tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73102996114255779462024-03-12T22:22:44.344-05:00ClickJefferson.comClick Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.comBlogger429125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310299611425577946.post-66456851552387218942019-06-22T19:43:00.003-05:002019-06-23T17:43:31.106-05:00Finally, Some Good Political News (And Hope) for JP Council District 3I’ve lived in Jefferson Parish for the past 18 years.<br />
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For the entirety of my time in JP, and for years before,
Jefferson Parish Council District 3, which includes a chunk of the WestBank and
South Kenner, has been a political cesspool. <o:p></o:p></div>
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From 1992 to 2004, Donald Jones was Councilman. He was
term-limited out and defeated in his attempt to become an At-Large Councilman
in 2003. In fact, he didn't even make the runoff. Seeking a comeback in District 3 in 2011, Jones finished 4<sup>th</sup>
in a 4 person field, also failing to make the runoff. <o:p></o:p></div>
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From 2004 to 2012, Byron Lee was Councilman for District 3.
With the possible exception of Aaron Broussard, in my opinion, <a href="https://clickjefferson.blogspot.com/2013/11/why-is-everybody-always-picking-on.html" target="_blank">Lee was one of the most corrupt parish officials</a> of our era and he has continued to stuff his
face at the public trough and help his friends and family squander JP tax
dollars with his influence as mentor to current District 3 Councilman Mark
Spears, who, thankfully, is term-limited. <o:p></o:p><br />
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Just last year Lee surfaced in the news again with video of him yucking it up with Spears at a suite at the Zurich Open golf tournament.<br />
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Who paid for the suite? Spears,diverting money from his council district slush fund so he could act like a big shot.</div>
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For more on the Lee/Spears connection, <a href="https://www.wdsu.com/article/audit-critical-of-former-current-jefferson-parish-officials/3366839" target="_blank">click here.</a> </div>
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With Spears almost out the door, many JP residents (myself
included) were hoping for a candidate with integrity to step up to actually
represent the people of District 3, and not the Jones-Lee-Spears political
cabal that has raped and pillaged JP for decades. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Unfortunately, that hasn’t appeared to be the case with
Jones and Lee seeking to return to their former seat to pillage some more. Also
mentioned as a possible candidate in District 3, former JP School Board member
Cedric Floyd, who recently cost JP taxpayers tens of thousands in legal fees and
settlements regarding sexual harassment allegations. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">So, Jones, Lee, Floyd
and...Derrick Shepherd?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Several people contacted me before and after <a href="https://www.wdsu.com/article/former-state-senator-convicted-felon-seeks-jefferson-parish-council-seat/28091553" target="_blank">the story by WDSU’s Travers Mackel</a> regarding former State Rep, State Senator and convicted
felon Shepherd’s campaign for the seat. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Shepherd, fresh from getting the numbers off the back of his
shirt as an ex-con and suing the state to overturn a Constitutional Amendment
banning felons from seeking public office for 15 years (now dropped to 5
years), is promoting himself as a “Military Man” and seeking a “second chance”.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A second chance at
what exactly?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Shepherd, who resigned from the State Senate after he was
charged with money laundering, tried a similar approach and “second chance”
appeal in 2015, when he sought to return to the state house before he was
denied in court. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In a 2015 press release announcing his state house bid,
Shepherd said, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">"My campaign will
offer hope to many citizens who have made a mistake that they too can receive a
second chance at life.''<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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To WDSU’s Mackel, Shepherd said last week, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #414141;">"I think people can make their own decisions -- they can
say, this guy has paid his dues, or they can say, get away from my door."<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #414141;">Has Shepherd paid his dues?
Technically, yes, he served his time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #414141;">Should he have an opportunity at
public office again? Absolutely not. </span><span style="background: white; color: #414141; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #414141;">Everyone deserves a second chance
at life. But, serving in elected or appointed office should be held to a
different standard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #414141;">We deserve to know and feel
confident that our elected and appointed officials have integrity and will put
the needs of us, their constituents and taxpayers, first, above their own greed
and need to funnel money to their friends and family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #414141;">Unfortunately, “Integrity” and
“Representing the Public” are foreign concepts to Jones, Lee, Floyd and
Shepherd. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #414141;">But, there is some good news (finally) for Jefferson Parish
District 3 residents. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A very reliable source has told me that Kenner District 1 City
Councilman Gregory Carroll is strongly considering entering the race and may
issue an official announcement in the next few weeks. </span>Qualifying is in August for the October election.</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Councilman Carroll has 1,000 times more integrity than all of the
other candidates combined and has represented District 1 (South Kenner and a
chunk of Central Kenner) since 2009. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Carroll was a frequent thorn in the then-Kenner Mayor Mike Yenni’s
side and repeatedly fought for the best interests of his district and the City
of Kenner, despite the political costs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Despite being the lone Democrat on the Kenner City Council,
Councilman Carroll has pushed for fiscal responsibility and transparency in
government. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Councilman Carroll rose in stature after standing up to Yenni in
his attempt to close Lincoln Manor playground. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Carroll again showed his independence and bucked Yenni’s attempt
at political retribution as Yenni tried to close streets and limit access to
historical cemeteries in South Kenner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Councilman Carroll has been a leader in the revitalization of
Kenner’s Rivertown which has long been neglected by Kenner Mayors including
Yenni. When Yenni borrowed millions for his poorly conceived <a href="https://clickjefferson.blogspot.com/2014/07/after-borrowing-millions-for-his-2030.html" target="_blank">2030 Plan that all but ignored District 1 and Rivertown,</a> Carroll fought diligently to get
additional funding for the District.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">While Rivertown is still a work in progress, the area is home to
several restaurants including Gendusa’s, Porch & Patio and Fleur de Lilly.
Rivertown is also home to Kenner’s Music in the Park and Movies in the Park
which regularly draws crowds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If Councilman Carroll does enter the JP Council D3 race and wins,
I will be disappointed that he would be leaving the Kenner City Council but
ecstatic at the prospect of him moving to the JP Council where God knows we
need integrity and leadership. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But with Councilman Carroll potentially entering the race, there may finally be some hope for
Jefferson Parish<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>District 3 yet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Click Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310299611425577946.post-66401293538083807752019-05-27T14:17:00.002-05:002019-05-27T14:17:42.487-05:00Kenner's New Economic Development Director Doesn't Live In KennerQuestion: What city, despite having a residency rule approved by voters, will soon have 3 current and former Mayors, a Deputy CAO, a Deputy CAO of Public Works, and several department directors and assistant directors employed in city government earning well over $1 Million in salary and benefits courtesy of tax payers and only 1 of them actually lives in the city they govern?<br />
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Answer: If you guessed Kenner, thanks. You are paying attention.<br />
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Oh, and sorry if you are a resident of Kenner that actually believes that government respects you and your wishes.<br />
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The newest ex-mayor joining the Ben Zahn Administration is former Covington Mayor Candace Watkins.<br />
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Watkins was defeated in her bid to return as Covington Mayor in April finishing 3rd in a 3 person race.<br />
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Prior to that, Watkins was employed for 3 1/2 years in the Louisiana Office of Community Development/Disaster Recovery Unit as a "Disaster Recovery Specialist". Before joining the state, she was the Director of Community Development for St. Bernard Parish (where she also did not live) and spent 8 years as Covington Mayor.<br />
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Watkins signed a contract with Mayor Zahn as a "Consultant" (a semantic way to get around the will of the people of Kenner and the residency rule) to become the first Kenner Economic Development Director (although she can't really become a "Director" without the City Council granting a waiver to the residency rule).<br />
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Regardless of where Watkins lives (40 miles from Kenner) or what her title is, Zahn told The Advocate that she will work under her contract as a "Consultant".<br />
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Let's take a step back.<br />
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In 2014, when I ran for Mayor, I discussed the need for Kenner to have its own Visitor's Bureau and Economic Development entity. At the time, Kenner utilized the Jefferson Convention and Visitor's Bureau and JEDCO, both groups are heavily involved with then-Mayor Mike Yenni's political consultant Greg Buisson. Buisson is also the political consultant for Zahn, and several members of the Kenner City Council including Mike Sigur, Brian Brennan and Kristi McKinney.<br />
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<b>While I believe strongly that the city needs an Economic Development entity, I don't agree with Mayor Zahn creating a city department staffed with political appointees, at least one of whom doesn't even reside in the city. </b><br />
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An Economic Development entity should represent the city and should transcend politics, not serve at the pleasure of the Mayor or work for his agenda.<br />
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An Economic Development entity should promote Kenner and lay the groundwork to attract and retain businesses and jobs.<br />
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But, the ultimate "Economic Development Director" should be the Mayor.<br />
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The Economic Development entity can lay the foundation for businesses and provide a central point of contact to assist with real estate, permits, licenses, grants, funding and other issues, but the Mayor of a city needs to be the leader.<br />
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In Kenner, that won't be the case.<br />
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Ben Zahn is a florist and a decorator. He may be very good at what he does but no one would ever confuse Ben Zahn with a being a salesman. And, that's not a knock on the Mayor. Beyond color, I couldn't describe different varieties of roses and forget about me ever putting together a nice looking bouquet of flowers. Not going to happen.<br />
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Ben Zahn is not a "closer". It's just not in his skill set.<br />
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Unfortunately for Economic Development in Kenner, Candace Watkins isn't a "closer" either.<br />
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Covington is a nice small town. It's population is about 10,000 folks, less than 1/7th the size of Kenner. It has a Downtown (something Kenner doesn't), some nice shops and restaurants.<br />
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Covington has Cracker Barrel restaurant.<br />
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Covington is "Small Town Louisiana" at it's best.<br />
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But, during her 8 years as Mayor, what large businesses did Watkins recruit for Covington? What large retailers did Watkins bring to Covington? How many jobs was she responsible for attracting and retaining?<br />
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And, yes, the Covington area is growing now but during Watkins 8 years as Mayor, Covington grew by an average of less than 40 people per year.<br />
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<b>So, if Covington wasn't booming during her time as Mayor; if she didn't attract, retain or help create thousands of jobs; and if she doesn't even live in Kenner, how can she be "Kenner's Economic Development Consultant/Director/Top Salesman"?</b><br />
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<b>The short answer is - she can't. </b><br />
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I mean, would you buy a car from someone who's never driven?<br />
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Now, let's look at another false narrative (see, I'm trying hard to not use the word "lie") from Mayor Zahn: The City will be saving money bringing Economic Development in-house (btw, this "false narrative" was also trumpeted by Kenner D4 Councilman George Branigan. In less than a year, Branigan has proven to be one of the leaders in the "false narrative" competition).<br />
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For years, Kenner paid JEDCO $75,000 per year to represent Kenner. As I stated previously, I believed that JEDCO should have represented Kenner for nothing since their funding comes from the JP General Fund, which Kenner contributes to indirectly through property taxes.<br />
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Watkins salary as a "Consultant" will be $90,000 per year.<br />
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Even Common Core Math proves that $90,000 is more than $75,000.<br />
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And that's just Watkins' salary.<br />
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<b>When you add benefits, staffing, marketing materials, travel, and other expenses, this new city department will cost well over double, possibly triple, what we paid JEDCO. </b><br />
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And, to be honest, I would be fine with double or triple if it yields results and was led by someone with experience and a proven track record.<br />
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Yes, I would prefer that it be a separate, non-political entity, but, I'd take it.<br />
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But, when the City of Kenner under Mayor Zahn feels the need to impose a recreation participation fee on its residents, when the city is already under a crushing debt load and the city is borrowing millions more to pay off a lawsuit from KFD that it never should have fought, when a chunk of University City and several neighborhoods South of I-10 are virtually unprotected from fire because the Zahn Administration did not have the forethought to provide a temporary Fire Station to cover the area for the almost 2 years before a new station can be built (a station that will also not adequately cover the I-10/Veterans neighborhoods), how can the City of Kenner afford another expense with another non-resident, unproven leader?<br />
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Again, the short answer - it can't.<br />
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<b>The new Kenner Economic Development Department is yet another great opportunity squandered by Mayor Zahn for political purposes. </b><br />
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The Kenner City Council will vote on the creation of the new Economic Development Department at it's next meeting. Since Ms. Watkins is a political appointee, the Council will not vote on her appointment.<br />
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You can, and should, voice your opinions to the City Council and the Mayor and, if you care about Kenner's future, you will.<br />
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<br />Click Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310299611425577946.post-56665025529144605212019-05-17T13:01:00.001-05:002019-05-17T13:01:50.464-05:00C'mon JP Council! 400k Residents and the Best You Can Come Up with is Keith Conley???After the abrupt resignation of JP Councilman-at-Large Chris Roberts, the JP Council began the process of nominating Roberrts' replacement until the Fall election. The interim councilman will be precluded from seeking election to that seat, but not another council seat, in the election.<br />
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Traditionally, the two At-Large seats have been split among the East and West Banks - Councilwoman Cynthia Lee-Sheng resides on the East Bank while Roberts resided on the West Bank.<br />
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Lee-Sheng is seeking the Parish Presidency in the Fall and Roberts was term-limited so both seats will be open for the Fall election and jockeying for them has already begun in earnest.<br />
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District 1 Councilman Ricky Templet has announced he would seek the Division A seat held by Roberts before his resignation and District 2 Councilman Paul "Love Me Some Free Copelands" Johnston said he will run for the Division B seat currently held by Lee-Sheng.<br />
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Templet resides on the West Bank and Johnston on the East Bank which would mean, if both were successful, the At-Large seats would remain split among the East and West Banks.<br />
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Templet nominated former JP CAO Keith Conley for the interim seat to replace Roberts. Conley has said he was considering running for one of the At-Large seats but would not specify whether he would run in Division A against Templet (likely) or Division B against Johnston (highly unlikely). Both Conley and Johnston are clients of Jefferson Parish's Minister of Propaganda Greg Buisson.<br />
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So, if anything, it was a smart political move by Templet to nominate Conley, even if it breaks with the East/West Bank tradition and would be horrible for Jefferson Parish. The Conley nomination takes out Templet's chief rival for the seat.<br />
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Now the questions are: does Conley/Buisson file a lawsuit to overturn the preclusion of the interim from seeking the seat or does Johnston go back on his word and run against Templet allowing a clear path for Conley to seek the Division B seat.<br />
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Let me just get this out there from the jump - Keith Conley elected ANYTHING in Jefferson Parish is a bad thing for JP residents, a very bad thing.<br />
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<b>But. this entire process was flawed. </b><br />
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Buisson client, and Mike Yenni loyalist, Dominick Impastato nominated restaurant owner Larry Katz while fellow Buisson client Jennifer Van Vrancken nominated Lisa Jackson. Like Conley, both katz and Jackson reside on the East Bank and that is where the similarities end as neither had a show and were nominated simply for the theatre of showing they were nominated.<br />
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Katz quit the process early while Jackson, after filing her paperwork, enclosed a letter withdrawing and endorsing Conley.<br />
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No, this seat was Conley's all along.<br />
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And that makes this flawed process sad.<br />
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But, since we are stuck with Conley, let's examine his record.<br />
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I have written about Conley in the past. If you want a refresher, <a href="https://clickjefferson.blogspot.com/2013/09/kenner-has-its-own-version-of-nsa.html" target="_blank">click here</a> or <a href="https://clickjefferson.blogspot.com/2014/01/as-another-high-ranking-kenner-official.html" target="_blank">here</a> or <a href="https://clickjefferson.blogspot.com/2018/08/in-jp-stench-scandal-all-fingers-point.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Conley was a JPSO Deputy before he "retired" after being named in a cover up of an assault on a Mardi Gras Parade attendee. Conley, the JPSO and several other Deputies were the target of several civil suits that resulted in over $330,000 paid to the victim.<br />
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Conley was named Assistant City Attorney by then-Kenner Mayor Ed Muniz. Subsequently, Concley was named Clerk of Court. All the while, despite being one of the highest paid City of Kenner employees, Conley continued his private practice as a Personal Injury Attorney.<br />
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Conley and his wife filed for bankruptcy discharging over $800,000 in debt. Shortly after filing, Conley "found" several thousand dollars which he chose to donate to the Mayoral campaign of Mike Yenni instead of paying off his creditors.<br />
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<b>After Yenni was elected, Conley was named Kenner City Attorney. Again, while one of the highest paid city employees, Conley continued his private practice and also worked with the law firm of Yenni's bff Michael Brandner (he of the 2nd most stupid legal ads - sorry Juan LaFonta is 1st). Despite the "double-dipping", Yenni repeatedly defended Conley saying "There's nothing in the charter that doesn't allow him from doing it." While that may be true, I think if you're a Full-Time City Attorney you can't spend your days trying your own cases and, as I've said many times, just because it's technically not illegal or unethical, that doesn't make it right. Yenni and I have differed on this point many times. </b><br />
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While City Attorney, Conley was appointed Interim Code Enforcement Director and given a healthy pay raise. Again, he continued with his private practice and with Brandner.<br />
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Conley resigned both positions and was rumored to be seeking an elected office.<br />
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Despite endorsing another candidate for the Council-At-Large seat, Yenni worked to position Conley for that seat and then publicly endorsed Conley and raised funds for his campaign. Conley became one of the "Consensus Team" designed to pass Yenni's flawed agenda.<br />
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After Yenni was elected JP President, Conley resigned from the Council, quit on the voters who elected him and joined Yenni's Transition Team. He was subsequently rewarded with the CAO position and a salary well north of $100,000.<br />
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While CAO, Conley was part of the cover up of the Harahan-River Ridge stench scandal which has caused health problems for residents, a loss of property value, and multiple lawsuits against the parish.<br />
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Conley resigned from JP government in December 2018 to seek either a JP Council-At-Large seat or, possibly, the Parish Presidency should Yenni not seek reelection.<br />
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<b>So, in a nutshell, Conley is a failed JPSO Deputy who was drummed out of the JPSO after being involved in the cover up of an assault; he's a political opportunist who would rather give money to his friends and secure a politically appointed position than pay his bills; quit on the voters that elected him after he helped his friend, Mike Yenni; joined Yenni at the parish and was involved in another cover up which has led to health issues for thousands of JP residents; and is now appointed to the JP Council and hopes to parlay that into an elected position.</b><br />
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So, again I ask, is this really the best the JP Council could do?<br />
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It also brings into question the judgement of Ricky Templet.<br />
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Yes, it was a good political move for Templet to nominate Conley but, for someone that is seeking a parishwide seat himself, Templet certainly didn't consider the best interest of the residents of Jefferson Parish.<br />
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And that is disappointing.<br />
