Quentin Brown for City Council

Just kidding with the post title. I'm not really endorsing him, but I thought I'd share my experience with local character and perennial City Council candidate Quentin Brown, who is now running for the at large slot that is open after Oliver Thomas' guilty plea and resignation.

During the run-up to the last City Council election, I was outside edging my lawn when Quentin walked by and introduced himself as a candidate for the spot that Stacy Head ultimately won. He was funny. Since I was tending to my lawn, he also offered his lawn care services to me. He gave me two business cards, one for the lawn care and odd jobs business, and for some reason, he gave me a second business card with a business name of "Cash Money, Inc." or something along those lines. I looked it up in the Louisiana Secretary of State corporations database, and it wasn't listed there, so if he really has such a company, it must be registered in another state or offshore.

My lawn guy hadn't returned after Katrina at the time, so I called Quentin for an estimate and ended up using him for months. Many yard men come and go whenever they want, and you never know when they may show up, making it difficult to open locked gates, arrange payment, etc. Quentin was different. He came promptly every two weeks and always called in advance to confirm to make sure he was paid on time.

He was also serious about campaigning, saying that he took three days a week away from his businesses to campaign. His handwritten campaign flyers and signs were classic. His signature catch phrase was "No More B.S." On some signs, he wrote out the word "bull" and abbreviated the "s." On other signs, though, he abbreviated the "b" but spelled out the "s" word. If you're going to abbreviate one of the two words in b.s., who would abbreviate the first word but not the second?

I ended up parting ways with Quentin and his lawn service for two reasons. My pre-Katrina yard man returned to the area, and I wanted to support him since he flooded. Also, Quentin pushed his car detailing business as an add-on service he could provide, and I had him detail one of my cars. When he and his assistant were done, the loose change in my console was missing.

Yellow Jacket Problem

I have been having a problem with yellow jackets lately. Apparently, this is an active time of year for them, and they have formed a nest. I tried some wasp and hornet killer, but it hasn't killed them all yet. Today, I sprayed some more of the pesticide, and I put up a yellow jacket trap. We'll see if that works. The trap I purchased is reusable, but I don't think I'm going to want to clean out a bunch of dead yellow jackets to reuse the same trap, so today, I ordered a disposable trap. Hopefully, the combination of the insecticide spray and the trap will eliminate the problem.

Bill Jefferson on List of Most Corrupt Congressmen

I am shocked to report that Bill Jefferson made the list of the most corrupt members of Congress.

Little Tokyo Owner Leases Site of Table 1

The owner of Little Tokyo has leased the site of the restaurant Table 1 at Magazine and Washington. Presumably, he will open another Little Tokyo there. Seems strange given that it's right next door to Sake Cafe.

David Vitter's Prostitute Passes Lie Detector Test

Senator David Vitter's local prostitute Wendy Yow Ellis has passed a lie detector test administered by Larry Flynt. Let's see, it's a credibility call between a politician, a hooker and a pornographer - hard to imagine anyone in any of those professions being less than truthful.

The Ultimate Guide to Surviving a Natural Disaster

Popular Mechanics has the Ultimate Guide to Surviving a Natural Disaster. Popular Mechanics has a surprising number of articles that are of general interest to non-mechanics.

Wall Street Journal Interview with Bobby Jindal

James Taranto of The Wall Street Journal interviews Bobby Jindal.

Bill Jefferson Pre-Paid Bribe Card

Congressman William Jefferson of New Orleans is looking to launch a pre-paid bribe debit card for Louisiana residents to more easily pay off state legislators. Story at New Orleans Levee.

