<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>Letter to the Editor – New Orleans' Multicultural News Source | The Louisiana Weekly</title> <atom:link href="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/category/opinion/letter-to-the-editor/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>http://www.louisianaweekly.com</link> <description></description> <lastBuildDate>Mon, 10 Mar 2025 16:35:10 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=4.4.33</generator> <item> <title>Ensuring we all feel safe and are stably employed</title> <link>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/ensuring-we-all-feel-safe-and-are-stably-employed/</link> <comments>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/ensuring-we-all-feel-safe-and-are-stably-employed/#respond</comments> <pubDate>Thu, 23 Jan 2025 19:07:53 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator><![CDATA[admin]]></dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Letter to the Editor]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.louisianaweekly.com/?p=92165</guid> <description><![CDATA[Ever since the 9/11 terrorist attacks that took down the World Trade towers in New York, cities been more aware that these tragedies can happen<br /><br /><a href="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/ensuring-we-all-feel-safe-and-are-stably-employed/">Continue Reading </a> »]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="bottomcontainerBox" style="background-color:transparent;"> <div style="float:left; width:85px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.louisianaweekly.com%2Fensuring-we-all-feel-safe-and-are-stably-employed%2F&layout=button_count&show_faces=false&width=85&action=like&font=verdana&colorscheme=light&height=21" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:85px; height:21px;"></iframe></div> <div style="float:left; width:80px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <g:plusone size="medium" href="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/ensuring-we-all-feel-safe-and-are-stably-employed/"></g:plusone> </div> <div style="float:left; width:95px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/ensuring-we-all-feel-safe-and-are-stably-employed/" data-text="Ensuring we all feel safe and are stably employed" data-count="horizontal"></a> </div><div style="float:left; width:105px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"><script type="in/share" data-url="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/ensuring-we-all-feel-safe-and-are-stably-employed/" data-counter="right"></script></div> <div style="float:left; width:85px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"><script src="http://www.stumbleupon.com/hostedbadge.php?s=1&r=http://www.louisianaweekly.com/ensuring-we-all-feel-safe-and-are-stably-employed/"></script></div> </div><div style="clear:both"></div><div style="padding-bottom:4px;"></div><p>Ever since the 9/11 terrorist attacks that took down the World Trade towers in New York, cities been more aware that these tragedies can happen anywhere. In particular, the city of New Orleans has been declared a soft target for a terrorist attack, partly because of the large crowds that gather here on our streets.<span id="more-92165"></span></p> <p>After the New Year’s Day Bourbon Street attack, I began to ask around, to see how we were preparing. We have much work to do to ensure that an anti-terrorist component is part of the planning process for every special event that attracts thousands – Mardi Gras, festivals and holiday celebrations, even our Sunday second-line parades.</p> <p>The NOPD leadership should consider the following steps:<br /> 1) Enhance the relationship between the NOPD Intelligence Unit and the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force.<br /> 2) Send a NOPD team to the New York Police Department Anti- Terrorist Unit to establish a similar anti-terrorist unit within the NOPD.<br /> 3) Go after all available federal anti-terrorism resources and training.<br /> 4) Think outside the box, using technology such as drones and cameras for major events.</p> <p>We need not only a security plan for protecting tourists, visitors and major events, but also a security plan for the rest of us who live in the city. Mrs. Thanh Vu, a longtime business owner was robbed and killed in her grocery store in the early days of 2025. There were two other murders during the same relative time span as the terrorist attack on Bourbon Street. The daily toll of gun violence in our city has chipped away at our city for decades.</p> <p>We must also learn from this tragedy and implement the right strategy and tactics to ensure tourists, visitors and all of us feel safe.</p> <p>The lessons learned go beyond policing. For instance, I strongly suspect our tourism industry is taking a negative hit because of the terrorist attack. As we work to help the hospitality industry rebuild, we also must look to other sectors, to grow and diversify our economy, providing jobs and tax revenue beyond the hospitality industry.</p> <p>Just as our police department must reflexively include anti-terrorism components across its work, our business community and economic-development agencies must constantly be working to broaden the New Orleans economy, in a way that trains, educates and stably employs more local residents.</p> <p>– <strong>Arthur Hunter, Jr.<br /> Former New Orleans Police officer and Criminal District Court judge</strong></p> <p><em>This article originally published in the January 20, 2025 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.</em></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/ensuring-we-all-feel-safe-and-are-stably-employed/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>NOPD Police Chief Addresses Public in Treme’</title> <link>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/nopd-police-chief-addresses-public-in-treme/</link> <comments>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/nopd-police-chief-addresses-public-in-treme/#respond</comments> <pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2024 16:36:19 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator><![CDATA[admin]]></dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Letter to the Editor]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.louisianaweekly.com/?p=89557</guid> <description><![CDATA[On Tuesday, April 9, Anne Kirkpatrick, NOPD’s Chief of Police, was questioned by citizens of New Orleans on her style of ruling the NOPD. Approximately<br /><br /><a href="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/nopd-police-chief-addresses-public-in-treme/">Continue Reading </a> »]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="bottomcontainerBox" style="background-color:transparent;"> <div style="float:left; width:85px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.louisianaweekly.com%2Fnopd-police-chief-addresses-public-in-treme%2F&layout=button_count&show_faces=false&width=85&action=like&font=verdana&colorscheme=light&height=21" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:85px; height:21px;"></iframe></div> <div style="float:left; width:80px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <g:plusone size="medium" href="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/nopd-police-chief-addresses-public-in-treme/"></g:plusone> </div> <div style="float:left; width:95px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/nopd-police-chief-addresses-public-in-treme/" data-text="NOPD Police Chief Addresses Public in Treme’" data-count="horizontal"></a> </div><div style="float:left; width:105px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"><script type="in/share" data-url="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/nopd-police-chief-addresses-public-in-treme/" data-counter="right"></script></div> <div style="float:left; width:85px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"><script src="http://www.stumbleupon.com/hostedbadge.php?s=1&r=http://www.louisianaweekly.com/nopd-police-chief-addresses-public-in-treme/"></script></div> </div><div style="clear:both"></div><div style="padding-bottom:4px;"></div><p>On Tuesday, April 9, Anne Kirkpatrick, NOPD’s Chief of Police, was questioned by citizens of New Orleans on her style of ruling the NOPD.