Attorney claims Nagin, Meffert took 'plenty of other trips' paid for by city tech vendor
by David Hammer, The Times-Picayune
Thursday April 23, 2009, 7:59 AM
Attorneys questioned Mayor Ray Nagin on Monday about an all-expenses paid trip to Chicago with a city vendor in 2006, a different trip from the January 2007 junket to a Saints playoff game that the mayor took with the same vendor and later paid for with taxpayer money, a transcript of his deposition shows.
Meanwhile, the attorney for two companies who are suing the city over a controversial crime camera project told The Times-Picayune that he plans to question the mayor about a series of other lavish trips when his deposition resumes. The attorney, Glad Jones, said credit card statements show those trips were also financed by NetMethods, owned by the city vendor, Mark St. Pierre.
NetMethods also paid for a vacation that former Chief Technology Officer Greg Meffert, the mayor and their families took to Hawaii in December 2004.
Nagin and Meffert took "plenty of other trips" at NetMethods' expense, said Jones, attorney for plaintiffs Southern Electronics and Active Solutions, though he would not divulge the number of trips or the destinations. The two companies are suing the city and other contractors for what they claim were unfair labor practices in the handling of the city's crime cameras.
"They were destinations that didn't look like places New Orleans would have any business in, " he said.
Jones said he did not ask the mayor about the additional trips Monday because he did not have NetMethods' financial records then.
"The documents have been coming in fast and furious for the last few days, " Jones said. "We'll get into that stuff in the future."
No date has been set for deposition of the mayor to resume.
Attorneys for Meffert and Nagin did not confirm or deny Jones' claim of numerous other trips.
"There may have been some charges (to Meffert's NetMethods credit card) on a couple of other trips that involved the mayor, " said Randy Smith, Meffert's attorney. "I'm not certain of the details at this point."
"This case is being handled by legal professionals, and any comments will be handled by the attorneys at the appropriate time, " said Ceeon Quiett, a Nagin spokeswoman. "Meanwhile, we remain focused on our recovery in 2009."
Eddie Castaing, St. Pierre's attorney, could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening.
Two trips to Chicago
During his Monday deposition, Nagin said he couldn't recall the May 2006 trip to Chicago with St. Pierre, even as the mayor reviewed documents showing that Meffert used a credit card issued to him by NetMethods to pay $522 for Nagin and his wife, Seletha, to fly to Chicago and more than $330 for the Nagins and St. Pierre to stay at a Chicago hotel on May 9, 2006.
The mayor's testimony is key to the civil claims by Southern and Active Solutions, but it also bears on an emerging federal investigation into Nagin and Meffert's ties to St. Pierre, St. Pierre's partners and three companies he owned or ran: NetMethods, Imagine and Veracent.
It recently emerged that Meffert, while working for the city, had use of a credit card billed to NetMethods. Nagin said in Monday's deposition he was unaware Meffert had such a card.
Meffert, who was previously deposed in the case, testified that NetMethods also paid for him and the mayor to travel to Chicago in January 2007 for the Saints-Bears NFC championship game. But Nagin said he paid for that trip. Public records show taxpayer money was used to pay for a Chicago hotel room, a follow-up trip to Las Vegas and the cost of seats on a private jet.
Nagin also said in the deposition that around May 2006, he called Meffert in to talk about the progress of the camera project and discussed changing or adding new contractors. Nagin said he was concerned with Southern's speed in delivering cameras.
Jones refers to city e-mails showing that on May 27, a few weeks after the Nagins and St. Pierre allegedly were in Chicago together on St. Pierre's dime, Meffert reached out to Dell Inc. and said he wanted to buy crime cameras from someone other than Southern.
Nagin denies directing Meffert to do that, saying: "Greg was a guy who pretty much is a self-starter, and I just assumed he would lead and take care of that."
Nagin said he later learned that Dell sold the city equipment for the project and that St. Pierre's team of subcontractors was involved too.
Documents show that another St. Pierre firm, Veracent, was a Dell subcontractor on the camera project. Jones alleges that St. Pierre's team "manufactured" the cameras, sold them to Dell and then received them on the city's behalf, but Meffert's attorney disputed those details.
After the mayor was deposed Monday, city attorneys filed a cross-claim against Dell, saying that if a jury finds in favor of the plaintiffs, Dell, rather than the city, should be forced to pay the claim.
'This is surprise'
In the intense deposition Monday, Nagin said he was largely unaware of Meffert's relationships with St. Pierre and other vendors. He said, for instance, that Meffert didn't tell him about St. Pierre's company NetMethods and its role in paying for the mayor, Meffert and their families to take a 2004 Hawaii vacation until about six months ago.
Meffert, who lives on the same street as the Nagins, "brought it up" last fall, Nagin said. "He basically said that there was some credit-card charges that were out there as it related to a trip, and he was just making me aware of it."
The mayor later said Meffert warned him six months ago that the credit-card charges related to the mayor and the Hawaii trip, but when asked last month by The Times-Picayune who paid for the trip, Nagin said he didn't know. Later, when he provided more details about Meffert's involvement, he said that he'd just learned them.
Nagin also said he learned many details about the case by reading The Times-Picayune.
"Wow, " was Nagin's response when his questioners showed documentation that Meffert made $67,000 a month from NetMethods immediately upon leaving his city job in July 2006.
During the deposition, Jones said NetMethods' payments to Meffert in the 10 months after his departure from City Hall totaled $589,238.
Nagin was also shown an e-mail from Dell asking a St. Pierre employee representing the city to "use a different word than camera in the description, as we are not allowed to sell cameras on our contract."
"This is a surprise, " Nagin said.
Confidentiality challenged
In earlier skirmishing, Nagin's attorneys tried to block the lawyers from interviewing the mayor, arguing that Nagin lacked intimate knowledge of the crime camera contracts. But the presiding judge in the civil case, Rose Ledet, ruled in January that there was "evidence that Mayor Nagin had personal knowledge regarding the city's contract to install crime-surveillance cameras and the implementation of the crime-camera program in Orleans Parish."
NetMethods has designated the financial documents Jones quizzed the mayor on -- which show expenses it paid to entertain Meffert and Nagin -- as confidential. On Wednesday, The Times-Picayune asked Ledet to reject the designation, arguing that it violated her previous order that limited confidentiality to trade secrets, proprietary information and personal financial information.
The Times-Picayune also asked that NetMethods be ordered to pay the newspaper's legal costs because the confidentiality it sought was invalid.
A hearing on the newspaper's request has not been set.
. . . . . . .
Staff writer Gordon Russell contributed to this story.David Hammer can be reached at dhammer@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3322.
ROTFLMAO! What a freaking MORON this Choc City Hiz Honor is ... unfreaking unbelievable! Hope his arse fries in hell!
Oh, man...popcorn isn't going to be enough. I'd better order some buffalo wings and make some cheese dip for this one!
Ignorance is not a defense. My God, he is a mayor. Is he admitting to being a bafoon?
KEEP SCRATCHING.........IM SMELLING MORE RATS!!!!OR TRIPS!!!
The mayor later said Meffert warned him six months ago that the credit-card charges related to the mayor and the Hawaii trip, but when asked last month by The Times-Picayune who paid for the trip, Nagin said he didn't know. Later, when he provided more details about Meffert's involvement, he said that he'd just learned them.
Nagin also said he learned many details about the case by reading The Times-Picayune.
_____________________________________________
Yeah right!!!! He is one horrible liar. Can not keep his facts straight at all.
pronola: I will bring the beer (3 kegs and we can order more if need be) and chips for the cheese dip.
fourthst...
I'm going to get a couple of gallons of daquiris too. (How DO you spell that word??)
