NationStates Jolt Archive

COMMENTARY: Strange how this Mayor has to lay people off right at the time when they're most needed. Tell me there are no other options. Surely, with all the money flowing into New Orleans, a few bucks for salaries of necessary personnel could be found. :(


Mayor of New Orleans Announces
Layoffs of City Workers (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/05/national/nationalspecial/05orleans.html?th&emc=th)


By CHRISTINE HAUSER
Published: October 5, 2005
NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 4 - The mayor of this battered city said Tuesday that about half of its 6,000 public employees would be laid off because there was not enough money to meet the payroll.

"Today it's with great sadness that we announce that we were unable to hold on to some of our dedicated city workers," Mayor C. Ray Nagin said.

The layoffs - emergency leave without pay - will begin Oct. 8 and leave about 3,000 nonessential workers unemployed when completed in about two weeks. Final paychecks will be issued this month.

Workers in essential services like fire, police, emergency medical, and sewage and water services will not be affected, the mayor's communications director, Sally Forman, said.

Employees in recreation, parks, economic development, housing, finance, technology and law, and other departments will bear the brunt. "You have cuts across the board," Ms. Forman said.

Mr. Nagin made the announcement at a news conference just one day after the governor of Louisiana, Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, met with the heads of parishes to assess how much money would be needed to meet payrolls in areas where the tax base has been devastated.

Ms. Blanco said yesterday that she wanted Congress or President Bush to change the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act regulations to allow funds to pay regular salaries and not just emergency-related overtime of public employees.

Mr. Bush said at a news conference on Tuesday that Congress had important work to do responding to the destruction of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

"I've also made it clear we must do so in a fiscally responsible way," he said. "Congress needs to pay for as much of the hurricane relief as possible by cutting spending. I'll work with members of Congress to identify offsets and to free up money for the reconstruction efforts."

In addition to the New Orleans layoffs, which Mr. Nagin said were an initial cut, the mayor said he was also asking the state to offer bonds to finance some of the city's debt. "I'm hoping those two actions will give us flexibility," he said.

The mayor said the city had checked with federal financial sources, state sources, local banks and other financial institutions but was unable to maintain staffing at current levels.

He said that the city payroll was about $20 million a month and that the cuts would shave about $5 million to $8 million of that amount. "We cannot afford to keep a full complement of city workers under our present financial conditions," he said.

There had been no talk of cutting city jobs before the storms, Ms. Forman said.

Just last week, Mr. Nagin had laid out plans to open most of New Orleans to residents, an effort that had been delayed by Hurricane Rita, by allowing people to return to all neighborhoods except the Lower Ninth Ward, which he said was still flooded.

Mr. Nagin said Tuesday that about 50,000 people were on the west bank and about 30,000 on the east bank, and that the city could handle many more. Water tests were still being conducted and levees repaired.

On Wednesday, almost all the city's areas will be open for residents to inspect their property, the mayor said, with some of the Ninth Ward still closed. People will be kept off the streets from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Many city employees, like other New Orleans residents, lost their homes and evacuated. Others stayed behind and resumed work, to some extent, in their former jobs, cleaning up and maintaining the sites. They were housed in cruise ships along the New Orleans Riverwalk.

City employees said Tuesday that the announcement added to an air of uncertainty, aggravating already dire conditions of homelessness with looming unemployment.

A city accountant, Melvin Harrison, 60, said he and other workers were last paid on Friday. "We don't know what we are going to do," he said at the pier where the cruise ships are docked. "It will be devastating to a lot of us who have to support families."

Abraham Jackson, a security guard in the city's parks, said he spent his time now helping in the cleanup. But he did not expect to return to his former job. "We do not know if we will be employed today, tomorrow or the next day," Mr. Jackson said.

A firefighter who asked not to be identified said, "It's very unfortunate what happened, but I also understand the other side."

"The city is bankrupt," the firefighter added, saying that there were now 6 or 7 firefighting bases in the city where once there had been more than 40.

All city workers will receive paychecks on Oct. 14, and the departing nonessential members of the support staff of the Police and Fire Departments will get their final pay on Oct. 21.

