Tuesday, August 14, 2007

All you need to N.O. about LA


Well, it was Monday, so that must mean it was New Orleans Councilman Cops a Plea Day.

And whadda you know? The featured exhibit in the Louisiana Graft Hall of Fame this week is Oliver Thomas, who pleaded guilty to bribery in federal court and then resigned his council seat. He had been city council president until June, and most recently had been serving as vice president.

Vice president. How appropriate.

But, really, all you need to know about New Orleans and Louisiana is in this paragraph from The New York Times' coverage of the Crescent City's latest humiliation:

His large following was evident in the crowded federal courtroom here on Monday, where many looked on grimly as Mr. Thomas, a 13-year veteran of the City Council, stood to enter his plea in a soft voice. The crowd later applauded Mr. Thomas when he emerged from the courtroom, and a woman called out, “I’m proud of you!”
AND SHE WAS, TOO.

Oh, and here's the trenchant assessment (again, from the Times) of the G-man in charge of the thankless task of trying to clean up what Louisiana law enforcement can't . . . and doesn't particularly care to:

“It’s just brazen down here,” James Bernazzani, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s special agent in charge, said at a news conference after Mr. Thomas entered his plea.

“In Louisiana they skim the cream, steal the milk, hijack the bottle and look for the cow,” said Mr. Bernazzani, who noted that his district ranked second in the nation in public corruption convictions and indictments — despite its relatively small population.
DEY AIN'T NO HOPE. Or so it would appear. I am sure, with more Katrina aid desperately needed, Washington is taking careful note.

And N'Awlins oughn't be holding its breath waiting for Congress to show it the money.

* * *

The Times Picayune's take on the story is here.

And columnist par excellence Chris Rose's reflections are here.

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