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Just as disappointing is the fact that the other 5 council members also thought so little of the residents of JP that they put out this flawed dog and pony show in the hopes that we wouldn't notice.<br />
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Well, some of us did notice and some of us will remember.<br />
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So, while this process was smoother than the last interim council pick (which needed to be made by Governor Edwards), neither pick was a victory for JP residents. \<br />
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Just politics as usual at our expense.<br />
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<br />Click Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310299611425577946.post-73941589771495989862019-01-11T17:23:00.000-06:002019-01-11T21:59:56.151-06:00Despite Lingering Questions and Possible Overpayment, Zahn Pushes Ahead With KFD Land PurchaseThe move of a Kenner Fire Station, caused by the new terminal at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, is leaving many Kenner residents, and at least one City Councilman, with unanswered questions and other questioning the financial judgement of Mayor Ben Zahn.<br />
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The current Fire Station is located on Loyola Drive, just South of I-10. From its location in the median, it has access to both Northbound Loyola and Southbound Loyola and easy access to Veterans Memorial Highway.<br />
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With the Loyola road widening project to provide a flyover ramp to the new airport terminal, that Fire Station must be relocated and it will be demolished.<br />
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After months, seemingly years, of haggling between the State and City of Kenner over the value of the Loyola Fire Station (which has been in bad shape since Katrina with complaints of mold that were never addressed according to several Kenner Firefighters), the two finally agreed last month and the City will receive $3.46 Million to pay for the land and construction of a new Fire Station. .<br />
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After so much delay, you would think that the City and Mayor Zahn would have exhausted all possibilities in finding the perfect location. And, while the City did undertake an appraisal of the property in March 2018, not much investigation into other properties has occurred since then.<br />
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Even with the delay, District 1 Councilman Gregory Carroll asked Mayor Zahn to slow the process down until more discussion could be held at the next Council Meeting on January 18th.<br />
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In a memo Wednesday afternoon, Councilman Carroll said,<br />
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<b><i>"On behalf of the citizens of District 1 and the City of Kenner, I am respectfully asking that you delay the purchase and any signing of documents pertaining to purchasing the property...that would be used as a replacement for City of Kenner Volunteer Fire Department #38...until after our January 18th Council meeting. </i></b><br />
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<b><i>There are a number of new questions and concernt that has been brought to our attention on the purchase of the property that I feel has not been fully answered and that should be addressed, such as: </i></b><br />
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<b><i>- The purchase price of the aforementioned property. </i></b><br />
<b><i>- The location and safety concerns of the proposed fire station to the citizens of District 1 and District 5. </i></b><br />
<b><i>- The legality of the final approval of the purchase agreement not being signed by the Kenner City Council for the final approval."</i></b><br />
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Despite the Councilman's memo, and citizen concerns, Mayor Zahn pushed the sale through and issued his own statement Thursday.<br />
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Logically, you would assume that the City would look to move the Fire Station to land that the City already owns, and many have pointed to the vacant lot adjacent to the Kenner Police Department Complex. That land is used for excess parking.<br />
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In a statement, the City said this option was investigated but could not be considered due to the ground level traffic in the area until the flyover is built.<br />
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But, since no one has questioned KPD response time (which, theoretically would be impacted even more severely than an adjacent Fire Station), I'm not buying that as the reason why the Fire Station wasn't placed next to the KPD Complex.<br />
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If ground level traffic congestion is a major factor, what is Mayor Zahn and Chief Glaser's plan to mitigate that issue for KPD? Why haven't we heard about that?<br />
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In addition, since the flyover ramp construction is temporary, and the Fire Station should be permanent, any ground traffic issues would also be temporary.<br />
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Instead, Mayor Zahn chose a tract of land that is not on a main road as the current Fire Station is (and would be if placed next to the KPD Complex on Vets), but on a side road in a residential area. While the land is zoned Commercial, 3 of the streets surrounding it are narrow, residential streets and the fourth side of the property is the back of Church's Fried Chicken.<br />
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A fire truck leaving the proposed Fire Station and headed Northbound on Loyola, would need to cross over Loyola adding critical response time. If that same fire truck was headed Southbound on Loyola to the KPD Complex, Susan Park or the industrial complex West on Vets, the truck will be mired in traffic going towards I-10. Anyone that has tried to exit the Circle K knows what a quagmire that can be.<br />
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If traffic was such a vital consideration for NOT putting the new Fire Station adjacent to the KPD Complex, why wasn't traffic also a factor in selecting this off-the-beaten path site? Service and response time to residents and businesses located South of I-10 along Vets will be significantly impacted.<br />
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As anyone that has shopped at the Circle K at Loyola and I-10 knows, exiting the Circle K in either direction, is difficult (unless you are going West on I-10. At times, that area is a quagmire.<br />
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Initially, Zahn and his Administration said that they were told by PIAL, the Property Insurance Industry of Louisiana - the group that ranks Louisiana Fire Departments and Fire Insurance costs - that the new Fire Station had to be built on the Duke property and that would help Kenner improve it's fire rating from a 2 to a 1, thus lowering the cost of fire insurance premiums for Kenner policyholders.<br />
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But, that was not the case.<br />
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<b>A spokesperson for the PIAL said they've had no conversations with the City of Kenner regarding the new Fire Station and, even if they had, they cannot tell the City where to locate a Fire Station or that moving a Fire Station would even improve Kenner's fire rating. </b><br />
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Now the Mayor is backtracking (again) and putting the decision on the location of the Fire Station on KFD Chief Ryan Bergeron.<br />
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<b>In a text message Zahn said, <i>"Fire Dept. suggested the general location based on safety and response time issues."</i></b><br />
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But, the safety and response time concerns of many served by the location of the current Fire Station, neighborhood on Veterans as well as the industrial buildings by the Airport and West of Loyola on Vets, clearly weren't a factor.<br />
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In addition, since the Volunteer Fire Department was forced to move out yesterday (January 10th), why was there no contingency plans for the station to be temporarily housed in that area to continue to protect the residences and businesses in that section of Kenner?<br />
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And, we haven't even begun to discuss the outrageous land cost for this parcel of land.<br />
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There were three appraisals for the property: one from the state, the city and the property owner.<br />
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The property owner's appraisal is highest at $1,952,160. It was conducted two months AFTER the City's appraisal in May 2018 and includes some unconventional assumptions to attain that high value including that the property would be rezoned and marketed as a potential Hotel/Motel Development. As such, the comparables listed include a hotel on Severn Ave in Metairie and a hotel on Vets.<br />
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Since the appraisal was AFTER the City of Kenner's appraisal, the property owner already knew of Kenner's interest thus making the property more valuable in his eyes and increasing the appraisal. .<br />
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The City's appraisal, in March 2018, values the property at $910,000.<br />
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The State DOTD appraisal comes in at $668,000.<br />
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<b>The property is currently assessed at a value of $230,400 for property tax purposes. </b><br />
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<b>The City is paying $1.5 Million for the property.</b><br />
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In his mind, Mayor Zahn believes that Kenner made a great deal because it won't cost the City any money (yet).<br />
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In a text message Zahn said, <b><i>"At the end of the day, the purchase of the land and the construction of the new fire station will cost the City of Kenner absolutely nothing."</i></b><br />
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But, as with most politicians, Mayor Zahn fails to consider that all funding, whether it is Local, Parish, State or Federal, is OUR money anyway.<br />
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So, while it may be true that the land and Fire Station won't cost the City of Kenner (an abstract entity) any money, it will and does cost the people of Kenner plenty.<br />
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Mayor Zahn also hasn't disclosed if, spending almost 1/2 of the funding received (regardless of where it came from) on land alone, will result in building a not state-of-the-art Fire Station. That should be the Mayor and City's top priority - building a new Fire Station that will last for decades.<br />
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Also, Mayor Zahn claims that the new Fire Station location will be boon to economic development in the City.<br />
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I think the only economic development the City will see is if the KFD Firefighters stationed at that location like Church's Chicken, which is adjacent to the proposed Fire Station land.<br />
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So, the new Fire Station will be located in a residential area and not on one of Kenner's main roads, on a grossly overpriced piece of land that that the City is paying $1.5 Million and is appraised for property tax purposes at 1/7th and by the DOTD at 1/2 that amount, will hurt KFD's response time to incidents on Veterans Blvd., will not spur economic development (except at Church's Chicken - maybe), will result in almost 1/2 of the City's DOTD funding going towards the land meaning a non state-of-the-art Fire Station, and in general is a bad deal for the City of Kenner.<br />
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But, the good news is that no City money will be used on the project (yet).<br />
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And, who said I'm not an optimist?<br />
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<br />Click Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310299611425577946.post-75920908868236384792018-11-20T09:54:00.005-06:002018-11-20T09:54:35.471-06:00More Bonehead Moves In City Of KennerThe last week was not a good one if you reside in the City of Kenner.<br />
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Between the Kenner City Council and Mayor Zahn, Kenner made and discussed several more bonehead moves, none of which will help Kenner prosper.<br />
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<b><u>Bonehead Move #1 - Approving a Church at The Esplanade</u></b><br />
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In a move that I have been critical of since it was proposed, the Council approved a plan by Christ The King Church to purchase the old Hollywood Theatre property at the Esplanade Mall and convert it to a church.<br />
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When I first criticized the plan, I was told that "You're against churches" and "You hate religion".<br />
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Neither of those is true but it shows the lengths that some politicians will go to to deflect from the real issues: the conversion of taxable property to non-taxable and the continued perception that retail is dying in Kenner.<br />
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<b>Consider this: the Esplanade Mall is under new ownership (again). How can it market itself to prospective retail customers when a chunk of prime commercial property adjoining the mall isn't commercial anymore?</b><br />
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Christ The King is a growing, vibrant church. But, it's viability in Kenner is unknown. They aren't expanding within Kenner - they are expanding to Kenner.<br />
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Will they have 100 members of the Kenner congregation? 500? 50? We don't know and, regardless of how many members they have, their economic impact will be negligible. Yes, they may contribute to some nearby restaurants but, unlike retail which draws people daily or housing units where residents reside and commute to and from daily, the church members will impact little else in Kenner.<br />
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<b>In addition, by letting the property go to a non-profit, the City of Kenner will receive ZERO in property tax revenue. Now, admittedly, the decrepit theatre was only generating a few thousand dollars for the City but, if the property remained commercial or was turned into an apartment or condo complex, the resulting property tax revenue would be huge. </b><br />
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Also, if the property were turned into housing, whether owned or rented, the residents would presumably utilize Target for groceries and the resulting population influx and boost in grocery sales may have spurred another grocery store to seriously consider locating in the wasteland that is the Pavillion and that would have led to even more sales tax and property tax revenue for the City.<br />
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Yes, the property owner had financial issues but, the City of Kenner could have, and should have, sought another developer instead of abdicating to a church and taking this parcel out of commerce.<br />
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When Kenner District 4 Councilman George Branigan campaigned his platform was that he was the man who could help redevelop the Esplanade and the nearly vacant Pavilion Shopping Center, both of which are in his district.<br />
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Thus far, neither has happened and, sorry, but putting another church in a prime commercial spot doesn't qualify as redevelopment.<br />
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Yes, the Hollywood Cinema had fallen into disrepair. Yes, it was/is an eyesore. Yes, the residents of Cannes Brulees bristled at the idea of an apartment complex on that site.<br />
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But now, instead of following through on his Esplanade and Pavillion campaign pledges, Branigan is now the champion of Cannes Brulees.<br />
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On his Facebook page, Branigan said, <b><i>"<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Promises Made, Promises Kept! During my campaign, I told the residents of Cannes Brûlées that I would protect their neighborhood. As of today, they no longer have to worry about apartments looking down into their yards and invading their privacy."</span></i></b><br />
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So, a handful of residents who combined don't pay 1/50th or probably even 1/100th of the sales and property taxes that an apartment or condo complex would contribute to city coffers now dictate the City of Kenner's Economic Development?<br />
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And, what about your "Promises" to other District 4 and City of Kenner residents to redevelop The Esplanade and Pavillion? How does this help fulfill either of those?<br />
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Since you, the faithful ClickJefferson reader, are reading this I will assume that you have at least 1/2 a brain and already know the answer to those questions.<br />
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Perhaps one day soon, Councilman Branigan will update us on the progress of his letter writing campaign to lure new businesses to Kenner or what he has actually done to reinvigorate The Esplanade and The Pavillion.<br />
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I will keep monitoring his Facebook page for those updates and keep you posted.<br />
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<b><u>Bonehead Move #2 - Speed Cameras</u></b><br />
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Up for First Reading at the last council meeting, was an ordinance by District 2 Councilman Mike Sigur, at the suggestion of Kenner Police Chief Mike Glaser, for the introduction of Traffic Cameras to Kenner.<br />
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Several years back, the people of Kenner spoke out loudly AGAINST Traffic and Red Light Cameras in Kenner.<br />
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As with the Hollywood Cinemas/Church issue, this is another poor, ill conceived solution to an issue.<br />
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<b>Is speeding an issue in SOME neighborhoods? Yes. Are Traffic Cameras the answer? Absolutely not. </b><br />
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First of all, this ordinance is poorly written and vague. It doesn't specify the maximum amount of Traffic Cameras allowed in Kenner (2? 10? 50? More?), it feeds into the perception of many that Kenner Police are "ticket-happy" and that KPD writes tickets simply to generate more revenue for the KPD, and the fines for the tickets will exclusively go to the KPD which is already well-funded compared with similar police departments in the region.<br />
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So, what are some possible solutions?<br />
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How about <b><u>portable speed bumps</u></b> that could be moved from neighborhood to neighborhood periodically? Either the City or even a Civic Association could purchase these. There's even a web site (I know - the Internet is wonderful) that sells portable speed bumps. Go to <a href="http://www.speedbumpsandhumps.com/">www.speedbumpsandhumps.com</a> and check it out yourself. Wouldn't you REALLY rather have speed bumps, especially portable ones that could be moved after an area has been controlled, than traffic cameras?<br />
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What about <b><u>"Speed Signs"</u></b> that warn you to slow down and flash your speed? These are also temporary and act as deterrents.<br />
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Or why not use <b><u>Reserve Officers</u></b> to patrol certain neighborhoods where speeding may be an issue? I'm not sure about Kenner but I do know that in many municipalities it is a requirement for Reserve Officers that seek detail work to volunteer for a set amount of hours per time period. Some Police Departments require 10 hours a week; others, 10 hours a month. Is this the policy in Kenner and, if not, why not? Having a police car with an Officer (no one needs to know it's a Reserve Officer) is much more of a deterrent and could help other crime issues like "Porch Pirates" as well.<br />
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<b>If the KPD's Traffic Division is so understaffed at 8 officers, and the KPD personnel total overall has stayed relatively stagnant since Katrina, why not invest in more street-level officers and use Reserve Officers until the KPD can beef up staffing? And, please don't insult our intelligence by claiming that the KPD doesn't have the funding. Each time, for as long as I can remember, that the Police Chief, regardless of who it was, has appeared before the Council seeking additional funding, the Council has obliged. The KPD is plenty well-funded, thank you very much. </b><br />
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Again, why isn't the City of Kenner exploring and utilizing these options rather than Speed Cameras that the vast majority of Kenner residents don't want?<br />
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The City Council will take up Sigur's proposed ordinance at the next council meeting, Thursday, December 6th. The public will have an opportunity to comment on the Speed Camera proposal at that meeting.<br />
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In the interim, you can call or email the council, Chief Glaser and Mayor Zahn and let them know exactly how you feel about the cameras.<br />
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Here are their numbers and email addresses:<br />
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<b>Mayor Zahn - 468-7206 - mayor@kenner.la.us</b><br />
<b>Chief Glaser - 712-2200 - </b><br />
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; height: auto; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "geneva"; font-size: x-small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Kristi K. McKinney, Councilwoman-at-Large, Division A</span></span></strong><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Telephone: (504) 468-7247</span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">E-mail: <a href="mailto:divisiona@kenner.la.us" style="color: #4f653d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">divisiona@kenner.la.us</a></span><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Thomas "Tom" Willmott, Councilman-at-Large, Division B</span></span></strong><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Telephone: (504) 468-7252</span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">E-mail: <a href="mailto:divisionb@kenner.la.us" style="color: #4f653d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">divisionb@kenner.la.us</a> </span><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Gregory W. Carroll, Councilman, District 1</span></span></strong><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Telephone (504) 468-7253</span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">E-mail: <a href="mailto:district1@kenner.la.us" style="color: #4f653d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">district1@kenner.la.us</a></span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></strong></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; height: auto; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "geneva"; font-size: x-small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Michael G. Sigur, Councilman, District 2</span></strong></span></span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Telephone: (504) 468-7248</span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">E-mail: <a href="mailto:district2@kenner.la.us" style="color: #4f653d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">district2@kenner.la.us</a></span><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Glenn W. Hayes Sr., Councilman, District 3</span></span></strong><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Telephone: (504) 468-7249</span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">E-mail: <a href="mailto:district3@kenner.la.us" style="color: #4f653d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">district3@kenner.la.us</a></span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">George L. Branigan, Councilman, District 4</span></span></strong></span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Telephone: (504) 468-7251</span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">E-mail: <a href="mailto:district4@kenner.la.us" style="color: #4f653d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">district4@kenner.la.us</a></span><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Brian Brennan, Councilman, District 5</span></span></strong><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Telephone: (504) 468-7250</span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">E-mail: <a href="mailto:district5@kenner.la.us" style="color: #4f653d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">district5@kenner.la.us</a></span></span></div>
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<b><u>Bonehead Move #3 - The Possible Move Of Kenner City Hall to The Esplanade</u></b><br />
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I wrote about this a few months back and told you why i thought this was a terrible idea for Kenner but, since Mayor Zahn highlighted the possible move at "The State of the City Address" last week, it seems like now is a great time to revisit the issue.<br />