Mr. Nagin said employees to be laid off would be given written notice, contacted through address- changes notices, federal databases and e-mail messages.

Many are among the homeless spread out after Hurricane Katrina hit the city.

Where do you expect New Orleans to get the money to pay their salaries? Rebuilding the city has to come first and that takes cash. Without the tourism and trade that brought money into the city there simply won't be enough cash to pay the civil servants.

No residents, no businesses = no taxes

No taxes = no salaries

No salaries = no employees

This is definately a sad day for a lot of people. I have nothing but pity in my heart for them all, however it brings up a good point. After Nagin announced people could come back, and then Rita came through, I'm wondering if we shouldn't just shut down the whole city until the Levees are fully completed and reinforced.

I certainly wouldn't want to chance it, but of course, I have a home and they don't, so I guess it's really not up to me.

I just hope they ALL get back to life as soon as possible. Those poor people. It breaks my heart.

Where do you expect New Orleans to get the money to pay their salaries? Rebuilding the city has to come first and that takes cash. Without the tourism and trade that brought money into the city there simply won't be enough cash to pay the civil servants.
They turn to the Federal Government for everything else, why not this???

This is definately a sad day for a lot of people. I have nothing but pity in my heart for them all, however it brings up a good point. After Nagin announced people could come back, and then Rita came through, I'm wondering if we shouldn't just shut down the whole city until the Levees are fully completed and reinforced.

I certainly wouldn't want to chance it, but of course, I have a home and they don't, so I guess it's really not up to me.

I just hope they ALL get back to life as soon as possible. Those poor people. It breaks my heart.

Probably the reason he wanted people back is so that they wouldn't set down roots somewhere else, and so he would still have a tax base.

The longer he doesn't have a tax base, the less time he personally has as a paid employee - including his staff, police, and firemen.

Once that runs out, the city government is essentially dead. Not that the city can't come back in the future - but not with Mayor Nagin, and not with most of its previous bureaucracy.

That's if most people return. Apparently, a large number of people have seen what's left, and don't want to rebuild. It only has to be around 50 percent to radically change the city and destroy what's left of Nagin's government.

And who will move in, building on cleared land, after the levees are not only fixed, but built larger and stronger?

People with money.

They turn to the Federal Government for everything else, why not this???
They did. They also went to banks. Both said no.

It's even in your own article:
The mayor said the city had checked with federal financial sources, state sources, local banks and other financial institutions but was unable to maintain staffing at current levels.

They turn to the Federal Government for everything else, why not this???
Maybe because the federal government won't pay up.

They did. They also went to banks. Both said no.
Banks say no because the city has no way to raise the money to pay them back anytime soon.

The Feds have already given 68 billion dollars. Nagin wants 250 billion dollars in a single year.

250 billion is not a small chunk of change. It would be a noticeable portion of the Federal budget.

Banks say no because the city has no way to raise the money to pay them back anytime soon.

The Feds have already given 68 billion dollars. Nagin wants 250 billion dollars in a single year.

250 billion is not a small chunk of change. It would be a noticeable portion of the Federal budget.
I don't remember asking.

The Feds have already given 68 billion dollars. Nagin wants 250 billion dollars in a single year.

250 billion is not a small chunk of change. It would be a noticeable portion of the Federal budget.

Seems a bit odd for an outsider looking in.. the taxpayer has already spent 300 billion in Iraq to date, but people in the USA are upset with the idea of paying to help their own? Seems some what puzzling to me personally. Building schools and infrastructure in Iraq good?... re-building America bad? :confused:

They did. They also went to banks. Both said no.

It's even in your own article:
So he's exhausted every avenue to keep his government alive? Riiiight!

Seems a bit odd for an outsider looking in.. the taxpayer has already spent 300 billion in Iraq to date, but people in the USA are upset with the idea of paying to help their own? Seems some what puzzling to me personally. Building schools and infrastructure in Iraq good?... re-building America bad? :confused:
Apparently we only like helping if we get to shoot people.

So he's exhausted every avenue to keep his government alive? Riiiight!
So where's the money going to come from?

