum wage. Washington State has the highest wage ($9.32) currently with D.C. to move to $11.50 in 2016. While both those rates might be too high for Louisiana’s economy, something must be done to give our lowest paid citizens a better opportunity to succeed in life.

business

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: Who is Iftikhar Ahmad, and why are we giving him a $35,000 raise?

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In the last 50 years, there have been many Directors of Aviation at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport but few about whom there was any urgency to retain them. But the current Director of Aviation, Iftikhar Ahmad, is one of the hottest guys in the nation in his field of work and the New Orleans Aviation Board is giving him a $35,000 a year raise that he didn’t ask for because they want to keep him here. Restaurateur Ti Martin, a member of the Aviation Board, says, “He has come to have a lot of affection for New Orleans and the region and we need to lock him to finish what he has started.”

What he has started, with the complete support of Mayor Mitch Landrieu and the Aviation Board, is the complete makeover of the 67-year-old airport. Ahmad and his staff have proposed a brand-new terminal costing $826 million to be built facing Veterans Boulevard in Kenner on the eastern end of the airport tract. Ahmad also has the complete backing of Kenner Mayor Mike Yenni who agrees with Ti Martin that Ahmad is someone we need to keep here.

city government

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: Mayor’s Mardi Gras Ball brings out the rich, the famous and just plain folk

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It’s always fun to go to the Mayor’s Mardi Gras Ball at Gallier Hall because you never know who you are going to run into. Last night’s ball was a jam-packed but chilly affair with plenty of women in stunning backless, strapless creations and masks. The first people Danae saw crawling out of a big SUV were James Carville (New Orleans best known media darling) and Ryan Berni, the Mayor’s former press secretary/campaign manager who is now contemplating his next step. Could Hillary’s campaign be on Berni’s horizon? Then we had DA Leon Cannizzaro with his press person Chris Bowman.

city government

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: Voter apathy and low turnout will alter March 15 runoff elections

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Voting is one of the most treasured rights of every American. But it is amazing how many people either never register or find some excuse not to vote. Then of course there is the perceived voter fatigue caused by having too frequent elections, failure to educate oneself on the issues, or being too lazy to physically go to the polls. With early voting set to begin March 1, political eyes will be watching to see what impact voter apathy – due in part to our love of all things Mardi Gras – will have on voter turnout for the March 15 runoff elections for Council At Large, Council C, Sheriff and Coroner. In the primary election held on February 1, approximately 12,000 voters cast their votes early and a much smaller number voted by mail.

city government

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: Ray Nagin seals legacy as one of city’s all-time worst leaders

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Good for the jurors who yesterday found former Mayor Ray Nagin guilty on 20 of 21 criminal charges in federal court. Those of us who have watched Nagin closely for the eight years he was in office believe Ray thought he could con the jury, just as he fooled New Orleans voters in the 2002 and 2006 mayoral elections. His hubris brought to mind Danae’s initial impression after Ray’s emergence as a major candidate in the 2002 election. “Ray is a rock star,” Danae said. “He’s cool, handsome and clever.

opinion

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: No sin is beyond redemption for public officials and entertainers

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How many of you watched the season premiere of Duck Dynasty last night and watched it for the first time because of Phil Robertson’s outlandish but right-in-character remarks? How many of you think that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie had no idea that his staff were orchestrating a traffic calamity as pay-back for a lack of endorsement? Christie is lucky that the problem occurred now – so early in the presidential campaign – and probably recoverable, though time will tell for sure. It is always amazing what these kind of folk can get away with. Danae, a native of New Jersey, loves Christie for his bluntness- even though he is a Republican.