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On the face of it, consolidating Kenner City Hall seems like a good idea. Kenner offices, while primarily centralized in the 3-building City Hall complex on Williams, are spread out across the city from Rivertown to central Kenner. Having all city offices in one location would be more convenient and, potentially, result in less property insurance payments for the city.<br />
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<b>But, there are far more reasons why Kenner should NOT move City Hall to The Esplanade that outweigh the convenience and possible insurance savings. </b><br />
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1). As with the Hollywood Cinema/Church issue, if City of Kenner offices were moved to the old Macy building at The Esplanade, it would take out another large commercial space from commerce in Kenner. No sales or property tax revenue would be generated.<br />
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2). In addition to losing sales and property tax revenue, the City of Kenner would turn from an owner of property to a renter. Adding a long-term lease and the associated buildout costs for converting the retail store to offices are expenses that the City may not be able to afford. The Mayor has not discussed any of the proposed costs with the people of Kenner nor has he explained how the City will pay for massive cost of building out a new site, whether it's the old Macy's building or a different site, and why the he wants to indebt city residents even more while we are still paying off (and receiving minimal benefits) from Mike Yenni's disastrous, poorly conceived (do you see the pattern here?) 2030 Plan.<br />
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I was encouraged at a recent City Council meeting when Mayor Zahn publicly bemoaned the fact that Yenni had maxed out Kenner's credit cards and "saddled Kenner residents for a generation" with Yenni's 2030 Plan.<br />
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That being the case, again I ask, why take on even more debt, sell city assets (the current City Hall complex; possibly Veterans Park and other Kenner buildings) and become a renter? If the City of Kenner were downsizing and saving money by eliminating city departments and personnel (which is what it SHOULD be doing), maybe I might be able to understand this. Short of that happening, I have to question WHY? and WHO IS MAKING OUT IN THIS DEAL (because you know someone is and it's NOT the people of Kenner).<br />
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<b>As I said, lower insurance costs and convenience DO NOT OUTWEIGH the significant cost of moving, the costs of a long-term lease (and another recurring expense that Kenner doesn't need), AND the loss of sales and property tax revenue that taking another prime piece of Kenner commercial property out of commerce will cost. </b><br />
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<b>No city, let alone a city has financially hamstrung as Kenner can afford to reduce potential revenue AND incur more costs.</b><br />
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Add that to the fact that having city employees at The Esplanade, while a possible boon for restaurants in that area, does nothing to fix The Esplanade, Kenner's poor business reputation or make other businesses feel comfortable with Kenner's business and retail climate.<br />
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And that leads to reason #3.<br />
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3). Kenner's already poor perception in the retail and business communities.<br />
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After Mike Yenni blurted out on television that "Kenner is a dying city", Kenner has been unable to put forward the building blocks for a revival.<br />
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Yenni was detached after he was re-elected and focused on campaigning for his next job and chasing high school boys. His ascension to Jefferson Parish President, coupled with the aforementioned 2030 Plan, set Kenner back for decades.<br />
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Spending a year with an un-elected interim Mayor also set Kenner back as did Mayor Zahn's first year which was the final year of Yenni's aborted 2nd term. Zahn didn't want to make waves or push the envelope and provide the leadership that Kenner desperately craved after Muniz, Yenni, and Sigur.<br />
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<b>Now that Mayor Zahn was elected to a full-term, he needs to make bold moves to prove to National Retailers like Kohl's, Belk and others that Kenner is open for business. </b><br />
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Hiring a part-time Economic Development Coordinator with ZERO experience in recruiting national business and in job creation/retention; letting prime commercial space be turned into a church; allowing the Pavillion to continue to decay along with The Esplanade; potentially losing more prime commercial space by moving City Hall to the mall; allowing a first-year District Councilman to send out hundreds of letters to corporate real estate departments that will simply toss the letters in the garbage after laughing at them (and Kenner) and NOT being proactive as a Mayor and hitting the road himself to market Kenner does nothing to turnaround the poor perception of Kenner.<br />
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Letting prime real estate be sold to a church is a huge blow on it's own. Throwing up your hands and essentially throwing in the towel on The Esplanade by moving City Hall there will doom the mall and any flickering hopes of it's revival.<br />
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On my radio program Monday (November 19th), Mayor Zahn said that upkeep of the City Hall Complex was a factor in possible relocation and a major reason why turning the City from a property owner to a property lessor made economic sense.<br />
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While the City hasn't worked out all the numbers yet regarding relocation and buildout costs and savings, along with how the City will pay for the move, Mayor Zahn promised to get all the facts and figures and present them to Kenner residents BEFORE any move or any lease is signed.<br />
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I don't know if that means that the public will have input into whether or not the City moves City Hall or if it will simply be a series of meetings like Yenni's 2030 Plan where it was a done deal and Kenner residents got sold a bunch of lies and half-baked ideas along with some very nice and very deceptive renderings of how the City of Kenner would look.<br />
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<b>So, until we get all the facts and figures from Mayor Zahn, to be fair, we will delay "Full-Bonehead Status" on this project - for now. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>But, the Mayor already knows that he needs to do a major selling job to convince Kenner residents, at least THIS Kenner resident, that this move would be in the best interests and best financial interests of ALL Kenner residents and not just one or two select Kenner residents (follow the money and see who is trying to buy the incredibly valuable land on Williams Blvd. that currently houses the City Hall Complex - I've already made a "short-list" and sealed it in an envelope that will be opened at a public event tentatively scheduled for The New Event Center at The Pavillion Shopping Center). </b><br />
<br />
Time will tell how much input citizens will have and how transparent the proposed move is. In the meantime, you can listen to the interview with Mayor Zahn here: <a href="https://youtu.be/9oczZ4umspM">https://youtu.be/9oczZ4umspM</a><br />
<br />
<br />
-----------------------------------------------------<br />
As a Kenner resident for almost 19 years, whenever there has been a major issue (Yenni's plan to double property taxes, Yenni's 2030 Plan, changes to the City Charter, Zahn's now rescinded Nike ban and the new recreation fees, etc) I've always tried to step back and ask myself, "How does this help or better the people of Kenner?"<br />
<br />
Whether you agree or disagree with me on issues, that's always been my compass - "How does this help or better the people of Kenner?".<br />
<br />
<b>I don't see how the people of Kenner are better off with:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>1). Adding another church instead of more housing or retail options and taking prime commercial space out of commerce and gaining ZERO Sales or Property Tax revenue.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>2). Speed Cameras that 90+% of the residents are adamantly opposed to. Speed Cameras as just another money grab, regardless of the political talking heads claiming they are about "public safety". If "public safety" were truly the issue, the City would investigate portable speed bumps, utilizing reserve officers to assist until the KPD can beef up it's Traffic Division, or similar ideas BEFORE resorting to Speed Cameras. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>3). Relocating City Hall and taking yet another prime commercial space out of commerce and gaining ZERO Sales or Property Tax revenue AND giving up on any hopes of the reinvigorating The Esplanade Mall. Yeah I know - retail is dying - and The Esplanade may never regain it's lost luster. But, with another new owner, the City (and Mayor Zahn) should be working overtime to give The Esplanade one last shot. Instead, by even proposing to move City Hall to the old Macy's, Mayor Zahn is effectively parroting Yenni's "Kenner is a dying city" comment. </b><br />
<br />
Kenner had 9 years of failed Mayors with no vision and another year of an interim Mayor that couldn't get out of his own way, let alone Mike Yenni's child-predator shadow. Kenner needs a Mayor with vision and leadership from him, the Council and the Police Chief.<br />
<br />
Sadly, these boneheaded moves and others prove that Kenner City Government at all levels STILL lacks a cohesive, informed vision for Kenner's residents.<br />
<br />
This Spring, Mayor Zahn told me to give him time and by December I would be pleasantly surprised at the direction he was taking Kenner.<br />
<br />
Since then, while I have seen some very positive steps by Mayor Zahn (replacing the inept Fire Chief and Recreation Director; a huge improvement in the talent at Freedom Fest; the open communication and dialogue with Mayor Zahn that I, and others, have, etc., given the Mayor's own comment, I had hoped for more.<br />
<br />
Well, in less than 2 weeks it will be December. Mayor Zahn still has time to prove me wrong and give us all hope.<br />
<br />
Until the calendar turns, there's still time and, for me anyway, there's still hope.<br />
<br />
But, the clock is ticking...<br />
<br />
<br />Click Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310299611425577946.post-65953685276570021232018-11-05T09:56:00.002-06:002018-11-05T09:56:27.503-06:00Supporting JP's Sexual Predator-In-ChiefMany people are appalled and outraged at the Sexual Abuse scandal being played out currently in the media.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, some have conveniently forgotten that if Jefferson Parish's Sexual Predator-In-Chief Mike Yenni was a teacher, or a priest, or a businessman, or anything except a politically-connected Parish President with folks in high places still owing allegiance (and favors) to his uncle and grandfather, Yenni would have been fired, jailed, or, at least, ostracized.<br />
<br />
So, as rumors continue to swirl that Yenni will be seeking re-election next year, is holding fundraisers and working behind the scenes to support candidates like Jefferson Parish School Board candidate Colleen Winkler (who will then owe him and overturn the "Yenni Ban" and allow him to attend public school functions), I thought it would be interested to post the names of individuals and businesses that are supporting Mike Yenni financially and have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to Mike Yenni AFTER Yenni's sexting scandal with a teenage, high school boy was publicized.<br />
<br />
To briefly recap, in October 2016, it was disclosed that Mike Yenni sent several sexually graphic text messages to a 17-year-old high school student. Yes, I know the "Age of Consent" in Louisiana is 17 but, just because that fact may not make it illegal according to our state, that doesn't make it right. I'm also relatively certain that, before he began sexting and calling the teenage boy, Mike Yenni didn't ask him for ID to verify his age.<br />
<br />
In addition to frequent sexts and explicit calls, Yenni stalked the teenage boy at his job, bought him gifts, asked the boy to model underwear for him, followed the boy into a public restroom and fondled and kissed him, suggested that he and the teenage boy engage in a homosexual threesome with another teenage boy, suggested that he and the teenage boy drive to Mississippi and engage in homosexual relations, and, as Mayor of Kenner, suggested that the teenage boy take a job in the Yenni Administration so the two could be close without drawing suspicion.<br />
<br />
And, while this teenage boy showed character by coming forward, unfortunately he did not want his life put into further turmoil and didn't want to put his college career on hold to appear at a trial.<br />
<br />
Basic Psychology also tells us that, this clearly wasn't an isolated incident.<br />
<br />
Yenni's own past reveals a history of sexually explicit texts and emails to several homosexual partners and at least one woman. These emails and sexts were sent on city-owned equipment while Yenni was Kenner's Deputy CAO under Mayor Ed Muniz.. The FBI investigated these emails and texts after Yenni claimed that he was being blackmailed by a political opponent. No charges were ever filed and, while the FBI claimed they would publicly release their investigation and the evidence (the emails and texts). 8 years later, they still have not - although many people in Kenner (myself included) have seen the evidence.<br />
<br />
The rumors surrounding Yenni were so prevalent that Yenni's future father-in-law requested Yenni take a polygraph test before marrying his daughter. Yenni somehow managed to rig the test and the test administrator who conveniently was given a job later in Kenner's Code Enforcement Department, despite being 70+ years old and having no experience in Code or the trades that Code inspects.<br />
<br />
So, after all this and the continued embarrassment that Yenni has reaped on Jefferson Parish, who could possibly support him and contribute financially to his possible re-election campaign? You may be surprised to read that your friends, neighbors, business associates, and companies you or your company may be doing business with are all lining up to give Mike Yenni money.<br />
<br />
Here's the list of Yenni contributors over $500 since the sexting scandal was announced:<br />
<br />
<b><u>$5,000</u></b><br />
JoAnn Fournier<br />
Greg Cantrell, Inc<br />
Sarah Bergeron Junius<br />
River Birch, Inc<br />
Southwestern Packing & Seals<br />
<br />
<b><u>$3,500</u></b><br />
Judy Alack Lala<br />
LeBlanc Fanaci Villio LLC (1 $2,500 and 2 $500 contributions)<br />
New Era Information Technologies LLC (1 $2,500 and 2 $500 contributions)<br />
<div>
Digital Engineering & Imaging Inc (1 $2,500 and 2 $500 contributions)</div>
<br />
<b><u>$3,000</u></b><br />
Louie J. Roussel III<br />
Pivotal Engineering LLC (1 $2,500 and 1 $500 contribution)<br />
Mosquito Control Services, LLC (1 $2,500 and 1 $500 contribution)<br />
It's Regional LLC (1 $2,500 and 1 $500 contribution)<br />
<br />
<b><u>$2,500</u></b><br />
Renton Properties, LLC<br />
Pipe Works Plumbing & Demolition<br />
NBN Services LLC<br />
Michael F. Nicoladis<br />
Michael Knox<br />
Leader Construction Inc<br />
Exalt Real Estate Group, LLC<br />
Construction Optimization Engineers, Inc<br />
<br />
<b><u>$2,000</u></b><br />
CRC Logistic Services Inc<br />
Nationwide Laundry Services Inc<br />
Richard E Arnoult<br />
Donald G. Lambert Contractors<br />
<br />
<u><b>$1,500</b></u><br />
Clarion/Quality Inn Suites of Gretna'<br />
Shread-Kuyrkendall & Associates, Inc<br />
Donald Lambert (Owner of Donald G. Lambert Contractor listed above - 1 $1,000 and 1 $500 contribution)<br />
Fleming Construction Co LLC (1 $1,000 and 1 $500 contribution)<br />
Hartman Engineering Inc (1 $1,000 and 1 $500 contribution)<br />
Boland Marine & Industrial LLC (1 $1,000 and 1 $500 contribution)<br />
<br />
<u><b>$1,000</b></u><br />
Industrial Fabrics, Inc<br />
Michael C. Hollis<br />
Kenner Storage Management LLC<br />
Ralph Junius, Jr.<br />
Pet Care Center Inc<br />
Vehicle Parts & Equipment Co Inc<br />
Watkins Foot Center Inc<br />
Leon T. Watkins (Owner of Watkins Foot Center)<br />
Susan Ann Swanner<br />
Elos Environmental LLC<br />
Industrial Fabrics Inc<br />
Aecom PAC<br />
BLD Services LLC<br />
C. "Bud" Taulli Construction Inc<br />
<br />
Causeway Partners LLC<br />
D & D Creations Inc<br />
Fluid Process & Pumps LLC<br />
Gaffney & Gaffney, A Law Corporation<br />
I. William Sizeler (2 $500 contributions)<br />
Select Properties LTD (2 $500 contributions)<br />
Perrin & Carter Inc (2 $500 contributions)<br />
Maselli Properties (2 $500 contributions)<br />
H. Davis Cole & Associates (2 $500 contributions)<br />
Mike Jacobs (2 $500 contributions)<br />
Johnson, Yacoubian & Paysse (2 $500 contributions)<br />
Nathan Junius (2 $500 contributions)<br />
Design Engineering & Imaging (2 $500 contributions)<br />
Jeffrey Bonura (2 $500 contributions)<br />
Burk-Kleinpeter (2 $500 contributions)<br />
Bryant Hammett & Associates (2 $500 contributions)<br />
B & A Insurance Agency (2 $500 contributions)<br />
<div>
Cannon Cochran Management Services Inc (2 $500 contributions)</div>
<br />
<b><u>$750</u></b><br />
The Kamp<br />
<br />
<b><u>$500</u></b><br />
Tomba Communications & Electronics Inc<br />
John Van Vrancken (Father of JP Councilwoman Jennifer Van Vrancken)<br />
Solutient<br />
Robert J. Caluda APLC<br />
RAMJ Construction LLC<br />
Richard Lambert<br />
Lassen family LP<br />
Laurel Outdoor LLC<br />
Michael S Leach<br />
Messina's Catering<br />
Metro Credit Services Inc<br />
Meyer Engineers LTD<br />
Constantine F. Nicoladis<br />
Frank Nicoladis<br />
Dr. Abdul H. Khan<br />
MSMM Engineering, LLC<br />
Hadesty & Hanover LLC<br />
Gaudry, Ranson, Higgins & Gremillion LLC<br />
Go Graphics LLC<br />
Steven T. Graves<br />
ECM Consultants Inc<br />
Ed White & Associates<br />
CBBI Environmental & Infrasctructure Inc<br />
Clancy Developments<br />
Diane B. Brown<br />
Harry L Cahill<br />
Cycle Construction Co LLC<br />
Cypress Ventures<br />
BCG Engineering & Consulting<br />
BFM Corporations<br />
Al Copeland Investments Inc<br />
<br />
<br />
Do you see any familiar names? If so, ask these folks why they and their businesses are contributing to an admitted Sexual Predator. <br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Click Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310299611425577946.post-5327547776033940832018-11-05T09:46:00.001-06:002018-11-05T09:46:08.291-06:00JP Political Operative Working On Campaigns While Collecting A State PaycheckIf you're an average person, you've probably never heard of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatch_Act_of_1939" target="_blank">"The Hatch Act".</a><br />
<br />
"The Hatch Act" is a Federal law that prevents Federal employees from working on political campaigns. After all, government workers should work for you, the people that pay their salaries, right?<br />
<br />
While The Hatch Act was enacted in 1939, it has been amended several times most recently in 2012 by then-President Barack Obama and certain aspects of it now extend to state and municipal employees who work in programs whose funding is provided for in whole or in part by the Federal Government as well.<br />
<br />
The Hatch Act has been challenged several times including appeals up the U.S. Supreme Court, which has deemed it constitutional several times and also declined to hear other challenges.<br />
<br />
In Kenner, voters approved a Charter Change that provided that Political Appointees of the Mayor could not engage in political activities. Unfortunately, several malcontents in current-Mayor Ben Zahn's Administration (including several still employed by the City of Kenner) filed a lawsuit and a judge determined that the Charter Change was too broad and struck it down.<br />
<br />
In Louisiana, in addition to the Federal Hatch Act, we have our own "Little Hatch Act" which states:<br />
<br />
<i><b>"No employee in the classified service shall participate or engage in
political activity; be a candidate for nomination or election to public
office except to seek election as the classified state employee serving
on the State Civil Service Commission; or be a member of any national,
state, or local committee of a political party or faction; make or
solicit contributions for any political party, faction, or candidate; or
take active part in the management of the affairs of a political party,
faction, candidate, or any political campaign, except to exercise his
right as a citizen to express his opinion privately, to serve as a
commissioner or official watcher at the polls, and to cast his vote as
he desires. No person shall solicit contributions for political purposes
from any classified employee or official or use or attempt to use his
position in the state or city service to punish or coerce the political
action of a classified employee." La. Const. Ann. art. X, § 9.</b></i><br />
<br />
While no law can restrict a municipal, state or Federal employee from exercising their right of Free Speech or restrict them from voting, The Hatch Act and Louisiana's "Little Hatch Act" are designed to prevent state and local employees from actively working on campaigns during normal business hours, among other restrictions.<br />
<i><b> </b></i><br />
Just as you may not have heard of The Hatch Act, you've probably never heard of John Tobler either.<br />
<br />
<i><b></b></i>
Yes, if you've read this blog before, you know that I've written about Tobler before.<br />
<br />
In a nutshell, Tobler is a political operative who has a long relationship with Jefferson Parish's Minister of Propaganda Greg Buisson. Buisson is the Campaign Manager/Political Consultant to many politicians in Metro New Orleans including criminals like former JP Parish President Aaron Broussard and former St. Tammany Coroner Peter Galvan, among others. Buisson is also the current Campaign Manager/Political Consultant for Jefferson Parish's Sexual Predator-In-Chief Mike Yenni, several JP Councilmembers including District 4 Councilman Dominick Impastato; Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn and several members of the Kenner City Council including District 2 Councilman Mike Sigur, District 5 Councilman Brian Brennan and Councilwoman-At-Large Kristi Katsanis McKinney; and former State Rep. and current New Orleans Councilwoman-At-Large Helena Morena (<a href="https://clickjefferson.blogspot.com/2013/10/another-day-another-opportunity-to-talk.html" target="_blank">who gave Buisson's son a full scholarship to Tulane</a>, despite the fact that Buisson didn't live in her district). .<br />
<br />
To read more about Buisson, use the Top Left "Search" Box or <a href="https://clickjefferson.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-political-consultant-for-aaron.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.<br />
<br />
But, let's get back to Tobler.<br />
<br />
<b>Tobler is the founder, member or past member of several political endorsement groups including the Greater New Orleans Republicans, among others. Of course, Tobler never informed any group or candidate seeking an endorsement from one of the groups he fronted about Tobler's long association with Buisson. </b><br />
<br />
I actually sat in an endorsement meeting where Tobler was present. I made my opening statement and then said that I would answer questions from anyone on the committee, except Tobler. Afterward, the committee chairman told me that I was "childish and condescending". I replied that, according to the State Ethics Board, Tobler was on the payroll of my opponent. The chairman was surprised. Then he apologized. <br />
<br />
In fact, after "working" for several years for Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta (a Buisson client), Tobler almost wrangled <a href="https://clickjefferson.blogspot.com/2017/06/zahn-to-hire-buisson-political.html" target="_blank">a job with the City of Kenner through Ben Zahn</a>. Thankfully, that job didn't come to fruition, although Tobler did work for the City of Kenner for 2 days before resigning abruptly earlier this year to join the State Department of Insurance (LDI).<br />
<br />
While Tobler has been a state employee for several months as the LDI's Deputy Commissioner of Public Affairs, he has continued to work on political campaigns in violation of State and Federal law.<br />
<br />
I have received several email Press Releases from candidates listing Tobler as the "Media Contact".<br />
<br />
If Tobler were working on political campaigns during his off hours, while still technically unethical and possibly violating Louisiana's "Little Hatch Act", it would not be illegal. But, that isn't the case.<br />
<br />
I had several people call Tobler at the telephone number listed on the Press Releases during what should be normal working hours for LDI employees.<br />
<br />
Tobler answered and spoke about the campaigns during these calls.<br />
<br />
Ten days ago, I left a message for Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon regarding Tobler's political activity during working hours. Donelon has yet to return my call.<br />
<br />
After I left a message for Donelon, also ten days ago, I called the LDI's Division of Public Affairs (which, ironically, Tobler is the head of), which is listed as the Media Contact for the Department. I asked the person who answered the phone:<br />
<br />