"WOW!" What a surprise that was for the chromed-dome. Ya think that'll keep him from prosecution?
I think a snuggle rug on the couch and lots of popcorn and a six pack of Barq's is on order for this show.
Got to be he is still drinkin that Nagin Juice from Katrina
Greg Meffert, supporter of various Repubolican candidates, made $ 67,000 per MONTH immediately afterhe left City Hall. His educational credentials?
There's nothing criminal about Nagin 's acceptance of trips. However, his involvement is a great excuse for the media to not focus on the facts - Republican Greg Meffert may sson be indicted by the feds. Were he not white and a Republican he would have been indicted years ago.
$ 67,000 per MONTH! Affirmative action. It's great to be wh _ _ _ (fill in the blank).
Just remember as the campaign season heats up...we need to get FULL answers from candidates and then hold them to campaign promises once they're in office.
What do expect from a Police Chief?
What is your view of transparency in city government?
What are your SPECIFIC plans for inducing jobs into the city?
Who will your COO be?
What accountability measures will you institute for department heads?
What is your stand on take-home cars?
How often to you intend to attend City Council meetings?
How open are you to an audit of all city commissions?
What do you expect your relationship with the IG's office to be?
What is your stand on public housing?
Do you have an action plan for healing race relations in the city?
Will you publish your calendar quarterly?
Why do you want to be mayor at this particular time?
Unfortunately thetruthisit, this has nothing to do with political affiliatin or race. It has to do with pure greed and lack of conscience.
Hey Guys,
Anyone know where I can get a goose to bring because Nagin's is gonna be cooked!!!
Put the fire to his feet...who dat...who dat going to jail...
IMO, ANY way you cut it, Nagin is pure scum and has taken advantage of his position BIGTIME.
Moreover, Nagin continually gets away with this crap day-in-and-day-out.
If Nagin would have told the truth, he would only have to tell one story. When Nagin lies he tells many different stories. The moral of this story is: Tell the truth!! Apparently there is a big problem in Chocolate City today.
Some of you people need to get a life, murders every day and all you can worry about is who paid for a trip. Am I missing something ?
I happen to know that Nagin had his trees sprayed for caterpillars at his home the other day and the bill was sent to the Parkways department. Hello Lee Zurich, please jump on this one!!!!
Let's face it, he is a pretty smart cookie. In the Real World of right and wrong, we all know that feeling, the difference is who abides by right and wrong.. Look at our wonderful governor..
Does anyone care that Ray-Ray has his personal trees sprayed at his home on the city tab?? He had 9 trees sprayed at $80 bucks a tree.
LEE,
Noone else cares but I do. Please take this and run with it.
Posted by thetruthisit on 04/22/09 at 10:51PM
Greg Meffert, supporter of various Repubolican candidates, made $ 67,000 per MONTH immediately afterhe left City Hall. His educational credentials?
There's nothing criminal about Nagin 's acceptance of trips. However, his involvement is a great excuse for the media to not focus on the facts - Republican Greg Meffert may sson be indicted by the feds. Were he not white and a Republican he would have been indicted years ago.
$ 67,000 per MONTH! Affirmative action. It's great to be wh _ _ _ (fill in the blank).
=======================================
I agree with half of what you said, but the reality is that Letten would have gone after any Democrat, black or white so long as they didn't have ties to Republicans (Nagin). Only now that Letten is faced with the possibility of losing his job is he contemplating going after Nagin and his Republican cronies. I suppose the next few weeks will show us how badly he wants to keep his job.
Posted by mother70005 on 04/22/09 at 11:45PM
Does anyone care that Ray-Ray has his personal trees sprayed at his home on the city tab?? He had 9 trees sprayed at $80 bucks a tree.
=========================================
Is this available to all property owners in the city? If it is, then I am okay with Nagin' trees being sprayed; otherwise, he should get nailed for this.
LEE,
I do not like Naquin. So I heard through my grapevine that this happened, I was outraged!! Look into it. I dare ya!!!
Posted by abestbanker on 04/22/09 at 11:24PM
Some of you people need to get a life, murders every day and all you can worry about is who paid for a trip. Am I missing something ?
========================================
You seem to be suggesting that as long as there is a major crime problem in New Orleans, people shouldn't care if their elected public officials are horribly unethical and/or corrupt. Personally, I think that's ridiculous.
Say Ray. When are you going to go away and stop bothering people?
Posted by prestonsdad on 04/22/09 at 11:57PM
Posted by mother70005 on 04/22/09 at 11:45PM
Does anyone care that Ray-Ray has his personal trees sprayed at his home on the city tab?? He had 9 trees sprayed at $80 bucks a tree.
=========================================
Is this available to all property owners in the city? If it is, then I am okay with Nagin's trees being sprayed; otherwise, he should get nailed for this.
.
Ray Ray has some explaining to do unless he shows that he reimbursed the city somehow. This just happened two days ago so he probably has time to correct it but what if I did not speak up.
IT'S RACIEST! You guys are just trying to make Ray Ray look bad.
Well, seems like Nagin has just done what Ceeon Quiett's old boss did that got his ass thrown out the Mayors office in Detroit and a short prison stay, surely not long enough, and now that he's out, he's landed one of those high-price jobs.
LIE UNDER OATH.
And that's not good. Man, this get's better and better.
Thetruthisit
The white guy did all this after he was HIRED by the black guy so he could funnel money back to the black guy. They are both as ligit as a pile of three dollar bills with the mayors picture on them.They both need to have thier goose cooked
Taxpayer money now.
It is time to to end
his term early.
We don't need him
around any longer
perpetrating any
more crimes. He
needs to repay us
immediately also.
Meffert and he
need to be cell mates
instead of neighbors
on the Island.
Why do people make this Ray Nagin/Greg Meffert thing into a 'chocolate city' rant. Greg Meffert is white and Nagin is black so it isnt some 'chocolate city' problem but a 'typical New Orleans government' problem. Lock em both up
Well, that wasn't even a good start on Nagin's deposition --- to be continued . . . .
Meffert indicated in his deposition that he went over to St. Pierre's office after leaving City Hall but was only renting office space for his own company. Meffert certainly made no mention of receiving over one-half million from St. Pierre within 10 months of leaving City Hall. It seemed that Meffert was saying he didn't have business relations with St. Pierre --- only renting space.
Of course, Nagin doesn't know anything about anything.
These depositions are geared to Southern's purposes for their lawsuit and not the criminal aspects of the activities.
What was going on is all so outrageous that it is hard to believe there were so many participants and spectators. It just all indicates how pathetically corrupt everybody deals and how everybody else just goes along with what is going on in plain view and ignores what they are reading in the documents.
Who wouldn't believe that the one half million was part of Meffert's take on the contracting work done by St. Pierre's companies.
When this stuff goes on, it is time to move out of New Orleans. Time to go -- New Orleans is doomed by the corrupt.
Where was the U.S. Attorney and FBI when all of this was going on --- everybody knows about this but nobody acts? Time for local Letten to be replaced.
The crime cameras should be mounted in City Hall where the real crime occurs!
Several points would see to be applicable now.......
1) Its every man for himself now. Ray-Ray is ready to dumped on Greggie to save his own a--.
2) Ray-Ray's lies are catching up with him and he can no longer even remember what he said and when so he is now contradicting himself big time.
3) Someone keeps posting here about Mefferts Republican ties. I am a Republican and know Meffert and Roger Villere (the florist and head of state Republican party) are big buddies. I'm tired of jerks like these two ruining my party.
4) I had never heard of the attorney for Southern Electronics (Glad Jones) before this mess but I can tell you I would NEVER want this guy coming after me. He is REALLY good ! I hope he keeps stomping both Ray-Ray and Meffert into the floor.