<span id="more-89557"></span> Approximately 125 people gather at the Treme’ Community Center, to hear the new Chief of police respond to questions the community had to ask. From the beginning the chief made it clear that she was not going to answer any questions with style and heartfelt concern of the people of New Orleans. The Chief’s style of responding to the people of New Orleans was much like the Daryl Gates style after the four officers were acquitted of beating Rodney King. </p> <p>Several attendees actually called the Chief on her seemingly ducking and dodging straight forward questions with dry and long-drawn-out responses. The chief even tried to engage former interim Chief Michelle Woodfork, who was in the audience, to address some of the concerns. Advisedly, the former interim Chief stayed seated.</p> <p>The unfortunate proviso was Chief Kirkpatrick came off looking like Daryl Gates, after the acquittal of the four policemen charged with beating Rodney King. For the chief to brag about being fired and winning 1.5 million dollars from Oakland California, after, as she put it, “being fired for the wrong reasons” only allowed for the people to realize she was guilty of something, but the prosecution sited the wrong statues. As most people in attendance, the Chief was not able to convince the audience that she is capable or willing to work for the people of New Orleans. </p> <p>Unfortunately, everyone has given up on the people of New Orleans. The federal judge, the federal monitors, DOJ and now the newly selected police chief. The future for New Orleans, as far as constitutional policing goes, is a return to the same corrupted police department New Orleans had before the Consent Decree.</p> <p><strong>– W.C. Johnson, Chair<br /> Community United for Change </strong> </p> <p><em>This article originally published in the April 15, 2024 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.</em></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/nopd-police-chief-addresses-public-in-treme/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Landry’s ‘One Louisiana’ doesn’t include marginalized communities</title> <link>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/landrys-one-louisiana-doesnt-include-marginalized-communities/</link> <comments>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/landrys-one-louisiana-doesnt-include-marginalized-communities/#respond</comments> <pubDate>Mon, 13 Nov 2023 18:12:43 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator><![CDATA[admin]]></dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Letter to the Editor]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.louisianaweekly.com/?p=87236</guid> <description><![CDATA[On Oct. 14, Louisianians elected Attorney General Jeff Landry to be their next governor. As a candidate, Mr. Landry’s platform included, in part, pledges to<br /><br /><a href="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/landrys-one-louisiana-doesnt-include-marginalized-communities/">Continue Reading </a> »]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="bottomcontainerBox" style="background-color:transparent;"> <div style="float:left; width:85px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.louisianaweekly.com%2Flandrys-one-louisiana-doesnt-include-marginalized-communities%2F&layout=button_count&show_faces=false&width=85&action=like&font=verdana&colorscheme=light&height=21" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:85px; height:21px;"></iframe></div> <div style="float:left; width:80px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <g:plusone size="medium" href="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/landrys-one-louisiana-doesnt-include-marginalized-communities/"></g:plusone> </div> <div style="float:left; width:95px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/landrys-one-louisiana-doesnt-include-marginalized-communities/" data-text="Landry’s ‘One Louisiana’ doesn’t include marginalized communities" data-count="horizontal"></a> </div><div style="float:left; width:105px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"><script type="in/share" data-url="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/landrys-one-louisiana-doesnt-include-marginalized-communities/" data-counter="right"></script></div> <div style="float:left; width:85px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"><script src="http://www.stumbleupon.com/hostedbadge.php?s=1&r=http://www.louisianaweekly.com/landrys-one-louisiana-doesnt-include-marginalized-communities/"></script></div> </div><div style="clear:both"></div><div style="padding-bottom:4px;"></div><p>On Oct. 14, Louisianians elected Attorney General Jeff Landry to be their next governor. As a candidate, Mr. Landry’s platform included, in part, pledges to connect Louisiana by expanding broadband access, to reform a broken justice system by modernizing our state’s constitution, and to protect our families.<span id="more-87236"></span> </p> <p>Additionally, one of Mr. Landry’s repeatedly referenced stump phrases was “Louisiana deserves a government as good as its people.” These campaign promises appear to be timely and aiming to address the bevy of issues plaguing residents, and you’d be hard pressed to find residents, irrespective of their political affiliation, that wouldn’t welcome improvements in those areas. </p> <p>However, a candidate, or in this case an active public official’s rhetoric must be weighed against their record. In this instance, while the governor-elect purports to want to serve all of Louisiana, his actions demonstrate that he is actively working to advance some Louisianians while undercutting others. </p> <p>While the examples of Mr. Landry’s divisive policies and practices are vast, none are timelier and more concerning than the attorney general’s most recent attempt to dissolve a court order that ensures minority voters have representation on the Louisiana Supreme Court.</p> <p>Currently, that representation is achieved through the election of Justice Piper Griffin, the court’s only Black justice, to Louisiana’s Seventh District. The Urban League of Louisiana and our litigation partners won’t let her seat be taken away without a fight.</p> <p>Gov.-elect Landry announced his transition team and policy focus during an Oct. 25 press conference. He proclaimed that his administration would be prioritizing policies focused on the state’s education, economy and high crime rate. </p> <p>However, what he didn’t say was that also on Oct. 25, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeal issued its opinion in Chisom v. Louisiana, denying the appeal of Mr. Landry and his lead counsel, Solicitor General Liz Murrill, to dissolve the Chisom consent decree.