HumidCity

Well, it’s true. It happened. Just like the T-P said. The NOPD has confirmed that one of its own went all road rage and brandished a gun in front of kids at a local day camp.

And, dammit, now that the public knows about it, they’re gonna do something! Even though they tried to brush it aside yesterday.

When police were called to the community center initially, a ranking officer declared the complaint “unfounded,” after talking with the officer who witnesses said brandished the gun in a petty argument with a woman in the center’s pickup line.

Today, the chief is going to address it at a press conference. But in the meantime,

About eight [of] NOPD’s Public Integrity Bureau showed up at the center first thing Thursday morning, and were followed shortly after noon by investigators from the city’s Office of Municipal Investigation, said Treme Center employee Belden “Noonie” Batiste.

Police chief Warren Riley also called the center’s director, Jerome Smith, to express his concern.

Smith hoped that an investigation would lead to a reprimand, but he wasn’t hopeful.

All he wants is a reprimand? Jesus Christ, that broad is dangerous, man!

How long can this go on? We are not being protected and served by those who bandy the slogan. We are all being bullied, bullied as badly as those kids who were exposed to a gun-wielding loose cannon just yesterday.

- Bigezbear

well the ducks are gone… the pothole is now sequestered off like a crime scene with S&WB barrels warning all onlookers that there’s nothing to see here…

my pothole is going to go away! finally… after 2 1/2 years of gestation and expansion and still birth

you see… a few nights ago one of new orleans’ finest got stuck in lake pothole with his cruisers nose buried headfirst in the sludge of city planning… two towtruckers and all the kings horse and all the kings men later (as well as as some y’at tinged ungrammatical cussing and paperwork, too). me thinks the city may finally “fill” my hole in a new , non-amorous way… what no flowers?

afterall the fema trailer will soon be history… why not end with a smooth street riding into the sunset?

there was no pot in my hole… otherwise, i would have smoked it!

BLOG THIS!

p.h. fred

phfred@mcnawlins.com

The following article is from nola.com:

NOPD says old 5th District station burglarized — after TV reporters tour unsecured building

by Brendan McCarthy, The Times-Picayune

Friday June 06, 2008, 6:16 PM

The New Orleans Police Department said Friday afternoon it is investigating a burglary into its storm-damaged station in the 9th Ward — after reporters and officials from the Metropolitan Crime Commission walked into the open building to investigate why the build had not been secured.

The alleged burglary stems from a WWL–TV news report that found the 5th District was left unsecured — one door unlocked and another wide open — with potentially sensitive files and internal documents left in plain view.

The NOPD’s Public Information Office issued a news release “requesting the public’s assistance in locating and identifying the suspect(s) wanted in connection with the burglary” of the station. The release states that Superintendent Warren Riley learned of this today from a television reporter.

Within 30 minutes, the station fired back in an e-mail sent to all of the news release recipients. The station refuted the NOPD’s claims.

[EDIT: The rest of the article can be found on NOLA.com right here. Go read it. -Loki]

Sometimes items with similar, or almost identical, components come packaged very differently, confusing me beyond all reason. There’s always one different element that stands them apart…

For Example: In New Orleans we have a crazy man who runs around with a paint roller & a bucket of grey paint, screaming obscenities at shop girls, knocking folks on the head, and carrying a gun. The police, especially Sargent Fred Narcisse, public relations officer, refuse to prosecute him, even at the instruction of City Hall, because, as Sgt Fred tells us, “We like what he does.” (Personally, I was unaware that the police could dismiss charges against you, because ‘they like you’. I’ll be taking donuts over to the 5th district building every day now.)

New Orleans also has (had) a crazy man, on medication we’re told, who refused to let FEMA take away his trailer, probably because he had nowhere else to go, had gotten screwed by the Road Home Program, or some out of town contractors, or the City of New Orleans leveled his house for no reason, as they have done to so many others. I’m guessing the police didn’t like him as much, since they shot him dead.

The ‘Missing Component’ here is this: The Dead Guy was protecting his ‘Home’. The police killed him. The Paint Roller guy is defacing other peoples homes. The police protect him.

Now certainly, the police felt threatened by the Dead Guy, hence his deadness. Have they considered how that shop girl on Magazine Street felt with Paint Roller guy screaming obscene insults in her face? I guess that doesn’t matter, and won’t be prosecuted, because Sgt. Fred likes Paint Roller Guy.

I hope I’ve cleared that up for everybody.

Just in case you were wondering where all this lawless behavior from entitled officials comes from. Don’t piss off the cops, however, if you want to live.