Ceeon Quiett, a Nagin spokeswoman said: "Meanwhile, we remain focused on our recovery in 2009."
My question will the 2009 recovery be better than the recovery (or lack of) in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009?
It looks like Ray Ray was traveling north do get political advice from Blafojevich.
Hopefully he will end up the same way.
Hey TruthIsIt, RealityHaze, NotInMyHouse, and whoever your stank bigoted butt is going to be tomorrow... you are a simpering, whining, whimpering, broke, Plano Texas dwelling, spouse to a school teacher with a bitter heart and small mind.
I'm a Democrat and it makes me want to HURL when you attempt to throw a "Republican Conspiracy" on this based upon race. Sort of like your fixation with hookers and the men who frequent them. (Vitter). Sort of like your fixation with white mayors who have a drinking problem (Price). Sort of like your defense, based upon race, of an individual who makes you look like a rocket scientist (Nagin).
When we can have a mayor who is educated and injected with enough social grace to understand the words:
"Uh - Huh" (meaning no)
"Uh - Huh" (meaning yes)
"...if that's what you're asking" (meaning i'm too ignorant to figure out the meat of your question)
"...I don't recall..." (meaning i'm either stupid, lacking the capacity to retain memory of past events, or i'm smarter than you it happened and i'm going to plead ignorance and see what happens)
They all make Nagin look stupid. When we can have a mayor who actually answers Yes, No, I understand your question to mean "X", and the events I recall are as follows... then maybe we can have someone who can actually navigate the management of this city in addition to speaking properly in public.
Best public speaker on the planet at the moment?
Obama.
Take some lessons Nagin. But then again, Obama was educated at a real institution, has held government jobs in the past, and to my knowledge hasn't been a stood up stool pigeon CEO of a small communications company where "Prop Him Up" used to be the key phrase of the day describing management "support" of Nagin at Cox.
Now... James Carter is supposedly whispering about running for Mayor. While his office is responsive? His past actions without citizen involvement have been lacking. See Ms. Clarkson used to be the Council Member who rep'd our district. She said no more Section 8. Carter let it in. She said increased police presence. Carter? I didn't even know there was a community liaison officer assigned to District 4 until he called me. Response? None from Carter. A ton from Ms. Head and Ms. Clarkson. Nope... Carter's not the answer either. In fact I heard at a community meeting last week that there is a certain ad which is pending approval at a certain tv station blasting Carter and Nagin in the same 15 second spot. Interesting.
But back to Nagin and his one single defender, a fellow Texan, NotInMyHouse/RealityHaze/TruthInThe/HouseInThe/etc/etc/etc/. Both of you fools need to leave NOLA alone. Both of you are ignorant outsiders. Both of you are... wait.
Could Nagin and NotInMyHouse/RealityHaze/TruthInThe/HouseInThe/etc/etc/etc/ actually be the same person? Wonder if anyone at TP can pull some IP logs? : ) I'll be more than happy to trace them for you :)))))
On a positive note:
Its encouraging to see that white crooks and black crooks can finally work together in harmony to screw taxpayers out of money.
I think ya"ll are missing a sense of humor.
This is a joke. The people of New Orleans got and are getting ripped off so bad that you ought to be able to file a mass rape report.
The people who are ripping you off don't care about race, they like the color green with the big numbers on lille green pieces of paper.
They do not care if the people of New Orleans get imflamed, riot, and torch the city. They are in it for the money and they are laughing behind your back.
would it be better for hiszzonor na-gone to admit to being a crook or to being an idiot?
Ebony and Ivory are taking some honeymoon trips... Just sayin'
ray Nagin rode into city Hall on a very well-groomed jackass with pitchfork in one hand and torch in the other SEEKING OUT CORRUPTION.
this is just business as usual. The NEXT administration will ride in doing the same thing, ....and so on....and so on.
WHY is this surprising to any of us?
When Greg Meffert waltzed into City Hall, we were in the Dark Ages technologically. We haven't come that much further now, but BLAME THE WITCH HUNTERS AND NAYSAYERS who did not want technological advances.
He never INTENDED to stay in public service, and anybody with any sense should have known that. Businessmen make business deals.
Rhett, dear, the smelling salts and a double gin and tonic. I know how early in the morning it is but Ray is at it again. I don't know how much more I can take and now it appears something is brewing in Jefferson Parish. What next?
quotes from the story:
Nagin said he couldn't recall the May 2006 trip to Chicago...
Nagin said in Monday's deposition he was unaware...
Nagin denies...
Nagin said he later learned...
Nagin said he was largely unaware...
Nagin said he didn't know...
"Wow, " was Nagin's response...
"This is a surprise, " Nagin said...
Nagin lacked intimate knowledge...
need I say more?
Ray Nagin is pictured above laughing at how his chocolate city speech got you idiots to vote for him. Chocolate city = murder capital
Maybe Nagin and Blagojevich need to both go to Costa Rica and do the same reality tv show together. They both seem to have the same mentality on not remembering etc etc
Probably this has been going on with NOLA city hall for many years but the people of the city are finally waking up and smelling the coffee roasting. Bout time these politicians and city office holder start working for the citizens and not for themselves.
"Said Ceeeon Quiett, a Nagin spokeswoman. "Meanwhile, we remain focused on our recovery in 2009."
Come on City Hall. What bull. He's still struttin and jivin, man. At least he's ensureing much "branding" of this poor city as a place run by crooks. What a nicer place this would be withouth Nagin, his ultraspecial friend Veronica White, Riley, Blakely (does he give kickbacks), and the rest of his sleazy crew.
Private companies have a limit on the value of gifts employees can accept. In my company it's $50. I don't know of any companies where it is more than $100.
Nagin takes gifts worth THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS and doesn't see a problem? Forgotten our Cox roots, haven't we, Ray.
I hope Louisiana has an extradition treaty with Dallas so he can come back for his trial!
OMG!!!! How long until we can get rid of this fool who knows nothing????
We have popcorn, chicken wings, nachos, beer, daquaries...I'll bring the Hurricanes. We'll need a STRONG drink for this one!
O.K, a private company funded Nagin's trip but Tax payers fund Jindal's travels the 10 months out of the year, that he is out of town.
Whenever a local writer brings up Jindal trips, where WE foot the bill they make the investigation look like a petty partison argument but when it is Nagin (who is an idiot)-it is a HUGE issue!
Whoa nah! If ol' Ray Ray aint careful he might end up taking that "trip" so many of our other former politicians have taken.
PRISON.
Unfortunatedly that one will end up costing tax payers as well.
Looks like his next trip will be a one way ticket to Angola!!!! How sweet that would be!!! Ray, ray behind bars!!!
I hope
that when nagins term is over, that we get a well educated, intelligent person.
I also hope that the african american population will vote for him/her and not base their vote on skin color
we all just want a better new orleans
I hope
that when nagins term is over, that we get a well educated, intelligent person.
I also hope that the african american population will vote for him/her and not base their vote on skin color
we all just want a better new orleans
I hope we get an intelligent person who wants to help new orleans
i stated african americans because they make up the majority of the population.
So lets look past color next time, lets do whats best for the city, black or white; but intelligent
How long before these two go to jail? They can get a cell together and become girlfriends.
Makes you wonder what else went on that we are not being told.
Is this photo appropriate to this story?
Does it convey the actual discussions that may have taken place regarding any specific trip?
Does it have anything to do with the story that accompanies it?
Was it used to generate the same sort of reaction as the photo of Nagin and Riley holding machine guns?