Apparently we only like helping if we get to shoot people.
Funny. Very funny. Ha. Ha. :rolleyes:

Seems a bit odd for an outsider looking in.. the taxpayer has already spent 300 billion in Iraq to date, but people in the USA are upset with the idea of paying to help their own? Seems some what puzzling to me personally. Building schools and infrastructure in Iraq good?... re-building America bad? :confused:

I'm not happy with the idea of rebuilding Iraq, either.

War is war. If we choose war, then we should lay waste to a place so that the people who survive (and we should leave few of them to tell the tale) will remember.

Otherwise, we shouldn't go to war.

As for New Orleans, there's a lot more ruined than New Orleans. Of course, Nagin probably thinks that he can ask for anything he wants, and if he doesn't get it, he'll call us racists for not giving it to him.

Truth is, they are giving New Orleans 68 billion so far. How much more does he need?

He's going to have to face the fact that most of the poor won't be coming back - people who were his constituency. And the middle class, by and large, won't be able to afford to rebuild - especially since many businesses outside the French Quarter say they aren't coming back. He's lost his constituency.

Yes, the city will be rebuilt - but over time, and not for Mayor Nagin. And the people who move in later will be people with money - new developers and new residents - who are likely to view Nagin as a buffoon.

i live in new orleans and i must say the place is a disaster zone. It should be shut down until the leeves are fixed, then it should be raised about 4 feet up. Since it sunk 6 inches since Hurricane Katrina hit it. And the laying off of all those workers were obviously going to happen. They have no money to pay them unless the govenor, who is a stupid cow, coughs up the money.

Funny. Very funny. Ha. Ha. :rolleyes:
I wish it where. I wish there where as many people defending 'whatever it takes' and the blank check to get the area on its feet. I wish there was a fraction of the frevor to rebuild our own land as there is to invade someone elses. I really wish it was just a joke.

I'm not happy with the idea of rebuilding Iraq, either.

War is war. If we choose war, then we should lay waste to a place so that the people who survive (and we should leave few of them to tell the tale) will remember.

Otherwise, we shouldn't go to war.


That should teach the people of Iraq after doing so much to...um...be...uh...I guess punish them for being in the way of the oil?

I'm not happy with the idea of rebuilding Iraq, either.

War is war. If we choose war, then we should lay waste to a place so that the people who survive (and we should leave few of them to tell the tale) will remember.

Otherwise, we shouldn't go to war.

As for New Orleans, there's a lot more ruined than New Orleans. Of course, Nagin probably thinks that he can ask for anything he wants, and if he doesn't get it, he'll call us racists for not giving it to him.

Truth is, they are giving New Orleans 68 billion so far. How much more does he need?

He's going to have to face the fact that most of the poor won't be coming back - people who were his constituency. And the middle class, by and large, won't be able to afford to rebuild - especially since many businesses outside the French Quarter say they aren't coming back. He's lost his constituency.

Yes, the city will be rebuilt - but over time, and not for Mayor Nagin. And the people who move in later will be people with money - new developers and new residents - who are likely to view Nagin as a buffoon.


Just curious, but are they GIVING 68 billion to New Orleans directly?

Or are they earmarking 68 Billion to be spent on Federal Projects within New Orleans parish?


Because those aren't exactly the same thing.

Pugna']i live in new orleans and i must say the place is a disaster zone. It should be shut down until the leeves are fixed, then it should be raised about 4 feet up. Since it sunk 6 inches since Hurricane Katrina hit it. And the laying off of all those workers were obviously going to happen. They have no money to pay them unless the govenor, who is a stupid cow, coughs up the money.
Sic General Honore on her again! Heh! :D

That should teach the people of Iraq after doing so much to...um...be...uh...I guess punish them for being in the way of the oil?

If you think we're there for the oil, you're not very bright. There seems to be a remarkable level of transparency on who is getting paid for the oil, and what price they sell it for, and to whom.

No, it should teach people that if your leader is going to regularly do things that piss off the US, the US might come over someday and lay waste to the place. So maybe they should have overthrown him a long time ago.

I wish it where. I wish there where as many people defending 'whatever it takes' and the blank check to get the area on its feet. I wish there was a fraction of the frevor to rebuild our own land as there is to invade someone elses. I really wish it was just a joke.