</p> <p>This case and the consent decree is extremely important to marginalized communities, particularly Black Louisianians, as it requires that minority voters have representation on the Louisiana Supreme Court to ensure against the dilution of their vote, particularly in the Orleans Parish area. </p> <p>Importantly, the 5th Circuit’s ruling highlighted that Mr. Landry and his team did not present evidence or a plan of action for protecting against Black voter dilution, if and when the remedy provided by the consent decree, “The Chisom Seat,” is dissolved. As such, AG Landry’s decision to try and remove the only seat ever occupied by a person of color – without showing that that seat is no longer needed – should be alarming to all Louisianans and is contrary to any pronouncements that a Landry administration intends to serve “One Louisiana.” </p> <p>Despite the court’s ruling, Mr. Landry is undeterred and has pledged to appeal to all of the judges of the 5th Circuit.</p> <p>Consequently, Gov.-Elect Landry’s “One Team. One Dream. One Louisiana” isn’t adding up. Elections have consequences. Who we elect must share our values because their decisions will either strengthen or weaken our communities. </p> <p>The Urban League of Louisiana welcomes the opportunity to work with the Landry administration in furtherance of our mission-driven work and a truly equitable Louisiana.</p> <p> <strong>– Judy Reese More<br /> President and CEO<br /> Urban League of Louisiana</strong></p> <p><em>This Letter to Editor originally appear on La. Illuminator website, lailluminator.com.</em></p> <p><em>This article originally published in the November 13, 2023 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.</em></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/landrys-one-louisiana-doesnt-include-marginalized-communities/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Are we going to allow this?</title> <link>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/are-we-going-to-allow-this/</link> <comments>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/are-we-going-to-allow-this/#respond</comments> <pubDate>Mon, 13 Nov 2023 18:12:36 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator><![CDATA[admin]]></dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Letter to the Editor]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.louisianaweekly.com/?p=87238</guid> <description><![CDATA[Last month, three children were killed in a house fire, in a blaze apparently begun by their father. Three babies were killed in our city,<br /><br /><a href="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/are-we-going-to-allow-this/">Continue Reading </a> »]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="bottomcontainerBox" style="background-color:transparent;"> <div style="float:left; width:85px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.louisianaweekly.com%2Fare-we-going-to-allow-this%2F&layout=button_count&show_faces=false&width=85&action=like&font=verdana&colorscheme=light&height=21" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:85px; height:21px;"></iframe></div> <div style="float:left; width:80px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <g:plusone size="medium" href="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/are-we-going-to-allow-this/"></g:plusone> </div> <div style="float:left; width:95px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/are-we-going-to-allow-this/" data-text="Are we going to allow this?" data-count="horizontal"></a> </div><div style="float:left; width:105px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"><script type="in/share" data-url="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/are-we-going-to-allow-this/" data-counter="right"></script></div> <div style="float:left; width:85px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"><script src="http://www.stumbleupon.com/hostedbadge.php?s=1&r=http://www.louisianaweekly.com/are-we-going-to-allow-this/"></script></div> </div><div style="clear:both"></div><div style="padding-bottom:4px;"></div><p>Last month, three children were killed in a house fire, in a blaze apparently begun by their father. <span id="more-87238"></span></p> <p>Three babies were killed in our city, caught up in the chaos of domestic abuse and violence. </p> <p>The incident strengthened our resolve to expand local efforts and to tap into more resources to prevent and address family violence. We are righteously justified to be angry, show sympathy and have vigils. But we also need to come together as a community, to strengthen our resolve to expand local efforts, tap into more resources to work toward solutions to prevent family violence. Here are some ways we can do that:</p> <p> • We need to identify “cracks” in all systems to ensure that no one continues to fall through them. For example, every day, alleged or convicted perpetrators in family-violence cases are released. But on Wednesday, October 25, the VINELink (victim-notification network) went down. On that day, survivors whose perpetrators were jailed in Orleans Parish were not notified; therefore, unaware that they needed to take extra precautions because their perpetrators were being released/bonded out. We are trying to determine backup procedures for any future system failures.</p> <p> • We have to establish better response times to address mental health issues that have been caused by the effects of trauma. There is not enough funding for mental-health providers to provide ongoing services. While we are advocating for more money for counseling and trauma treatment, we also need to better promote what has been implemented. For instance, the city of New Orleans has launched a new mobile-crisis intervention unit to respond to 911 calls with a mental-health component. People in need of mental-health help can reach on-call clinicians 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the crisis line: (504) 826-2672. </p> <p> • We have to believe survivors. Too many times, survivors are being forced to go back to abusive situations because no one believes them. If a survivor says that someone is going to kill them, this should not be taken lightly. Survivors are the primary victims and have first- hand knowledge of what their perpetrators are capable of. We as service providers need to re-examine how our systems treat domestic-violence cases. The New Orleans Family Justice Center will continue to offer on-going trainings to police officers, judicial officials and other service providers to aid in understanding this. </p> <p> • We need to talk publicly about what good relationships look like – and don’t look like. Love does not require isolation and control. We need to expand our group of trauma-sensitive schools, which give children tools to build healthy bonds with others and work through disagreements. And when children go through abuse, we need immediate emotional help for them, to work through the trauma.</p> <p> • While cases are pending, assign all family-violence cases to the Domestic Violence Court within Criminal District Court. This will ensure consistent and coordinated responses: ensuring protective orders are in place – in coordination with Family Court in Civil District Court – along with monitoring alleged abusers and offering swift and appropriate treatment and resources to survivors and children. </p> <p>As a community, are we going to allow three babies to die in vain?