Lord David
Pirate & Artist
Skull Club
New Orleans

i.

a man in lakeview was shot and killed by nopd after he first threatened fema workers who were “evicting” him from his fema trailer and then brandished a gun at police officers. the police claim he was a mentally ill man who was “off his meds,” but I wonder if that’s any reason to play judge, jury and executioner. mentally ill? who isn’t nowadays? shouldn’t law enforcement be handling (and shooting) the real crooks, you know, the ones in the suits who put the city in formaldehyde–infested fema trailers to begin with?

ii.

meanwhile my trailer eviction notice from the city of new orleans sits unanswered and ignored on my countertop as do my prescriptions. hmmm… go ahead punk…do you feel lucky?

iii.

my pothole is now the home for ducks PIC HERE… well, at least it was for a few hours. does that mean it’s no longer a pothole, but rather a topographical body of water to be registered with rand and mcnally? unfortunately or fortunately, the baby ducks were rescued ala’ evicted by a concerned neighbor who thought a) they might get hit by a car, b) they might be eaten by pigeons, c) they might get shot by the nopd. unfortunately, the mother was thrown into a quacking seizure for the next three hours (situationally induced mental illness) … and the ducklings probably won’t survive the night in unneeded and unrequested human care.

I wonder what we can learn from these random accidents of unkindness?

sic itur ad astra?

BLOG THIS!

phfred@notthat.com

That guy in Lakeview, the one the SWAT team went to visit yesterday, is now dead.

A man was reportedly shot and killed by New Orleans police SWAT officers after a 10-hour standoff in which he barricaded himself in his FEMA trailer in Lakeview, according to police.

The confrontation began after the man, wearing a gun in his waistband, chased away FEMA workers who were attempting to reclaim the trailer in which he was living, police said.

The standoff ended Wednesday morning when police shot him after using several canisters of tear gas trying to draw him out. Associated Press reports say paramedics took him to a hospital, where he later died.

Now here is the interesting quote a few paragraphs down:

Though he didn’t actually draw his gun, he placed his hand on it near his waistband while ordering the FEMA workers to leave the trailer, the workers told police.

Via NOLA.com

The things that really gets me about this is that so many of the lives lost to flying bullets merit no more than a blurb. This guy was colorful and dramatic enough for the news, but what about the ongoing spate of death that infects our city like the plague?

-Loki, HumidCity Founder

What have we been driven to?

An NOPD SWAT team Tuesday afternoon surrounded a house in Lakeview as a resident who learned he was about to lose his trailer threatened a FEMA official with a gun and barricaded himself inside the trailer, police said.-NOLA.com

-Loki, HumidCity Founder

Via NOLA.com:

A New Orleans police officer has been suspended from duty after being booked with DWI following a May 1 collision with a Causeway Police car on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway.

Officer Roy Caballero, 28, was driving his personal vehicle north on the bridge about five miles from the Metairie shoreline around 3 a.m. when his pickup swerved from the right lane into the left lane and into the Causeway cruiser’s path, said State Trooper Joseph Piglia. State Police Troop B is handling the accident investigation.

Do I really need to say anything?

Loki, HumidCity Founder

I’m sure that most, if not all of you, know the horror of Fred Radtke, the Grey Ghost. Many have tried to stop his vigilante tactics to no avail.

Now the NOPD has actually backed him in a vendetta against a local artist, who has been hanging removable messages of hope throughout the city, in hopes of inspiring those who choose to stay and rebuild. They flatly refuse to prosecute Radtke, even when he defaces private property.

Please read Richard A. Webster’s article on this.

CLICK HERE

These two short paragraphs are particularly disturbing;

“Robert Mendoza, director of the New Orleans Public Works Department, said Radtke is breaking the law every time he paints over graffiti on public street signs. But Mendoza will do nothing to prosecute the violations, he said, because his office lacks the resources and time to conduct an investigation.The New Orleans Police Department, however, condones Radtke’s actions. NOPD often calls him directly to cover graffiti and spokesman Sgt. Joe Narcisse said they have no intention of charging Radtke with any crimes. ”

Please repost this article, make a note of the names of Robert Mendoza at New Orleans Public Works, and Sgt. Joe Narcisse of the NOPD. Call these people repeatedly.

Call your congresman, your City Counsel Representative, and ask why a man City Hall says is a criminal is being supported by the NOPD. Ask why an artist, whose work is totally removable and loved by the locals is facing $50,000 worth of fines, and a man who defaces private property, sometimes violently, is above the law.

It’s a new year and a new broom. Pull together and stop this selective enforcement of rights and laws. We are not serfs on some distant Noble’s land. We are the citizens of the City of New Orleans, and these people are elected and paid by US.

If one man is above the law, the rest are beneath boot heels. Stand up for your rights, New Orleans. Haven’t we had enough?

Lord David

Skull Club

New Orleans

This person needs to be found and removed. Interesting stance being taken in the article as well, note how it is cast as aggravated burglary even though he “lifted her dress,” and, “fled the location in possession of the victim’s underwear?”

