Saturday, December 21, 2013

Mayor Yenni Blames “Traffic” For Late Council Meeting Arrival – Was That The Whole Story?

If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.
- Mark Twain





In 2011, I wrote about Mayor Yenni’s disdain for attending Kenner City Council meetings and his contempt for the portion of the council meeting at the end where the public is allowed to address the council for up to 3 minutes.

In the June 2011 edition of the Kenner Star, Mayor Yenni himself wrote about his practice of leaving the council meetings when the public would speak. Recently, Mayor Yenni has stayed through the council meetings and most of the public speakers, seeking to leave the council chambers as quickly as he can when my name is announced.

In fact, I was stunned when Mayor Yenni sat there Thursday night while I spoke. Obviously, I’m getting quicker at hobbling to the podium in my crutches.

On several occasions, to myself and many others, Mayor Yenni pointed out that the Kenner City Charter says that the Mayor “can” attend council meetings, but is not required to attend.


Before Kenner City Council meetings the Mayor often reads proclamations to congratulate residents or city employees or for other reasons. At Thursday’s Council meeting, the Mayor announced the members of his new Youth Advisory Council.

When Mayor Yenni tardily arrived for the presentations, he claimed to be stuck in traffic.

One of the Mayor’s staff blamed “a meeting in Downtown New Orleans.”

But, while one may have been partially true, the second was a complete fabrication.

The truth is that Mayor Yenni was in New Orleans not for a “meeting” but to attend the Times-Picayune/Nola.com Christmas Party.

Calling a Christmas Party a “meeting” is a stretch even for someone like Mayor Yenni.

Why not just confess to the fact that you went to a Christmas Party? Why not just tell the truth Mayor Yenni?

I know that it might be difficult for you the first couple of times you do it but, trust me, it’s really not that hard.

And, you might even like it.

Well, then again, maybe not.

By the way, while I don’t know if hot sausages were on the menu, how were those Jumbo Shrimp?