From what I understand if they simply cut the pork from the highway bill and stopped Bush's tax cuts that really only went to the top 2% of the wealthiest Americans anyway, they'd have plenty of money to rebuild New Orleans.

I personally have travelled across the USA from one end to the other (I have never been to Alaska or Hawaii though) I have to say, New Orleans was for sure one of the most fun and best parts of the USA I visited.

Just curious, but are they GIVING 68 billion to New Orleans directly?

Or are they earmarking 68 Billion to be spent on Federal Projects within New Orleans parish?

Because those aren't exactly the same thing.
Who the hell knows?? So much money is flowing into New Orleans they could lift the entire damned city fifty feet and pave it with gold! :headbang:

I suppose the fact that there's no longer any need for their jobs isn't a concern? You would have them just sit at home and have the New Orleans government just mail them paychecks? :D

Just curious, but are they GIVING 68 billion to New Orleans directly?

Or are they earmarking 68 Billion to be spent on Federal Projects within New Orleans parish?

Because those aren't exactly the same thing.

68 million in aid - which is probably a combination of direct money and federal projects. But it's all going through the Louisiana state government first.

So Blanco is probably going to take some of it and spend it in other Louisiana areas.

Surely you're not saying that the yearly budget for salaries and benefits for the city of New Orleans is 68 billion dollars, are you?

From what I understand if they simply cut the pork from the highway bill and stopped Bush's tax cuts that really only went to the top 2% of the wealthiest Americans anyway, they'd have plenty of money to rebuild New Orleans.

I personally have travelled across the USA from one end to the other (I have never been to Alaska or Hawaii though) I have to say, New Orleans was for sure one of the most fun and best parts of the USA I visited.

I've been there quite a few times, and the only comment I can make is that Bourbon Street was a 24-hour a day human cesspool that reeked of alcohol-laden vomit.

For a tourist attraction, I failed to find the attraction in vomit covered sidewalks as far as the eye could see.

I've been there quite a few times, and the only comment I can make is that Bourbon Street was a 24-hour a day human cesspool that reeked of alcohol-laden vomit.

For a tourist attraction, I failed to find the attraction in vomit covered sidewalks as far as the eye could see.

It's was great fun. Granted I was about 15 years younger, erm, maybe 10. But greatest party town in the USA if you ask me.. although no one did..lol

68 million in aid - which is probably a combination of direct money and federal projects. But it's all going through the Louisiana state government first.

So Blanco is probably going to take some of it and spend it in other Louisiana areas.

Surely you're not saying that the yearly budget for salaries and benefits for the city of New Orleans is 68 billion dollars, are you?

Actually I think you're mistaken, I believe the monies given by Congress went to FEMA to decide, and you know what idiots are running that agency.

Nagin wants 250 billion dollars in a single year.

Now that's one greedy mother f***er. :mad:

I don't know all the facts, so I can't really say whether the mayor is just being a douchebag or if the money just isnt' there.

Of course we should probably be pissed either way, because either the mayor is a total asshat, or someone along the line is being stingy and it's costing people thier livelihoods.

Actually I think you're mistaken, I believe the monies given by Congress went to FEMA to decide, and you know what idiots are running that agency.

From what I remember of the newscasts, some went to FEMA, but most apparently is direct aid to Louisiana, earmarked for New Orleans.

I would be very surprised to hear that employing all the bureaucracy of New Orleans cost more than the government where I live, Fairfax County, Virginia.

My county has several times the number of residents that New Orleans had. More police. And our area is far more expensive to live in - so you have to pay the workers more.

Our budget is 5.1 billion per year - and that's not only for salaries and benefits - it pays for new police cars, firetrucks, gas, new construction of buildings, etc.

Granted, our county wasn't destroyed. But if you just want the money for salaries and benefits, I can't see it being even over a billion dollars.

Out of the 68 billion so far, there has to be a billion in there somewhere.

I might also add that whoever decided not to give him the money may feel the need for most of Mayor Nagin's staff and bureaucracy to be superfluous. Between Blanco, the Feds, and the banks, they may all feel a need to quietly starve him out of power.