</p> <p><strong>– Trashanda Grayes</strong><br /> <em>Executive Director<br /> New Orleans Family Justice Center (NOFJC)</em></p> <p><strong>– Judge Arthur Hunter, </strong><br /> <em>Retired Criminal<br /> District Court judge,<br /> Former NOPD officer, and<br /> NOFJC board member</em></p> <p><em>This article originally published in the November 13, 2023 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.</em></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/are-we-going-to-allow-this/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Giving each other a moment of humanity</title> <link>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/giving-each-other-a-moment-of-humanity/</link> <comments>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/giving-each-other-a-moment-of-humanity/#respond</comments> <pubDate>Mon, 30 Oct 2023 17:37:17 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator><![CDATA[admin]]></dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Letter to the Editor]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.louisianaweekly.com/?p=86614</guid> <description><![CDATA[Last week, after City Council President J.P. Morrell and I had a well-publicized squabble while on the dais during a meeting, I sent a note<br /><br /><a href="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/giving-each-other-a-moment-of-humanity/">Continue Reading </a> »]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="bottomcontainerBox" style="background-color:transparent;"> <div style="float:left; width:85px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.louisianaweekly.com%2Fgiving-each-other-a-moment-of-humanity%2F&layout=button_count&show_faces=false&width=85&action=like&font=verdana&colorscheme=light&height=21" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:85px; height:21px;"></iframe></div> <div style="float:left; width:80px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <g:plusone size="medium" href="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/giving-each-other-a-moment-of-humanity/"></g:plusone> </div> <div style="float:left; width:95px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/giving-each-other-a-moment-of-humanity/" data-text="Giving each other a moment of humanity" data-count="horizontal"></a> </div><div style="float:left; width:105px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"><script type="in/share" data-url="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/giving-each-other-a-moment-of-humanity/" data-counter="right"></script></div> <div style="float:left; width:85px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"><script src="http://www.stumbleupon.com/hostedbadge.php?s=1&r=http://www.louisianaweekly.com/giving-each-other-a-moment-of-humanity/"></script></div> </div><div style="clear:both"></div><div style="padding-bottom:4px;"></div><p>Last week, after City Council President J.P. Morrell and I had a well-publicized squabble while on the dais during a meeting, I sent a note to my friends, apologizing for my outburst while defending myself.<span id="more-86614"></span></p> <p>It’s not how I conduct myself.</p> <p>I still contend that the entire disagreement was unnecessary, since I asked for – and was denied – a “point of personal privilege,” a right of mine according to Robert’s Rules of Order, the standard for how meetings should be run. As I looked inside myself, I also realized that the tension with our council president had accumulated over time, as I watched him repeatedly treat people in ways that felt disrespectful to me.</p> <p>Yet after the disagreement, I felt bad. Even if I believe that I’m right, I never feel good about any level of aggression with someone. Nobody can make me feel worse than I feel about getting angry with someone else or engaging in a manner that is not civil.</p> <p>Still, I have to confess that the council president’s remark, “I’m sorry – I wasn’t raised that way,” struck home with me.</p> <p>Because my mom, Mignonette Egana Thomas, emphasized kindness and common courtesies in our household. We had to tell everyone “Good night” and “Good morning.” For my siblings and I, our job coming up was to carry the groceries in for the elders next to us on Andry Street, to pick up the trash in front of their door and cut their grass, free of charge.</p> <p>Then Scoot, the WWL radio host, took it to another level, calling me “an ex-con” who had displayed a “thug mentality.”</p> <p>That showed me that, despite me serving my time and being very public about my mistakes, the stereotype still exists. And for people who want to jump to stereotypes, there’s a fine line between us defending ourselves, or even just having a moment of disagreement, and us being called thugs and convicts.</p> <p>Certainly, I don’t come from the city’s elite Creole political community. But I was raised pretty good. I had great parents and a great family and a great community. I grew up in Lower 9th Ward, to parents who worked hard all their lives and taught us the value of hard work and civility.</p> <p>My dad, Oliver Thomas Sr., was a laborer on the river who lost half of his foot in an accident, where a crane’s cable broke, catching his foot. His disability was cut short by a white doctor who told him, “You’re a big man. You need to be working.” So my dad worked on half a foot for the rest of his life.</p> <p>I attended Alfred Lawless school in the Lower 9, graduated from Joseph S. Clark High School, and made my way to College of Santa Fe with a basketball scholarship. I’ve finished the leadership program at the Kennedy School at Harvard University, the Aspen Institute’s program for executives and the Loyola Institute of Politics. I’ve traveled the world.</p> <p>So I guess I’m kind of a refined thug, if I gotta be a thug.</p> <p>But we have all seen how stereotypes can be harmful, even deadly. Look at George Floyd at the corner grocery or Trayvon Martin walking home with his Skittles and his hoodie. We’ve even heard it at our level of governance, when Nury Martinez, the then-president of the Los Angeles City Council was caught on tape comparing a colleague’s Black son to a monkey. And that happened only last year.</p> <p>Where does this stop for us? Especially for Black men, you know? Why do I have to be a thug because I got mad? Am I considered a convict forever because I did some time?</p> <p>I remember how my cousin, civil rights fighter Jerome Smith, told me about how he walked up to the bus station in Macomb one morning and, as he leaned over to get a New York Times from a newspaper box there, made eye contact with a white guy who was standing nearby. He said, “Good morning” to the man. Mind you, this was at the height of civil rights struggles against blatant racism, segregation and Jim Crow. </p> <p>Later, when Jerome was getting beaten with brass knuckles, in a way that fractured his skull, that man did not participate. He felt like that was because of their moment of humanity earlier that day.</p> <p>Sometimes it feels like people won’t even give each other that moment now. It’s like Washington, D.C.-style politics and national party-style politics have worked their way down to the common man and woman.</p> <p>I’m going to take this moment to remind myself to remember each person’s humanity, even as we work within the machinery of politics and political ambitions. I will defend myself when treated unfairly, let’s be clear. But I need to remember Jerome’s call to common courtesy and remember to conduct myself with dignity, with more tolerance, more respect.