Spike Lee's Katrina MOVIE..oh my hell...

[MBreinin]

Oh I totally believe this but I am wondering if you have any documentation on this or an article?

This is a fact. Houston's murder rate increased nearly 30% after Katrina. There are plenty of articles out there, but I can't point you to one in particular. Nobody ever claimed that we evacuated our finest to Houston...

Baton Rouge also had a crime wave, and has more than doubled in size.

However, these elements are returning with their now superior Texas drug connections and there is much more at stake now, not to mention the deals that went bad due to the storm and the need to collect on these year old debts. New Orleans is engaged in a serious turf war right now...it is not common for there to be multiple homicides in Central City on a daily basis. Trust me, the people of New Orleans are not happy about all of the hue and cry to "bring our people home." Many of us, black, white, yellow, red...green..whatever, saw this as a golden opportunity to get SOME benefit from this storm. That benefit being the diaspora of our more serious criminal elements to other parts of this country. People are pissed now and actually cooperating with the cops to try to curb this war.

Mike

[Shawn Lutz]

Oh I totally believe this but I am wondering if you have any documentation on this or an article?

I read it several times, most recently on CNN.com...I believe the increase was like 27%..

[yard dawg]

Good Lord, you are clueless, so I am going to address each of these misguided points one by one.



Lousiana is one of the poorest states in the union. Yes, Louisiana cannot raise a billion dollars for this. Louisiana can't even pay their own civil servants and school teachers.



Wrong. It IS the Feds job to pay for Levees. The Army Corps of Engineers designed the Levee Protection System and it was implemented with federal dollars. New Orleans is the nation's most important port, which is why the FEDS are so interested in protecting the city.



Alot of local cops were criminals themselves who do their fair share of looting, even helping themselves to new cars. Alot of them were honest and overwhelmed. Alot of them lost their homes and didn't know what happened to their families and loved ones. Alot of them buckled under the stress of having to contain a war zone with a medium sized police force.




The Governor asked for the guard and other troops very early on. The Feds wanted her to assign the State's Sovereignty to the Feds, which she would not do. This was a condition for troops. The feds held up the National Guard, not the Governor.



Helped out? When do thugs ever "help out". Don't be so fucking naive. FEMA don't carry guns, true. But FEMA was nowhere to be found when all of this shit was going down. There weren't in town. The military carries guns and should have been deployed on Monday. Again, see above.



The mess ISN'T OVER. People are all, "I'm sick of New Orleans and 9/11...this stuff is played out...". Played out to YOU. New Orleans is still crippled. It is just that people want to pretend it is all fixed and happy again. Well, its not..New Orleans is totally fucked up to this day, and little has been done.



Good point. But only those with an agenda in the black community want to use the race card. Most people down here just want normalcy again.

Not clueless just a different point of view. The louisiana governor didnt want to sign over states rights or whatever you call it. Then its her problem to fix. I doubt very seriously that louisiana couldnt raise the money poor or not. Im willing to bet that if you searched the budget of LA you'd find more than a billion dollars of hand outs to corporations or other wastful programs. The federal govt is BROKE and if we dont stop demanding federal money for every problem we are all going to be broke. My point to this is that the blame game is pointless. Louisiana officials made mistakes too. There was too much politcs going on with both sides. The looting and violence that was done was insane. It doesnt matter if it was dirty cops or gang bangers it was just wrong and it did slow up help. I wouldnt fly in and help if I was a copter pilot with people shooting at me. I wouldnt boat in either.

There is another city that was destroyed to called Gulfport and pass christian and they arent fighting with each other over who was to blame they are just doing what they can to rebuild.

NO is doing business too. My daddy drives a train in there 2 or 3 times a week to pick up stuff so its not dead. There are parts of the city that are still a mess but blaming Bush or Nagin or anyone wont get it cleaned up and rebuilt. We need to get pass the blame game and playing politics with peoples lives and those affected need to put in a little effort too and not just wait for a federal govt check.