Lets hope Mayor Nagin first lays off the large number of phantom police officers-Policemen that didnt exist, but for whom paychecks were cut and issued to persons unknown on a regular basis.
Weed them all out, eliminate all those who were in on the scam (with no severance pay/benefits or pesnions.)
Then, the remaning employees may be needed to change their normal duties to assist in the cleanup and recovery of official documents,records, files, etc. There is still plenty for them to do. For a long time. If I was a janitor in a goverment office that no longer exists, I would have no problem switching to
assisting in cleanup, etc... to keep my pay, benefits and seniority til such time as some normalcy is established and I can go back to my recognized duties.
These people should have a first crack at jobs positions fbeofre people from out of town are accepted and paid. They survived the storm, most will adapt, but dont take away the only tangible thing they may have left.

Lets hope Mayor Nagin first lays off the large number of phantom police officers-Policemen that didnt exist, but for whom paychecks were cut and issued to persons unknown on a regular basis.
Weed them all out, eliminate all those who were in on the scam (with no severance pay/benefits or pesnions.)
Then, the remaning employees may be needed to change their normal duties to assist in the cleanup and recovery of official documents,records, files, etc. There is still plenty for them to do. For a long time. If I was a janitor in a goverment office that no longer exists, I would have no problem switching to
assisting in cleanup, etc... to keep my pay, benefits and seniority til such time as some normalcy is established and I can go back to my recognized duties.
These people should have a first crack at jobs positions fbeofre people from out of town are accepted and paid. They survived the storm, most will adapt, but dont take away the only tangible thing they may have left.

Maybe that's what he's doing. After all, there were 200 police officers who didn't exist. There are probably plenty of phantom employees.

If I were the Feds, I would send the FBI down there to investigate the fraud of the phantom police officers.

Maybe that's what he's doing. After all, there were 200 police officers who didn't exist. There are probably plenty of phantom employees.

If I were the Feds, I would send the FBI down there to investigate the fraud of the phantom police officers.


I think the FBI is already on the police issue- I remember hearing the FBI connection when I heard about the phantom police- I think they were initially there to investigate how many reportedly abandoned their duties and discovered many didnt exist. Then reports of officers commiting suicide-1 or 2, followed by the chief resigning.
You're right, if there was such a widespread scam in the police dept, its very likely to have been in other public departments as well. This may be the proverbial huge can of worms.

I'd really like to see this taken as an opportunity to create a truly modern big city without letting ideological squabbles interfere. Unfortunately, I do not trust the Feds, the State or the Local folks to do that. I see a pork-shark feeding frenzy of hugew proportions and a lot of in-fighting causing money to evaporate and projects to be delayed.

No, it should teach people that if your leader is going to regularly do things that piss off the US, the US might come over someday and lay waste to the place. So maybe they should have overthrown him a long time ago.
Ah yes, the US dictator of the unfree world...

Can you remind me again why so much of the free world resents the US being in a position of power and is suspicious of US intent? Why ever should people object to a nation spouting off about democracy and constantly harping on about it's right to security whilst meanwhile considering itself free to invade anyone who 'pisses it off'? As for those terrorists who had the nerve to attack the US because the US pissed them off, how unreasonable can you get? Everyone knows you can only attack others for pissing you off if you are the US.... :rolleyes:

As for New Orleans, who cares about rebuilding it and helping those effected by Katrina when there are other nations out there who have pissed off the US and have yet to be taught their lesson? Come on, it's all about priorities, war, yes, tax cuts during a war, absolutely, jobs in top office for incompetent cronies of the US President, you betcha, helping US victims of natural disasters many of whom have paid the taxes funding the war and offices for Bush cronies, heck no, we cant afford that! :confused:

COMMENTARY: Strange how this Mayor has to lay people off right at the time when they're most needed. Tell me there are no other options. Surely, with all the money flowing into New Orleans, a few bucks for salaries of necessary personnel could be found.


Strange how I didn't notice you making any similar complaints when Bush suspended the laws guaranteeing prevailing wages. Or how the bulk of the reconstruction contracts were cutting out local businesses, even state businesses so that there is little reinvestment in the city, guaranteeing that the city is even poorer after this disaster.

