Magazine Street Reopens After More Than Two Years

After a disgraceful two years plus being closed, Magazine Street has finally reopened. What a failure of leadership. In any other city, you would never have even the most obscure cul de sac street closed for that long, much less a major retail, restaurant and commuting thoroughfare.

Magazine Street Still Closed

Unbelievably, the 1300 block of Magazine Street is still closed. It has been blocked for more than two years. What a failure of leadership. It is unacceptable for even the most minor street to be closed for that long, let alone a major street for commuters, shoppers and diners.

Shhhhh, Don't Tell FEMA Our Roads Weren't Perfect Before Katrina

Say what you will about Ray Nagin's performance as Mayor, but somehow he managed to convince FEMA that our roads were in good shape before Katrina and that we need federal money to return them to their pristine pre-Katrina condition. I suppose the only person dumb enough to believe a lie like that is a federal bureaucrat.

Stop Light Fixed at St. Charles and Jefferson

The traffic signal at the intersection of St. Charles Avenue and Jefferson Avenue has been fixed. Only in New Orleans does the simple repair of a stop light at a major intersection merit discussion. I saw an accident at the intersection the weekend before they fixed the light, most likely caused by the light being inoperable for months.

Traffic Light and Pothole Update

The Times-Picayune has an update on the state of traffic lights and road improvements. The light at the intersection of St. Charles and Jefferson should be fixed soon. There is no good explanation for why it took so long to address that light. Somehow, the City pulled the wool over the Feds' eyes as to the condition of our streets and convinced the Federal Highway Administration to pay for street repairs that were, wink, wink, necessary due to Katrina damage.

Liberate Lower Magazine Street

Here is a website dedicated solely to fixing the idiotic problem that has closed down Magazine Street for years. It is unacceptable for any street to be shut down that long, even a tiny dead end street much less a major shopping and commuting street. This fiasco is a perfect example of the lack of leadership in this city. I understand there are different aspects to this dispute such as historic preservation, street and drainage work, litigation, etc., but a leader would somehow cut through all that and find a solution. How much business are Magazine Street merchants losing because their street has been shut down for years?

Louisiana Roads Rank Worst in Nation

Louisiana's roads rank worst in the nation. State Treasurer John Kennedy suggests steering the state motor vehicle road tax towards road repairs.

City Fixes Pothole

I know the headline sounds like something from The Onion, a satirical website, but no, when the City of New Orleans manages to fix a pothole that has been on a major street like Magazine Street for months, it makes the front page of the Metro Section. The City's website has a section for the Department of Public Works where taxpayers can report potholes and other similar problems, but the online reporting section is not functioning.