T-P Sues NOPD

T-P:

The Times-Picayune filed a lawsuit Friday against the New Orleans Police Department, alleging that the department has failed to provide a long list of public records requested by the newspaper and routinely delays the release of initial incident reports intended to promptly inform the public about crime in the city.

Perhaps the NOPD don't realize how important this info is to the public or maybe they just don't care.

ACOE Responsibility To New Orleans

New Orleans still at risk:

Despite ongoing levee improvements, the New Orleans area still faces a life-threatening risk of flooding from hurricanes, and it's the responsibility of the Army Corps of Engineers to make that risk clear to the public, an American Society of Civil Engineers panel said.

The panel also recommended that the corps use its bully pulpit to ensure that local evacuation and emergency planning equals or exceeds similar planning elsewhere in the nation.

Planning in New Orleans should exceed planning elsewhere. We do not want a repeat of hurricane Katrina.

When Will Jefferson Face The Music?

T-P:

A Virginia appeals court has agreed to expedite its consideration of Rep. William Jefferson's appeal to dismiss 14 of the 16 criminal charges now pending against the New Orleans Democrat.

But how quickly the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals takes the case may be determined by whether it agrees to hold oral arguments this summer -- a time when the court usually isn't in session -- or when it reconvenes in September.

Until the appeals court acts, the criminal trial for the congressman, originally scheduled to begin in January, remains on hold.

Do The Feds Have Anything On Marc Morial?

Although it as been almost six years since former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial has been out of office, there seems to be speculation that the federal probe, into his administration, is not over.

This news has everyone in a wait and see mode as to whether or not the former Mayor will face charges. Whether he is ever prosecuted, there will always be that doubt as to his innocence doing and possibly after his reign as Mayor. What we are definitely sure of at this point is that his cohorts, who received lucrative contacts doing his administration, have caused the City of New Orleans great harm that has everlasting effects.

New Orleans' Visitors Increases

Via: T-P

About 7.1 million people visited New Orleans last year, up from 3.7 million in 2006, according to a survey conducted by the University of New Orleans Hospitality Research Center for the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau and the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation.

Despite a whopping 92 percent increase, tourism still has yet to reach pre-Katrina levels when the city hosted about 8.5 million to 9 million visitors a year. Last year, visitors to New Orleans spent about $4.8 billion, or about $676 per visitor, compared with $2.8 million, or $756 per visitor in 2006.

Vitter Won't Be Called

Senator David Vitter won't be called to testify in the D.C. Madam case. I am sure Vitter is delighted by the news.