Strange how with all the failings of the Republicans in this mess you choose to point out that the decimated and impoverished city of New Orleans can't afford to keep it's pre-disaster staff on the payroll, but blame the Mayor for it.

Strange how you will pounce on any whisper of a possibility of any wrongdoing by anyone who is even remotly critical of, or opposed to, anything that the Bush pack have on their agenda, no matter how trivial, tangental, or insubstantial (such as your thread about Schiavo supposedly beating his wife) like a frisky kitten chasing the glow of a flashlight only to be briefly puzzled to discover there's nothing there, but then forget all about that when the light gets shaken again.

Well. Not entirely like such a kitten. My cat, with her brain the size of a small plum, eventually learned to ignore insubstantial lures. You still attempt to grapple with them.

Who the hell knows?? So much money is flowing into New Orleans they could lift the entire damned city fifty feet and pave it with gold! :headbang:

Eut, calm down...

The federal government has appropriated $68 billion for reconstruction. Almost none of this money has been disbursed yet.

The Congress just voted to authorize expenditures up to $68 billion for the general purpose of Katrina-related reconstruction. Congress did not literally write a $68 billion check against the United States Treasury payable to the City of New Orleans.

The government is still in the process of figuring out whom to award reconstruction contracts and such. Sadly, the most important criteria so far seems to be political connections and a lot of the contracts awarded so far are going to out-of-state entities. :mad: The effects of the Congressional appropriation will need some time to "trickle down" as the city is rebuilt on (mostly) the Federal tab.

In the meantime, destroyed property=no tax revenue=no cash flow=layoffs of workers.

Even if the feds did hand NOLA a big fat check, the city would still have to go through much the same process of figuring out who would get the rebuilding contracts.

Ameirca helps when it is sure to get a profit like any empire.

Sadly, the most important criteria so far seems to be political connections and a lot of the contracts awarded so far are going to out-of-state entities. :mad:


This surprises you? I thought it was common knowledge that just about any politician in sufficient power would have greased the palms of their friends when there's money to be thrown about. And sometimes when there isn't.

Eut, calm down...

The federal government has appropriated $68 billion for reconstruction. Almost none of this money has been disbursed yet.

The Congress just voted to authorize expenditures up to $68 billion for the general purpose of Katrina-related reconstruction. Congress did not literally write a $68 billion check against the United States Treasury payable to the City of New Orleans.

The government is still in the process of figuring out whom to award reconstruction contracts and such. Sadly, the most important criteria so far seems to be political connections and a lot of the contracts awarded so far are going to out-of-state entities. :mad: The effects of the Congressional appropriation will need some time to "trickle down" as the city is rebuilt on (mostly) the Federal tab.

In the meantime, destroyed property=no tax revenue=no cash flow=layoffs of workers.

Even if the feds did hand NOLA a big fat check, the city would still have to go through much the same process of figuring out who would get the rebuilding contracts.

Betcha anything Haliburton gets the contracts.

Far be it for some of the local constrruction companies get them, to flow that money back into the system.
Oh No.....lets just give them all to Haliburton.

Betcha anything Haliburton gets the contracts.

Far be it for some of the local constrruction companies get them, to flow that money back into the system.
Oh No.....lets just give them all to Haliburton.

I think Halliburton already has the contracts. :mad:

Non-Aligned States, no I'm not surprised. But that doesn't mean I can't be disgusted.

Edit: Yeah, Halliburton gets to cash in... (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/04/AR2005090401193_pf.html)

more... (http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-09-10-katrina-contracts_x.htm)

Figures.


You know what else chaps my ass?

My mother works in the County Drain Commission.
She surveys property, and soil erosion.

Recently, she was at the hom of a truck driver.
This guy had taken time off from work, to "volunteer" his services, delivering water to victims.

Sounds great huh?

Wrong.

He was compensated, directly from FEMA, 800 dollars a day for exspenses while there.
Out of this money, he did not have to pay for shelter, or food, or gas.

So, after ten days, he profited over 27,000 dollars.

