Letters to the Editor
donaldmaddog
Published Letters: 2 Editor's Choice: 1
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Bands On the Run
[Read the article: Band on the run in New Orleans]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]As many have already noted, the New Orleans of post Katrina is a much different place
than before for many reasons. One such difference is the quality of new residents who
are buying up property in historic areas such as Treme, the Marigny, and the French
Quarter. These mostly wealthy people are using their clout with the City Council and
other authorities to change the culture of New Orleans to conform to an image that had
never existed. One does not choose to live in the above mentioned neighborhoods for
goodie-two-shoes peace and quiet. The suburbs were created for that. What is so
outrageous about these new "residents" is their insistance on forcing long-existing
cultures to cease doing the very things that make New Orleans the distinctive and rich
city it is famous for being. I am a vocalist who has enjoyed the friendship and support
of many local musicians. The only true American art form, Jazz, began and florished
here. Particularly the musical life of the Treme has been the life's blood of that time-
honored tradition. As a bonafied, real, and devoted resident of New Orleans, I resent
the treatment of the Treme musicians by the police department.
Some of these so-called "residents" have organized into groups with names like "Citizens
For the Quality of Life in the French Quarter" or "Residents for 'the PRESERVATION' of
Quality of Life" and so on. While the musicians of New Orleans have returned to try to
resume their rich cultural lives, facing daunting financial and emotional odds, and
having lost most or all of their personal possessions continue to CONTRIBUTE to the
city, the "Concerned Citizens" have contributed NOTHING. Countless clubs and venues
for musicians to play and earn a decent living have been prohibited from having live
music by these "concerned residents". They moved to New Orleans because it would be
"fun", but now want to change the culture to fit their own petty needs. Who could be
so stupid to buy a con-do in the 400 block of Bourbon Street and complain about the
"quality of life"? My neighborhood, the Marigny Triangle, has many bars and clubs.
The main area is Frenchman Street. Would I rent or buy property on the 600 block
of Frenchman and begin a campaign to shut down the excellent music venues there?
A rational person moves to a particular place BECAUSE of its ambience, not IN SPITE
of it.
We, the musicians, have become victims because we are not organized and do not have
inside access to the City Council. Until we correct that situation, the "concerned citizens"
will continue to destroy our culture.
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Giving Credit to the Right Person
[Read the article: Sheriff Rudy, crime fighter?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]In 1994, New Orleans hired Richard Pennington to be Chief of Police. He immediately
became a superior administrator and advocate of much needed improvements in a
department that was sorely inadequate. Jack Maple was recruited to bring his famous
ComStat plan to the city. Within months, the New Orleans Police Department became
a new and effective operation. Naturally, there were forces at work to undermine the
improvements Maple and Pennington had directed. Maple left New Orleans with a
workable and efficient crime-fighting force, continued by Chief Pennington. In order
to get rid of this effective leader, these forces devised a plan to that end. Pennington
was somehow tricked into running for mayor. He failed, of course, and left for parts
elsewhere. So much for ComStat, Maple, and Richard Pennington. But, at no time
did the mayor take credit for what these men had done.