SUBJECT: Aggravated Burglary Warning

The New Orleans Police Department is currently investigating an
aggravated burglary that occurred on 03-27-07 at about 4:24 am, in the
2400 block of Calhoun Street. In this incident a female was inside of
her residence and heard glass breakage, she went to investigate by
opening her back door and observed an unknown black male standing at the
door. The subject forced his way in the residence and tied the victim’s
hands with rope and when she began to scream he produced a knife and
told the victim “I HAVE THIS AND I’AM NOT GOING TO USE IT, BUT IF YOU
MAKE NOISE I’M GOING TO!” The unknown black male lifted the victim’s
dress, at which time a struggle ensued, causing a disturbance and the
unknown subject fled the location in possession of the victim’s
underwear.

The suspect is described as being a black male in his late
twenties, approximately 5′11″, medium build, medium complexion, short
twist hairstyle, wearing a navy blue t-shirt, blue baggy jeans with the
carpenter hook on the side, and black tennis, with possibly an upper
gold tooth.

A very interesting new site (new to me anyway). In their own words:

Welcome to Signal26, where a New Orleans policeman can speak the truth freely without fear of retribution. Are you a New Orleans citizen? Read about how your police department is really run by the mayor’s office and command staff. See what everyday police must overcome just
to keep you safe.

Evidently written by an officer. Give it a read through and don’t miss the comments. It seems the public are not the only ones to be fed up with the antics of the Nagin/Reilly circus act.

Hat Tip to Slate

EDIT: This Signal26 posting talks about what the site is all about in response to a piece Garland Robinette did on WWL Radio. Personally I really like the idea of an unfiltered voice from the rank and file of our law enforcement. The view of NOPD as either all good or all bad is not in tune with reality. I’m a native, I have my share of both good cop and bad cop stories. I will be aproaching 103-M, the blogger for a virtual interview in the near future, keep your eyes peeled.

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you’re always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away

We better stop, hey, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
Stop, hey, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
Stop, now, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going dow
Stop, children, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down

-Buffalo Springfield

powered by performancing firefox

NOLA.com: Times-Picayune Updates
FBI agents will hit the streets with NOPD patrols, knocking on doors in order to build relationships with residents, he added, determined to end the days when citizens distrust police to the point where they neither want to cooperate with investigations or testify at trials.

Am I the only one a bit unnerved by the idea of Feds knocking on my door? With NOPD in tow? Even for someone with nothing to hide that is a bit on the disturbing side. There are definetly leanings towards a police state mentality here. One could speculate about violence being allowed to get out of hand in order to facillitate federalizing the city, but that would be absurd.

Makes you think. Better be good out there.

Oh yeah, the chocolate ration has been increased.

EDIT: This post and the prior one were read in their entirety on the nationally syndicated Jack Blood’s Deadline Live tonight. Thanks Jack!

I would like to share a piece of mail I received today. It was forwarded to me by my editor Nathan Morrison and I think it is indicative of the questions being asked in other parts of the country. After all, there is not much beyond soundbites and highly condensed (and usually ill informed) mainstream media on the subject.

This is probably the way that most people outside of NOLA see the situation. I hope I have done some justice to these questions. The original author’s name has been removed along with the headers.

Alright, I will start by admitting that family matters are keeping me from posting for a day or two and I do not have much time to write now. I do, however, have two things to present that will help convey it.

First comes the amazing video offering from American Zombie. Watch, rinse, repeat! He presents a wonderfully balanced mini-documentary of the day including interviews with several local bloggers including myself, Maitri, Adrastos, Blake Haney, and more. Absolutely fantastic, a must see! (And yes, this will dispel all rumors, I really am that loud)

Second is a piece from the Institute for Southern Studies entitled Concerns Grow Over Expanded Police Power in New Orleans. It documents and addresses some of the concerns brought up over at Library Chronicles. As I have commented there, these are aspects of the situation that need to be watched for, especialy in the current national climate of civil liberties violations. While I do not agree with his presentation a lot of the time, there are those elements of truth to it.

I think those two should hold y’all until around Monday when I will have time to post more in depth thoughts. In the meantime I highly advise that you check out the NOLAbloggers in my links bar. They will give you a variety of opinions, facts, factoids, pictures, video and good wholesome (?) New Orleans attitude.

As the Zombie himself would say, Ashe!

This is why we march: Silence IS Violence, it is the tacit acceptance of the unacceptable. It is the aknowledgement that we, as a community are beaten. Silence and inaction are not an option, do you hear me Ray? While lackwit Reilly tells us that the crime has gotten better people are shot down in cold blood, and in their own homes no less.If I believed in silence I would not write, I would not blog, I would not run my mouth in the face of injustice. Silence IS Violence.