Thats what chaps my ass.

Figures.


You know what else chaps my ass?

My mother works in the County Drain Commission.
She surveys property, and soil erosion.

Recently, she was at the hom of a truck driver.
This guy had taken time off from work, to "volunteer" his services, delivering water to victims.

Sounds great huh?

Wrong.

He was compensated, directly from FEMA, 800 dollars a day for exspenses while there.
Out of this money, he did not have to pay for shelter, or food, or gas.

So, after ten days, he profited over 27,000 dollars.

Thats what chaps my ass.

Meh, that's FEMA under Brownie, all right. Of course, after he took the fall, there was nobody to come in and clean up FEMA to stop this kind of abuse...

Sad when citizens get this desensitized to waste; I don't expect much better...

Just out of curiosity, how much did this truck driver donate to the Bush/Cheney 2000/2004 campaigns?

Meh, that's FEMA under Brownie, all right. Of course, after he took the fall, there was nobody to come in and clean up FEMA to stop this kind of abuse...

Sad when citizens get this desensitized to waste; I don't expect much better...

Just out of curiosity, how much did this truck driver donate to the Bush/Cheney 2000/2004 campaigns?


Good question.

He was apparently, the kind of guy who would profit more money in ten days, than I make in a year and a half, and he did so, on the teat of human suffering.

So he certainly seems the type of douchebag that would donate to that campaign.

What I don't understand is the Mayor's statement that he's only getting rid of non-essential employees.
Now, how can half your pay-roll be non-essential?
If they're non-essential, why were they employed in the first place?
It's also pretty dreadful the Mayor saying that if you're not contacted in the next couple of weeks, consider yourself laid-off. That's a pretty shitty way of laying someone off. Not even bothering to ring and tell them. Great way of putting someone (and their family) through a load of stress on top of everything they've already been through.
The Mayor's an arse.

What I don't understand is the Mayor's statement that he's only getting rid of non-essential employees.
Now, how can half your pay-roll be non-essential?
If they're non-essential, why were they employed in the first place?
It's also pretty dreadful the Mayor saying that if you're not contacted in the next couple of weeks, consider yourself laid-off. That's a pretty shitty way of laying someone off. Not even bothering to ring and tell them. Great way of putting someone (and their family) through a load of stress on top of everything they've already been through.
The Mayor's an arse.

Key point - over 200 New Orleans police officers, it turns out, DID NOT EXIST. That is, the city was paying money to "someone" who didn't exist. That's probably what Nagin means by "non-essential".

He's probably "laying off" the "non-essential" (read as non-existent) employees because the FBI is down there right now investigating his corruption.

Key point - over 200 New Orleans police officers, it turns out, DID NOT EXIST. That is, the city was paying money to "someone" who didn't exist. That's probably what Nagin means by "non-essential".

He's probably "laying off" the "non-essential" (read as non-existent) employees because the FBI is down there right now investigating his corruption.
ROFLMAO! No wonder they call it "the big easy!" :D

What I don't understand is the Mayor's statement that he's only getting rid of non-essential employees.
Now, how can half your pay-roll be non-essential?
Well imagine you are a large city and you have X numbers of businesses operating. All those businesses need to adhere to certain standards (for instance hygiene standards in restaurants), and to make sure that they do adhere to standards it is usual practise to conduct inspections, but not essential in the same manner that fire men are essential. Now imagine that hundreds of thousands of people have fled the city and many businesses are not currently operating. Why would you need enough health inspectors to cater to the usual number of premises that need inspecting when many such premises are not currently in use?

A lot of services (private and city) are not currently able to operate, and there is currently less people in New Orleans to require services anyway, so why wouldnt there be 'non-essential' employees?

If they're non-essential, why were they employed in the first place?

They may have been essential to maintaining the city structure and keeping things running under normal circumstances. I dont know if the same is true in the US, but where I come from 'essential services' refers to emergency services such as the fire service or the police service, whilst necessary services such as health inspectors and the people who process various applications, or who answer your quieries when you ring various local government organisations, are not considered 'essential services'. If the same terminology is employed in the US, then a lot of necessary city employees would be employed in 'non-essential' services.