business

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: Large segments of New Orleanians continue to be left behind

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Although Wednesday’s announcement by the New Orleans Community Data Center showed several great signs in the New Orleans economy, it also pointed several great disparities that do not bode well for New Orleans’ future. Yes, our economy is diversifying beyond tourism, we weathered the recession better than most cities, home sales have increased, our number of new entrepreneurs is high, and construction jobs are on the rise since Katrina (no kidding). All great stuff to be sure. It is also positive that the proportion of locally owned minority businesses has risen.  But many of the larger problems that have faced New Orleans for decades are still dogging us – a continuing slide in the percentage of people working in Orleans Parish as contrasted to the suburbs, a widening household income gap between black and white families, and gross receipts from minority businesses remaining flat. Councilmember Cynthia Hedge-Morrell, who attended yesterday’s presentation, said what bothered her most was that almost 50 percent of African-American males are unemployed in New Orleans.  Morrell says that percentage is not just poor people, but recent college graduates, men whose jobs have been downsized, and people in their 60s or 70s who can’t afford to retire.

elections

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: Does a sex scandal ruin a political career? Not anymore!

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We are amazed by the changes over the years in the voting public’s perception of candidates involved in sexual scandals. To put our views in some kind of context, you should know that Allan started covering politics in 1963 at the old States-Item and Danae worked in her first political campaign as a 12-year-old in 1962. She grew up in Hot Springs, Arkansas and, campaign veteran that she was, was a blue chip worker in Bill Clinton’s first campaign – a race for Congress in 1974 which he lost but later won a few. In the 1960s and early 70s, it didn’t take a sex scandal to put a candidate in trouble. Back in the day, a candidate running for the first time who had a divorce in his background was in serious trouble.

Congress

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: Remembering Lindy with love

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We are among the many thousands who are remembering Lindy Boggs with love today, relishing the moments we spent with her and celebrating her remarkable life. Although we were certainly not members of her inner circle, Lindy always treated us – and everyone else – as though we were. Allan always thought there was a special feminine bond between Lindy and other women, especially those like Danae, who were driven by a great work ethic and a desire to get things done. For thousands of women of accomplishment, Lindy was the ultimate role model who got things done in Congress, at the Vatican and in her own private life. Danae loved to be in Lindy’s company.

city government

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: Moving City Hall to former Charity site has many challenges

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Nothing in New Orleans is ever simple. For example, consider Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s plan to move our obsolete City Hall over to vacant Charity Hospital. Civil District Court Judge Michael Bagneris says that’s a fine idea for city government but it doesn’t work for the Civil Courts who have their own plans and money to refit the former state office building site in Duncan Plaza. “We won’t be moving to Charity Hospital,” says Judge Bagneris. Evidently many other CDC judges agree.

city government

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: Missing our dear friend, state Sen. Hank Braden IV

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We are in mourning for our dear friend Hank Braden, a wonderful person, a gifted political strategist, an outstanding legislator and a visionary who put together coalitions of like-minded people from across racial lines. Danae knew Hank as a neighbor. They both lived on Esplanade Avenue down the street from each other. Allan and Hank were friends dating back to the 1977 State Senate campaign when Braden defeated Louis Charbonnet by a mere six votes. In those days, Allan, then a reporter and columnist at the States-Item, and Hank were regulars at Ruth’s Chris Steak House on North Broad Street, an emporium featuring sizzling steaks presided over by the legendary Ruth Fertel where political people from New Orleans and Jefferson could be found day and night.

city government

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: Is it time for a female sheriff of Orleans Parish?

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It’s no secret that Sheriff Marlin Gusman is embattled. Escapes, deaths, and many normal prison problems have plagued his term. Gusman has even admitted that the pricy new jail does not have the special facilities needed to best treat sick and mentally-ill patients in this phase. Let’s not forget that Orleans Parish sheriffs have traditionally kept their finances close to the vest and not readily available for full scrutiny by mayor and council. There’s not much transparency at the prison these days.

business

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: New Orleans needs a compromise on consent decrees

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There is no question that reforms are needed at the Orleans Parish Prison and the New Orleans Police Department. The voters know it, the Federal government knows it, the City Council knows it and even Mayor Landrieu. But where is the money to fund both decrees (ostensibly at the same time) going to come from? We need a compromise with the Federal government and we need it now. The cost of the consent decrees is far beyond the city’s means and might mean bankruptcy.

business

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: Could Georges or the Gambit take more government contracts from the Times-Pic?

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For more than 75 years, the Times Picayune has always won the official journal contract from the City of New Orleans. The official journal is where all mandated public notices are printed, tax seizures, bids, City Council summaries, etc. It is and has always been a great source of revenue that the TP has counted on. For the first time there is a real chance that John Georges or even Margo and Clancy Dubos could take that contract from the TP. The contract is bid each year and of course the best bid wins.

elections

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: Yolanda King springs an upset in judicial race

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Doug Hammel was the clear favorite in political circles in the May 4 runoff election for a Juvenile Court judgeship but Yolanda King and her volunteers had a big surprise for him. In an election where the turnout was just about five percent, King won 54 percent of the vote. As is almost always the case in New Orleans politics, race was a major factor. King, who is an African-American, was making her fifth race for a judgeship and was considered by some to be a perennial candidate. She spent just $7,750 on her campaign.