[Shawn Lutz]

bet the Superdome is ready for NFL football before September 10th

[MBreinin]

Not clueless just a different point of view. The louisiana governor didnt want to sign over states rights or whatever you call it. Then its her problem to fix.

This was a request of historical proportions. Never had the federal government requested a Governor to surrender his or her state's right to sovereignty as a condition for National Guard assistance. The Feds can't run this nation's government, what makes you think they can run Louisiana? She did "fix" this problem, she refused and eventually got the troops. However, this never should have been a condition in the first place. This is nothing but hubris on the part of a Republican federal government who simply thought that a Freshman Democrat female Governor didn't know what the fuck she was doing.

I doubt very seriously that louisiana couldnt raise the money poor or not. Im willing to bet that if you searched the budget of LA you'd find more than a billion dollars of hand outs to corporations or other wastful programs.

You may be able to. However, I am going to address this in more detail below.

The federal govt is BROKE and if we dont stop demanding federal money for every problem we are all going to be broke. My point to this is that the blame game is pointless.

Bush inherited a federal government with a nice fat surplus and a balanced budget. He took that surplus and created the largest deficit in this nation's history. You are damn right I blame him and his cadre of NeoCons. The federal government FAILED Louisiana. The Army Corps designed and oversaw the construction of all levees and flood protection devices in and around New Orleans. They have accepted liability for this, and it is their responsibility to make amends...with federal dollars, damn straight. Louisisiana is trying to raise capital. One way is through demanding a cut of federal revenues generated through oil wells located offshore of Louisiana. We'll see how this goes.

Louisiana officials made mistakes too. There was too much politcs going on with both sides. The looting and violence that was done was insane. It doesnt matter if it was dirty cops or gang bangers it was just wrong and it did slow up help.

100% true. I agree 100%.

There is another city that was destroyed to called Gulfport and pass christian and they arent fighting with each other over who was to blame they are just doing what they can to rebuild.

And Waveland and parts of Biloxi and parts of Pascagoula and on and on. Don't think I am not conscious of this, I have not forgotten what happened in Mississippi..nor have I forgotten what happened in Lake Charles, Cameron, Holly Beach and other Louisiana cities that took a hit from Rita. My kids are now 1500 miles away from me because of Rita. People are bitching everywhere. However, the bottom line is that these cities simply aren't as important on a national level as New Orleans. New Orleans is the nation's most important port. It is crucial to shipping in this country and moves a massive amount of goods in and out of this nation. You want to point a finger in Mississippi? Point it right at the insurance industry and the FEDERALLY run and orchestrated National Flood Insurance Program.

NO is doing business too. My daddy drives a train in there 2 or 3 times a week to pick up stuff so its not dead. There are parts of the city that are still a mess but blaming Bush or Nagin or anyone wont get it cleaned up and rebuilt.

True, New Orleans is "doing business", but it is not business as usual and there are enormous portions that are still "a mess".

We need to get pass the blame game and playing politics with peoples lives and those affected need to put in a little effort too and not just wait for a federal govt check.

It is hard to generate the income needed to rebuild without figuring out some blame. "The Blame Game" is a convenient term invented by this administration to due just that, shift blame away from our incompetent federal government. None of the promises made by Bush to the Gulf Coast have been realized. What do you do in that situation? When the administration piggybacks more federal dollars for Iraq on a Katrina relief Bill? What do you call that? I call it disgusting.

Mike

[MBreinin]

bet the Superdome is ready for NFL football before September 10th

Of course. And don't think we aren't disgusted about this. Our streets are virtually impassable due to damage, but the Superdome gets fixed first and foremost. This is a classic example of fucked up priorities.

Mike

[danastas]

Republicans & Democrats collectively could fuck up a wet dream......politics suck

While in general I agree with you, what are the chances that the head of the Equestrian association (who bankrupted it) would be the head of FEMA under any other President, Republican or Democrat? I'd say NOT. This isn't a GOP issue, it's a BUSH thang.