DunesRiver: I think the photo is appropriate in that it shows that the two had more than a casual boss/employee relationships. I've had several corporate jobs in my life, but I've never been chummy enough with my boss to lock fingers and grab his shoulders.
Posted by DunesRiver on 04/23/09 at 8:47AM
Is this photo appropriate to this story?
Does it convey the actual discussions that may have taken place regarding any specific trip?
Does it have anything to do with the story that accompanies it?
Was it used to generate the same sort of reaction as the photo of Nagin and Riley holding machine guns?
----------------------------------------------------
No it dosent....
they are having the photo of Nagin taking a stack of cash air brushed so he looks more regal.
There is a photo of Nagin and Meffert embracing --- they should put that photo up.
Please get rid of this Bozo and his money grubbing wife.
Lets see how many trip he also took with Trash collector Veronica on our tax dollars.
Dunes - it's just a picture. Nagin and Meffert are friends, neighbors, former work colleagues, and they've done business together. Potentially LOTS of business!
It is what it is.
Nagin is denying any responsibility for the actions of one of his direct reports who he was also a close colleague of (trips, boat parties, family outings, etc).
In this case, Nagin wants us to believe he's an incompetent manager (kind of like in the NOAH issues).
But the trail of borderline ethical crossings are too numerous. So in this case, we might have to put away our stereotype that Nagin is a dope - he's actually corruptible, too.
I like this photo minds. I can hear it now: "C-Ray, my man! What up Dawg! Fist bump!"
C-Ray smiling broadly as he laughs to himself: "It always cracks me up when these crackers try to act all black and everythin'. He's obviously watched too much Idol."
Posted by DunesRiver on 04/23/09 at 8:47AM
Is this photo appropriate to this story?
Does it convey the actual discussions that may have taken place regarding any specific trip?
Does it have anything to do with the story that accompanies it?
Was it used to generate the same sort of reaction as the photo of Nagin and Riley holding machine guns?
_________________________
Yeah Dunesriver, it's a conspiracy against Nagin because he is black.
Is that what you're implying??
You and your race bated questions are what's wrong with this city.
"'This is a surprise,' Nagin said."
I think that statement more than anything sums up C-Ray's legacy as mayor. EVERYTHING was (and continues to be) a surprise to him.
Nagin and Meffert operate like tricksters with a bag of tricks --- they self-deal -- everything is about their own promotion and self-interest. They have no greater purpose like service to the community, being good fiduciaries of the public's trust, providing services to the people, safety of the people. They know what they are supposed to be doing because they use service as a smoke screen whenever they want to do something. However, they don't make a move that isn't part of a scheme that benefits themselves. While doing so, they screw over everybody in New Orleans and certainly, legitimate businesses can't participate in providing services because they take a financial hit --- they can't depend on the terms of their contracts signed by the Mayor of New Orleans.
Tricksters are operating in all the systems and they need to be exposed and cut off from operating. It is a nightmare when people who do and say whatever they want are put into positions of authority --- especially the judicial system --- because the judicial system effects people's personal rights.
One thing I will say is that Nagin did prepare for this deposition --- Nagin does have an understanding of the civil and criminal problems he is facing and he is careful not to know anything about anything. However, the documents and past history don't lie. Nagin isn't stupid --- Nagin is corrupt. Nagin is really as corrupt as it would seem he would have to be to allow what goes on --- Nagin really is the one orchestrating the corruption. Nagin's cover is the delegation of the authority --- but that is just a cover.
If you ever get confused in believing that Nagin isn't corrupt --- then think of what would have happened if a person really cared about the people and what a person who cared would have done --- that will have nothing to do with the avenues that Nagin goes down.
THE CTO DEPARTMENT -- A BUNCH OF SHORT CIRCUITS THAT TOOK ANOTHER PATH.
Black or white it makes no freaking difference!!
City hall is a CESSPOOL of theft and corruption.Thieves, crooks and morons each and everyone needs to convicted and sent to jail.
The city is dying and we got a complete imbecile at the helm and all we get from him is ignorance.No on can be that stupid or clueless or can they?
Big question...
WHERE IS HATFIELD IN ALL OF THIS? Haven't heard her name yet.
However, under the city charter, it is the COO who is responsible for city departments (including IT) unless provided with specific written notice from the Mayor that he/she wants responsibility for a department.
It appears to me that not only Nagin but Hatfield should be questioned about Meffert's actions.
Nagin and Meffert operate like tricksters with a bag of tricks --- they self-deal -- everything is about their own promotion and self-interest. They have no greater purpose like service to the community, being good fiduciaries of the public's trust, providing services to the people, safety of the people. They know what they are supposed to be doing because they use service as a smoke screen whenever they want to do something. However, they don't make a move that isn't part of a scheme that benefits themselves. While doing so, they screw over everybody in New Orleans and certainly, legitimate businesses can't participate in providing services because they take a financial hit --- they can't depend on the terms of their contracts signed by the Mayor of New Orleans.
Tricksters are operating in all the systems and they need to be exposed and cut off from operating. It is a nightmare when people who do and say whatever they want are put into positions of authority --- especially the judicial system --- because the judicial system effects people's personal rights.
One thing I will say is that Nagin did prepare for this deposition --- Nagin does have an understanding of the civil and criminal problems he is facing and he is careful not to know anything about anything. However, the documents and past history don't lie. Nagin isn't stupid --- Nagin is corrupt. Nagin is really as corrupt as it would seem he would have to be to allow what goes on --- Nagin really is the one orchestrating the corruption. Nagin's cover is the delegation of the authority --- but that is just a cover.
If you ever get confused in believing that Nagin isn't corrupt --- then think of what would have happened if a person really cared about the people and what a person who cared would have done --- that will have nothing to do with the avenues that Nagin goes down.
THE CTO DEPARTMENT -- A BUNCH OF SHORT CIRCUITS THAT TOOK ANOTHER PATH.
Man, I love these photo's. Dont we have any of him doing the "freak Nasty" or holding a m4 asult rifle to the head of the chief of police?
Minds, great post!!!
The money comment:
"If you ever get confused in believing that Nagin isn't corrupt --- then think of what would have happened if a person really cared about the people and what a person who cared would have done"
"thetruthisit" is a damn fool who wants to protect Mayor Moron at any cost. Did you really say Ray accepting the trips wasnt illegal? You are an idiot protecting an idiot.
If you have 3 companies competing for a contract payed for with city money & the mayor starts accepting money or gifts & trips from one of those companies & then that company is awarded the contract then it damn sure is illegal.
It's called taking a bribe jacka**!
And you wonder why people around the country are not rushing into New Orleans (many years later) to aid the city and the people who live there after Katrina? It is this sort of thing that continually creates the impression on everyone else that nothing ever changes in the city (or the State). Damn shame too. How in the hell did this guy get re-elected after Katrina?
This is the sort of thing that people from around the country see - and you wonder why people are not so quick to send money to help the city and citizens to get back on their feet?
Over three years ago, we stated and again state:
WE THE PEOPLE OF NEW ORLEANS, in order to establish a more perfect union of all citizens, regardless of race, color, or creed, must unite as one in an orderly and logical manner to provide for the resurrection of our city.
THEREFORE, we propose the following logical propositions and recognize fully that this may affect more people of one kind than the other, but for the good of all this must be done and in order to form a more perfect union of and by all people:
1. The levees of this state must be completely overhauled in order to provide protection from the lowest of parishes, close to the gulf, to all of this state. City, parish, state, and federal officials have the responsibility to adhere to the recommendations of experts in the fields and to hire reputable and proven contractors to fulfill this need.