<b>Q: "Is John Tobler a current employee of the LDI?"</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>A: "Yes".</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Q: "Did John Tobler take a leave of absence or is he currently on vacation?"</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>A: "No".</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Q: "Is John Tobler in the office today?"</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>A: "Yes. What is this about?"</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>To which I explained that I believed that I had information proving that Tobler was in violation of The Hatch Act for working on political campaigns while a state employee. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>A: "What's your name and number and I will get back to you today regarding this issue". </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Of course, I'm still waiting. </b><br />
<br />
As I mentioned, Tobler worked for the City of Kenner for 2 days in the Clerk of Court's Office (another job that he isn't qualified for).<br />
<br />
When I contacted Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn regarding Tobler's employment, the Mayor verified that Tobler worked for 2 days before resigning to join the LDI.<br />
<br />
When I asked Mayor Zahn if Tobler's abrupt job change had anything to do with his outside campaign activities, Zahn said that he wasn't aware of Tobler's activities while a COK employee and that if Zahn had known, <i><b>"He would have been terminated immediately. I do not tolerate breaking the Hatch Act". </b></i><br />
<br />
<b>So, if Tobler's activities would have violated The Hatch Act in Kenner, how can Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon not take action against Tobler for violating state rules? </b><br />
<br />
Look, I believe that Federal, State, and Municipal employees should be apolitical. I fought hard for the Charter Change that was approved by 80% of Kenner voters that a group of 12 malcontent City of Kenner employees got struck down.<br />
<br />
Employees should work for the public - not for a political candidate even if that political candidate is the person that gave them their jobs.<br />
<br />
And, while I also believe that everyone has the right to vote for and support whomever they want, while they are accepting a taxpayer paycheck, they should not be engaged in political activity. Period.<br />
<br />
But, that's just me.<br />
<br />
<b>Clearly though, Federal, State and Municipal employees ARE precluded from performing political activities WHILE allegedly working. </b><br />
<br />
John Tobler can form as many fake endorsement groups as he wants. He can hang out with Greg Buisson and Jefferson Parish's Sexual Predator-In-Chief Mike Yenni, and anyone that he wants - as long as it's not on the taxpayer's dime.<br />
<br />
<b>Now, you know what Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon has known for almost two weeks. The question remains: why hasn't Commissioner Donelon taken action against Tobler or picked up the phone to tell me why it's ok for Tobler to politic on your time?</b><br />
<br />
Is Commissioner Donelon just trying to sweep this under the rug or wait until the November 6th election is past?<br />
<br />
Perhaps, if you ask, he may answer you. For some reason, he's ducking me. <br />
<br />
Here's Jim Donelon's office number: 225-342-5423 and his email is commissioner@ldi.la.gov<br />
<br />
If you get an answer, please let me know. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Click Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310299611425577946.post-26495283954043493192018-11-02T19:34:00.000-05:002018-11-02T19:34:07.348-05:00So, The New Kenner Rec "Participation Fee" Is Really About Police Details - Who Knew?At a very long Kenner City Council meeting last night, Mayor Ben Zahn corrected a misperception of mine (and many) in Kenner - the new Recreation "Participation Fee" for Youth Sports isn't about Recreation or "Participation" or improving Kenner Recreation or maintenance of fields or paying currently volunteer coaches.<br />
<br />
<b>In fact, the new Kenner Recreation "Participation Fee" isn't about Recreation at all - it's about police details.</b><br />
<br />
Yes, police details.<br />
<br />
After Mayor Zahn unilaterally added a $10 "Participation Fee" for residents, with the approval of Kenner's City Attorney who decided that a "Participation Fee" isn't really a "Fee" because a "Fee" would be required to be approved by the Kenner City Council (and include public comment), two Kenner City Councilmembers, District 1 Councilman Gregory Carroll and Councilman-At-Large Tom Willmott (both former volunteer coaches), decided that maybe the Council (and the public) should talk about this new "Fee".<br />
<br />
After the two Councilmen spoke and several members of the public (myself included) spoke out against this new "Fee", and NOT ONE member of the public or the council spoke in favor of this new "Fee", Mayor Zahn finally, let the cat out of the bag, but not before explaining why the Council hadn't heard of this new "Fee" before it was imposed.<br />
<br />
Allegedly, Mayor Zahn is a very, very, very busy guy. He was going to send the Council info(after he had already imposed the "Fee") but he didn't have time,<br />
<br />
Look, I don't doubt that. I have far more text conversations with Mayor Zahn than I do actual conversations. I understand he has a lot on his plate.<br />
<br />
But, the Mayor has frequent conversations with Councilmembers, although, since the majority of this Council is beholden to Mayor Zahn and most wouldn't think of publicly questioning his actions (either due to their own ignorance of the Charter - which they swore an oath to uphold or fear of the Mayor lashing out as he did at Councilman Carroll), the Council rarely questions the actions of the Mayor.<br />
<br />
Sadly, this lack of true, independent representation on the Council dates back to former Mayor Mike Yenni's "Consensus Team".<br />
<br />
The fact is, if Councilmen Carroll and Willmott hadn't requested the time to discuss this, and give the public an opportunity to comment, we still wouldn't have answers to the many questions that are still dangling after an hour and a half of sometimes tense discussion.<br />
<br />
In any event, after Mayor Zahn disclosed the need for Police Details at Youth Recreation games, Recreation Director Chad Pitfield read two profanity-laced emails that he received that discussed potential violence and threats at Kenner Rec games.<br />
<br />
Two emails.<br />
<br />
Look, some parents (and youth players) may get a little excited. Tempers flare when there's a perceived bad call or penalty. Referees who don't deserve it, get heckled and even cursed. Things happen. Stupid things are said. It happens.<br />
<br />
When I played Little League baseball, I had a temper. I said many things to Umpires that crossed the line and I got tossed out of my share of baseball and basketball games.<br />
<br />
And yes, I've gone to Youth games and heard parents and relatives yell at Referees, other parents, and even other people's children.<br />
<br />
That will never stop. Our society in general has gotten less civil.<br />
<br />
I often hear people cursing at other people in Wal-Mart. In fact, I may have cursed out loud a few times myself at Wal-Mart.<br />
<br />
But, does that mean that Wal-Mart needs a paid Police Detail for potential shopper altercations?<br />
<br />
No, Wal-Mart has paid Police Details to deter shoplifting,<br />
<br />
Do we need paid Kenner Police Details at all Kenner Recreation games? No.<br />
<br />
KPD Chief Glaser disclosed that there were 55 "Calls for Service" at Kenner Recreation events. "Calls for Service" include every incidence of someone calling 911, whether it was for a minor traffic accident in a parking lot, an injury or any reason including an altercation (which the Chief mentioned was a very small number of the 55).<br />
<br />
Since the Chief was prepared with the 55 "Calls for Service" figure, tells me that he was prepared by someone in the Zahn Administration to be ready for that question. Chief Glaser is good but, he's not THAT good.<br />
<br />
Kenner's CAO Deborah Foshee was also prepared to cite participation numbers and projections of what the new "Fee" would bring in to the city and what the Police Details would cost.<br />
<br />
The fact is, this new "Participation Fee" will generate less than 1/2 of the cost of Police Details which are projected to cost $16,000 annually.<br />
<br />
<b>The question is: if KPD are truly required to attend Kenner Rec events to deter "violence", shouldn't the Mayor and Chief work out a plan and budget to include a "Regular" Police presence at Kenner Rec events instead of a Police Detail, which often is just an excuse for a retired KPD Officer to earn a little extra cash?</b><br />
<br />
I mean, if I'm attending a game and a violent incident occurs between two "gangs" of rival playground parents, I would feel much safer with a "Real" KPD Officer on scene instead of a Retired Rent-A-Cop who doubles as a Wal-Mart greeter.<br />
<br />
No disrespect intended for former officers but, a Retired Officer is not in a position to defuse a potentially violent incident.<br />
<br />
<b>If violence and threats of violence are such an issue in Kenner at Recreation events, why haven't the Mayor and Chief ALREADY taken steps to include a KPD presence at events?</b><br />
<br />
And, since even if they use Paid Details instead of Regularly Scheduled Officers, the cost is only $16,000. The City of Kenner's annual budget is $66.5 MILLION. Surely, Mayor Zahn could find $16,000 in the City Budget or Chief Glaser could find it in KPD's $20 MILLION annual budget, right?<br />
<br />
Since this new "Participation Fee" only covers less than 1/2 of the projected cost of Police Details, and since Rec Director Pitfield made the point that the $10 Resident Fee is less than other entities, why not charge more? Look, make no mistake, I'm against this "Fee" for Residents in any amount but, if the Mayor can't find $16,000 in a $66.5 MILLION budget, how can he find 1/2 that amount?<br />
<br />
Could the Mayor find $8,000 and Chief Glaser find the other $8,000 somewhere, anywhere, without nickle and diming Kenner residents?<br />
<br />
It's about "Public Safety" and "The Safety of Our Children", right?<br />
<br />
If you're an elected official, you FIND the money for "Public Safety" right?<br />
<br />
<b>Of course, when Mayor Zahn made the Kenner Fire Chief appear before the City Council to essentially "BEG" for $8,000 for new bunker gear (which has already proven to save Kenner Firefighter's lives), I don't think I could say that "Public Safety" is a real priority in Kenner.</b><br />
<br />
But, I'm sure the Mayor would disagree.<br />
<br />
Yes, I know that Mayor Zahn has taken steps to improve KFD with new equipment, additional manpower and morale.<br />
<br />
But, I was embarrassed that the Kenner Fire Chief was required to go in front of the Council at all for $8,000.<br />
<br />
The bottom line is - this "Participation Fee" is not needed and the idea of "Required Police Details" to stop violent incidents at Kenner fields and gyms is a smokescreen. Two emails and less than a handful of incidents involving a couple of knucklehead parents is not a reason for a Mayor to unilaterally impose a "Fee" without Council approval or public comment.<br />
<br />
And, yes, the reality is, since the bulk of the Kenner City Council besides Councilmen Carroll and Willmott, along with questions from Councilwoman Kristi McKinney, sat on their tongues and were afraid to speak out against this potential Charter violation (probably because they haven't even read the Charter they've sworn to uphold), infers that they approve of the Mayor's actions and the "Fee".<br />
<br />
The Council's lack of participation and outrage at this "Fee" was also disappointing.<br />
<br />
As I mentioned, if Paid Police Details are truly warranted at Kenner Recreation events, the prudent thing would have been for the Mayor and KPD Chief to sit down, put their heads together and work out a plan, then go to the City Council and say, "This is the problem. Here's the solution. I need your help."<br />
<br />
That didn't happen.<br />
<br />
Since this new "Fee" only covers 1/2 the cost of the proposed Paid Details anyway, at some point, the Mayor is going to need to come before the Council anyway and ask them to approve a change in the budget to allocate the difference anyway, so why not do that in advance?<br />
<br />
And, since we are discussing costs and "Fees", why are Kenner Recreation workers paid time and a half to attend Kenner Recreation events? Shouldn't that be their job? The City shouldn't be paying Recreation workers to drive around or babysit empty gyms while kids are in school anyway. Change the hours and schedule to reflect when Kenner Recreation Department workers (and the Director) SHOULD be working - don't pay them time and a half to do what should be their jobs.<br />
<br />
No, there is nothing that anyone can say to make me believe that this "Participation Fee" is in anyway about Paid Details and deterring violence at Kenner Recreation events. It just doesn't add up.<br />
<br />
<b>So, what is this "Participation Fee" really about?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Is it to punish Kenner's minority and low-income community?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Is it political retribution by the Mayor against the push back he received over the now rescinded Nike ban?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Is the Mayor just pushing to see how far he can go and how far the Council will let him go?</b><br />
<br />
Since any fee could be an obstacle for Kenner's low income families, is the Mayor trying to continue to dismantle Kenner Recreation and drive down participation further?<br />
<br />
Since this fee doesn't HELP Kenner residents, and that should be the goal of anything that the Mayor of Kenner does, why do this at all?<br />
<br />
The City of Kenner receives sales tax revenue, property tax revenue, occupational license fees, permit fees, funds from the Treasure Chest, and on and on. Those existing taxes and fees should pay for a robust Kenner Recreation Department - not just the bloated salaries of Mayor Zahn's political appointees.<br />
<br />
Does Kenner really need an Assistant to the Mayor in charge of Party Planning or does it need more and better recreational opportunities for our residents? What would bring Kenner more new residents - a political appointee or a quality, no cost Youth Sports program?<br />
<br />
The fact that we are even asking this questions tells you that this situation was handled poorly by Mayor Zahn, regardless of his intentions.<br />
<br />
No Mayor should be allowed to impose a new "Fee", whether it is voluntary or mandatory, without Council approval - regardless of the interpretation of the Charter by the City Attorney (who is a political appointee of the Mayor and NOT the Council) - the INTENT of the Charter, and I believe (as do many others) that the Charter is clear about this point, is that the Council is the Governing Authority for Kenner and, as such, should have the final approval on fiscal matters.<br />
<br />
The Mayor is the Mayor - not the King.<br />
<br />
At least that's not according to my copy of the City Charter.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Click Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310299611425577946.post-5666590529775256512018-11-01T09:50:00.000-05:002018-11-01T09:50:46.657-05:00Kenner To Begin Charging Residents A "Participation Fee" For Youth SportsYouth Basketball registration begins in Kenner today (Thursday, 11/1) but, this year will be different than other years.<br />
<br />
For the first time ever, Kenner families will be charged a $10 "Participation Fee" for the privilege of having their child play Kenner Recreation Basketball.<br />
<br />
Mayor Zahn and some members of the City Council point to a 2015 Ordinance titled "Kenner's Recreation Master Plan" authored by then-Kenner City Councilman Dominick Impastato as the rationale for the "Participation Fee".<br />
<br />
While primarily dealing with the creation of "Sports Academies" The Ordinance includes a provision to charge non-residents a "Participation Fee":<br />
<br />
<i><b>"The Parks and Recreation Department will assess a participation fee for non-city residents."</b></i><br />
<br />
The Ordinance DOES NOT provide for a "Participation Fee" for City Residents.<br />
<br />
In fact, the Ordinance states: <br />
<br />
<i><b>"That the City of Kenner will continue to maintain and promote the Playgrounds and the sports and programs at those Playgrounds. That will include, but not be limited to, tackle and touch football, volleyball, basketball, track and field, soccer, baseball, softball and cheerleading. <u>The funds for these progams will come from money budgeted to the Parks and Recreation account</u>. Every effort will be made to keep all programs low-cost."</b></i><br />
<br />
<br />
The Ordinance passed 6-1 with only Kenner District 1 Councilman Gregory Carroll opposing it. <br />
<br />
Yes, other municipalities and parishes charge various fees for Recreation Department participation, and Kenner has charged fees for several Recreation programs that primarily involved a compensated teacher and/or materials for things like Painting or Ceramics.<br />
<br />
<b>But, since coaches at Kenner's playgrounds are uncompensated volunteers and Kenner owns the playgrounds, gyms and ball fields that are home to organized sports in Kenner (and paid for with our tax dollars already), charging a "Participation Fee" for organized sports makes zero sense. </b><br />
<br />
Assuming Kenner fields 4 teams of 10 players per gym, that amounts to about 360 Kenner youths playing basketball. At $10 per player, that equals a whopping $3,600 in revenue that the City will generate from the "Participation Fee" for youth basketball.<br />
<br />
$3,600 is even less than the $4,000 annually the City gives each playground booster club and when judged against a $66 Million annual City budget isn't even a rounding error.<br />
<br />
Since the amount of revenue generated is so tiny, why charge the fee at all?<br />
<br />
Certainly, the City of Kenner doesn't need $3,600 to help pay the gym light bills. <br />
<br />
<b>And, this fee will be per child per sport - not per family. So, if a family with 4 children participates in 3 organized sports (baseball, basketball, football), it will cost that family $120 per year just in "Participation Fees".</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>$120 may not seem like a lot of money to you, but it means a lot to many in Kenner. </b><br />
<br />
Per the 2010 Census, the per capita income for the City of Kenner is $19,615 or about $6,000 less per capita than Jefferson Parish. That $19,615 figure is pre-tax total income. Yes, there are some pockets of wealth in Kenner but, on average, Kenner is a low income community. Any additional taxes and fees assessed to citizens will adversely impact the finances of a majority of Kenner residents.<br />
<br />
Besides, Mayor Zahn doesn't need a vote of the people to approve a new fee and he is well aware that a new property tax, even for Recreation, would fail miserably.<br />
<br />
But, why was this "Participation Fee" dropped in the laps of Kenner residents without any notice and without the approval of the Kenner City Council?<br />
<br />
According to the Kenner City Charter, <i><b>"Imposing any license, requiring any permit, establishing any charge for services rendered, or increasing the rate of any license, permit or service charge"</b></i> must go before the Kenner City Council in the form of an ordinance and<i><b> "shall not be adopted until at least 28 days after being introduced, nor until the proposed ordinance shall have been published by caption in the Official Journal".</b></i><br />
<br />
Neither of these things happened.<br />
<br />
When asked if this "Participation Fee" didn't equate to a "charge", <b>Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn simply replied, "No."</b><br />
<br />
Well, if it looks like a Duck, and it walks like a Duck, and it Quacks like a Duck, I guess in Kenner it's really a Turkey.<br />
<br />
<b>Many in Kenner are already questioning if this is a punitive move by the Mayor to push back at critics in the Kenner Black Community who pushed back over Zahn's aborted Nike ban.</b><br />
<br />
Whether that is the case or not, like the Nike ban, the optics of this don't look good for Kenner and monetarily, this "Participation Fee" for city revenue is meaningless.<br />
<br />
So, the question remains - if this fee won't do anything materially positive for the City of Kenenr or Kenner Recreation and will only take money from people who predominantly don't have excess cash to begin with and create more negative optics and bad feelings in Kenner - why even impose this fee? <br />
<br />
Ponder that question while you plan your Holiday menus.<br />
<br />
And remember, Turkeys are bigger than Ducks. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Click Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310299611425577946.post-51218914340986029122018-09-24T09:47:00.000-05:002018-09-24T09:47:15.963-05:00Kenner Councilman Proposes New Law Because Homeless People "Stink"The City of Kenner, fresh off negative National and International publicity after Mayor Ben Zahn first banned Nike purchases by booster clubs and then rescinded the ban, is headed for another black eye after a Kenner City Councilman proposed an anti-loitering ordinance targeting homeless people because they "stink".<br />
<br />
Loitering laws across the country have been ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court for being "overly vague" and for not providing "clear, distinct guidelines for acceptable conduct." <br />
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<br />
This ordinance, proposed by Kenner District 4 Councilman George Branigan, is
also vague and repulsive<br />
<br />
The proposed ordinance says:<br />
<br />
<b>"(T)here is a public safety concern regarding individuals remaining in
essentially<br />
one (1) location for no obvious reason, to linger, to stay, to saunter, to
dawdle, to stand around, or to delay an activity with aimless stops and pauses or to otherwise
spend time idly or to be dilatory".</b><br />
<b> </b> <br />
So, do I need an "obvious reason" to sit in my backyard and watch
the sunset or is that "dawdling"?<br />
<br />
I know, that's a poor analogy.<br />
<br />
The ordinance does however seek to stop anyone from "dawdling" in
public places including restaurants (hurry up and chug that wine or you could
be cited for "dawdling"); stores (I'm going to start citing folks who
"dawdle" at Wal-Mart and visit with folks instead of getting their
groceries and heading straight to the checkout); and public places like parks
(no more hanging out at City Park reading a book and watching the ducks for
you, young man).<br />
<br />
<b>Branigan's ordinance says that people can't "dawdle" on public sidewalks. So the next time that you and your neighbor want to have a chat on a sidewalk, make sure one of your kids is on the corner acting as a lookout for KPD. You never know... </b><br />
<br />
In addition, several residents complained about the ordinance, which was up
for First Reading at the last council meeting, because it was posted on the
Council Agenda by caption only - meaning the ordinance hadn't even been written
before the Council Agenda's deadline.<br />
<br />
While the City Attorney's office said it was permissible and not illegal to put forth an ordinance by caption only, as we've shown several times including with former Kenner Mayor Mike Yenni's sexting with a high school boy, just because it may not be technically illegal that certainly doesn't make it right.<br />
<br />
By Charter, ordinances are introduced at First Reading giving citizens time before the First Reading and again before the Second Reading, to know what laws the Council is trying to implement. At the Second Reading, there is an opportunity for public comment before the Council votes on any proposed laws. <br />
<br />
But, even more troubling than the possibility of an unconstitutional, questionably introduced law
(that ironically, says law enforcement can cite you if you disobey their
command to move on - but doesn't cite the punishment - a fine? Jail?) was
Councilman Branigan's bizarre rationale for even introducing the law.<br />
<br />
Evidently, Councilman Branigan, whose District includes the North Kenner
Public Library, is concerned about the safety of residents since there happen
to be some homeless people temporarily staying outside the library and they
occasionally use the library's restrooms.<br />
<br />
<b><i>"There are homeless people living outside the library, which is a
dangerous situation. During the day, they were going into the library and the
poor people hadn't had baths or showers, <u>and they stunk, obviously.</u>"</i></b><br />
<br />
Obviously.<br />
<br />
I could be wrong but last time I looked, there wasn't a smell test for entry to the library - or the Kenner City Council Chambers. <br />
<br />
Not content to stop there, Councilman Branigan continued:<br />
<br />
<b><i>"And when they went into the library they were using the bathroom
in the library to wash their clothes and clean themselves off."</i></b><br />
<br />
The shock and horror! Homeless people actually trying to wash
themselves.<br />
<br />
I'm sure that the Kenner Police Department has far more important things to do than break down public restroom doors, frisk and handcuff homeless people using a public restroom sink to wash their face and brush their teeth, and haul them off to jail or fining them.<br />
<br />
And, how exactly does Councilman Branigan think that a homeless person is going to pay a fine? <br />
<br />
A defiant Councilman Branigan then went into a rambling speech about how the
library is next to a school and a walking track at a playground and the
homeless people using the library restrooms were a "safety" concern.<br />
<br />
<b><i>"My concern was for the children at that school and for the
people on the track. If I would have waited two weeks (to properly introduce
the ordinance) and some child got abducted or some person got attacked, I would
have been really aggravated with myself for not taking a stand."</i></b><br />
<br />
Please, stop the drama. The Academy Awards aren't for months.<br />
<br />
Has there been a child abducted in Kenner by a homeless person recently? A
person attacked by a homeless person? Have there even been any attempts or threats made against children or adults from homeless people using the public restroom at the library?<br />
<br />