Tomorrow we will join as a community and march on City Hall. 11 am at the foot of Canal St. is where it all begins, although various neighborhood groups will be doing their own marches t this meeting point.
Be there for the sake of the recently dead. Be there for Dinerral Shavers of the Hot 8 Brass Band, Jealina Brown, Steve Blair, Corey Hayes, Eddy Saint Fleur, Don Morgan, Helen Hill, Larry Glover, and Monier Gindy. Be there before it is your name or your wife’s or maybe even your child’s on a list like this.

Two of our number, the NOLABloggers that is, will be speaking once we reach City Hall: the voices of B.Rox, and Squandered Heritage will be raised along with others. Join us, be part of the solution, take our city back!

There is no joy in Mudville, Warren Riley has struck out!

-Loki

Uptown New Orleans

Why march against crime? Isn’t that for the college kids to do while they are all stoned and feeling attention hungry? One of my new favorite NOLABloggers, NOLA-Dishu, gives us documented facts on how it actually has worked before here in New Orleans (HT to American Zombie for turning me on to him)

NOLA-dishu

Next up will be a march on City Hall next Thursday. Now, I’ve heard some people already dissing the idea and calling it a waste, but I strongly disagree and here’s why:

In the mid-90’s, New Orleans was experiencing a crime wave as bad as this city has ever seen. The coup de grace was a horrific murder at the Louisiana Pizza Kitchen. It was the last straw for the citizens of New Orleans. Citizens, both black and white, marched on City Hall. Morial, under severe pressure, gave Pennington Carte Blanche to clean up the NOPD. Officers were given substantial raises. He also instituted CompStat (which I’m trying to replicate in my own improvisational way). Morale amongst the street cops rose. Crime plummeted. Other factors were involved, but the results are undeniable. In 1999, there were only 158 murders. That’s fewer than last year with more than double the population.

That’s why it’s wrong to say it isn’t fixable. IT’S BEEN DONE ONCE BEFORE. WE CAN DO IT AGAIN. APATHY TOWARDS CRIME WILL KILL THIS CITY AS SURELY AS THE THUGS RUNNING AROUND WITH AK’S.

He is dead right. I was working in the service industry in the French Quarter at the time. The shockwaves of the La. Pizza Kitchen murders were immediate and severe. None of us felt safe at work, or leaving work. Many of us knew the victims directly or had friends in common. (when you work in the industry you tend to end up drinking with your fellow waiters and such at partcular bars after work. You tend to know the guys at the various other venues.) It was shocking, barbaric, and as he points out galvanizing.

We need that same level of outrage applied to Wonka The Invisible and dear, adorable Warren. These people purportedly work for us (not that I have seen any evidence of work this term) and need to be reminded of it!

This is not a black issue or a white issue, its a thug issue. We cannot allow predators to thin our numbers. I understand that there are very definite factors that may have led them to this lifestyle. Only the uninformed and unobservant can discount the influence of grotesque poverty, lack of education, racism, and diminished opportunities have played in breeding these criminals. BUT, we are all human and have choices to make. Good or Evil. Right or Wrong. What your childhood was like does not mean shit to me if you have deprived a child of their parent by depriving that parent of their life.

Just to address the comments that I know are coming: This city has been governed by african americans since the 70’s so trying to put everything down to racism is more than a bit disingenuous. I would also like to point out that the NOPD have failed to provide any sort of description in almost all of these cases. How do you know what race the perp was?

I am a native, I know this has always been a violent town. I also know that we have to take it back. The wave of violence that has flooded the city is as dangerous as the waters of the Federal Flood. It is a city killer. This IS the next storm!

Tootie Montana is rolling in his grave.

The creator of the Flycycle and collector of Cosmic Debris speaks about staying in NOLA through the Storms and his adventures with the police.

My friend Chisaiboo aka Melody went down to Tylertown MS and to NOLA to rescue animals stranded by Katrina and to work at a shelter in MS caring for rescued dogs. The conditions are appalling. All of the animals are filthy and most are emaciated and dehydrated. They’re in outdoor pens on asphalt infested with fire ants. Those are the lucky ones who even got rescued. The National Guard and NOPD are not officially supposed to be rescuing pets at all. Thousands of dying animals remain in NOLA and time is running out. Read her experiences at http://www.livejournal.com/users/chisaiboo/.

She’s an amazing punk-rock dynamo of a chica at all of 5 feet and 95 lbs. I am totally impressed with her toughness and compassion in the face of conditions which took out 8 other volunteers due to heatsroke and dehydration in one day. Loki, go visit her Lucky 13 bar in Park Slope and say hello while you’re still in NYC. Tell her bifemmefatale sent ya.