2. An orderly approach to the return of the citizens to this city is essential in order to provide them protection and to provide them suitable housing. We cannot allow people to rebuild without some provisions for housing that will withstand future storms. The come back all philosophy adhered to by some is foolish and indicative of negligence and continued abuse of the citizens by politicians, who see reelection or election and not what is logical and best. All housing must be adequate and all public housing must and shall adhere to the laws of this state and this nation. Codes must be enforced and indeed strengthened.
3. We must bring back our business, both large and small. We must provide for proper medical care and facilities that are the very best. We must attract the newest of businesses with technology of the present and visions of technology of the future. Businesses must be strictly regulated and must adhere to strict codes that must be put into place. While we admire the architectural beauty of many buildings, these too must be protected and yet updated to provide for the protection of quality businesses of all kinds.
4. We must provide public education (including higher education) for all that will provide students with challenges, provide teachers of ability and strength to accomplish that education. The school boards of this city and state must and shall be overhauled to eliminate the factors that have caused the collapse of education in this city and yes of this state. Boards filled with political cronies are no longer acceptable but quality boards consisting of well qualified persons are required.
5. We can no longer allow the issue of race and color to determine the future of this city. We must come together as one family for the good of all.
6. We must provide for a government of the people and for the people. This means that the government of this city (indeed of this state) must be overhauled in order to assure that it is streamlined, cost efficient, and provide respectful and quality services to all people of this city. This includes all levels of government including assessors, the court system, the police system, etc.
7. We, as citizens, have our duties too. We must elect officials of vision, not simply of promises. That is the very foundation of our constitution and necessary for the future of this city.
We the ordinary citizens of this city and state must be heard and must be followed. We ourselves must overcome our prejudices, our outmoded views, and look to the future of what we know can be and what we will continue to call the city of our dreams, the new Nouvelle Orleans.
WE BELIEVE THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE EVEN TODAY AND CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED IF WE WORK TOGETHER AS ONE FOR THE GOOD OF ALL. UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL. Aesop was correct when he made this statement and it means but one thing "that unless the people are united, it is easy to destroy them." This city was destroyed long before Katrina, was battered by Katrina, and the leaders on all levels of government continue to destroy it today. THE CITIZENS CANNOT ALLOW THIS TO CONTINUE.
Ray say - "who you gonna believe, me or your lying eyes"
"THE CITIZENS CANNOT ALLOW THIS TO CONTINUE."
Then - why reelect these fools?
Doctor Hook wrote a song for the Mayor years ago:
"HEY RAY, HAY SUGAR, I DON'T BELIEVE IT".....
Hey ray the ragoona, I see where you have a very poor memory. May I make a suggestion to you? Start packing K-Y for your stay @ Angola! You be sweet meat cause you won't remember who you played with.
I just had a horrible thought as I read through these comments. Is it possible that Nagin is just crafty enough to deliberately leave the crime/murder problem in this city in full bloom to keep attention off of his dubious dealings elsewhere in the government?
Could the lack of a real strategy to cope with the clearly growing drug/thug/killing epidemic be a deliberate plan to have the city's focus pulled away from his own plundering of the city coffers? He certainly has never seemed like an impassioned public servant, who is willing to work hard for the benefit of New Orleans AS A WHOLE. Just the benefit of New Orleans as it pertains to one C. Ray Nagin and cronies.
TO: The Honorable C. Ray Nagin, Mayor City of New Orleans and Accountant
QUESTION: Did you or should you have declared the value of your Netmethods gifted trips as income? Did you pay personal income tax on the value of those trips?
RECOMMENDATION: You might want to check with your accountant to make sure that you've not violated any tax laws.
MUSING: I'm also having a little difficulty in understanding what the basic difference is between Big O taking 15K in cash bribes and your taking 15K's worth of goods (say vacations) is? Can you please explain the difference to me? I think it was GHW Bush who once said; "if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck."
Although I never voted for you ~ I'm honestly disappointed that my fears and suspicions appear warranted. Your administration, what a disappointment. How sad for you, your family and the US, the citizens of this once great city.
Dam Ray Ray you are making ole Mark look like a saint with all that stealing his family did in 8 years. I guess Karma is finally coming to get you sine you had to drop dimes on all the stealing Morial people did.
Greg Meffert is a lying cheating Psycho path, and Ray Nagin had his head so far up his A$$ he could not see day light. Ray gave him Carte Blanche because Meffert kept him destracted by talking about everyone elses bogus business dealings, while he was the real fox in the hen house.
In addition Meffert pretended to be a yes man, played with Ray like a puppet,and convienced him that everybody in the world was stupid and against them. Meffert brain washed Ray to think he was a Sheriff and he was a loyal deputy, and Ray pulled the trigger when ever Meffert said to shoot. Ray worked for Meffert and did what ever was asked including making commercials for Mefferts companies.
Ray Nagin drank so much of his own homemade,over sweeten Kool Aid that Meffert add sugar too, and now he is going to have to pay for it. This is probably be the first of many law suits. Meffert is going to leave Ray with a Legacy no different than Marc Morial. Rome is burning a C.Ray Nagin was second lining on th
Greg Meffert is a lying cheating Psycho path, and Ray Nagin had his head so far up his A$$ he could not see day light. Ray gave him Carte Blanche because Meffert kept him destracted by talking about everyone elses bogus business dealings, while he was the real fox in the hen house.
In addition Meffert pretended to be a yes man, played with Ray like a puppet,and convienced him that everybody in the world was stupid and against them. Meffert brain washed Ray to think he was a Sheriff and he was a loyal deputy, and Ray pulled the trigger when ever Meffert said to shoot. Ray worked for Meffert and did what ever was asked including making commercials for Mefferts companies.
Ray Nagin drank so much of his own homemade,over sweeten Kool Aid that Meffert add sugar too, and now he is going to have to pay for it. This is probably be the first of many law suits. Meffert is going to leave Ray with a Legacy no different than Marc Morial. Rome is burning a C.Ray Nagin was second lining on th
Istanbully --- the NOPD operation is another camouflage --- they are a system operating under the guise of a crime fighting agency. Fighting crime isn't their main focus. You don't see the drugs and guns getting taken off the streets do you? The drug industry is protected in New Orleans. The court gave a drug dealer 5 years probation and let him out on the streets to murder.
Nagin is so self-promotional that Nagin and Riley tell us that crime is going down. However, we know it has escalated to women and children being murdered. Certainly, crimes against property have not gone down.
The only thing I can say is that the murders seem to be fast --- a bullet --- the criminals haven't escalated to amputations and mutilations. I didn't hear the news report that Calyisse was raped before she was shot to death. However, the horror of the murders will escalate --- that is always the way when murder is in the culture -- people end up with their heads on a stake on the roadways.
The condition of the people is not improving, the condition of the people gets worse everyday.
Look at the escapee murdering kid that was hiding out in the Iberville for over 30 days until he surfaced on his own. Do you really believe that an armed and dangerous kid would be allowed to hide out until they surface in a civilized community. The NOPD didn't go in and flush the kid out. They left the kid to surface on his own. That would not have happened in another community because the NOPD would have known to have concern for the safety of the community. What do the NOPD think about the people of Iberville? They don't care if a murder is running loose among them.
Did the Levee write the deposition? LMAO....I don't remimber? THIS! Is Ray Ray's new catch phrase, I guess? I smell a multitude of charges coming. Several other posters mentioned in here about this NOT being a RACE issue. Thats true....It's a truth issue. How many of us live a lifestyle where trips are paid for, and we don't "recall" if anyone bothered telling us who paid for it? C'MON Ray, your lying... We all know you are lying. Fess up and take the hit. You live by the sword, you die by the sword. Period!
