But seriously, there’s some interesting info out there.

City Business took a look at Cummings in February of 2008 regarding possible ethics violations. ( http://www.neworleanscitybusiness.com/viewStory.cfm?recID=29972 ) Initially, the Louisiana Board of Ethics ruled that there was a conflict of interest, then after Cumings appealed, decided that they didn’t have enough information to rule at all. Later, in May of 2008, the LBE unanimously decided that Cumings did not have a “substantial” financial interests in the project and allowed him to keep his job. Yay.

Here’s the deal: Interests conflicted or not, Cummings would still profit. If the LBE said he was fine, then he simply moves forward. If they found “substantial” conflicts, he would have to recuse himself, but the only thing he would lose would be a monthly paycheck. His properties would still benefit from the added residency and traffic in the area. Win/Win for Sean!

Of course, Cummings job was never truly at risk. He has plenty of support from the movers and shakers in our community:

“I’m glad that people are looking to see if there’s a conflict because I’m so proud of Sean because everything he does is without conflict… Here’s the finest kid ever… He’s an asset to this community.”
-John Cummings, Sean’s Daddy and co-owner of some of the dozens of properties in question.

“I think Sean is doing this properly in terms of getting this first opinion and supplemental opinion.”
-City Councilman Arnie Fielkow, who also sits on the Board of Directors of the NOBC.

And of course, he was appointed to the post back in 2003 by Mayor C Ray Nagin who also happens to be on the NOBC’s Board of Directors. Two other members of the Board are Xavier President Norman Francis and Councilman Cynthia Willard-Lewis. There are supposedly three “private citizens” who also sit on the Board, but the NOBC website does not mention them by name.

Sean’s daddy also says that “some” of the family holdings are as much as “eight blocks away from the development.” Wow. Surely no conflict there. Unless you can tell the difference between these two statements:

1: A charming condo just blocks away from the crumbling Glidden Paint factory.

2: A charming condo just blocks from the new Riverfront Wonderland.

The difference is about $1000/month on your rent, kids.

:D

And I think he’s right: I’m sure it will be locked up at night like all of our other parks because the NOPD are too busy enforcing the No Prints rule on the fence at Jackson Square.

After the area is greenspaceified and the out-of-town “artists” begin the migration and the new strip malls that are cleverly designed not to look like strip malls are installed, Bywater will certainly look like a “viable” area for commerce.

The inevitable Wal•Mart will only displace a “few” residences, but the convenience of not having to frequent multiple local retailers will more than make up for that. And of course there will be plenty of Starbucks, Wendy’s, McDonalds and Olive Gardens to fuel you as you shop.

And of course, the Wal•Mart will be a godsend to those of you remaining in the area as it will allow you to save plenty of money for your increased rents. For those few who will suddenly be priced out of remaining in the area, you’ll have that beautiful park to sleep in.

Except that it will probably be filled with Jackie Clarkson’s “bum-proof” benches. And you’ll have to find a good hiding space during the day for when they eventually erect fences and gates around the park in order to close it at night, a-la Jackson Square, but hey, it’s a necessary step since the NOPD is far too busy “catching” criminals with their broken crime cameras.

Or am I just being morose and alarmist? Surely that scenario could never happen here? I mean, Wal•Marts and Starbucks in Historic Districts? I’m pretty sure Mayor-Elect Cummings would never allow that to happen…

I think some of that public money should go toward giving everyone with a lease or even a letter from landlord (if they’re month to month) a little something for being displaced, if only a couple of hundred to help rent a truck.

And for business owners along Frenchman to think about the loss of all our business when it turns into another tourist strip because most of their local customers have taken their trade somewhere down St. Claude.

And if it all becomes a twice-a-year visit graveyard of out-of-towner owned condos something like swaths of historic, post-Hugo Charleston, well: don’t say some of us didn’t warn you..