If there is a real safety issue with homeless people at the library, shouldn't the library or the School Board hire a security guard or off-duty KPD officer? The fact that the library and the School Board havn't done this should tell Councilman Branigan that "safety" isn't the real issue here.<br />
<br />
I know, there's always a first time but there's been several recent reports
of children abducted and attempted abductions from stores like Dollar Tree,
Family Dollar and others. Thankfully, none have occurred in Kenner. Will Councilman Branigan propose an ordinance to ban
those stores next?<br />
<br />
It's for the safety of the children, right?<br />
<br />
<b>As a human being (and, yes, I checked before I wrote that), I am repulsed by
Councilman Branigan's comments. </b><br />
<b>
</b><br />
<b>
</b><b> </b><br />
<b>As a citizen of Kenner, I am outraged, not just by his lack of sensitivity and compassion,
but also the fact that this law doesn't fix the problem, and, as an elected official, shouldn't he try to fix the real problem, or, at least, identify it?</b><br />
<br />
If the real problem is homeless people, what does this ordinance do to fix THAT
problem? Does Kenner have a homeless shelter where people can go? Does the City
have programs to help the homeless gain employment, transition to permanent
housing, and move back into society?<br />
<br />
What is sad is, there have been homeless people in Kenner for years, whether
they are Veterans who have had difficulty transitioning back to society, the
mentally ill, or folks who have not fared well with the new economy.<br />
<br />
There was a mentally ill woman that hung out by the old Rite Aid at 33rd and Williams for some time. I gave her food from the Taco Bell there several times. She never tried to abduct me (although she did complain once about my choice of tacos). <br />
<br />
<b>While homelessness is an emergency, it's not an emergency because a child
"may be abducted" or because some homeless folks use a public
restroom to wash themselves off. I've seen people wash themselves off in public
restrooms in businesses and highway rest areas for decades. <u>That isn't a
crime. </u></b><br />
<br />
No, this is only an "emergency" because a Councilman was told
about the issue. There are no Kenner Police incident reports regarding homeless
people at the library. Safety and possible abductions or crimes is a false
narrative.<br />
<br />
Homelessness, though, is a problem.<br />
<br />
<b>Here's an idea: instead of demonizing the
homeless for using a public restroom, why doesn't the City of Kenner show
compassion and actually try to help these folks live a decent life. I'm
relatively certain that they don't wake up everyday and enjoy the fact that
they need to go into a public restroom just to wash their face or clean their clothes. </b><br />
<br />
I know there are homeless people who are beyond help and can't transition
back to society. But, shouldn't we at least try?<br />
<br />
Introducing a vague, possibly unconstitutional ordinance and possibly fining
or incarcerating folks because they are homeless, shouldn't be the kind of
message any city, let alone a City like Kenner which is already reeling from
negative publicity, wants to send.<br />
<br />
What's next? Driving homeless people to the Kenner City Limits and dropping them off to
get them out of Kenner?<br />
<br />
Don't laugh.<br />
<br />
At least one Kenner City Councilman wants to make it illegal for homeless people to wash their faces in a public restroom.<br />
<br />
Hopefully, the other 6 Council members and Mayor Zahn have more compassion, human decency and common sense than Councilman Branigan. <br />
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<br /></div>
Click Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310299611425577946.post-42660071944286989502018-09-19T09:39:00.001-05:002018-09-19T09:39:03.950-05:00Whether New Orleans or Kenner, Moving CIty Hall Doesn't Make Sound Fiscal SenseIronically, both the City of New Orleans and the City Of Kenner are each contemplating moving their City Halls. In both cases, they are bad ideas.<br />
<br />
On my radio program Monday on WGSO 990 AM, Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn discussed at least three possibilities for moving Kenner City Hall from it's Central Kenner location on Williams Blvd. to the West Esplanade-Chateau corridor: the Esplanade Mall, the nearly-vacant Pavilion Shopping Center, and the land directly across Chateau Blvd. from the Pavilion that formerly housed the OMV and retail businesses and restaurants pre-Katrina.<br />
<br />
Currently, the bulk of Kenner business is at the three building City Hall Complex but the City of Kenner does house employees at about 10 other locations across Kenner.<br />
<br />
On the face of it, consolidating City offices appears to be a good idea. Having one location to conduct ALL city business is convenient. Paying lower insurance premiums would also be a plus as would the economic impact of several hundred city employees on the restaurants near the proposed West Esplanade sites.<br />
<br />
<b>But, when you dig deeper, the financial ramifications of a move far outweigh the "convenience" of a consolidated Kenner City Government.</b><br />
<br />
If you put City Hall at the Esplanade or Pavilion, admittedly some businesses will benefit. But, taking a huge section of retail space out of commerce and turning it into non-sales tax generating space, won't help Kenner's declining retail base.<br />
<br />
As the Mayor often mentions, more folks are spending their money online, whether it's due to convenience or lower prices. But, online shopping, while growing at a huge rate, represents less than 10% of total sales.<br />
<br />
Are malls in decline? Of course. But good property owners have been successful in re-purposing even old, tired malls like the Esplanade. <br />
<br />
Perhaps the Mayor is correct and the Esplanade is beyond repair. I don't buy that and one only needs to look at Elmwood, Lakeside Shopping Center or any of the multiple shopping centers that are booming in Baton Rouge and other areas to see that the entire world isn't shopping online.<br />
<br />
Nor is the bulk of Kenner.<br />
<br />
In addition to taking a huge amount of retail out of commerce, the City would also turn from an "owner" into a "renter". The huge cost of paying rent at either the Esplanade or the Pavilion would completely offset any insurance savings due to consolidation. And, what would happen to the current buildings that houses Kenner operations? Do we really need even more commercial blight?<br />
<br />
No, the answer to turning around Kenner's retail base, improving our sales tax and property tax bases isn't moving City Hall to what should be retail or mixed use space.<br />
<br />
The answer to fixing the Esplanade, the Pavilion and Kenner, is complicated though and politicians like simple fixes.<br />
<br />
At this time, with Kenner Mayor Zahn firmly in place for the next four years, he should be bold and double-down on economic development. Just as the Esplanade is on it's 3rd owner in two years, the Pavilion needs new ownership and the land across from the Pavilion on Chateau needs to be developed - NOW.<br />
<br />
<b>The City of Kenner has 4 primary economic development growth areas and each has its own set of challenges: Laketown, Rivertown, the West Esplanade Corridor (The Esplanade, The Pavilion and Chateau) and Williams Blvd.</b><br />
<br />
Each needs help in order to reach their potential but, ALL can grow and prosper independently.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Laketown and Rivertown</b></u> should be Entertainment/Retail hubs. Both can be home to specialty retail and focus on different audiences. Laketown, with the Treasure Chest Casino and the Pontchartrain Center along with a potential partnership with Atlantis Gaming (or another investor), can be geared towards tourists and draw folks from Metairie, St. Charles and St. John the Baptist Parishes while Rivertown can be marketed to Harahan/River Ridge residents and St. Charles (Hahnville, Destrehan, Luling, St. Rose, Norco).<br />
<br />
Laketown is on its way and well past the pie-in-the-sky, or rather, Ferris Wheel-in-the-Sky, that former Kenner Mayor Mike Yenni had drawn up years ago. I always questioned the inclusion of a Ferris Wheel at Laketown. Now, we know why Yenni wanted one.<br />
<br />
Rivertown too is improving but, as Kenner District 1 Councilman Gregory Carroll said, "It's taking baby steps." New restaurants and retail are opening in Rivertown but the area needs much more and a much larger commitment from Mayor Zahn and Kenner officials to jumpstart it's progress.<br />
<br />
Rivertown can't afford more years of "baby steps" after a decade of dismantling and neglect by Yenni and his predecessor Ed Muniz. <br />
<br />
<u><b>The Esplanade</b></u>, with it's new owner, should be re-positioned as Retail/Residential, with the addition of apartments and/or condos, even offices, and a reduction (but not elimination) of retail space. The Esplanade could be the "family-friendly" shopping/entertainment venue that Kenner (and all of East Jefferson) craves. Adding 200-400 upscale residential units, and the 800-1000+ residents, would far outweigh the potential economic impact of 400 City of Kenner employees. Adding more "family-friendly" activities and a safer shopping environment would pull Kenner, Metairie and other residents away from Lakeside, Elmwood and other areas and give them a reason to spend their money in Kenner.<br />
<br />
There is no other property like the Esplanade in Kenner and no available land to build a retail or mixed use property at the scale that could be done at the Esplanade. But, it would take a major investment and major effort from City Government and taxpayers to get there. <br />
<br />
<u><b>The Pavilion</b></u> could be a mecca for upscale retailers, whether it's antique shops or specialty retailers, or a "Town Center" development. It could also be a mixed-use property with apartments and/or condos, offices, even Senior living. Imagine Seniors living in a truly self-contained area with a grocery, drug store, retail, a health clinic or urgent care, restaurants, a hair and nail salon, and more. What affluent senior wouldn't want to live on the upper floors of that retail/service environment and overlook Chateau Country Club or even Lake Pontchartrain from their balconies?<br />
<br />
This type of "Town Center" approach would also benefit residents in Chateau, Cannes Brulee and other adjacent subdivisions. <br />
<br />
Yes, I realize that the Esplanade and Pavilion are both owned by private companies and the City can only exert so much influence on them. But, if Mayor Zahn were aggressive and laid out a plan where the City would help the property owners succeed, it could be a massive win for all involved.<br />
<br />
But, it would take a truly aggressive Mayor with vision looking beyond the next election cycle and the next budget.<br />
<br />
Kenner and Mayor Zahn need to take the lead, not be led around by out-of-state investors. If the Esplanade, the Pavilion, Laketown, Rivertown and other areas are competing with each other for the same businesses and opportunities, Kenner will continue to stagnate. <br />
<br />
<u><b>Williams Blvd. </b></u>also needs attention from Kenner Government. There are too many dilapidated shopping centers with outdated signs and questionable businesses. Too much of Kenner prime commercial space on Williams is allowed by current zoning laws to be occupied by non-retail businesses like Banks and Offices. The City needs to re-purpose Williams Blvd. as exclusively Retail.<br />
<br />
A TIF for Williams Blvd. could be used to provide low or no-interest financing to businesses and property owners to replace the hodge-podge of signs, facades, and landscaping on Williams and dramatically improve the aesthetics of the only road that runs from Rivertown to Laketown all without a tax increase or incurring new government debt. Kenner has enough debt already due to the misguided ideas of former Mayor Mike Yenni. <br />
<br />
<b>Instead of adding public art and bike paths, Yenni's failed 2030 Plan should have been to focus on what should be Kenner's strengths. But, there's no campaign contributions or contracts involved in getting businesses to phase out their tired signs and invest in their property. </b><br />
<br />
<b>Sadly, Yenni frittered away Millions on projects with ZERO economic development value to the City. Yenni's 2030 Plan created NO new jobs, NO new businesses, NO influx of families (young or otherwise) and hamstrung Kenner's finances for Mayors, and generations, to come. </b><br />
<br />
All four areas (Laketown, Rivertown, the West Esplanade/Chateau corridor, Williams Blvd.) should each have their own TIFs and financial incentives to encourage economic development, re-purposing, updated signage, marketing and more. <br />
<br />
Sure, having TIFs and diverting some sales tax revenue from City coffers would hurt the City budget in the short term, but, in the long term it would be a massive boom to the City in terms of new businesses, jobs, property values, as well as increased property and sales tax revenue.<br />
<br />
Admittedly, TIFs aren't a panacea and there has been widespread abuse of TIFs. But, by adopting best practices and governance, TIFs can and do provide significant benefits to a city. <br />
<br />
If the City added a small sales tax to apartment rentals, even if it were only for the short-term, the City could generate more than enough revenue to offset any loss of sales tax revenue from the TIFs. <br />
<br />
Along with the TIFs and financial incentives, the City and the Mayor need to get aggressive in recruiting national, regional and local businesses to Kenner. Having a part-time Economic Development Director isn't enough. The Mayor himself needs to spend much more time beating the bushes and recruiting business to Kenner. Kenner's other elected officials, including State Legislators and our JP District and At-Large Council members also need to get more heavily invested time wise in helping improve Kenner's economy. Clearly, what the Esplanade and the Pavilion are doing as far as marketing their properties and Kenner isn't working. The Mayor. and others, need to jump in with both feet.<br />
<br />
<br />
Putting a church on prime commercial property next to the Esplanade and considering moving City Hall to the Esplanade or Pavilion, send the wrong message to potential businesses and won't help Kenner thrive, grow or even compete in the future.<br />
<br />
<b>If the City added 400-500 new housing units (either apartments or condos) at the Esplanade site, another 300 affluent Senior living housing units at the Pavilion and high-end condos at Laketown, that could add 2,000-3,000+ new Kenner residents. If you coupled that with offices at any or all of these locations, what kind of economic development and increased taxes would that be for the City of Kenner? </b><br />
<br />
<br />
Now, is the time for Mayor Zahn to think long-term about Kenner and Kenner's future and his decisions shouldn't be based upon "convenience".<br />
<br />
<b>New Orleans would also make a huge financial mistake if it were to move their City Hall.</b><br />
<br />
Unlike Kenner however, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell is considering moving City Hall to the old Municipal Auditorium, a vacant building owned by the city, or the closed Charity Hospital.<br />
<br />
In New Orleans though, the costs of moving city hall are far greater than moving Kenner's.<br />
<br />
At a time when New Orleans budget is already strained and the Mayor is warning of more budget surprises on top of the current $39 Million shortfall, New Orleans simply can't afford to move.<br />
<br />
Yes, it would be great to redevelop Charity Hospital and rebuild the Municipal Auditorium, and perhaps one day the city can, but that time isn't now.<br />
<br />
The City of New Orleans has far too many infrastructure needs to incur the additional costs of not only renovating either the Municipal Auditorium or the old Charity Hospital AND the costs of moving offices, furniture and equipment to either location at this time. <br />
<br />
Now is the time for both New Orleans Mayor Cantrell and Kenner Mayor Zahn to be bold and aggressive, especially when it comes to attracting new businesses to both cities. Moving City Hall, is not a bold move for either.<br />
<br />
For different financial reasons, now is not the time for either the City of Kenner or the City of New Orleans to consider moving their City Halls. Click Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310299611425577946.post-61366499767875661472018-09-11T09:57:00.001-05:002018-09-11T09:57:18.925-05:00Protests Grow Louder In Kenner Nike BanA crowd estimated between 100-200 attended a "peaceful protest" of Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn's ban on Nike products at Kenner Booster Clubs.<br />
<br />
Monday afternoon, Mayor Zahn issued a statement in an attempt to "clarify" the Nike controversy. Instead, the Mayor just made the waters even murkier.<br />
<br />
<b><i>"Private, for-profit companies have every right to advertise how they wish, even if it means using advertising to promote corporate political beliefs. Individuals also have every right to support or oppose any company or brand for any reason. Those freedoms should never be lost. </i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>I applaud Nike's message of inclusion and encouragement for everyone to be their best and dream big. But I also recognize that Nike, in its zeal to sell shoes, chose to promote and sell a political message. </i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>In Kenner, like every city, our citizens and our taxpayers cover a wide spectrum of political philosophies and agendas. We must respect all of those agendas and philosophies. So, when a company uses its advertising as its own political megaphone, government should be fair to all of its people and not allow taxpayer dollars to be used to help that company push its own political agenda.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>My decision is only to protect taxpayer dollars from being used in a political campaign. Some have asked if people will be allowed to wear Nike apparel on city playgrounds. The answer to that is...of course. </i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>My internal memo draws the line on letting companies profit from taxpayers by espousing political beliefs. My decision disallowing Nike from profiting from our taxpayers while they are using their powerful voice as a political tool is my message. This government will not let taxpayer dollars be used to promote a company's or individual's political position, platform or principle. That's my position as a matter of fairness to all."</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
Reaction to Zahn's statements have been swift and largely negative.<br />
<br />
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, who has been friendly towards Zahn, issued a statement:<br />
<br />
<b><i>"As I have emphasized repeatedly since taking office, I believe in the values the people of New Orleans stand for - being inclusive, being accepting and supportive of all our people, committing to social justice, and being intentional about how we make decisions. </i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>The mandate handed down by Kenner's Mayor is out of step with those values, and not reflective of the way our city does business. </i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>Although the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is located in Kenner, it is owned and governed by the City of New Orleans. Let me assure you that our airport will continue to uphold our city's values."</i></b><br />
<b><i>as long </i></b><br />
<br />
Nothing like rubbing salt in the wound by bringing up the fact that Armstrong Airport has long used, and abused, the City of Kenner and the people of Kenner.<br />
<br />
And, how many murders has New Orleans had this year?<br />
<br />
Jefferson Parish Councilman Mark Spears, who while residing on the West Bank, represents a portion of Kenner and has long been an ally of Zahn and was a sponsor of Kennner's recent Freedom Fest, attended the protest.<br />
<br />
<b><i>"It's a shame that we're here for this," Spears said. "These policies are illegal."</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
No City of Kenner elected officials attended the protest but several New Orleans Saints players did.<br />
<br />
Kenner District 1 Councilman Gregory Carroll, who ran against Zahn for Mayor during the last election cycle, has been the only vocal critic on the Kenner City Council of Zahn's Nike ban.<br />
<br />
Mayor Zahn, like everyone, is entitled to their own personal feelings regarding Nike and their glorification of Colin Kaepernick, a man that truly is not worth glorifying in my opinion. But, he is the Mayor and shouldn't allow his personal opinions to get in the way of governing.<br />
<br />
As the Mayor himself pointed out, the City of Kenner is diverse and, on a polarizing, racially-charged issue like Nike and Kaepernick, opinions are diverse as well.<br />
<br />
And volatile.<br />
<br />
Kenner faces many problems including Mayor Cantrell's Airport and the decline of Kenner Recreation, both of which Mayor Zahn inherited.<br />
<br />
But, if the Mayor would have said, "My personal feeling is that Nike should be banned from Kenner Recreation and Booster Clubs. Unfortunately, I let my personal feelings about Nike and Colin Kaepernick interfere with governing the City of Kenner. That won't happen again," this issue would have been over. <br />
<br />
Unfortunately, Mayor Zahn's new statement just made things worse - for him and Kenner.<br />
<br />
While the Mayor makes a point regarding funding Nike's political motives, because he represents the Government and not a Private Business, his message is invalid.<br />
<br />
Politics is ruled by companies using political campaign contributions to exact, or extort, tax payer dollars.<br />
<br />
As a Jefferson Parish Councilman, Mayor Zahn gave out Millions in No-Bid Contracts to companies that contributed hundreds of thousands to his campaigns. Yes, engineering contracts are allowed to be "No-Bid", but they shouldn't be. All contracts from certified bidders, should be bid.<br />
<br />
So, while the Mayor bemoans Nike using it's money to further it's political message, doesn't the same hold true for campaign contributors? They use their money to further their political influence.<br />
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When it was announced that Mayor Zahn would be issuing a second statement regarding the Nike-Kaepernick controversy, many expected a Mea Culpa so that Kenner could heal and move forward.<br />
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Sadly, we didn't get that and Kenner is even more polarized than yesterday. <br />
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Who knows what tomorrow will bring for Kenner. <br />
<br />
Now, about Armstrong International Airport...<br />
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<br />Click Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310299611425577946.post-34456147256690911402018-09-10T13:25:00.000-05:002018-09-10T13:25:25.304-05:00Kenner Mayor Zahn Dives Headfirst Into Nike/Kaepernick ControversyWhat does the City of Kenner have to do with Nike and the brand's controversial ad campaign featuring out-of-work, vastly overpaid ex-NFL Quarterback Colin Kaepernick?<br />
<br />
Before the other day, not much.<br />
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But, that has all changed.<br />
<br />
After Nike glorified Kaepernick, who was best known for two things: being a mediocre NFL Quarterback with a losing career record and leading a protest of the National Anthem to draw attention to himself, I mean, social injustice (or was it police brutality against blacks), Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn fired off a Memo to Kenner's Director of Parks & Recreation stating:<br />
<br />
<i><b>"Effective immediately all purchases made by any booster club operating at any Kenner Recreation Facility, for wearing apparel, shoes, athletic equipment, and/or any athletic product must be approved by the Director of Parks & Recreation, or his designee. Under no circumstances will any Nike product or any product with the Nike logo be purchased for use or delivery at any City of Kenner Recreation Facility."</b></i><br />
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When I first read the memo, I didn't think much about it.<br />
<br />
For starters, the City of Kenner provides booster clubs, 11 across the city, with a whopping total of $4,000 each in tax dollars so, the booster clubs aren't going to be, and shouldn't be, buying any athletic equipment anyway. All equipment should be purchased by the City of Kenner already for safety, insurance and consistency purposes anyway.<br />
<br />
Second, the primary purposes of the booster clubs are to assist parents that can't afford to get their children into athletic programs, raise funds for extra activities (travel to tournaments, etc.) and assist in upkeep of facilities.<br />
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Aside from possibly purchasing a pair of cleats or athletic shoes for a child, a booster club shouldn't be purchasing Nike products anyway especially since Nike typically aren't the most inexpensive brand out there.<br />
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Like I said, I didn't think much about the Memo.<br />
<br />
Then, the Memo hit social media.<br />
<br />
Soon, everybody and their brother had an opinion about the Mayor's Memo and much of it was negative.<br />
<br />
From former Kenner resident Donna Brazile (who, thankfully, is a FORMER Kenner resident) to radical racist Shaun King (not the ex-Tulane and NFL Quarterback), everyone it seemed were piling on Kenner.<br />
<br />
It was interesting to me that, a blatant racist like Shaun King, who has promoted the Black Lives Matter movement, was calling the Mayor of Kenner a racist and calling our city racist.<br />
<br />
<b>Look, I've known Ben Zahn for over 12 years. During that time, I've called him a great many things (and he's called me some things as well), but "racist" has never been one of them (for either of us).</b><br />
<br />
Does racism exist? Of course and, sadly, racism exists in Kenner. But the City of Kenner taken as a whole is not racist. We can't be. Kenner's population is about 50% White, 25% Black and 24% Hispanic. We are not a typical, White-centric suburb.<br />