"Brownie, you're doing a good job."

[Tetsuo]

The idea though of the Superdome is to generate more revenue for the town by getting the NFL's money back in the towns pockets. I know they are trying to get as much money through tourism infused back into NO as possible... not sure if it is a good or bad plan. I know it sucks for locals indeed but longterm it might payoff. It is still yet to be seen of course.

[yard dawg]

This was a request of historical proportions. Never had the federal government requested a Governor to surrender his or her state's right to sovereignty as a condition for National Guard assistance. The Feds can't run this nation's government, what makes you think they can run Louisiana? She did "fix" this problem, she refused and eventually got the troops. However, this never should have been a condition in the first place. This is nothing but hubris on the part of a Republican federal government who simply thought that a Freshman Democrat female Governor didn't know what the fuck she was doing.





You may be able to. However, I am going to address this in more detail below.



Bush inherited a federal government with a nice fat surplus and a balanced budget. He took that surplus and created the largest deficit in this nation's history. You are damn right I blame him and his cadre of NeoCons. The federal government FAILED Louisiana. The Army Corps designed and oversaw the construction of all levees and flood protection devices in and around New Orleans. They have accepted liability for this, and it is their responsibility to make amends...with federal dollars, damn straight. Louisisiana is trying to raise capital. One way is through demanding a cut of federal revenues generated through oil wells located offshore of Louisiana. We'll see how this goes.






100% true. I agree 100%.



And Waveland and parts of Biloxi and parts of Pascagoula and on and on. Don't think I am not conscious of this, I have not forgotten what happened in Mississippi..nor have I forgotten what happened in Lake Charles, Cameron, Holly Beach and other Louisiana cities that took a hit from Rita. My kids are now 1500 miles away from me because of Rita. People are bitching everywhere. However, the bottom line is that these cities simply aren't as important on a national level as New Orleans. New Orleans is the nation's most important port. It is crucial to shipping in this country and moves a massive amount of goods in and out of this nation. You want to point a finger in Mississippi? Point it right at the insurance industry and the FEDERALLY run and orchestrated National Flood Insurance Program.



True, New Orleans is "doing business", but it is not business as usual and there are enormous portions that are still "a mess".



It is hard to generate the income needed to rebuild without figuring out some blame. "The Blame Game" is a convenient term invented by this administration to due just that, shift blame away from our incompetent federal government. None of the promises made by Bush to the Gulf Coast have been realized. What do you do in that situation? When the administration piggybacks more federal dollars for Iraq on a Katrina relief Bill? What do you call that? I call it disgusting.


Mike

Like I said it was politics. I did say Bush was a moron BTW but Spike Lee shouldnt say it was race related. It was politics related. If she didnt want to sign it over then maybe she should take back control of the levees and deal with them herself.


Bush inherited a income surplus. The debt was there and was still out of control. Louisiana is known for wasting tax dollars too. WHen LSU found out the levees were week LA should have taken control and dealt with it themsleves. Screw the feds, its there city not the feds.

The ports are running. Like I said trains run there all the time. The problem with the spike lee movie is that he doesnt care about NO he only cares about what he sees as injustice to black people. Its not about race. Its about economic standing.haves and have nots. Dems and Reps dont care about either. When the storm hit they worried about gas prices and refineries and ports. They should have been worried about the people black and white.

Like I said Dems are voting for that too. Bush is a moron I agree with that and the war is a waste of money too. We need to stop fussing about politics and right and wrong and remember its people that were flooded out, not buildings. Its bigger than an important port for business. There are people who have no hope left. Not just black people but all the people who had there lives ripped from them. If we would just stop looking at this from a race/political issue we'd see that we are both interested in helping the PEOPLE get there lives back minus the thugs.

[lerxstcat]

Mike, I think I have a pretty good perspectiove of New Orleans. You live in Mandeville for a reason, right? Because the city itself is too dangerous, which is what I said. I've been going there for concerts and Mardi Gras since 1972 and lived there in the summer of 1975 (Well, Kenner, but close enough).