</p> <p>Because I cannot ask people to be peaceful and have a short fuse. We can’t as leaders, tell the kids put the guns down when we can’t put down our harsh and disrespectful words.</p> <p><strong>– Oliver Thomas<br /> District E Councilman</strong></p> <p><em>Editor’s Note: This “Letter to Editor” first appeared on The Lens website, thelensnola.org.</em></p> <p><em>This article originally published in the October 30, 2023 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.</em></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/giving-each-other-a-moment-of-humanity/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Freedom</title> <link>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/78729-2/</link> <comments>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/78729-2/#respond</comments> <pubDate>Tue, 20 Jun 2023 16:18:10 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator><![CDATA[admin]]></dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Letter to the Editor]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.louisianaweekly.com/?p=78729</guid> <description><![CDATA[The history of New Orleans, one of the oldest cities in the United States, is as colorful as any in the country. Founded by the<br /><br /><a href="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/78729-2/">Continue Reading </a> »]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="bottomcontainerBox" style="background-color:transparent;"> <div style="float:left; width:85px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.louisianaweekly.com%2F78729-2%2F&layout=button_count&show_faces=false&width=85&action=like&font=verdana&colorscheme=light&height=21" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:85px; height:21px;"></iframe></div> <div style="float:left; width:80px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <g:plusone size="medium" href="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/78729-2/"></g:plusone> </div> <div style="float:left; width:95px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/78729-2/" data-text="Freedom" data-count="horizontal"></a> </div><div style="float:left; width:105px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"><script type="in/share" data-url="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/78729-2/" data-counter="right"></script></div> <div style="float:left; width:85px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"><script src="http://www.stumbleupon.com/hostedbadge.php?s=1&r=http://www.louisianaweekly.com/78729-2/"></script></div> </div><div style="clear:both"></div><div style="padding-bottom:4px;"></div><p>The history of New Orleans, one of the oldest cities in the United States, is as colorful as any in the country. Founded by the Spanish, turned over to the French, and ultimately sold to the Americans, New Orleans created a great blend of nationalities and races. <span id="more-78729"></span></p> <p>Prior to the Civil War, New Orleans was one of the largest slave trade centers in the country. Once war began in 1861, it took a year before Admiral Farragut sailed up the Mississippi river, pass two confederate forts, and take the city, thereby blocking off the Mississippi river from the south. General Butler placed the city under federal control for the remainder of the war. </p> <p>Emancipation failed to resolve the differences between the races, but the civil rights era in the 1960s did much to alleviate the tension. New Orleans continued to prosper in the interim, but Hurricane Katrina imposed terrible destruction in 2005. The city struggled to get back on her feet. Federal money assisted with infrastructure development, but poor education and inadequate federal programs did little to alleviate the plight of the poor. Homelessness and crime accelerated, and central planning ideas failed at every level. </p> <p>The city attempted to remove any vestige of history during and prior to the Civil War by taking down confederate statues, most visibly the statue of Robert E Lee on Lee Circle. Many in Louisiana were not in favor of removing symbols of our history, but what is done is done and we must move on. </p> <p>The time has come to put the mistakes of the past behind us. We cannot prosper, we cannot learn, we cannot move forward without a vision for the future. </p> <p>We have a vision of a united city, determined to be the most culturally inclusive, happiest and vibrant city in the United States. We cannot continue to dwell on the past. That means we must accept where we are and strive to do better. The old Lee Circle, now called “Harmony Circle,” is currently an underutilized tower of nothing. It represents no ideas, no vision, and no future for New Orleans. </p> <p>Our vision for moving forward proposes a monument to inspire people to learn, to work, to strive for happier families in a more unified city. We envision placing on the vacant pedestal centering the now “Harmony Circle” a statue which we propose simply to call “Freedom.” </p> <p>It shall be a statue of a young Black woman in a simple smock with her right hand raised over her shoulders. That hand holds a thick book, a Bible, signifying devotion to God and to learning. Faith and education are the only things that will move us forward. </p> <p>In her left hand trailing behind her left hip are broken chains signifying her emergence from the tragedies of the past. Draped over her left shoulder is an American flag to show the world that she and we all are Americans and proud of it. </p> <p>Her right foot should lead her left as if she were prepared to run, run to the future, run for happiness, run for prosperity, and run for all of the people of New Orleans. May God bless us one and all! </p> <p><strong>– Don C. Hubbard </strong><br /> Civil Rights Activist </p> <p><strong>– Robert L. “Bob” Livingston </strong><br /> Member of Congress (1977-’99)</p> <p><em>This article originally published in the June 19, 2023 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.</em></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/78729-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>New Orleans City Planning needs to keep the city in Mind</title> <link>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/new-orleans-city-planning-needs-to-keep-the-city-in-mind/</link> <comments>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/new-orleans-city-planning-needs-to-keep-the-city-in-mind/#respond</comments> <pubDate>Mon, 03 Apr 2023 16:41:12 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator><![CDATA[admin]]></dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Letter to the Editor]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.louisianaweekly.com/?p=76556</guid> <description><![CDATA[Few things seem more antithetical to the Big Easy than forcing neighbors on the same block to compete with one another for income, but if<br /><br /><a href="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/new-orleans-city-planning-needs-to-keep-the-city-in-mind/">Continue Reading </a> »]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="bottomcontainerBox" style="background-color:transparent;"> <div style="float:left; width:85px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.louisianaweekly.com%2Fnew-orleans-city-planning-needs-to-keep-the-city-in-mind%2F&layout=button_count&show_faces=false&width=85&action=like&font=verdana&colorscheme=light&height=21" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:85px; height:21px;"></iframe></div> <div