<b> </b><br />
Are there racists in Kenner? Yes to that too. But, I don't count Ben Zahn in that number. <br /><b></b><br />
<br />
If you've listened to my radio show, you know that I've been disgusted that race has been brought into the Nike/Kaepernick discussion, whether it was from Nike itself (which, clearly knew and was overjoyed at the free publicity it received from the controversy), from many in the White community who truly believe that Kaepernick was disrespectful to our flag and our national anthem, or from those in the minority community fired up by racists like Shaun King who believe that it is good for our country to be divided because the can use racial division or President Trump or any of a thousand other excuses to polarize us and prop themselves up as "leaders".<br />
<br />
<b>Newsflash to Shaun King and Colin Kaepernick: James Meredith was a leader. Rosa Parks was a leader. 6-year-old Ruby Bridges was a leader.</b><br />
<br />
Unlike Kaepernick, who earned $39 Million in salary from the NFL plus millions more in endorsements (including money he earned from Nike for the past two years as his unemployment compensation - wouldn't you like to earn over $1 Million for being unemployed?), Meredith, Parks, Bridges and countless others, of every gender, ethnicity and race, "sacrificed everything" for what they believed in. <br />
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But, I've wasted enough time talking about hypocrites like Shaun King and Colin Kaepernick - let's get back to Kenner.<br />
<br />
District 1 Councilman Gregory Carroll was critical of the Mayor's Memo. In a Facebook post, Councilman Carroll said:<br />
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<i><b>"Last night a disturbing memorandum was circulated that the City of Kenner Mayor E. Ben Zahn wrote to the Kenner Recreation Director directing him, regarding Booster Club Purchases, banning Nike products, usage or delivery of all Kenner Recreation Facilities. I was no made aware of this decision beforehand and it is direct contradiction of what I stand for and what the City of Kenner should stand for.</b></i><br />
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<i><b>I am 100% AGAINST this decision. I will meet with the Mayor and other council members in an effort to rescind this directive. I will keep the citizens of Kenner and the Greater New Orleans area informed as we move forward."</b></i><br />
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Should Mayor Zahn have entered this fray? Probably not. The City of Kenner has far bigger problems than fanning the flames of racially-charged bigots looking for a fight, or an excuse.<br />
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Is Ben Zahn entitled to have an opinion about Nike and Kaepernick? Of course, he's an American just like you or I.<br />
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But, he's also the Mayor of Kenner and as such his opinion, whether personal or not, reflects upon the city. <br />
<br />
Besides, what does Kenner gain from this? How does the Zahn Memo help attract businesses or families to Kenner?<br />
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Clearly, Kenner has already lost and Zahn has lost too.The only thing left is damage control. <br />
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And, for what? $44,000 given to booster clubs?<br />
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Hardly seems like a fair exchange to me. Click Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310299611425577946.post-44410514152780153392018-08-20T08:51:00.000-05:002018-08-20T08:51:19.668-05:00In JP Stench Scandal, All Fingers Point To Yenni and Conley<div>
Like his Sexting Scandal, in the JP Stench Scandal, JP's Sexual Predator-In-Chief Mike Yenni just seems to get himself in deeper and deeper (no pun intended) with every word from his mouth, every Council meeting and Press Conference. </div>
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Several weeks back, Yenni called a Press Conference to address the persistent complaints in recent months from residents of Harahan and River Ridge regarding the stench that seemed to be coming across the river from the JP-owned landfill in Waggaman. </div>
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At the Press Conference, Yenni, always trying to act like he's in control and doing his job, pointed fingers at everyone from the JP Engineer charged with monitoring the landfill to former Parish President John Young and a "phantom" letter written in 2012 allowing the landfill operator, IESI to cut corners at the landfill, to IESI itself and their alleged incompetence. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Well, weeks have passed and John Young unequivocally denied any relaxation of the landfill rules under his Administration, we have yet to see the "phantom" letter that Yenni used to blame Young, and we have now learned that before Yenni's Press Conference, IESI, the landfill operator, sent a letter to Yenni stating that they would repair and maintain the parish-owned gas trapping equipment at NO COST TO TAXPAYERS. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Now, a report from an Engineering Consultant (paid for with our tax dollars) has zeroed in on the real reason why the odor has only begun in the past 6-9 months and the blame points directly at Yenni and his CAO Keith Conley. </b></div>
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<b></b><br /></div>
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Last year, without public debate or the approval of the Jefferson Parish Council, Conley (acting on Yenni's behalf) asked the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) for permission to start accepting liquid industrial waste at the landfill. </div>
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During a Special Council Meeting Friday, when asked about the acceptance of liquid industrial waste, Yenni sat silent but Conley claimed to not know anything about the change. </div>
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Until, an audience member disclosed the letter written and signed by Conley to the LDEQ seeking the permission to accept the liquid industrial waste. </div>
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And, you know as well as I do that Conley wouldn't even consider writing that letter without Yenni's approval. </div>
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<b>Who are you going to blame now, Mikey?</b></div>
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<b></b><br /></div>
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Conley, for those who don't know or who haven't heard about him, is a former JPSO Deputy who resigned after his implication in the coverup of a JPSO altercation with a Mardi Gras parade goer on Veterans Blvd. While Conley wasn't accused to the physical altercation, he was implicated in the coverup and the victim filed a Civil law suit seeking (and receiving) monetary damages from Conley. </div>
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After leaving the JPSO, Conley became an Attorney, having his own practice until filing for bankruptcy. He then went to work in the law firm of Yenni's BFF Michael Brandner. the personal injury attorney. Conley, who contributed to Yenni's 2010 Kenner Mayoral campaign, despite his bankruptcy filing, also served as Kenner's City Attorney during Yenni's first term as Kenner Mayor. </div>
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For Yenni's 2nd term as Kenner Mayor, Conley was elected Councilman-At-Large so he could help push through Yenni's agenda. </div>
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When Yenni became Parish President, Conley quit as Councilman-At-Large and followed Yenni to the Parish, becoming Yenni's Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) despite having ZERO experience in a role that vast. </div>
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Of course, having ZERO relevant experience hasn't stopped Yenni from loading up the Parish payroll with other high paying execs, each earning over $100k in salary plus more in benefits, including: </div>
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- Former Kenner Police Chief Steve Caraway, one of Yenni's Chief Administrative Assistants despite the fact that the Parish President has ZERO input into the JPSO and Caraway has spent his career in law enforcement. </div>
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- Former JP Public School Superintendent Dianne Roussel, another of Yenni's Chief Administrative Officers with oversight over departments including Human Resources and the Animal Shelter. REALLY? We need a Chief Administrative Officer overseeing the Animal Shelter? Roussel, for those of you following along at home, was at least partially responsible for running JP's Public School System into the ground, taking on mountains of debt, and a continued decline of test scores. Years after Roussel's retirement after an 8-year stint where, according to her anyway, she "left the school system better than I found it", the JP Public School System is still struggling to recover. </div>
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<br /></div>
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- Deputy Chief Operating Officer (under Conley) Natalie Newton, who also came over from Kenner where she was first an uncertified City Auditor (a position created for her by Yenni) and later Kenner's Deputy CAO. Newton's background before meeting Mike Yenni: she was a secretary for a Texas company. </div>
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- Valerie Waguespack Brolin, currently the head of the JP Housing Authority. Her background: before joining the Parish, she was the IT Director for Kenner (another position created by Yenni), despite not knowing any computer programming. Before she became the IT Director, she was a secretary for former Mayor Ed Muniz and before that she was a legal secretary. </div>
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Hey, there's nothing wrong with being a secretary, but running a city and a parish, or even a department of government, requires certain skills, background and experience.<br />
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Similarly, there's nothing wrong with working your way up or growing into a job if you have a passion for it.<br />
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But, for $100k + annually in tax payer dollars as a salary, plus benefits, these shouldn't be On-The-Job Training positions. In my opinion, unless your position requires extensive education and experience, like an Engineer, no one in Parish or City government should earn anything close to $100k per year, yet alone more than that, including the Parish President or the Mayor of a City the size of Kenner (or smaller). </div>
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My point in this is to show repeated instances of Yenni's vanity in surrounding himself with people who aren't even on his low level intellectually. Yenni is a narcissist that needs to think he is the smartest guy in the room and loathes anyone that has the experience or expertise to challenge him. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?</span></b></div>
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<b></b><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
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Despite the overwhelming evidence pointing to Yenni and Conley, there is no doubt that Yenni defenders will rally around him to attempt to deflect blame. </div>
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JP District 3 Councilman Mark Spears and District 4 Councilman Dominick Impastato, have already begun trying to cast aspersions everywhere - everywhere that is, that is away from Yenni. </div>
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There are calls to close the JP-owned landfill and use one of the River Birch landfills on the West<br />
Bank. Kenner, due to Yenni's intervention, already uses a River Birch landfill for disposal of its waste instead of the Parish-owned landfill, which may have provided a less expensive option to River Birch. </div>
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And, I don't need to rehash all of the past River Birch political scandals. </div>
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River Birch has contributed Tens of Thousands to the political campaigns of many elected officials including Yenni, Spears and current Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn. </div>
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But, the answer isn't to close the Parish-owned landfill. The answer is to stop the practice of accepting liquid industrial waste, which the Yenni Administration did stop last month, but only after hundreds of folks got sick. </div>
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And, since the acceptance of the liquid industrial waste was initiated by the Yenni Administration, and authorized by Keith Conley, why haven't he and Yenni resigned? </div>
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Yenni and Conly are responsible for the unsafe practices at the Parish-owned landfill - not John Young, not IESI, not a poorly maintained gas trapping system and certainly not an Engineer that was just doing his job and following Conley's (and Yenni's) orders.. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">YENNI and CONLEY MUST RESIGN. PERIOD. </span></b></div>
<b></b><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
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Closing the Parish-owned landfill won't fix the stench in Jefferson Parish when it's actually coming from the Parish President's Office. </div>
Click Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310299611425577946.post-63814394435903810342018-08-14T09:01:00.000-05:002018-08-14T09:22:01.225-05:00Apartments Out; A Church In? At Kenner's Old Hollywood Cinemas SiteThe saga of the former Hollywood Cinemas site at The Esplanade Mall continues.<br />
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In 2015, the vacant, crumbling theatre site was sold to a Baton Rouge Property Developer that wanted to put a multi-story apartment complex on the site. A total of 265 high-end apartments were to be constructed.<br />
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Residents of Cannes Brulees (the subdivision adjacent to The Esplanade) howled in protest. The apartments would lessen their property value some said, Others claimed that the apartment residents would be able to see into homeowner's yards and houses.<br />
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After several public meetings, the property developer promised to put up trees, shrubbery and other items to lessen the opportunity for apartment dwellers to peep into homes and yards.<br />
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Despite the vociferous objections of the neighborhood, the Kenner City Council approved the project by a 5-2 vote. The Council did add 15 amendments to the zoning ordinance approving the change to make the project more palatable to neighbors.<br />
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Fast forward to earlier this year and the Hollywood Cinema site was still vacant and even more unkept and unsafe.<br />
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Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn requested the Council fast track demolition of the property to reduce the blight in Kenner.<br />
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The property developer said they just needed a little more time and their financing might fall through if the building were demolished. They promised to bring the property back to code compliance and keep the property in good repair.<br />
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After relatively little activity at the site, and the property developer not following through on their pledge to maintain the property prior to demolition, new District 4 Councilman George Branigan said that he would use District 4 improvement money to cover the cost of the property demolition as the expected cost would exceed the City's entire demolition budget.<br />
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While a noble gesture by Branigan, this would have been a terrible idea for District 4 residents who would be far better served by Branigan using the funds on infrastructure (sewerage, drainage, streets, etc.) then blowing a chunk of money on a demolition and then securing a lien against the property that would only be paid if the property were sold - which could have taken years, if ever. In the meantime, the needs of District 4 would have gone unmet.<br />
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The good news is that Kenner and District 4 residents won't need to worry about that option.<br />
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Now, here's what I think is the bad news.<br />
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<b>Wednesday night at 6pm at the Muss Bertolino Gym, there will be a public meeting regarding the property developer's attempt to sell the site and get it rezoned so a church could go in it's place. </b><br />
<b></b><br />
That's right - a church.<br />
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Now, I was not a fan of the apartment complex idea, but it was better than what was there - a vacant, crumbling movie theatre, and, at least, while the apartment complex wouldn't have generated sales tax revenue for the city, it would have brought in significantly more property tax revenue as the value of the developed site was substantially higher than a vacant, crumbling movie theatre.<br />
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But now, if the proposed church is built, the City won't even be receiving property taxes on the property.<br />
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No sales tax revenue. No property tax revenue. Nothing.<br />
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Mayor Zahn though calls it a WIN for the City.<br />
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<b><i>"The Church and its members have an organization that will be an asset to Kenner businesses. Their congregation will use Kenner restaurants, shopping centers and gas stations when visiting Kenner," Zahn said. Independent Churches throughout this country have grown over the past years into huge groups of followers and that will only help Kenner as any company does that enters our market."</i></b><br />
<b></b><i></i><br />
<b><i>"I think it's a win for everyone."</i></b><br />
<b></b><i></i><br />
Mayor Zahn may be correct but, you can't quantify or even attempt to project the economic impact of a church and its members.<br />
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You can HOPE that they will buy gas, eat at Kenner restaurants, perhaps even shop at what's left of Kenner's deteriorating retail base - but you can't KNOW.<br />
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You can, however, quantify and project Sales Tax Revenue and Property Tax Revenue, neither of which the City will receive if this site becomes a church.<br />
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Look, I'm not against churches. I've been a Roman Catholic my entire life. But, we already have churches in strip centers on Williams Blvd. tying up valuable Commercial Real Estate - real estate that could be generating Sales Tax Revenue for the City.<br />
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And, the City has other, valuable Commercial Real Estate that is being used by a non-profit group.<br />
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<b>On Williams Blvd., the City sold valuable Commercial Real Estate to the non-profit group, Habitat for Humanity - again, a great group but, they pay ZERO in Property Taxes, they collect and remit ZERO in Sales Taxes (because they resell donated goods), and they even pay ZERO in Sales Taxes on the materials used in constructing their building. </b><br />
<b></b><br />
<b>And, if that weren't enough, they paid less for the property than other potential buyers.</b><br />
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Again, no disrespect to Habitat for Humanity, which has a noble mission, but, other than a few low-paying retail positions, what are they bringing to the City of Kenner that we need to have their retail store on Williams Blvd.? Wouldn't the City have been better served to locate this store on a less desirable piece of City property? If you're going to buy supplies from Habitat for Humanity, you will seek them out regardless of where they are located because you want to support the group.<br />
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Habitat for Humanity's Restore building didn't need to go on Williams Blvd.<br />
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And lost in the conversation is the question of what will be the perception of potential tenants and the new owners of The Esplanade if a church pops up next to them? How will they feel with a church on that site using a chunk of The Esplanade's parking lot? Is having a church there the economic message that the City wants to send to potential business owners considering The Esplanade? Does a church show that the city's retail environment is thriving?<br />
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You should know what I think by now.<br />
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The property around The Esplanade is too valuable to not be developed into something that generates significant revenue for the City, whether it's property tax revenue that the apartment complex would have generated (and sales taxes too if the City imposed a tax on rental property) or sales tax revenue if the site were a restaurant or retail. <br />
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Since we can't quantify or even project the potential revenue from the church, its impact on the other retail businesses in the area and its impact on The Esplanade itself, I think Kenner residents should be concerned by this.<br />
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At a time when Lakeside Shopping Center is bustling with new stores like the first LEGO store in Louisiana and undergoing a $10 Million renovation and the owners of Clearview Shopping Center purchased the Sears building (which will downsize to a space inside the mall), is proposing building two additional retail/multi-use buildings and undergoing an interior and exterior sprucing up, why is The Esplanade floundering so badly that Kenner officials are happy to have a church occupying what should be prime real estate?<br />
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<b>Yes, putting a church on that site is better than what's there now just like putting an auto dealership in what should have been Phases 3 & 4 of the Kenner Market Center is better than a vacant lot. </b><br />
<b></b><br />
<b>But, why are we settling for "better than nothing"? </b><br />
<b></b><br />
<b>Why is the City of Kenner settling at all? </b><br />
<b></b><br />
The first Public Meeting about the proposed Zoning change to allow a church on the site will be held Wednesday at 6pm at Muss Bertolino Gym. If you care about the future of Kenner and The Esplanade, you need to make time to attend.Click Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310299611425577946.post-65676000873989616162018-07-15T21:14:00.001-05:002018-07-15T21:14:11.884-05:00Kenner City Council and State Rep Find A Way Around State Law
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At Thursday’s Kenner City Council meeting, the Council
approved naming the Kenner Police Department Complex after former KPD Chief and
current Causeway Police Chief Nick Congemi. I said “current Causeway Police
Chief” because Congemi is very much alive.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know what you’re thinking: isn’t there a law saying that
buildings (like postage stamps) can only be named after dead people?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, there is such a law.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>However, when you’re an elected official you quickly learn
that there are exceptions and exemptions for every law if you just do your
research and pass another law.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Former Kenner City Councilman and current D92 State Rep Joe
Stagni authored HB 205 in the past Regular Session. The bill authorized the City
of Kenner to name the Kenner Police Department Headquarters after Congemi.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As with most local bills, the bill passed 83-0 in the House
and 32-0 in the Senate. State legislators normally vote “FOR” such local bills
because they don’t want their own local bills defeated.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Look, my issue isn’t with Nick Congemi who did some good
things as Kenner Police Chief, although he did many things that I disagree with
too and I am vehemently opposed to him continuing to feed at the public trough
as a grossly overpaid Police Chief of a Police Department that is a “Police
Department” in name only.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">No, my issue is with exceptions to laws.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you don’t like a law or if it doesn’t adequately reflect
the views of residents, it should be repealed. There should never be exceptions
to a law that favor one city or, in this case, one person. Period.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Laws are, or should be, designed for the PUBLIC benefit.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In a conversation, State Rep Stagni told me that during the
2017 Legislative Session, several bills were put forth by legislators to get
around this same state law and honor folks that were still living by naming
buildings after them.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Had I known about those exemptions last year and in prior
years, I certainly would have written about them too.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And, while the
fact that there were other exemptions in prior years may be true, that doesn’t
make it right.</span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The bottom line is: we are a nation of laws, not a nation of
exceptions and exemptions.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Are there existing state laws that should be repealed? Of