I don't believe for a moment that C. Ray didn't know exactly what was going on. I believe he with the help of other concocted this scheme. He had his lieutenants out there strong-arming select vendors for his and others personal gain.
This whole Morial fiasco was nothing more than a diversion. A diversion to make the public think that it was a new day in New Orleans under the Nagin administration. The entire time they were diverting our attention they were lining their pockets. Not for a moment should we accept the mayor saying he didn't know. He is (unfortunately) MAYOR! A mob boss wouldn't get away with pleading ignorance about what his enforcers were doing - it shouldn't happen here either.
Istanbully...
Whether that is the case or not, it will soon be in the forefront of their thoughts.
If you have not signed the letter to be sent certified and posted as a full page ad in the TP, please do so -- resident, visitor, past resident, or just plain love the city.
NEWS Page of http://www.humandecencynola.org
I don't think ignornance qualifies as a legal excuse for accepting bribes.
Wonder what the mayor's favorability rating is now?
Nagin and Meffert are obvious nut jobs. What is very alarming and disappointing is WHERE WERE THE SANE PEOPLE when all of this was going on.
Why do the sane people not speak up and put a stop to this? Obviously, the City Attorneys are operating in a manner as to not know anything about anything --- however, you really can't justify how you couldn't know. Everybody was just protecting their own jobs. If you say anything, you get attacked and fired. Look at what they did Stacey Head when she asked the obvious questions --- questions that Council members can't even make informed decisions without having the answers to. New Orleans is in a terrible state of affairs that is for sure. If you just operate like you are supposed to, you get crucified. Good people can't participate without taking a beating.
Now that the might of the Nagin administration has played itself to its total ruination, there will be story after story of what was going on that people will not be afraid to disclose.
Obviously, we need safeguards on the systems so that people don't have to suffer corruption and can be free to perform their jobs without fear of participating in the corruption and eroding their dignity or having to lose their jobs.
Every now and then in the e-mails and documents, somebody pipes up and says the obvious --- "do you want to put this out for bid" --- "Dell doesn't sell cameras through their State contract."
There is much yet to be discovered and known. The news people in New Orleans all can walk away with a grand prize.
Investigate why Nagin is trying to pop into the State contract as a source for payment of the crime cameras. Where was the money for the crime cameras that was in the budget? Was that all to avoid the bid process or was the money already blown?
Meffert was trying to get the citizens of New Orleans to pay for a camera in their neighborhood? Are you kidding me? Then, Meffert leaves City Hall and is given over one half million dollars by St. Pierre. Are you kidding me?
These people are scheming, grandiose nut jobs -- but where are the sane people? The sane people are shutting down so that nothing effects them. The sane people aren't caring beyond being afraid for themselves. The sane people are too afraid.
Meffert, who was previously deposed in the case, testified that NetMethods also paid for him and the mayor to travel to Chicago in January 2007 for the Saints-Bears NFC championship game. But Nagin said he paid for that trip. Public records show taxpayer money was used to pay for a Chicago hotel room, a follow-up trip to Las Vegas and the cost of seats on a private jet.
What was the purpose of the trips that Nagin says he paid for and does he think that tax money and cash in his wallet are the same thing?
teetop! My man! You actually made sense on that one! Score one for teetop.
Excerpt from Ray Nagin's deposition:
Q: Mr. Mayor, do you recall a storm named Katrina that destroyed the city ?
A: I don't recall that one specifically. There were many storms and I don't recall all of them. I think I heard about it when it bacame a media event.
Q: Do you recall President Bush coming to the city ?
A: Who ? I don't recall who that is. We've had many visitors come to the city.
Q: Were you re-elected mayor in 2006 ?
A: I vaguely remember something about that.
Allow me to translate the headline:
Nayor the Mayor knew he was doing wrong, Period.
raynoggin -- evade before lying -- lie only when necessary. Nagin's game plan for litigation.
Times Picayune,
Please get a life. This story is going nowhere because the mayor does not really care. The arrogance he portrays is just like what he is. A tulane graduate school alumnus, a ceo of cox pulling down 400,000 a year, a mayor of a major american city. His life is not the norm and far above a writer for the t.p. So this man does not care at all about the stories because he knows he will not be prosecuted for this because the trips were not illegal. Please report on something that has legs.
Something very strange is still going on --- Nagin and Meffert both are protecting the "budget" --- check out what was going on with the "budget."
Meffert was saying Southern was slow but Meffert wasn't paying Southern as per the contract. Then, Meffert is trying to use the State contract for the funds. Why? Where did the money for the crime cameras go --- it was included in the budget so why wasn't the money available? What happened to the money? Skirting the bid process by using the State contract is one thing but where did the money go that was already in the budget?
Nagin and Meffert both have not explained anything with any sufficiency. They are hiding a blown budget.
Ray-Ray++++
The �vagina friendly� Mayor, I wonder how that is going to go over in the �big house?�
This really troubles me...
Murders everyday in the city, and our Mayor is jetting around the world on a fat-cat contractors credit card.
C-Ray: What about the brothers, brother????
They (crooks and money stealers) always forget what happened in the past. Gee, they took so many trips and stole so much, they can't rememeber one incident. HOw convienent!
Funny how these three clowns could thing that they could get away from this. I did contract work for NetMethods for about a year and a half and those guys are complete idiots and liars.
Well, I guess these three guys (Nagin, Meffert, & St. Pierre) will soon being going from having business relations to having ANAL relations in the big house,lol. Just curious which of the three will be taking it in the brown eye, lol. Most likely St. Pierre. Heard he gives good head when he needs something.
What is sad about this?
"This case is being handled by legal professionals, and any comments will be handled by the attorneys at the appropriate time, " said Ceeon Quiett, a Nagin spokeswoman. "Meanwhile, we remain focused on our recovery in 2009."
That in 2009 we are still using the word RECOVERY.
All we know about the work performed by Meffert, St. Pierre and their companies is their self-applauding blow. We have no independent acceptance of their work and the work deficiencies.
If we had anybody at City Hall operating for the interest of the City of New Orleans, we would have an independent evaluation of the technology systems and we would have a suit brought against Meffert and St. Pierre and the companies for the deficiencies. What we have is work being accepted by the people who are giving themselves the work and we have their self-applause of their job well done.
WHERE ARE THE SANE PEOPLE IN NEW ORLEANS?
mueller... I seriously doubt the Times Pic is on a mission to make Nagin feel bad... u know being a newspaper and all... reporting news. Nagin does enough to make himself look like an idiot. Whether or not "he really cares" isn't the issue, whether or not OUR MAYOR OF NEW ORLEANS IS INVOLVED IN A POLITICAL SCANDAL AT THE EXPENSE OF IT'S TAXPAYING CITIZENS, however, is... oh but I guess that doesn't deserve a headline.
And this wouldn't be so hurtful if the recovery of the city was actually happening. Basically, I have seen no evidence that any significant recovery happening. Poor C. Ray feels like everyone's out to get him. Well darn it all!! Do something good for the city, Ray! At least act like you give a hoot. Instead, every time I see or hear about something you've said publication, all I've ever heard is the ramblings of a cunning con artist, a high-powered thug, basically giving everyone the finger. These are the kind of things I hear coming out of his twisted mouth, some of it i'm paraphrasing, others are direct quotes:
Ray:
"Basically, the start of my thinking process is: 'OK, if you didn't have to worry about re-election, what would you be doing?' That's kind of how I'm starting to think. "
"I don't remember/recall..."
"Funny thing, all my emails have been deleted..."
"Oh yeah, my calender got deleted, too."