NOPD Second District E-Mail Blasts

On September 1st at or about 10:30 am, Citizens in the area of 826 Octavia St. informed police that a white male suspect had just burglarized that residence. The suspect was in possession of a purse and was running from the scene. Officers observed the suspect and took chase when the suspect discarded the purse and a witness recovered it. The officer pursued the suspect and apprehended the suspect. The suspect was identified as Tim Sandifer, white male, 6/9/1959. If you have any additional information on this case, please contact Sgt. Richard Pari or Det. J. Thompson at 658-6022 or 658-6020. You may also call Crimestoppers anonymously at 822-1111. Remember to report any suspicious persons or activities you see in your neighborhood by calling 821-2222. In an emergency, call 911.

On September 2nd, 2007, 2nd District Task Force members made three arrest and recovered two stolen vehicles, after we beefed up patrols in these areas. Two arrest were made in the 3400 block of S. Carrolton of a vehicle that was stolen from 5614 Camp St. Subjects arrested were Glen Hawkins, Black male, 11/28/93 and Markeisha Lewis, Black Female, 11/28/90. The second arrest was made by Sixth District Officers at Third and South Saratoga of a vehicle that was stolen from 1307 Marengo St. Arrested was Alton Netter, Black Male, 7/24/91.

Weak Field Running for City Council At-Large

So far, a weak field of candidates has signed up to run in the October 20 special election to replace criminal Oliver Thomas. Diana Bajoie, Jackie Clarkson, Cynthis Willard-Lewis, Gail Masters Reimonenq (a cousin of Stan Pampy Barre) and Dyan French have entered the race, and Tommie Vassel is expected to declare today. This is not a stellar group, and none of these candidates seems likely to change anything for the better. We need to do better than this.

DDD Wants Tax Increase

I am shocked -- SHOCKED -- to report that at least one city government agency, the Downtown Development District, does not want to reduce the millage at the same rate that our property tax assessments have increased. In other words, the DDD wants to increase your taxes. Politicians and agency heads somehow must think the taxpayers are not smart enough to figure out that higher assessments coupled with less than a full reduction in the millage equals higher taxes.

Season Shot: Biodegradable Shot in Assorted Flavors

Season Shot is environmentally safe ammunition that is fully biodegradable and comes in cajun, lemon pepper, garlic, teriyaki and honey mustard flavors.

Wall Street Journal Editorial on New Orleans Property Taxes

It's entitled Property Tax Flood: The Real Battle of New Orleans.

To stop local governments from collecting tax windfalls when property values spike, the state requires local governments to roll back property tax rates in hot housing markets. But this being New Orleans, the city has followed the law in the past by cutting property tax rates only to immediately raise them again. Mayor Ray Nagin refuses to rule out playing the same game this year. His office wouldn't answer our questions on the issue, referring us instead to the city's tax assessors.

Notwithstanding Mr. Nagin, there is an opportunity for leadership here. The biggest threat facing New Orleans beyond another hurricane is that too few people will return to the city. The city's population is about 60% of what it was pre-Katrina, and many former residents still seem to prefer living in FEMA trailers to returning home. High property taxes don't help. Or as former Governor Huey Long once quipped, "one day the people of Louisiana are going to get good government--and they aren't going to like it."

The City Council will likely cut property taxes and Council President Arnie Fielkow is taking the lead in meeting with homeowners to discuss the issue. What the Council must now decide is whether to give homeowners a strong reason not to flee the city before their property tax bills come due later this year.

New Orleans Desparately Needs Law and Order

City Journal column reprinted on the Wall Street Journal's website. Excerpt:

For generations now--and this is the city's deepest problem--New Orleans has hobbled along without a real law-and-order presence. Criminals graduate from petty crimes to burglary to drug-dealing to carrying illegal weapons to gang robberies to murder, and face few consequences at any stage. The police, and especially the prosecutors, are ineffectual. Since Katrina, things have gotten much worse, in part because criminals, finding life difficult in cities that enforce the law, have returned to the Big Easy in numbers disproportionate to those of law-abiding citizens. Mayor Ray Nagin doesn't try to fix things, perhaps because, as he often says, he believes crime is a social problem, rooted in a lack of opportunity for poor youth.