course.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Isn’t it a legislator’s job to repeal antiquated laws rather
than find loopholes and file additional laws to allow for exceptions and
exemptions? Well, I think you know my answer to that one.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Isn’t a legislator’s job to discuss and debate laws that
impact the “common good” rather than one city, one business or one person? You
probably already know my answer to that one too.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>No legislator or legislative body should pick winners and
losers. That’s not what we elected them to do.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When he was a Kenner City Councilman and as he is now as a
State Representative, Joe Stagni has always done his homework, researched the
issues and been responsive to his constituents. I can’t compare him to other
State Reps because I don’t know but, while he was on the Kenner City Council I
don’t think that any Councilman could claim that they outworked or
out-researched him.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the record, he was my councilman for 8 years and we often spoke about issues. Compare that to my former Councilman in Kenner's District 2 who, to this day, has not replied to an email or returned a call regarding an issue in District 2 or the City of Kenner.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, I am not inferring that Rep Stagni is not doing his job
or not voting on difficult issues and making hard decisions. Has he cast every
vote in agreement with me? Of course not. But, he has always listened and tried
to explain the rationale behind his vote, whether we agreed or not.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But, when a Legislative Body whose primary role is to
discuss, debate and approve a state budget, can’t accomplish that seemingly
simple task within a Regular Session and needs 3 “not-so” Special Sessions to
pass House Bill #1, filing, debating and discussing bills and finding
exceptions and exemptions to state law seems like it should be last on the list
of priorities for our State Legislature.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Again, if you don’t like a law, whether you’re a legislator
or a citizen like me, work to get the law repealed.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s the American way.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>There’s nothing “Right” about finding exemptions and
exceptions.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">And, there’s nothing “Right” about honoring
someone who is still eating from the public trough.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Click Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310299611425577946.post-87514833042462407152018-06-19T12:16:00.002-05:002018-06-19T12:16:32.777-05:00Zahn, Kenner Council Want JP School Board To Keep Yenni Ban<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Like many of you, I was outraged when reports surfaced that
Jefferson Parish’s Sexual Predator-in-Chief Mike Yenni was lobbying members of
the Jefferson Parish School Board to lift their ban on Yenni’s attendance at
any Jefferson Parish Public School and event including sporting events and
festivals. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">While I had heard rumors, no one would confirm those rumors
and, as I’m sure you know, the Sexual Predator-in-Chief and I aren’t on regular
speaking terms. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">To briefly recap, after the reports of Yenni’s “inappropriate”
sexting with a 17-year-old high school boy, at the November 1<sup>st</sup>,
2016 meeting of the JP School Board, a resolution banning Yenni from School
Board property and events, authored by Sandy Denapolis-Bosarge (whose district
includes a chunk of Kenner), passed unanimously.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Evidently, Yenni thinks that the ban has gone on long
enough. If the ban is not removed, Yenni claims that he will sue the School
Board. He even threatened Ms. Denapolis-Bosarge claiming that he had a large
campaign account that could fund the lawsuit.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This, of course, is typical Mike Yenni – using other people’s
money to fund his bad decisions and causing more embarrassment for Jefferson
Parish residents. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Thankfully, the JP School Board has stayed resolute in
continuing the Yenni Ban.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Now, Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn and the Kenner City Council have
a resolution that will be heard at Thursday’s Kenner City Council meeting that
voices their support of the JP School Board continuing the Yenni Ban. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Item 13-A on the Council Agenda says:</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">“A resolution urging the Jefferson Parish School Board maintain its ban
on Michael S. Yenni from school facilities and school events including sports
contests and festivals.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Whereas, it was recently reported in The Times-Picayune on June 8, 2018
that Michael S. Yenni has requested that the ban be removed, and, </span></i></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Whereas, the Mayor of the City of Kenner, E. Ben Zahn III, and the
Kenner Council wish to express their support for the Jefferson Parish School
Board ban to continue.”</span></i></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This show of support for the JP School Board by Mayor Zahn and the Kenner City
Council is a great idea but, only if it is also followed through with actions. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As the time lag from the sexting reports has grown, and the
time period before the next Jefferson Parish President elections occurs decreases, Yenni
has become emboldened. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The Sexual Predator-in-Chief, with his delusional mind,
actually believes that he can be re-elected. Yenni has held fundraisers,
appeared at Jefferson Parish playgrounds touting his ‘achievements’, and
continues making public appearances. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Recently, both Mayor Zahn and, no surprise, Jefferson Parish
Councilman Dominick Impastato, along with other elected officials, were seen with Yenni at several Jefferson Parish
playgrounds.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Now, I understand politics and the persistent need for
elected officials to appear in photo ops, but Yenni shouldn’t be anywhere near
a playground (or anyplace where children are) and elected officials like Zahn and
Impastato should have the common sense to distance themselves from these type
of made up “events”.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>Yenni also popped up at Kenner’s Lundi Gras Celebration.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>According to Mayor Zahn, Yenni was not invited and just
showed up.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>Yenni also “just showed up” at the opening of Kenner’s
Christmas Village and at Zahn’s State of the City Address. </b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Yes, at least for now, as Parish President Yenni has the
right to “just show up” at a community event. Having the "right" to do something and the common sense to not do something are vastly different things however.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Zahn and other elected officials also have the right to call
Yenni out, not acknowledge his unwanted, inappropriate appearance at events and shun him.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">A resolution showing your support of a continued ban by
another political body is a good move but only if it is also followed up with
actions. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Jefferson Parish’s Sexual Predator-in-Chief should be told
by Zahn and other elected officials that he is persona non grata at all Kenner
events and particularly events where children are present. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’ve said this before, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Words
Without Actions Are Lies</b>. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So are resolutions without actions. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The JP School Board passed their resolution banning Yenni
and has thus far followed that up with actions. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Mayor Zahn and other elected officials need to follow the JP
School Board’s lead and follow up their words (and resolutions) with actions. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span>Click Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310299611425577946.post-81306513645516187322018-04-27T11:02:00.003-05:002018-04-27T11:02:30.249-05:00Kenner D1 Council Candidate Has Questionable PastIn the Bible, Jesus said, "He that is without sin can cast the first stone."<br />
<br />
Well, I'm here to tell you that I certainly am NOT without sin.<br />
<br />
And, I've made my share of mistakes.<br />
<br />
In fact, I've made plenty of mistakes in my life and, when I ran for office, many of those mistakes were thrown back in my face.<br />
<br />
It didn't matter that I owned successful companies or that I ran a division of a company that generated $56 Million a year in revenue (which, at the time, was an amount larger than the city budget of Kenner).<br />
<br />
No, my opponents repeatedly exaggerated my failures.<br />
<br />
Yes, I got divorced (in 1986, by the way). I married too young (yes, 24 was too young for me and, yes, 19 was too young for her). But, so what?<br />
<br />
Yes, not every business that I ever started was a success. Again, so what? At least I tried (which is more than can be said for our current Sexual Predator-In-Chief Mike Yenni).<br />
<br />
Yes, I had some IRS issues.<br />
<br />
And, I've made other mistakes too.<br />
<br />
Look, I get it. That's politics.<br />
<br />
But, since I was dragged through the mud, I've always tried to hold candidates and elected officials to a higher standard. <br />
<br />
I don't care about sexual misconduct (unless it involves children and, yes, a 40-year-old married father stalking a 17-year-old BOY and suggesting that engage in a homosexual threesome with another teenage BOY is crossing the line). <br />
<br />
I don't care if someone has had a failed business or two in their past. Again, the only people that succeed at everything are the ones who never try anything. <br />
<br />
I DO care if a candidate or elected official has been arrested or if they've filed for personal bankruptcy (unless there were extenuating circumstances). <br />
<br />
I can say that, knock on wood, I've never been arrested and, despite incredible medical bills related to my leg, I've never filed for bankruptcy (personal or business). I've never failed a drug test and I could easily pass a government security clearance.<br />
<br />
I tell you all of this because I'm going to throw some big stones at David Weathersby, a candidate for Kenner City Council in District 1 in Saturday's runoff election (yes, this is the only election on the ballot in Kenner Saturday). <br />
<br />
And, I don't take any pleasure in that but, these stones need to be thrown.<br />
<br />
Compared to David Weathersby, even with all of my mistakes, I may be a candidate for Sainthood (and not just in my late mother's eyes). <br />
<br />
<b>In the past 10 years, David Weathersby has been arrested on multiple occasions on charges including Domestic Violence, Possession of Schedule 1 Narcotics, DWI, Felony Issuance of Worthless Checks, Simple Battery/Theft, Multiple Driving with a Suspended License, and Negligent Operation of a Vehicle. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
During an hour long, rambling conversation, instead of acting contrite and admitting his mistakes, Weathersby feigned ignorance and even played the race card. <br />
<br />
Weathersby had no idea about the Worthless Check charge, even though it occurred in 2013. <br />
<br />
Weathersby didn't know anything about the Simple Battery/Theft arrest that happened in 2016. According to Weathersby, I "must have my facts wrong". <br />
<br />
When I asked Mr. Weathersby about the driving arrests (DWI, Suspended License, etc.), Weathersby tried to turn the tables on me. <br />
<br />
"You ever heard of racial profiling?", Weathersby asked. <br />
<br />
Now, I will admit that I've never been the victim of "racial profiling" and I will even admit that I believe that "racial profiling" does exist even in 2018. <br />
<br />
<b>But, when you've been arrested 21 times in at least 4 different Parishes for Driving with a Suspended License, the odds are that not all of them were by members of Law Enforcement engaged in "racial profiling". </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
And, if you've been pulled over 21 times, I think that says more about your poor driving than it does "racial profiling". <br />
<br />
<b>So, the people of District 1 have a potential City Councilman with multiple arrests, a violent history of Domestic Abuse and Battery, a history of writing bad checks, and who doesn't even have a Driver's License. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
And, that's not even the worst thing about David Weathersby's candidacy. <br />
<br />
No, the fact is that David Weathersby isn't even a resident of District 1. <br />
<br />
On Weathersby's campaign web site he claims to be a Kenner native but the address Weathersby listed on his election qualifying form as his "residence" isn't a "residence" at all. <br />
<br />
On forms filed with the State Ethics Board, Weathersby lists 617 Webster Street as his "residence". He also lists 619 Webster Street as his "residence".<br />
<br />
If you do a Google search on 617 or 619 Webster Street in Kenner, it is listed as "Bible Way Holiness Church". <br />
<br />
But, it's also listed as "Brotherhood Way Contractor".<br />
<br />
And "David Enterprises".<br />
<br />
If you scroll further on Google you'll see that 617 and 619 Webster Street are really the addresses of a church. According to The Knot, a wedding was held there in February (by the way, no one bought the Bride and Groom the Oster Blender or Bread Maker that they registered for - what's wrong with people today? You take the time to pick out things for your bridal registry and your guests can't even get you a blender and a bread maker. Those are KITCHEN ESSENTIALS people!). <br />
<br />
<b>So, whether 617 or 619 Webster Street is a church or a contractor's office (or both), I think it's safe to say that, unless he sleeps on a cot or in a church pew, 617 or 619 Webster Street IS NOT David Weathersby's "residence". </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">In fact, m</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">any people say that David Weathersby isn't even a resident of Kenner and just someone put in the election by people that disagree with Gregory Carroll on some issues. </span><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I'd ask to see David Weathersby's Driver's License for proof of his address but, he doesn't have one.</b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">. </span><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b>In court documents, Weathersby lists several addresses in Tangipahoa and St. Charles Parishes as his home address. </b><br />
<br />
Searching "David Weathersby" on Facebook was just as fruitless. <br />
<br />
There are multiple profiles for "David Weathersby" listing different cities as his residence. <br />
<br />
Now, I'm no expert on facial recognition but several of those profiles seem to be of the same David Weathersby that claims to be a "lifelong Kenner resident" but clearly isn't. But one of the "David Weathersby's" lists Albany, LA as his home city.<br />
<br />
And, if that weren't enough, Weathersby has Federal Income Tax issues - as in, he hasn't filed his taxes for years).<br />
<br />
Weathersby is too young for Social Security and clearly not disabled, so he has to have some income right?<br />
<br />
So, let's summarize: In the election for Kenner District 1 Councilman, voters have 2 choices: <br />
<br />
Door #1 - Gregory Carroll. A lifelong resident of District 1, who is raising his family in District 1 and has fought hard during his time on the Council for the people of District 1. When Mike Yenni tried to close Lincoln Manor Playground, Gregory Carroll led the fight to keep it open. When Mike Yenni tried to double property taxes, Gregory Carroll stood up and said, "NO!" When the Levee Board wanted to buy streets in South Kenner and limit access to historic cemeteries, Gregory Carroll led the fight to stop them. Whenever the people of District 1 have needed a leader, Gregory Carroll has been there fighting for the people of District 1 and Kenner. <br />
<br />
Door #2 - A man with multiple arrests and a violent past. Someone who doesn't pay their taxes and doesn't even bother to file a tax return. Someone who can't even legally drive, lists a church as his "residence" and has no track record of doing anything to benefit the people of District 1 or the City of Kenner. <br />
<br />
Weathersby's "platform" consists of telling anyone that will listen that he will shake things up at Armstrong International Airport and make sure that the bulk of the work done at the new Airport Terminal will be given to minorities in District 1. Of course, he doesn't tell you that the airport contracts have already been given out, Kenner doesn't own the airport and the Councilman from District 1 isn't on the Aviation Authority Board. <br />
<br />
Of course, the Kenner District 1 Councilman is welcome to attend Aviation Board meetings (they are open to the public). <br />
<br />
Unfortunately for David Weathersby, unless he likes to walk, the only way he will get to the Aviation Board meetings legally is if he calls Uber. <br />
<br />
But, since Weathersby can't legally drive, Kenner taxpayers will save by not having to pay the auto allowance we give our Council members.<br />
<br />
In 2009, when Councilman Carroll was elected to fill the unexpired term of current Judge Mark Johnson, his runoff opponent was also someone who didn't live in District 1.<br />
<br />
Thankfully, the voters in District 1 saw through the political shenanigans and voted for Councilman Carroll.<br />
<br />
Hopefully, they will see through David Weathersby's political shenanigans Saturday.Click Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310299611425577946.post-55071814520184806972018-03-13T14:03:00.000-05:002018-03-13T14:19:03.561-05:00Fortunato Funneled Over $56k From Campaign To Son's Company<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">If it seems like almost every day there is a new ethical
issue with JP Sheriff Candidate Johnny Fortunato, you would be correct.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As if handing out
free food on Public School property; being the “Keynote Speaker” at a Senior
Party paid for with tax dollars courtesy of JP District 3 Councilman Mark
Spears; hiring Greg Buisson, a man who routinely advises his clients to skirt
State Ethics rules; Fortunato’s support for Jefferson Parish’s Sexual
Predator-in-Chief Mike Yenni, or having a wife who is a political appointee of
Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn – despite not living in Kenner weren't enough, now comes the revelation
that Fortunato has funneled over $56,000 from his campaign account to a
Texas-based business owned by Fortunato’s son.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>And, while none of these things is technically illegal, ALL
raise questions about the judgement and ethics of candidate, particularly a
candidate that wants to become Jefferson Parish’s Top Lawman.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Normally, I never post about a candidate’s family. However,
when that candidate brings his family into the campaign, all bets are off.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">According to the Louisiana Ethics Administration reports,
through 2/24 Fortunato has spent over $56,000 with Wrap Stars, a Texas company
owned by his son, Johnny Fortunato Jr.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The $56,000 represents about 35% of the total amount of
campaign contributions that the Fortunato Campaign has received.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Allegedly, the $56,000 was for “Signs” and “Magnets”.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Or, it could be a Father trying to help his Son.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Johnny Fortunato Jr. is a former JPSO Deputy and was
terminated by the JPSO. After running afoul of the law here, Fortunato Jr.
moved to Texas and started his business.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Again, I don’t like writing about candidate’s families but,
since Fortunato is running for JP Sheriff and his son was terminated from the
JPSO, I think that is a valid point to make.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>The point is, there are dozens of local companies that could
have provided the Fortunato campaign with “Signs” and “Magnets” but instead of
using one of them, Fortunato CHOSE to use his son’s out-of-state company.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Since the JP Sheriff is also responsible for the collection of taxes in the Parish, why wouldn't Fortunato BUY LOCAL and contribute to the local economy and our tax base?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Just as Fortunato CHOSE to announce on WDSU that Mike Yenni
shouldn’t have resigned after Yenni’s sexting scandal was revealed and that
Fortunato, as Sheriff of Jefferson Parish, would support Yenni’s re-election
bid in 2019, Fortunato CHOSE to funnel money to his son's Texas company instead of BUYING LOCAL.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As I’ve said, spending money with your son’s business and
using campaign dollars (other people’s money) isn’t illegal.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But it sure raises a lot of unnecessary questions. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span>Click Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310299611425577946.post-74347976116512602522018-03-12T11:22:00.001-05:002018-03-12T11:22:10.725-05:00Fortunato: As Sheriff I Would Support Yenni’s Re-Election
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since he entered the JP Sheriff’s race, I have discussed
Johnny Fortunato’s choice of Greg Buisson as his Campaign Manager.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fortunato certainly has the right to choose anyone as his
Campaign Manager and, given his track record at least, Buisson has certainly
run many winning campaigns.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Buisson has also worked with many of Metro NOLA’s most
unscrupulous and criminal elected officials including former JP President Aaron
Broussard, ex-St. Tammany Coroner Peter Galvin and many others.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Along the way, Buisson has used his influence with the
politicians that he has helped get elected to enrich himself and extend his
greedy tentacles into several organizations that receive tax funding funneled
to them (and authorized) by those same Buisson clients. In my mind, this is a
classic example of a conflict of interest but Buisson’s clients keep finding
ways to shovel more money his way while our State Ethics Board looks the other
way.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Current Orleans Parish Councilman-At-Large and former State Rep. Helena Moreno even granted Buisson's daughter a scholarship to Tulane, despite the fact the Buisson didn't live in her district and other students may have been more deserving.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unfortunately, I can’t turn a blind eye.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As Buisson is already the longtime Campaign Manager of
Jefferson Parish’s Sexual Predator-in-Chief Mike Yenni, 4 Jefferson Parish
Councilmen, the Mayor of Kenner Ben Zahn and several Kenner City Councilmen,
along with Buisson’s relationships with groups that receive Parish and Kenner
funding like the Jefferson Convention & Visitor’s Bureau and numerous other
groups, I questioned whether it wise to also let Buisson have access to the
vast resources of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I also speculated about what type of relationship a Sheriff
Fortunato would have with a disgraced Parish President like Mike Yenni.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, in Fortunato’s own words, we can put that speculation
to rest.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>During last night’s
<a href="http://www.wdsu.com/article/lopinto-fortunato-face-off-in-hot-seat-debate-on-sheriffs-race/19401289" target="_blank">WDSU Hot Seat</a>, Travers Mackel asked Fortunato and Interim Sheriff Joe Lopinto
two interesting questions regarding Yenni and both candidates gave opposite
responses.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Q: Should Mike Yenni have resigned after his scandal with a
teen male about a year and half ago?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fortunato: NO</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lopinto: Yes</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Q: If elected Sheriff, would you support Mike Yenni in the
2019 election cycle for re-election?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lopinto: No</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fortunato: Yes (looks to the side, possibly seeking Buisson’s
approval)”</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the recent Jefferson Parish District 4 Council race
between Dominick Impastato and State Senator Danny Martiny, Impastato (also
represented by Buisson) was able to deceive the voters into believing that he
was not supported by Yenni and did not and would not support and enable Yenni.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we found out after he was elected to the JP Council ,
Impastato has always sided with whatever Mike Yenni wants just as he did when
Dominick sat on the Kenner City Council.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have already chronicled Impastato’s long ties with Yenni.
