Where do Blanco and Nagin think they are?
National Guard back on the streets of New Orleans. People have been murdered in the "New" New Orleans, call out the guard! Have these two forgoten what state they live in? We've all heard the phrase "we are a poor country." This too applies to Louisiana but the formost is "We are a violent country." It's Louisiana, this is what we do, we murder one another, it's part of the culture and way of life. The National Guard isn't going to stop this. If the National Guard is now going to be called out everytime five people are murdered we best get used to seeing them all over the place.
Spring time in Paris, get ready for the protests, no reason needed. Summer in Louisiana get the body bags ready, no reason needed.
posted by RGBolen @ 9:53 AM
5 comments
5 Comments:
It's beyond that Roy - the NOPD is stretched - they are hemoraghing officers due to burnout. It's not just murder - it's arson, theft, rape. Teh number of fires alone is staggering - whether that's due to residual damage or arson is debatable but it's taxing already strained resources. It is a constant topic of conversation on meworleans.metblogs.com - these people are loyal to the city and generally would agree with you BUT they seem to believe this is "different" - primarily because there are so many sectors of the city that are empty and therefore are havens for drug dealers adn violent criminals. That said - it's not jsut a NO thing- the entire region is suffering - the mayor of Madisonville was beaten and robbed at his business.
Most residents of the city, as far as I can tell, are glad, given that it is a short term thing until the NOPD rebuilds and regroups.
I think it's bringing up a problem that has been festering for over a century now. Roy is right, it stuff that always gone on. But as long as it went on mostly in certain areas of New Orleans people seemed okay with just keeping a lid on the status quo. But that ended when the levees broke.
The N.O. police department has alway gotten a bad a rap. I think legends of dirty cops existed in that area before the city was built. My family had stories from back in 20's. Dad's friend with the DEA had horrible stories from the 80's. I don't know, some of it is probably deserved, and some of it isn't. Cops are just morals like the rest of us. ANd I don't know how any of them who were in the city when Katrina hit cope with it.
As for Martial Law in new orleans.... god, I hate to say this, but it's probably truely needed. That "wild west" mentality seems to have a strong grip on some people. The NOPD wont be able to get a grip on things unless they have some help.
As for the regional crime impact, my cousin that lives in Baton Rouge was telling me a couple of months ago, that there has been an increase of "gang type violence" (how ever you want interpet that) that they (authorities/media) trace to influx of new orleanian gang members. She said there were curfews, and that people in her neighborhood avoided going to Walmart at night. There's even been the occassion inference here in the Atlanta media if anyone orginally from New Orleans or Louisiana is involved in a violent crime - even if they are the victim.
I just don't know. All I know is that the problem isn't letting itself be swept under the rug right now. The problems caused by urban poverty are bad enough. But once those problems have been allowed to float in flood water for 10 months.... things can help but get worse.
New Orleans isn't undermartial law, though - the troops and state police are simply policing target areas becasue the NOPD doesn't have the manpower.
They are trying to blame an uptick in vioence near Cooper-Young to Katrina people,except there aren't that many left and those that are here are buying houses and whatnot. Another speculation is that the abandoned Libertyland area is providing cover for all sorts of nefarious types. That seems more plausible.
I know N.O. isn't under martial law, it's just that use, or potential use, of anytype of troops implies martial law. Especially since those troops would not be under the authority of the elected officals of the city. National Guard would be under control of the Governor, unless they are federalized, and the governor would still have to give consent to that.
If they need some more help, why don't they get some of the law enforcement that hangs out around the citgo near campus in Monroe.
heheh Citgo.
There are state troopers there, so - maybe that'll free up some shady spots beneath overpasses on the I-20 corridor for other reptilians creatures!
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