style="float:left; width:80px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <g:plusone size="medium" href="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/new-orleans-city-planning-needs-to-keep-the-city-in-mind/"></g:plusone> </div> <div style="float:left; width:95px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/new-orleans-city-planning-needs-to-keep-the-city-in-mind/" data-text="New Orleans City Planning needs to keep the city in Mind" data-count="horizontal"></a> </div><div style="float:left; width:105px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"><script type="in/share" data-url="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/new-orleans-city-planning-needs-to-keep-the-city-in-mind/" data-counter="right"></script></div> <div style="float:left; width:85px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"><script src="http://www.stumbleupon.com/hostedbadge.php?s=1&r=http://www.louisianaweekly.com/new-orleans-city-planning-needs-to-keep-the-city-in-mind/"></script></div> </div><div style="clear:both"></div><div style="padding-bottom:4px;"></div><p>Few things seem more antithetical to the Big Easy than forcing neighbors on the same block to compete with one another for income, but if the City of New Orleans Planning Commission (CPC) has its way, it might soon become a reality for more than a fifth of New Orleans short-term rental (STR) owners.<span id="more-76556"></span> </p> <p>New Orleans is one of the U.S.’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting over 17 million visitors per year – over three times the entire population of Louisiana. Many visitors experience the charm of the city by staying in residential neighborhoods through short-term rentals hosted by locals.</p> <p>But the CPC has decided to propose new restrictions on short-term rentals that would upend a system that has brought more than $110 million in earnings to New Orleans homeowners in 2021, tossing the STR regulatory process into chaos and likely hurting small-time hosts the most.</p> <p>The New Orleans City Council should not be punishing New Orleanians for wanting to share their home or make some extra income on the side — they should instead focus their efforts on consistent and fair policies that look out for small STR operators.</p> <p>One of the biggest issues with the CPC’s proposal is that its recommendation would only allow a single short term rental unit per side of a city street, which would reduce the total number of rentals by 23 percent. That’s one out of every five New Orleans hosts who would lose out.</p> <p>Even worse, the CPC would use an annual lottery system to grant STR permits, meaning that even if an owner can rent out space this year, that may not be the case next year.</p> <p>While the CPC claims its goal is to stop out-of-state investors, in reality, these changes would hurt New Orleanians just trying to make ends meet. According to Airbnb, the vast majority of New Orleans hosts share only one home, and more than half of hosts (58%) say the money they earn on the platform helps them cover increasing costs of living. Many New Orleans residents rent their space on the side while pursuing a career as a musician, artist, or even while working to get another business off the ground. All of these residents stand to lose if the CPC and City Council decide to crack down on tourism. </p> <p>But the effects of the new regulations won’t just affect owners trying to make ends meet—they’ll hurt New Orleans as a whole. Tourism is its largest source of employment and revenue, contributing over $10 billion to the local economy every year. Going after the tourism industry and short-term rentals directly hurts local homeowners, especially as New Orleans continues to recover from COVID-19 and its catastrophic effects. In fact, residents have called the impacts of COVID-19 even worse than Hurricane Katrina, and the city has struggled to rebound since. The blow to the hospitality industry alone led to over a $75 million drop in revenue.</p> <p>Short-term rentals helped soften the blow, and have even helped keep people in their homes. Forty six percent of New Orleans hosts in that same survey said that the money they’ve earned by renting out space on Airbnb helped them stay in their home, and 31 percent said that renting out space has helped them avoid eviction or foreclosure.</p> <p>Communities can and should have sensible regulations around short-term rentals, but they have to be made with local homeowners in mind. The CPC should focus on proposing regulations that are stable and wouldn’t leave the fate of residential STRs to be decided on a random year-to-year basis that pits one neighbor against another.</p> <p><strong>– Adam Kovacevich</strong></p> <p><em>This article originally published in the April 3, 2023 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.</em></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/new-orleans-city-planning-needs-to-keep-the-city-in-mind/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Education Savings Accounts</title> <link>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/education-savings-accounts/</link> <comments>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/education-savings-accounts/#respond</comments> <pubDate>Mon, 20 Mar 2023 16:43:04 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator><![CDATA[admin]]></dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Letter to the Editor]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.louisianaweekly.com/?p=76050</guid> <description><![CDATA[After reading the Op/Ed by La. State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley published on March 13, 2023, I felt compelled to provide your readers<br /><br /><a href="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/education-savings-accounts/">Continue Reading </a> »]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="bottomcontainerBox" style="background-color:transparent;"> <div style="float:left; width:85px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.louisianaweekly.com%2Feducation-savings-accounts%2F&layout=button_count&show_faces=false&width=85&action=like&font=verdana&colorscheme=light&height=21" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:85px; height:21px;"></iframe></div> <div style="float:left; width:80px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <g:plusone size="medium" href="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/education-savings-accounts/"></g:plusone> </div> <div style="float:left; width:95px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/education-savings-accounts/" data-text="Education Savings Accounts" data-count="horizontal"></a> </div><div style="float:left; width:105px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"><script type="in/share" data-url="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/education-savings-accounts/" data-counter="right"></script></div> <div style="float:left; width:85px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"><script src="http://www.stumbleupon.com/hostedbadge.php?s=1&r=http://www.louisianaweekly.com/education-savings-accounts/"></script></div> </div><div style="clear:both"></div><div style="padding-bottom:4px;"></div><p>After reading the Op/Ed by La. State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley published on March 13, 2023, I felt compelled to provide your readers with some information that Dr. Brumley omitted which may cause taxpayers to question his promotion of what he termed “ESAs.”