<a href="http://clickjefferson.blogspot.com/2016/10/dominick-impastato-wants-everyone-to-be.html" target="_blank">Impastato owes his political career</a> to Mike Yenni and Team Buisson.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unfortunately for Fortunato, his own words won’t allow him
to deceive the public as Impastato did.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In his opening statement, Lopinto said, “I’m Sheriff Joe
Lopinto. I want to let the public know who I am.”</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last night we also learned who Johnny Fortunato is – and who
his friends are.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sorry Johnny. We already have too many Yenni-enablers like
Impastato in Parish Government and running the City of Kenner.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We don’t need a Sheriff that enables and supports a Sexual
Predator too. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span>Click Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310299611425577946.post-1278227105622794292018-03-09T14:47:00.000-06:002018-03-09T14:47:04.307-06:00JP Councilman Spears Used Tax Dollars To Promote Sheriff Candidate Fortunato
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As if passing out free food at a Public School to buy votes
wasn’t brazen enough, now Jefferson Parish Sheriff candidate Johnny Fortunato
is using tax dollars courtesy of JP District 3 Councilman Mark Spears to buy
the votes and support of Senior Citizens.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yesterday (3/8), Spears held a party for Senior Citizens at
the Alario Center on the West Bank. Spears has held “Senior Parties” in the
past although usually at Christmas. These parties feature Spears passing out
gift cards and presents provided by area businesses as door prizes to attendees.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s just like the old scam of providing hot dogs and drinks
(along with a “Sample Ballot”) as you drive voters to the polls and “casually”
mentioning that the hot dogs came from a politician.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many businesses have complained about the “Annual Spears
Shakedown” and the fact that many gift cards “just happen” to end up in the
pockets of Spears’ family and friends. Of course, no business owner will go on
the record to confirm these allegations for fear of retaliation from Spears or
JP Government.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now Spears has taken his Senior Parties to a whole new
political level by featuring <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Fortunato
as the “Keynote Speaker” at yesterday’s event.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The problem is Spears
pays for these parties not from his own pocket or his campaign account. This
party (which essentially was a Fortunato Campaign Rally with gift cards and
other door prizes) was <u>paid for by YOU – the taxpayers of Jefferson Parish.</u></span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Two resolutions authored and authorized by Spears appeared
on the Council Addendum Agenda at the February 21<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> meeting and call
for the payment of a total of $13,774 to Messina’s Catering to provide the food
for the party/campaign rally.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s $13,774 of
YOUR TAX DOLLARS.</span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s not the first time that Spears, who has ties to
Fortunato’s Campaign Manager Greg Buisson, has used YOUR TAX DOLLARS to promote
Fortunato’s candidacy.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In December, <a href="http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/02/fire_trucks_used_for_politics.html" target="_blank">Spears allocated $50,000 from his District Account</a> (again – YOUR TAX DOLLARS) to a
Christmas Parade promoted by the New Orleans-based NOMTOC Carnival Krewe. The
parade was held December 9<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> in Marrero. Fortunato, along with his
wife, former TV talking head and current City of Kenner Deputy CAO Kriss
Fairbairn Fortunato, rode in the parade passing out Christmas presents like a
modern day Santa Clause.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I wonder how many businesses were involved in the shakedown
so Fortunato could hand out toys on a parade route.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Kriss Fortunato is a political appointee of Kenner Mayor Ben
Zahn. Zahn is also a client of Buisson, Buisson's clients also include Jefferson Parish’s
Sexual Predator-in-Chief Mike Yenni, and several JP and Kenner Councilmen.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Look, if you want to hold a “Senior Party” or a Parade or
any other event that is politically related, use your own money or even your campaign money and report it
on your campaign finance report. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Isn’t that why we have a State Ethics Board?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But, don’t use Taxpayer Dollars to further your political
career, help other candidates or as a conduit<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>to funnel money to a Campaign Manager (Yes, Greg Buisson, I’m talking
about you).</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Because, if you do, you know I’m going to have to write
about it.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
And I know you don't want that..</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span>Click Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310299611425577946.post-75691411941409403762018-03-08T07:50:00.001-06:002018-03-08T07:50:49.617-06:00Zahn Playing Politics With Kenner Hispanics (Again)<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Just a few months after Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn pulled the rug
(and the funding) out from under the feet of Kenner’s Hispanic Community by
reallocating money that was pledged to rebuild the Hispanic Resource Center, Zahn
is back to his old tricks using Kenner’s Hispanic Community as a pawn in his
political game.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Since he can’t use the Hispanic Resource Center as a tool,
this time Zahn is using a festival.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">At issue is the Kenner Hispanic Summer Fest.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">For the past 7 years, the Kenner Hispanic Summer Fest has occurred
during the Summer (makes sense, right?). Last year, it was June 10<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
and 11<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So, this year, you would logically think that the 8<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
Annual Kenner Hispanic Summer Fest would occur during June, July or August,
right?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Wrong.</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This year, for some unexplained reason (which we will attempt to
decipher in a minute), the Kenner Hispanic Summer Fest has changed its name to the
Kenner Hispanic Fest and occurs…wait for it…this weekend – in March.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Why would you change
a successful 7 year festival that was a Summer highlight and even included the
word “Summer” in its name until now?</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The answer dear readers is simple:</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">POLITICS.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The 1<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> Kenner Hispanic Fest “just happens” to be
held this Saturday, March 10<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> and 11<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>. Curiously,
Saturday is the first day of early voting for the March 24<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> primary
in which Zahn and other fellow members of the Buisson Machine, including Kenner
Councilman-At-Large candidate Kristi McKinney and JP Sheriff candidate Johnny
Fortunato are on the ballot along with current Kenner District 4 Councilman
Lenny “Mumbles” Cline (who is in a heated battle with George Branigan).</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">While it is the 1<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> “Kenner Hispanic Fest”, the
Zahn Administration led by Cultural Diversity Director Rafael Saddy (who, I'm told, just
happens to be one of the promoters of the Fest) is trying to pull the wool over
Kenner Hispanic’s eyes again by promoting it as the “8<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> Annual
Kenner Hispanic Fest”.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The problem is – it isn’t
the “8<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> Annual Kenner Hispanic Fest” since the first 7 were called “Kenner
Hispanic Summer Fest”.</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So, why the games and the date and name changes?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Like I said, it’s purely political.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The 1<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> “Kenner
Hispanic Fest” will give Zahn and his fellow Buisson Minions another
opportunity to get in front of a large crowd, press the flesh and try to get
some votes. Of course, other candidates not affiliated with Buisson (or
endorsed by Zahn as McKinney, Fortunato and Cline are) will be told that “No Politics Are Allowed” at the Fest.</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But, the same rules won’t apply to the Buisson Team.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’m certain that Zahn will be up on the stage and probably
introduce McKinney and Fortunato, at least. If he’s smart, he won’t introduce
Cline (and he certainly won’t hand Cline the microphone and ask him to say a
few words. A few words from Lenny could take all day).</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Even if current Kenner Councilman-At-Large Maria DeFrancesch
(McKinney’s opponent) attends, I seriously doubt that she will be invited on
stage and introduced to the crowd. After all, DeFrancesch along with outgoing
District 3 Councilman Keith Reynaud were the only members of the Kenner City
Council who raised objections to Zahn pulling the HRC funding.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Zahn certainly wouldn’t want to promote DeFrancesch to a
crowd of Hispanics when she was against Zahn’s reallocation of the HRC funding.
In fact, DeFrancesch stood up for the Kenner Hispanic Community more than Zahn’s
hand-picked “Cultural Diversity Coordinator” Saddy or the politically-appointed
HRC Director.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">In addition, there is little doubt that
Zahn/McKinney/Fortunato signs and volunteers wearing campaign t-shirts will be
strategically milling through the crowd, along with vehicles with more campaign
signs parked near the entrance and in the Laketown parking lots.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I bet there won’t be any t-shirt wearing DeFrancesch
volunteers in the crowd.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">No Branigan or Sheriff Joe Lopinto volunteers either and
surely no volunteers for Zahn’s opponents Dona Reynaud (the wife of the other Councilman who stood up for the HRC) and Al Morella.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So, instead of celebrating Kenner’s Hispanic community, the
1<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> Kenner Hispanic Fest is just another political stunt that the
Buisson Team of Zahn, McKinney, Fortunato and Cline can use to their advantage.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">But, when they use
free food as a means to garner votes, are you really surprised that Mayor Zahn
and the Buisson Minions would use an event with a few thousand potential voters
for their own selfish means?</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">For those wondering, that was a rhetorical question.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I do have a couple of unanswered questions though:</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">1). Is Kenner’s biggest
sellout, I mean, Cultural Diversity Coordinator Saddy, who thought so much of
Kenner Hispanic Community that he didn’t say a word when Zahn pulled the HRC
funding (and its future), making any side money from his “promotion” of the
Fest in addition to his City of Kenner paycheck? This is a major question since the City of Kenner is one of the primary sponsors of the event. </span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2). Is the Campaign
Manager for Zahn, McKinney, Fortunato and Cline, Greg Buisson, pocketing any
cash from the Fest?</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">If you go this weekend, I hope everyone enjoys the 1<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup>
Kenner Hispanic Fest. But, don’t look for there to be a 2<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup> Annual
Fest, at least not in March 2019. No, my guess is that in June 2019 we will be
celebrating the 10<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> Annual Kenner Summer Hispanic Fest.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Just do me a favor: please make sure you loudly boo any
politicians on stage.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Except Maria DeFrancesch, that is, assuming Zahn would actually allow her on stage. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Councilwoman DeFrancesch deserves your applause - and your vote.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span>Click Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310299611425577946.post-45108278774810055502018-03-06T08:40:00.001-06:002018-03-06T08:40:27.965-06:00The Politics Of Free Food<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">In the past few months, Kenner has had several distributions
of free food coordinated by the transportation/logistics company CRC. The company collects food from grocers that is expired or close to its sell by/use by date and distributes that to Food Banks and through other avenues. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">There were two recent free food distributions at Divine Mercy Church in Kenner. I didn’t attend
either because, thankfully, I don’t miss many meals and I’m fortunate enough to
not need free food. In addition I’m told, the second one was just free Sweet
Potato Pies (obviously WalMart vastly overestimated Kenner’s Sweet Potato Pie
cravings). </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Now, before you get defensive and the haters out there start
calling me bitter because I didn’t get any free pie, I appreciate CRC making
the effort to distribute food to the needy (even if many in the lines at Divine Mercy were not
truly needy – if you’re driving a 2017 Cadillac Escalade how much do you really
need some free grub?) or, that for those not aware, Divine Mercy Church is in
North Kenner in one of Kenner's most affluent neighborhoods. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I didn’t even complain or post that there were many elected
officials and candidates participating in handing out the food (and, in turn,
making themselves look good to potential voters – sorry if that’s the cynic in
me coming out). </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">However, there was another food distribution on February 24<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
that I do have some major issues with.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Again, I’m not going
to criticize CRC as I don’t know if they were a part of the duplicity of some
elected officials and candidates or if they were just “useful idiots” in the
process.</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’d like to believe in the altruism of Ronnie Mains and CRC. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">However, this food distribution was different.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Instead of food being made available to anyone, or CRC
actually using a list of the truly needy from Kenner’s Food Bank (we are the
only city in the state by the way that has its own food bank) or a list of residents that rely on Meals on Wheels, this food
distribution was limited to families that send their children to Kenner
Discovery School.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Not just "needy" KDHSA families – any family regardless of
income. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">And, to make matters worse, the food distribution occurred on public school property (KDHSA is a Public Charter School) and included Kenner Mayor
Ben Zahn and two candidates for office that Zahn is endorsing, Kenner Council-At-Large
candidate Kristi McKinney and JP Sheriff candidate Johnny Fortunato (whose wife
just happens to work as a political appointee of Zahn’s despite the fact that
she is not a Kenner resident. I know, semantically she is not a “Director” and
not covered by the City Charter but, that is semantics and Ben Zahn clearly
knows the spirit and intent of the Charter).</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">According to Zahn, he
was invited to participate by Ronnie Mains of CRC. </span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Fine. He’s the Mayor of Kenner, even if you and I question his
true motives and think he should have known better. But why were McKinney,
Fortunato and their t-shirt wearing volunteers also there?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I<a href="http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/03/jefferson_parish_schools_warn.html" target="_blank">n an article on Nola.com written by Michelle Hunter</a>, Fortunato’s
campaign manager, the infamous Greg Buisson (who has never met an ethics rule
that he didn’t try to skirt) says that Fortunato was also invited by Mains (who
happens to be a Fortunato supporter himself and gave Fortunato the max
contribution available, $2,500 this election cycle. By the way, Mains through CRC and various companies has also contributed $14,000 through the years to JP's Sexual Predator-in-Chief Mike Yenni and another $3,500 to the aforementioned Ben Zahn). </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">In the article, Fortunato himself says that his volunteers were canvassing a
nearby Kenner neighborhood and stopped by at Mains’ request.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">“We look at it as we were only there, just like Kiwanis and just like
anyone else who was there to volunteer time to serve a purpose for the needy,”
Fortunato said.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ok…so how do you explain the vehicles with Fortunato signs
and advertising on them prominently placed on school grounds and the fact that
you and your volunteers also “just happened” to participate in another CRC food
distribution the next day in Marrero?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I guess you were just canvassing there too, right?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">In any event, Fortunato, McKinney and Zahn should not be
using free food to help their campaigns. Even if Zahn is the Mayor of Kenner
and was “invited” by Mains, he knows better and he certainly knows better than
to participate in a food distribution at a public school that wasn’t sanctioned
by the JP School Board or even KDHSA’s Principal. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Buisson, who is the campaign manager for all three (Zahn,
McKinney and Fortunato) also knows better. Unfortunately, he doesn’t care and
this entire incident would have been swept under the rug if a complaint were
not filed and the Jefferson Parish Public School System notified. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">And, regardless of your politics, that’s just wrong.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Do we, as citizens,
really want a Mayor, a Councilman-At-Large or a Sheriff that pushes the ethical
envelope until they are caught?</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Do we, as citizens,
really want a Mayor, a Councilman-At-Large or a Sheriff using food destined for
the needy as a campaign tool?</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Shouldn’t we, as
citizens, expect more?</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Hopefully, CRC will not include any candidates in future
food distributions. As a private company, CRC can certainly give food to
whomever they want but, as Mains himself said, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Some things should be above
politics. Supporting our community by helping the needy should not be one of
them.”</i></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I agree 100% Mr. Mains. So why invite candidates and their
volunteers and make the food distribution political? </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Now, I’m sure that KDHSA has many needy families although I’m
also relatively certain that if Mr. Mains and CRC really believes they are “helping
the needy”, future food distributions should be in Kenner’s poorer
neighborhoods and available to all the “truly needy”. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Restricting the food distribution to only KDHSA families,
without regard to need (while certainly CRC’s right) contradicts Mr. Mains’
stated goal of “helping the needy”. What about families with children at other
Kenner schools? Will they also get distributions of food (hopefully without the
politicking)? </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">What about families without children, the disabled, the elderly or those without transportation to get to a CRC free food distribution? Don't they also deserve help? </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">It’s also ironic that in the article, CRC’s Chief Operating Officer
Robert Gadola said, “We’re not in the political world; we’re in the business
world.”</span></i></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The irony isn’t just the fact that CRC “invited” politicians
and their volunteers to assist them or even that a CRC truck had a Forunato ad
on it or even that a company claiming to not be "in the political world" has contributed tens of thousands of dollars the campaigns of many elected officials and candidates.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">No, the real irony is that Gadola himself was one of Kenner’s three nominees
for a spot on the New Orleans Aviation Board that Zahn recently submitted to New Orleans
Mayor Mitch Landrieu. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Evidently, Gadola was suggested to Zahn by Jefferson Parish
Councilman Dominick Impastato, also a Buisson client and a staunch supporter of
McKinney. Oh, and Impastato is also a former Kenner City Councilman for District 5, in which Divine Mercy Church happens to be located. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Did I mention that Impastato also has received thousands in campaign contributions from CRC?</span><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Funny how people that
claim to not be in the “political world” are nominated for powerful,
politically-appointed boards. </span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I guess, after this post is published, that means there will be no free Sweet Potato
Pie for me. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But, that's ok. You can have my share, Dominick.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Besides, your pie hole is way bigger than mine.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Just make sure you chew real good. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I wouldn't want you to choke on it. </span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span>Click Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310299611425577946.post-57506058653557524772018-01-18T16:35:00.000-06:002018-01-18T16:35:52.089-06:00JP Pulls Plug On Kenner Senior Center WaterAs thousands of JP East Bank residents struggle with low water pressure and are under the first boil water advisory in ages, the 300+ Senior Citizen residents of Kenner's Westminster Tower have no water at all.<br />
<br />
Jefferson Parish's Water Department shut off all water to the Tower, citing low water pressure and water leaks in the system.<br />
<br />
Kenner officials pointed blame squarely at Jefferson Parish President Mike Yenni.<br />
<br />
"Yenni knew and ok'd the shut down," a high-ranking Kenner official who asked to not be identified said.<br />
<br />
The reason for the shutdown is not apparent as residents and businesses around the Tower have water, albeit at a low pressure.<br />
<br />
Residents of the facility were told Thursday afternoon to expect to be without water for up to 3 days and advised that, if they have relatives nearby, to stay with them for the time being.<br />
<br />
The City of Kenner is making arrangements to have water delivered to the Tower. The State is also sending a tanker truck of water as a backup for the Tower and for Kenner Fire Department use, if needed.<br />
<br />
<br />Click Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310299611425577946.post-51008445885558206612018-01-02T18:03:00.002-06:002018-01-02T18:03:38.545-06:00Brennan Dismissed From Theft Lawsuit
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Former Interim Kenner Councilman-At-Large Brian Brennan has
been dismissed <a href="http://clickjefferson.blogspot.com/2017/10/impastato-representing-ex-councilman.html" target="_blank">from a lawsuit</a> that alleged he and his former business partner
bilked a Mississippi company of $500,000. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brennan was a named defendant in the lawsuit since he was
the Vice President and Officer of a factoring company that was hired by the
Mississippi company. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brennan was represented by current Jefferson Parish District
4 Councilman Dominick Impastato. Brennan has announced his intention to seek
the Kenner District 5 Council seat vacated by Impastato and Impastato has
endorsed Brennan. Impastato and Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn recently hosted a
fundraiser for Brennan at the home of Henry Shane. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brennan and Impastato were members of then-Kenner Mayor Mike
Yenni’s 2010 transition team and Brennan was appointed to the Kenner City
Council to replace Keith Conley who resigned to accept a position in Yenni’s
Jefferson Parish Administration in 2016.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Qualifying for the March election is this week. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">While Brennan has been dismissed, the case against Brennan’s
former business partner will continue and is scheduled to be heard later this
month.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span>Click Jeffersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808267313664921941noreply@blogger.com