I agree, even the nice parts of NOLA are dangerous. That crackhouse on the next block from the mansions thing though, I've seen that in Santa Ana and Santa Monica, I don't think it's unique to NOLA. The poverty you speak about of NOLA is also something the Mississippi Coast suffered to a great degree too. From the time of Camille in 1969 until they legalized casinos in 1990-91, the Mississippi Gulf Coast had an unemplyment rate of 25% - which didn't count those who'd stopped looking. And of course Katrina destroyed that industry. So NOLA doesn't have the monopoly on poverty.

The areas to which those evacuees were dispersed, all are having major SPIKES in their crime levels. They were sent to clean apartments and given monthloy stipends in places from New England to Seattle and in all those places they are trashing what they've been given and their new environment. I don't know how you can justify that; I can't.

I am proud of the fact that the people of my home state, of all races, behaved much better in Katrina's aftermath than those of New Orleans. You may feel differently about it, but you yourself live outside of the high crime zone. Mandeville is a world away from New Orleans itself.

From my POV, New Orleans has had too much attention already. The MS Gulf Coast has suffered greatly because all the coverage has been about New Orleans. We've been painted as a white Republican enclave. I guess the 36% of our population that's black too doesn't count to Spike Lee.

[MBreinin]

Mike, I think I have a pretty good perspectiove of New Orleans. You live in Mandeville for a reason, right? Because the city itself is too dangerous, which is what I said. I've been going there for concerts and Mardi Gras since 1972 and lived there in the summer of 1975 (Well, Kenner, but close enough).

I agree, even the nice parts of NOLA are dangerous. That crackhouse on the next block from the mansions thing though, I've seen that in Santa Ana and Santa Monica, I don't think it's unique to NOLA. The poverty you speak about of NOLA is also something the Mississippi Coast suffered to a great degree too. From the time of Camille in 1969 until they legalized casinos in 1990-91, the Mississippi Gulf Coast had an unemplyment rate of 25% - which didn't count those who'd stopped looking. And of course Katrina destroyed that industry. So NOLA doesn't have the monopoly on poverty.

The areas to which those evacuees were dispersed, all are having major SPIKES in their crime levels. They were sent to clean apartments and given monthloy stipends in places from New England to Seattle and in all those places they are trashing what they've been given and their new environment. I don't know how you can justify that; I can't.

I am proud of the fact that the people of my home state, of all races, behaved much better in Katrina's aftermath than those of New Orleans. You may feel differently about it, but you yourself live outside of the high crime zone. Mandeville is a world away from New Orleans itself.

From my POV, New Orleans has had too much attention already. The MS Gulf Coast has suffered greatly because all the coverage has been about New Orleans. We've been painted as a white Republican enclave. I guess the 36% of our population that's black too doesn't count to Spike Lee.

I typed a huge response and I crashed. I am not going to type it again. I agree on some points, and I disagree on some others.

Mike

[yard dawg]

Mike, I think I have a pretty good perspectiove of New Orleans. You live in Mandeville for a reason, right? Because the city itself is too dangerous, which is what I said. I've been going there for concerts and Mardi Gras since 1972 and lived there in the summer of 1975 (Well, Kenner, but close enough).

I agree, even the nice parts of NOLA are dangerous. That crackhouse on the next block from the mansions thing though, I've seen that in Santa Ana and Santa Monica, I don't think it's unique to NOLA. The poverty you speak about of NOLA is also something the Mississippi Coast suffered to a great degree too. From the time of Camille in 1969 until they legalized casinos in 1990-91, the Mississippi Gulf Coast had an unemplyment rate of 25% - which didn't count those who'd stopped looking. And of course Katrina destroyed that industry. So NOLA doesn't have the monopoly on poverty.