The Bush administration has deployed extra federal law-enforcement agents to try to get the worst criminals off the street. The state of Louisiana, meanwhile, has sent the National Guard to patrol half-empty neighborhoods. But just as the U.S. military can only do so much in Iraq when Baghdad's local government is ineffective, the federal government can't do much in New Orleans until the city's local government changes its attitude and behavior. Residents have no reason to think that criminal behavior has predictable negative consequences, because Mr. Nagin and District Attorney Eddie Jordan have failed to make clear that people who commit crimes in New Orleans will be prosecuted.

But President Bush can use federal dollars to try to convince them to do it. In his speech in New Orleans today, Mr. Bush should announce that he's ready to ask Congress for $500 million over two years to overhaul New Orleans's police and prosecutorial forces. But he also should say that the money is contingent on a pledge from Messrs. Nagin and Jordan that their city's No. 1 priority will be law enforcement. Mr. Bush should also tie the federal money to measurable results: rational arrests (from quality-of-life crimes all the way up to homicide), effective prosecutions and, ultimately, fewer crimes.

It's an enduring mystery why Mr. Bush hasn't used the Katrina disaster to show the world that America can rebuild a major city using a bedrock conservative principle: law and order first. Democrats are welcome to propose the same idea, of course. Mr. Obama, Mr. Edwards and Mrs. Clinton have all mentioned New Orleans's crime problem in their recent speeches. But they often tie it to a lack of staff and equipment in the city after Katrina--as if it's a question of rebuilding something that was lost, instead of building from scratch the most essential component of any city's success. Until politicians understand that basic difference, spending more money--or bragging about past billions spent--while tolerating intolerable conditions in a first-world city is nothing short of disgraceful.

George Winston's Song of Gratitude

For those who don't have it, check out George Winston's Gulf Coast Blues & Impressions: A Hurricane Relief Benefit. The Times-Picayune reviewed it in today's Living section.

NOPD Second District E-Mail Blasts

On August 21st at or about 8:00 am, a female victim was sitting on her porch in the 4400 block of Loyola - waiting for a cab. At that time a young black male approached her on a bicycle. The suspect pulled out a handgun and attempted to rob the victim. The suspect was startled when the taxi cab pulled up and he fled on his bicycle. Because the suspect was more concerned about the cab driver than where he was riding, he was hit by another motorist. He then fled on foot, but was soon captured by officers. Officers also recovered the handgun used in the offense. The suspect is a known 16 year old juvenile. His information cannot be released. We believe this robbery is related to the one which occurred yesterday in the 4200 block of Baronne Street. Detectives are following up on this investigation and will show a photo lineup in this case.
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On August 20th at or about 5:30pm, three young black males were observed riding bicycles on along Webster Street. The suspects were checking door handles of parked cars. A witness to the activity followed the suspects in his vehicle. The witness confronted the suspects at Arabella Street and Garfield Street, challenging their actions. At that time, one of the suspects pulled out a handgun and fired at the witness. One bullet struck the witnesses vehicle, but the witness was unharmed. A .380 caliber casing was located on the scene. There are no descriptions on the three suspects.

New Poll About Crime's Impact on City's Brand

On the right, you'll see a new poll on the impact of increased crime on the New Orleans brand.

Vick to Admit Guilt in Dogfighting

Michael Vick agreed Monday to plead guilty to federal dogfighting conspiracy charges, a deal that leaves the Atlanta Falcons quarterback facing up to 18 months in prison and puts his NFL career in jeopardy. Under the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend Vick be sentenced to between a year and 18 months in prison, according to a government official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the terms have not yet been made final.

Free Money Making Idea

For anyone wanting to make money, please open a competitor to Babies R Us. The store in Metairie is a disaster. It was that way before Katrina, so they can't play that excuse either.

Geek Gets Tattoos of Favorite Bloggers

Unbelievable. Feel free to tattoo Nola Blogger anywhere you like, if you're so inclined.