<span id="more-76050"></span></p> <p>Louisiana has had education savings accounts for over 20 years. They are found in LA Revised Statutes 17:3091 – 3099.2. Most people probably know them by their acronyms, START and STARTK12. These are actual savings accounts where parents and grandparents put money in an account to save to pay post-secondary and K12 tuition. The State adds between 14 percent and two percent to the amount deposited. The percentage is based upon the student’s family income, with under $30,000 getting 14 percent and $100,000+ getting two percent. Under Louisiana’s existing education savings accounts, even wealthy parents get a small bit of taxpayer assistance toward private school tuition.</p> <p>The ESAs (referred to in several bills filed with the legislature last year as education savings accounts) are, actually, nothing more than a new Voucher Program. Louisiana also already has a Voucher Program whereby the State pays private school tuition for eligible students. It is formally known as the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program, found in LA Revised Statutes 17:4011 – 4025. This program began only in Orleans Parish but was expanded state-wide during the Jindal administration. The Legislature appropriated $42.2M in 2021-22 and $46.4M in 2022-23 for the Voucher Program.[1] Two of the hallmarks of the Voucher Program are: (1) It is only available to students from low income families who otherwise could not afford private school tuition; and (2) The students are mandated to take the same State accountability tests as public school students, so that we can judge their academic performance in our State Accountability System. </p> <p>The ESAs promoted by Supt. Brumley are more akin to a second Voucher Program, as they pay private school tuition, like a voucher, rather than merely assist parents in saving for educational expenses. Of note, unlike the Voucher Program, the ESAs proposed last year did not have a financial eligibility component and did not require students to take the State Accountability examinations. Governor Edwards cited those two issues when he vetoed the few ESAs that did pass the Legislature in 2022. </p> <p>One might ask, other than those two reasons, why wouldn’t Supt. Brumley simply advocate for the expansion of the existing Voucher Program. The answer may be in the data that we have on the Voucher Program and student academic achievement. Another hallmark of the Voucher Program is that the schools get a score, the Scholarship Cohort Index (SCI), which is essentially the same as a School Performance Score.[1] The participating voucher students take the State Accountability examinations, and their aggregate scores formulate the SCI. In Louisiana, a School Performance Score earns a letter grade that is published so parents, taxpayers and policy makers know the academic achievement of our students and the performance of our public schools. The letter grade scale for 2021-2022 is 90-150 = A, 75-89.9 = B, 60-74.9 = C, 50-59.9 = D, 0-49.9 = F. A review of data from the Louisiana Department of Education website reveals that only 28 Voucher Schools received an SCI in 2022[i]. Of those 28 schools, none earned an A, one earned a B, 3 earned Cs, 11 earned a D, and 13 earned an F. That means that 85.7 percent of Voucher Schools that were assigned a score earned a D or an F. That would answer the question as to why the proposal touted by Supt. Brumley was to create a new voucher program because the current Voucher Program has been an academic failure for our students and an utter waste of taxpayer dollars. All the data cited in this article was found on the La. Department of Education’s website. </p> <p><strong>– Dr. Janet Pope </strong><br /> Executive Director<br /> La. School Boards Association</p> <p><em>This article originally published in the March 20, 2023 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.</em></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/education-savings-accounts/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Constitutional policing</title> <link>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/constitutional-policing/</link> <comments>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/constitutional-policing/#respond</comments> <pubDate>Tue, 03 Jan 2023 17:47:24 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator><![CDATA[admin]]></dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Letter to the Editor]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.louisianaweekly.com/?p=74028</guid> <description><![CDATA[A consent Decree is an agreement or settlement that resolves a dispute between two parties. Well, we have a major dispute happening in our city<br /><br /><a href="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/constitutional-policing/">Continue Reading </a> »]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="bottomcontainerBox" style="background-color:transparent;"> <div style="float:left; width:85px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.louisianaweekly.com%2Fconstitutional-policing%2F&layout=button_count&show_faces=false&width=85&action=like&font=verdana&colorscheme=light&height=21" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:85px; height:21px;"></iframe></div> <div style="float:left; width:80px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <g:plusone size="medium" href="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/constitutional-policing/"></g:plusone> </div> <div style="float:left; width:95px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/constitutional-policing/" data-text="Constitutional policing" data-count="horizontal"></a> </div><div style="float:left; width:105px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"><script type="in/share" data-url="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/constitutional-policing/" data-counter="right"></script></div> <div style="float:left; width:85px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"><script src="http://www.stumbleupon.com/hostedbadge.php?s=1&r=http://www.louisianaweekly.com/constitutional-policing/"></script></div> </div><div style="clear:both"></div><div style="padding-bottom:4px;"></div><p>A consent Decree is an agreement or settlement that resolves a dispute between two parties. Well, we have a major dispute happening in our city right now. It’s between law-abiding citizens and the people who want to rob, kill, carjack, rape, beat, abuse, and hurt innocent people.<span id="more-74028"></span> My question is can we have a Consent Decree for them? Can we make them sign a Federal, State, or Local agreement where they agree to: </p> <p> • Not to shoot or kill us while they’re shooting at each other?</p> <p> • Not to carjack our mothers, daughters and wives, and elderly while they’re trying to get gas or make groceries (it’s what we say in New Orleans).</p> <p> • Not to shoot the Woman and Child if he’s the one you’re really looking for and the one who harmed you and your gang.