The areas to which those evacuees were dispersed, all are having major SPIKES in their crime levels. They were sent to clean apartments and given monthloy stipends in places from New England to Seattle and in all those places they are trashing what they've been given and their new environment. I don't know how you can justify that; I can't.

I am proud of the fact that the people of my home state, of all races, behaved much better in Katrina's aftermath than those of New Orleans. You may feel differently about it, but you yourself live outside of the high crime zone. Mandeville is a world away from New Orleans itself.

From my POV, New Orleans has had too much attention already. The MS Gulf Coast has suffered greatly because all the coverage has been about New Orleans. We've been painted as a white Republican enclave. I guess the 36% of our population that's black too doesn't count to Spike Lee.

Yea what he said!!!

Mississippi is also poor. They too have problems making govt payrol etc bla bla but when they need money for port construction the money supernaturally showed up. IT WAS $200,000,000 . where there is a will there is a way. The money is there if your govenor and legislature would stop giving it to corporations and handout programs.

[MBreinin]

Let me say this. If you think I support our politicians, you are way off of base. I think Nagin is an idiot, and I am disgusted in the fact that he was re-elected. You know what Nagin is? Nagin is a Republican who used to be the CEO of Cox Cable. He switched his party affiliation because Republicans, black or white, don't get elected Mayor in New Orleans. For the most part, affluent whites put Sugar Ray in office. Then, post Katrina he is up there with this put on preacher accent raving about racism and the "Chocolate City." I am not a Nagin fan and I think he is incompetent. New Orleans languished for almost a year because we had an election to run and that was priority #1 down here. Politics as usual.

Blanco? I voted for Bobby Jindhal, the Indian-American Republican. What really was the difference between the two? From a policy standpoint, not much. He was Pro-Life, she was a non-committed Pro-Lifer. On almost every other platform, they barely differed. She was basically as conservative as you can get and still call yourself a "Democrat". Jindhal had his shit together, and I was willing to trade some of my political and social ideals for a competent Governor. But, she was white and he wasn't. End of story, she won. She sucks.

Do our politics suck? Yeah, they do. This is Louisiana...we wrote the rulebook on graft and corruption.

Still, the levees were designed by the feds and funded jointly by the feds and the state. The Army Corps FUCKED UP and thus I feel the feds need to foot the bill for proper protection.

If you buy an automobile that has a serious design flaw, and you buy it with a manufacturer's incentive plan that gives you a killer interest rate and a rebate (meaning that you and the manufacturer contribute to the purchase), and that car rolls over and paralyzes you....where are you going to look? Are you going to suck it up and pay for a new car and your medical expenses, or are you going to look to that car manufacturer? Give me an honest answer.

Mike

[yard dawg]

If you buy an automobile that has a serious design flaw, and you buy it with a manufacturer's incentive plan that gives you a killer interest rate and a rebate (meaning that you and the manufacturer contribute to the purchase), and that car rolls over and paralyzes you....where are you going to look? Are you going to suck it up and pay for a new car and your medical expenses, or are you going to look to that car manufacturer? Give me an honest answer.

Mike

Honest answer. If I was told that the car had safety problems and after contacting the maker they said no they wouldnt fix it. I'd do what I could to insure me and mine were safe. LSU did a study saying the levees couldnt hold off a class 5 storm. Thats the warning. If the feds refused to pay up they were wrong but meanwhile I protect my people by doing what needs to be done. Fight over the moneys later in court if need be.

Spike Lees movie will flop I hope. Does anyone think it will be one sided? Will it be like Mike Moorer films?

[OnlineStageGear]

Bush inherited a federal government with a nice fat surplus and a balanced budget. He took that surplus and created the largest deficit in this nation's history. You are damn right I blame him and his cadre of NeoCons.

Seeing as how you are on a factfinding mission, Bush's economic plans didn't even go into effect untill well after the recession hit and his tax cuts slowed down the recession so your statement is flat out wrong. The economy was well on it's way down before Bush even hit office. That is a fact.