""We as black people, it's time, it's time for us to come together. It's time for us to rebuild a New Orleans, the one that should be a chocolate New Orleans. And I don't care what people are saying Uptown or wherever they are. This city will be chocolate at the end of the day."
"I'm vagina-friendly (winks at Veronica, she smiles, knowingly)..."
�Yeah, I don't know what to say, ... I got to go.�
�I think this is kind of a put-up-or-shut-up moment, ... How concerned are you, city of New Orleans, about fixing this problem? . . . Are we going to be entertained by the violent nature of these murders, or are we really going to try to fix it? What's the deal?�
�As far as exaggerations, I was in the moment,�
�No comment, ... The chief asks everyone to respect his privacy. He requested the press conference be held the way it was handled. He is a good man. Don't mess with him!�
�As people come in, they now have a much safer environment to walk around in,�
�My conscience is clear,�
�What I care about is the plan. I don�t want anybody outside of New Orleans planning nothing as it relates to how we�re going to rebuild this city without us signing off on it,�
�We now have a comprehensive plan for rebuilding the city of New Orleans.�
Here's another interesting TRUE story:
http://www.snopes.com/katrina/politics/carcrush.asp
Look at these two yucking it up all the way to the bank !
THey look like they belong in DC, with the REAL professional theives, crooks, and heathens.
mueller
There is pending litigation of a civil matter wherein the City of New Orleans is exposed for awarding financial damages. At issue is the bid process for the so-called crime cameras and whether the process of awarding a contract was above board. Now the issue of taking trips seems a bit petty but, whether there was an unfair trade practice is an important aspect to the court findings.
But, at the end of the day this process stinks. And, is an indication of the ineptitude of the administration of the project management side. I won't elaborate on that part. But, the scope of this project misses a great deal considering what is going on in other cities. This is not rocket science and I don't see the level of expertise or resources to take on such a project.
Isn't New Orleans tired of awarding contracts to political friends who have no experience, expertise or training in the area of services needed. At the end of the Nagin Administration who will service and maintain this equipment. Or will they have to start over..
Unfortunately nothing is going to happen to this crook.
If Nagin gets convicted I'd be so surpised that I'll fly in to attend his sentencing appearance.
He'll just play the race card and leave to Dallas.
Posted by StormySky on 04/23/09 at 7:31AM
ray Nagin rode into city Hall on a very well-groomed jackass with pitchfork in one hand and torch in the other SEEKING OUT CORRUPTION.
this is just business as usual. The NEXT administration will ride in doing the same thing, ....and so on....and so on.
WHY is this surprising to any of us?
When Greg Meffert waltzed into City Hall, we were in the Dark Ages technologically. We haven't come that much further now, but BLAME THE WITCH HUNTERS AND NAYSAYERS who did not want technological advances.
He never INTENDED to stay in public service, and anybody with any sense should have known that. Businessmen make business deals.
============================
My brake tag was to expire around May 20th and the windshield on my car was cracked so I had it replaced. While removing the glass the sticker was destroyed. I couldn't find the yellow paper they give you when you get the brake tag. Lo an behold they said I had to pay 10.00 late fee because I couldn't prove I wasn't late. I called the company and let them talk to the co and they still wouldn't believe me.With all the things we have today why can't they log into a computer and see when I got a brake tag and when it was due to be expired. We are so out of date.
What we need are people who care about getting the business straight and the interest of the City and its people before any self-interest.
Even if people aren't the corrupt thieves, we have people who are concerned for their own political agendas. We have people operating not to offend any future votes. We have people operating afraid to be called a racist. Are you kidding me? We don't need that kind either. They are for their own self-interest too. The people are always last on the list.
We need people with the attitude that they are getting the business straight, they are straight dealing, they are evaluating for the best possible business and social decisions for the benefit of all of the people. We need people who care about the quality of the life of the people and the safety of the people first.
We need people with the attitudes that if they offend anybody and have a backlash for their efforts in getting the dealings straight that they are willing to take the hits and if it costs them votes --- WELL PRAISE THE LORD, NOW I CAN RETURN TO MY FAMILY AND MY LIFE --- THANK YOU VERY MUCH --- I KNEW IT WAS A THANKLESS JOB BUT I TRIED. I AM CLEAN AND I CARED.
But they aren't all disappointed for themselves. They walk away having taken their hits but they have their dignity and their souls. Nothing lost and everything gained.
We also need people who promote and organize a real "BARN RAISING" movement of people helping people. Whatever the need, house by house, the BARN RAISING people get on the job. Whether it is painting and repairing a home or tutoring or child care services or help in managing a household or finding a home or finding employment or transporation or medical evaluation and services --- whatever. Leaving people to rot is over.
Do be a do bee, don't be a don't bee. Be good.
There are layers of conditions --- from murder and thieving to government and business corruption to people who don't do harm but don't act outside of their own self-preservation. We need to activate the people who would help if they were organized to help -- organize the connection between the people with the need and the people who can fill the need.
Nagin never got passed scheming for his own self-interest and self-promotion to get anywhere near the needs of the community.
Nagin was false bravado and grandiosity camouflaging corruption.
godseesyou
Before this administration got in you could do that. Before you go around praising Meffert consider web sites don't cost in the millions and someone will have to audit what he really accomplished and also screwed up. And, some cities don't issue brake tags. If your windshield is cracked that's a police matter, a safety issue.
Tax payers might have to foot the bill for Nagins imprisonment, but it will be money well spent.
Dear FBI, the tax payers of New Orleans want Nagin out of office and behind bars where he belongs. Will you please help us?
City of New Orleans, please stop trying to make this an issue for our mayor Ray. He has a lot on his plate right now. And all this is doing is impedeing the progress Ray has put into place. We all know this is a set up. Meffert is a plant to try and make Ray look bad. But Ray turned the tables and used these trips to perform productive business for our city. You can see the fruits of this labor coming to fruition as we debate this. When the feds check into these trips the evidence will prove Ray has done nothing wrong. Matter of fact the citizens should be thankful Ray was able to have some one else fund a trip the taxpayers were responsible for...... For HarveyCastle, at least our mayor don't drive drunk in city vehicles.
minds
What this City needs is a few large DEVELOPMENT projects. Far too much time is wasted on nonsense. You can't even build housing during times of high demand when the rest of the nation is over built. There is so much crime because most of these people don't do anything.. Ever heard of an idle mind is the devil's workshop. Well that's New Orleans a City of idle minds...
Do like Atlanta giving half the City's contracts to minorities and small business. But, all these little project is strangling the City. Why do you think so many people didn't come back.. The people here only talk, drink, eat, and party.. Frankly, that is not enough..
Posted by xman20002000 on 04/23/09 at 12:10PM
godseesyou
Before this administration got in you could do that. Before you go around praising Meffert consider web sites don't cost in the millions and someone will have to audit what he really accomplished and also screwed up. And, some cities don't issue brake tags. If your windshield is cracked that's a police matter, a safety issue.
===============
Who is praising who? Not me.
I don't believe you notribune. Ray nagin is a big dissapointment. Ever get a email back from him? He does nothing for this city but tear it down. I will be glad when he is gone.
notribune
Your comments sound good but, what business did he being in and weren't these City subcontractors.. Looks like opportunities post-Kartina were squandered. The nation expected more and better leadership.. Trust me, this guy is not well respected.
Pronola,
I love your site, doll and I frequent it as much as I can but I have one tiny problem with it. (And once you see what it is and it's the ONLY problem with it, you'll either laugh or kick my butt, lol).
Please edit the title tag so, at the top (above the address bar) it doesn't say Companyname.com. You can put whatever you would like. I would put a slogan of some sort.