</p> <p> • Not shoot up the car unless you’re sure the one you’re looking for is driving (not like the shooting that took the life of an innocent young woman and shot up my niece and landed her in a trauma unit for several months because they couldn’t see in the car because of the illegal dark windows with no brake tags and no license plate so they shot it up 57 times). </p> <p>Can’t we have Constitutional Criminals like we have Constitutional Policing? Look before I started getting rained on with a hail of bullet-like words know, that I’m for Constitutional Policing. I despise rogue Cops who prey on innocent people just because of the color of our skin or where we live, but shouldn’t we despise the pain that our mothers, grandparents, and innocent children are going through because we have people who want to prey on them? We seem to live in a society now where the rules only seem to apply to people who want to follow the rules.</p> <p>Can we please have a killer, rapist, robber, carjacker, molester convention where Federal Authorities lay out the rules to them so they’ll know to what degree they can Prey on us while we Pray for each other? Wouldn’t it be nice if they knew there was a certain degree of carjacking and that you couldn’t carjack us while we were in the car, or drag us while a limb was stuck in the car? Wouldn’t it be nice if they were told they could only shoot at each other if our grandparents and children weren’t around or we had designated “OK Corral,” areas that citizens and killers were made aware of? </p> <p>How about the Constitutional Criminal Consent Decree that highlights, no killings or shootings at Drug Stores because our Grandparents and maybe even yours may be picking up their medicine? So many just want to live, work, and play. Many want to simply enjoy the fruits of their labor. So, to you Mr. Big Government and the People who make all the rules, it is time to decide and admit that if you can’t protect us, at least let them know to what degree they can hurt us. </p> <p><strong>– Oliver M. Thomas<br /> Councilmember District E,<br /> Chair of Criminal Justice Committee</strong></p> <p><em>This article originally published in the January 2, 2022 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.</em></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/constitutional-policing/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Mental Health Support in New Orleans</title> <link>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/mental-health-support-in-new-orleans/</link> <comments>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/mental-health-support-in-new-orleans/#respond</comments> <pubDate>Mon, 01 Aug 2022 16:56:10 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator><![CDATA[admin]]></dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Letter to the Editor]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.louisianaweekly.com/?p=70616</guid> <description><![CDATA[A recent Gambit article reported that most schools in New Orleans don’t have the number of mental health professionals they need, resulting in our peers<br /><br /><a href="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/mental-health-support-in-new-orleans/">Continue Reading </a> »]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="bottomcontainerBox" style="background-color:transparent;"> <div style="float:left; width:85px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.louisianaweekly.com%2Fmental-health-support-in-new-orleans%2F&layout=button_count&show_faces=false&width=85&action=like&font=verdana&colorscheme=light&height=21" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:85px; height:21px;"></iframe></div> <div style="float:left; width:80px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <g:plusone size="medium" href="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/mental-health-support-in-new-orleans/"></g:plusone> </div> <div style="float:left; width:95px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"> <a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/mental-health-support-in-new-orleans/" data-text="Mental Health Support in New Orleans" data-count="horizontal"></a> </div><div style="float:left; width:105px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"><script type="in/share" data-url="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/mental-health-support-in-new-orleans/" data-counter="right"></script></div> <div style="float:left; width:85px;padding-right:10px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px;height:30px;"><script src="http://www.stumbleupon.com/hostedbadge.php?s=1&r=http://www.louisianaweekly.com/mental-health-support-in-new-orleans/"></script></div> </div><div style="clear:both"></div><div style="padding-bottom:4px;"></div><p>A recent Gambit article reported that most schools in New Orleans don’t have the number of mental health professionals they need, resulting in our peers slipping through the cracks. It’s no secret that anxiety, burnout, and depression have increased and we’re feeling those impacts, with Black and brown kids in the city bearing the brunt. <span id="more-70616"></span></p> <p>While the subject of mental health support has become less stigmatized, young people like us still need more support. As heartbreaking events — whether it’s the rolling back of essential rights or increased gun violence — continue, the need to prioritize mental health education and make sure our systems are set up to support our varying mental health needs long-term is more crucial than ever. </p> <p>Young New Orleanians need consistent access to mental health care support. According to the article, “A projected 51,000 of Louisiana’s 694,000 K-12 students have clinical depression, according to a February report by Hopeful Futures, a campaign by a team of nonprofits including National Alliance on Mental Illness and UNICEF. And of that number, only an estimated 19,000 receive treatment.”</p> <p>While schools might have social workers, the wait time can take months, and we might not get the help we need when we need it. We also need free after school group therapy sessions where people of all different backgrounds can get more specific with their issues and needs.</p> <p>We need specialized support for kids who have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences. The socioeconomic status of parents and household family dynamics can impact the mental health of young people and how they function in school, and school administrators need the tools to understand how behavioral responses in school can be caused by household problems.</p> <p>Young people in our city also need more education around mental health. We can’t begin to explain how helpful learning about self regulation techniques would have been over these past few pandemic years. </p> <p>Some of these recommendations and paths forward are already mapped out as implementation steps as part of the city’s first-ever Youth Master Plan, developed by young people like us. As part of the plan, we’ve identified the need to conduct assessment with school communities on school culture and climate in order to inform expansion of mental health teams in schools. </p> <p>We’ve also identified the need to provide training for all adults engaged in youth-serving programs on how to best support young people who may experience emotional/ behavioral/ and mental health challenges.</p> <p>Evidence of our city’s mental health crisis is all around us. Young people in the city just need elected officials and education leaders to take action. </p> <p><strong>– Felicia Hart </strong><br /> <strong>– Hannah Jacobs </strong></p> <p><em>This article originally published in the August 1, 2022 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.</em></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.louisianaweekly.com/mental-health-support-in-new-orleans/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> </channel> </rss>