HumidCity

Well it looks like Kevin Allman, a journalist colleague of mine who I have great respect for, has hit pay dirt on the great Nagin Award Controversy ™. Dig it (and Digg it when you go read the whole thing):

It was a perfect storm for outrage: The very week that the mayor’s office was under attack for its role in the burgeoning NOAH scandal, the entire city council was served with federal subpoenas, the FBI raided the former offices of NOAH, a formal investigation began over potential mismanagement of federal rebuilding funds, and the whole shiznit hit The New York Times…a pretty little party invitation went out.

The honoree: Mayor C. Ray Nagin, who was to be honored by a group called “The Excellence in Recovery Host Committee,” which was presenting the mayor with “The Award of Distinction For Recovery, Courage, and Leadership.” There didn’t seem to be much (anything, frankly) about “The Excellence in Recovery Host Committee” anywhere on the Web, and, in Clancy DuBos‘ words in a blog reaction, it “did not exist in official, corporate form according to the Secretary of State’s office.” Was it a charity? A fundraiser?

He got ahold of host and co-chair Stewart Juneau, a well known Louisiana developer/samaritan, and had a very interesting discussion. I highly advise checking it out. Not only did KA get a lot of answers, but he also managed to get invited and will be able to report back from the proceedings themselves. If there is going to be a journalist there I’m glad its him.

Go read.

-Loki, HumidCity Founder

it appears the the local media (TV and TP as well as Gambit) is busy reporting stories about business as unusual in the Big Easy (crime, corruption, and frustration). Readers are growing tired of false expectations and bad promises. Readers have grown weary and bleary-eyed of the focus on the BAD NEWS of bad, bad New Orleans. Shouldn’t we try to see something positive? Wouldn’t we be more likely to get people to return? Wouldn’t we be more likely to get businesses to stay? Wouldn’t we be more likely to convince other states to help? You know… it’s the old flies and honey cha cha cha… Vigilantes and murders may sell papers, but they’re not going to help the economy. I know there is good news out there, I beg you to shout it from the top of monkey hill… we need it. We need it desperately. We need it now. No shots need to be fired. No crimes have to be committed. But, is that such a bad thing? BLOG THIS!