(Sorry, it's my O.C.D.)
pronola
Let's assume a large plant wanted was convinced to build something in New Orleans in let's say the Almonaster District impacting the shipping industry. Problem solved. But, we pay a University in Australia $100,000 annually for a man with no obvious resources or connections and refuse to cooperate with Donald Trump. When he went to Atlanta he gave seminars and had billboards around the downtown. See the difference...
Sorry but New Orleans will look like Death Valley if it doesn't get its act together. Let's see why not interview Mr. Blakeley to see who he is trying to bring to New Orleans and while you are at it interview the Governors' Economic Development team.. Then look at the City's Master Plan.. do they have anything in common. If they don't you are in trouble.. but the Plan is to be enacted in 2030..
Sounds crazy to me... THE END.
When will YOU people be satisfied, when you replace one black crook in office for one white crook in office as the mayor? Either way you will still have a crook, blacks think that if there is a black crook then he will do more for the black people, that been proven wrong already.......whites think the same if a white crook was in office, your both wrong.......you have to elect...............a green women....you know,like the one on star trek.
If Nagin really wants us to believe that he had no knowledge that St. Piere was paying for all of these trips and God knows what else ... then he is making two assumptions. 1) He was so stupid and clueless about who was paying for all of it (or didn't care) and 2) We are so stupid and clueless that we beleive that he was stupid and clueless. WTF??? The only ones stupid and clueless are the fools that voted for this garden variety crook. Nagin may actually believe that his don't ask, don't tell defense may work. If he does, his IQ must be in the single digits. Why are there masses of people down at City Hall with cases of rotten tomatoes demanding this fools resignation?
How does he sleep at night and look at his children without shame? And his wife should be tossing him to the curb with the White escapades going on.
If you look at the html code on the main page, the top three lines are this:
CompanyName.com - Super Slogan
In between the title tags is where you edit (CompanyName.com - Super Slogan), then save the page, upload it to the server and you're done.
Pronola,
I should have known it was going to take the code portion out of my post above. They do that to protect themselves against hackers.
Anyway, I had to take out the brackets but the top three lines of your main page code are this:
HTML
HEAD
TITLE CompanyName.com - Super Slogan TITLE
If you edit the text in between the title tags, it will change once it hits the www.
OMG... I'm afraid of what will "come to light" next.
C-Ray... please... OMG Please just go away and STOP MAKING OUR CITY A NATIONAL DISCRACE!!!
xman20002000, the answers to your questions posted at 11:59am are 1)no and 2) who knows.
The next mayoral election will provide guidance as to whether the city will recover and progress. I pray the citizens are finally fed up with the state of affairs and vote accordingly.
pronola -- I recommend Christ enthroned for Mayor but if Christ enthroned is not available, then I would have to say that what is needed is that every system in City government be safeguarded and we need open disclosure of considerations and evaluations of business decisions --- so that anybody who gets in office doesn't have any room to move off the straight and narrow path.
I would like to see people who have no political ambition participate. We do have a lot of intelligent people who forego participation -- hell we have a lot of intelligent people who have left the building -- gotten out of Dodge --- because it is too unmanageable to live here.
Political ambition is another thing to watch out for because ambition is just another thing that is about the self-interest --- not the interest of the community. The political ambitious people have to put a spin on everything for a positive light for their political image. We need people who flesh out the problems and solve them and call them out as to what the situation really is --- not what it is convenient to know about or not.
This is an aside but I saw on wwl or some place that Penya-Moses-Fields said she did a machine search of the Council e-mails for words that would indicate a privileged document, pulled those, and then declared the e-mails ready to be publically disclosed. Ha, ha, ha. Moses-Fields doesn't even want to admit to a knowledgeable review of the e-mails. In no way would a machine search be a sufficient review for privileged documents. But it is pretty funny of Moses-Fields. We don't need that kind of dishonesty. Moses-Fields doesn't want to give the e-mails to the Council for their review but it is their privilege and Moses-Fields isn't the counsel for the Council. Moses-Fields doesn't want any evidence of her firsthand knowledge of the contents of the e-mails and she doesn't want to admit that she isn't the person who has authority to review the e-mails for privilege on behalf of the Council members. I am sick of all the crap. Moses-Fields playing silly games -- ha, ha, ha. The City Attorneys are trying not to know anything these days. Moses-Fields had in her affidavit that she gave the discs to her personnel for review back in February --- so do you really think that the City Attorneys never read the e-mails? Give me a break. If Moses-Field were to hand over the e-mails without the Council or their attorney reviewing the e-mails, Moses-Fields would be committing malpractice and could be disbarred. I am tired of all the crap.
In the civil litigation involving Southern, it is obvious that the City and Nagin have separate interest. Nagin's interests, at the very least, are in preserving the illusions of his administration; at the most, Nagin is interested in avoiding jail. The City has an interest in not being screwed over by the CTO department and its contractors. The City Attorneys didn't do anything to have separate counsel for the City and file cross claims on behalf of the City. The City Attorneys are operating for the interest of the Nagin administration --- not the City. The City Attorneys are breaking all kinds of legal ethics rules --- I hope the Bar catches up with their office. The City Attorneys needed to hold the line on illegal dealings --- but they didn't. At the very least, the City Attorneys failed to recognize that Nagin and the City had conflicts of interest and get separate representation. Now, the City has not filed its proper cross claims against the City contractors -- because that is all in the interest of Nagin, Meffert, and St. Pierre. I really don't care if these fools get disbarred. Of course, in New Orleans, a blind eye is always being turned -- by everybody --- the Bar and the U.S. Attorneys.
What did the Supreme Court ever do about the improper review of 1,000s of criminal writs in the Fifth Circuit ---- anything? Any action taken on that? Nothing.
ALWAYS TURNING A BLIND EYE.
Goodbye Louisiana.
Why would the City Attorneys fail to provide separate representation for the obvious conflict of interest between Nagin and his administration and the City? --- Because the City Attorneys also have to protect themselves from disclosure of their own knowledge of the illegal activities. So, that is their choice, disclosure of their own wrongdoing in all of this mess or in commiting malpractice in this civil litigation by failing to separate the interests.
The Nagin administration has fallen in on Moses-Fields' head.
duncecreek:
Black Democaratic Mayor Nagin is sinking right along with White Republican Bag Man Meffert!
What is your point? They are both liars and cheats. Color of skin or political affiliation has nothing to do with it!
The City Council needs to intervene in the civil litigation and get the court to recognize that Nagin and the City have conflicts of interest and have the court order a special attorney for the City to advance its interest in this lawsuit -- because it is obvious that the City Attorneys are not doing that.
The only time Ray Nagin ever appeared before the City Council was to ask for 2 million dollars for the crime cameras. I guess he did not want Meffert to cut off all of the perks.
Why is Pena making comments about Ray's status????
She is a city attorney and not the mayor's personal council.
This just keeps getting more and more bizarre.
Ray's deposition is a good read: "um, uh, kinda-like, wow, I don't understand your question, yup, nope", etc. Nothing of substance except for the fact that he didn't know anything or anyone (except "yeah, maybe he was on the plane or on the boat") and doesn't remember the conversations or emails or public addresses he has made.
JUST QUIT NOW RAY. You are an idiot AND a criminal!
At least Raster will pleanty time in jail to write his book on how to maximize(steal) from FEMA following Katrina.
The camera deal is a house of cards.
Rayster supports LSU's plan for a new hospital. Makes you wonder--------
If the Hornets goes to the NBA finals, will he use taxpayers money and dig into the city's warchest( unused extra money for other so-called projects that has'nt been put any fruition) to have a all-expense paid trip to Cleveland? that's our mayors and the folks who voted him in office is reaaly kicking themselves in the butt eh?
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