While I frequently come across as a surly curmudgeon, and frequently am one, I in no way meant to criticize the idea of a green space from Poland Avenue, all the way up to Jackson.
I have, in fact, complained about the idea of the Chicken Freezer bisecting that very plan.

What I resent is an outside realestate investor gewtting plunked in to a position to influence this, and then scooping up properties that will be directly and economically benefitting from this same progress.
It used to be called ‘Carpetbagging’.

I think park gropund along the river would create a Sylvan Theater of Nature, and provide a much needed repose from our urban neighborhood, particularly for the new breed of bohemian parents who live in the Bywater/Marigny corridor. The childrens’ play ground at Marky Park is perfect example of this.

Furthermore, Cummings insistence that ‘importing artists’ is the way to revitalize these neighborhoods really pisses me off.
The Bywater/ Marigny corridor is one of the hottest art spots in the world right now, attarcting Prospect One, The Andy Warhol Society and the new Orleans Fringe Festival, all who arrived here due to local influence and dedication, celebrating home grown art.

I, myself, have run an alternative gallery space in the Marigny for over a decade, all wihtout Mister Cummings importation of ‘real art’.
The very notion that we need some trustfunder for Connecticut or where ever to ‘guide’ our artists development is simply ridiculous.

He’s cashing in on what has been painstakingly built with blood, sweat & tears over a long and greuling period.

Buying up property in an area his ‘position’ allows him to develop with city funds, should be investigated, at the very least.

As for his idea of ‘real artists’, he can kiss my ass.
I don’t give a flying fuck how they did it Up North.
New Orleanians rock New Orleans Art just fine.

[quote]
“But Cummings isn’t locating his start-ups in the Ninth Ward, no, he’s renting out space in one of his unflooded properties, and buying up properties to add to his own and his family’s holdings near the first phase of Reinventing the Crescent.

Cummings fairly points out in the article that the city has languished economically for a century under its current business leadership. No one can reasonably dispute this. What rankles isn’t Cummings enthusiasm for making a buck. What galls is his gushing enthusiasm for (and the writer’s swooning description of) what he calls the “creative class-led transformation of New Orleans” now that “there’s a real in-migration of artists and entrepreneurs.”

Wow–artists, in New Orleans–who could ever have imagined?”
[end quote]

I’m all about new technology and entrpreneurship in the city. As stated earlier in this comment stream I think my colleague Brent over at Audiosocket (which is on the cover of this month’s Entrepreneur Magazine) is a terrific example.

The problem, as it is so often in New Orleans and other cities, is the attempt to “game the system” for inordinate personal gain. Just as we did after the Civil War we need to be vigilant of those who would adopt that approach.

Please hit us up with further questions if you have any!

NOTE FROM THE CURATOR: I have removed the “girls gone wild” style web link from this comment. In no other way has it been edited. Jonathan, you are welcome to contribute but spam links will not be tolerated.

So for once I get to play grammar Nazi with somebody else — a 150-year-old American institution, no less!

thank you WETBANKGUY.

and now, i’m gonna go back and read it again. :)

When I started the Skull Club Gallery in the Marigny over a decade ago, all I dreamed of was some rich white kid to come here show me how much better it is to just ‘import’ artists and entrepeneurs, rather than do all the work yourself & support local artists.

Thanks God Massah come ta show me the way.

Due to the woefully broken system of education in the city, combined with endemic racism and chronic extreme poverty, informed voters are rare.

Facts, transparency, and the stamina to keep pushing for change are the weapons in our arsenal. I grew up in a family that has practiced law in NOLA for over 200 years. Many judges and politicians in that woodpile, almost exclusively blind adherents to conservative views. As a result I have a clearer idea than most how broken our political system is.

The willful ignorance and misrepresentation of New Orleans and the problems it faces is our worst enemy after the political class. Media hacks like this bozo do nothing to improve the situation.

But let’s not white-wash the other side, either. After all, a chunk of that 200,000 DID re-elect Nagin and have been known to keep the same corrupt chuckleheads in power both before and after Katrina.