T-P Reports On Williams Blvd. Project – As Usual, Yenni Tries To Claim Credit For Everything

“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”

-          Nazi Propagandist Joseph Goebbels

I know that he won the election but really, how long are we going to have to put up with Kenner Mayor Mike Yenni patting himself on the back for everything that is happening in Kenner and lying to make himself look important?

Cutting 135 positions – FALSE (34 full-time equivalent positions have been eliminated in Yenni’s first 4 years).

Reducing Kenner’s budget by $8.5 Million – FALSE (Kenner’s budget has grown under Yenni).

All of the road work done on the “Paths To Progress” Program – FALSE (the money came from the Regional Planning Commission).

And now, improving pedestrian traffic on Williams Blvd. and attempting to claim that it’s his idea and part of Yenni’s Grand 2030 Plan – FALSE, FALSE, FALSE.

In an article on Nola.com that reads like the City of Kenner’s Press Release (written by ex-newspaper reporter and new Public Information Officer Bob Ross), the implication is that, making Williams Blvd. more “pedestrian-friendly” (a concept that I’m not sure can be done regardless of how much money is thrown at the problem), is Yenni’s brainchild and integral to Yenni’s 2030 Plan to “revitalize” Kenner.

Corridor redevelopment is one aspect of "Kenner 2030," which is Yenni's $37 million capital improvement plan. 

The original version of the article, which was later modified, also alluded to Yenni’s inauguration speech.

Here’s a link to the City of Kenner’s Press Release.I for one, thank God that Kenner has a new Public Information Officer. How did we ever get along without one?

The facts are that the bulk of the money for this project is coming from the State and Federal Governments – not the $42 Million that Yenni borrowed without voter approval. Yenni “budgeted” over $12 Million of the original amount for Williams Blvd. improvements BEFORE seeking additional State and Federal monies. Williams Blvd., after all, is a state highway.

In addition to the bulk of the money coming from the State and Federal Governments, and not from Yenni's borrowed stash, the first phase of the project was contracted by the State DOTD, and not Kenner.

So, since the money is coming from the State and Federal Governments, where is that $12 Million that was budgeted going Mayor Yenni? Was that all just a ruse played on unsuspecting Kenner residents to garner support for your flawed 2030 Plan?

Second, the original impetus for improving Williams Blvd. came about through then District 2 Councilman Joe Stagni after he took office in 2006 (4 years BEFORE Yenni took office as Mayor).

Stagni actually went to then-Parish President and currently inmate #2234-034 Aaron Broussard and then-JP Council President Tom Capella, to seek funding for the 2008 study of Williams Blvd.

You’ll remember that Stagni, along with former District 5 Councilman Kent Denapolis, were excluded from Kenner’s Inauguration Ceremony where Yenni publicly lauded other outgoing elected officials while not mentioning Denapolis’ 10 years of official service to the City and Stagni’s 8 years.

Of course, at his inauguration Yenni did find the time to parade former Assessor-Turned-Blogger Lawrence Chehardy, Registrar of Voters Dennis DeMarco, and former Orleans Parish Councilwoman Jackie Clarkson across the stage and dote on them like a fawning schoolgirl. Clarkson, it should be noted, while a Democrat, shared something with Yenni that Stagni and Denapolis didn’t – the desire to continue burdening the people with the extension of the Crescent City Connection toll for another 20 years. 

Yenni obviously never learned that Leadership 101 demands that you share credit, especially with your enemies.

“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer,” Don Corleone said in The Godfather. Of course, Mario Puzo stole that line from Machiavelli who stole it from Sun Tzu’s ‘The Art of War’, which dates back to around 500 BC.

Yenni, who fancies himself a history buff, obviously never learned some fundamental lessons of Leadership or Statesmanship.

And then there’s the question of redundant studies and the need to make Williams Blvd. pedestrian-friendly at all.

Even T-P Columnist Jim Varney wrote about the multiple studies undertaken on Williams Blvd. dating back to 2008, which predated Yenni as Mayor.

One of the latest focal points in the ongoing feud is $420,000 going to "a study on ways to make a busy stretch of Williams Boulevard safer for pedestrians and traffic." At first blush, that seems like a pricey study, the cost of which will be eaten by state taxpayers (Williams Boulevard is a state road).

For one thing, the study will cover only 2.5 miles and even that distance is exaggerated because Williams Boulevard doesn't have much of a problem heading toward the river from Veterans Boulevard and really no problem at all once traffic thins out and a generous grassy median emerges at West Metairie Avenue.

For another thing, some of the area under review - running from Airline Drive to 33rd Street - has already been studied. That work, which Kenner's transportation consultant Sharon Leader said was completed in 2008, cost $80,000.

The money for that 2008 study came from the efforts of then-Councilman Stagni - Mike Yenni had NOTHING to do with it.

Varney went on to question the validity of spending ANY money to “study” pedestrian improvements on Williams Blvd.

Then, too, there is the question of just how many people are foolhardy or unlucky enough to have to cross Williams Boulevard on foot, especially in that congested stretch from Veterans Boulevard to 33rd Street.

At lunch time one day this week, a grand total of five pedestrians were spotted in that corridor.

Now, to be fair, The Advocate, Kenner’s “Official Journal”,did nothing to correct or elaborate on the situation, and they also didn’t note Stagni’s involvement in the process.

I guess Yenni has learned another lesson from Joseph Goebbels:

“Think of the press as a great keyboard on which the government can play.”

Glad that I’m just a lowly Blogger.

You know what they say Mayor Yenni: You’re going to break your arm if you keep patting yourself on the back.

And, unlike your bout of stress-induced binge eating, you can’t blame that one on me.

But, I'm sure you'll try.

Metairie Gets A Fresh Market And A Cheesecake Factory – What Does Kenner Get? A Hookah Bar

As someone who has started and operated several businesses, some successful – some not so successful, I must confess that I love the American entrepreneurial spirit.

I tell everyone who will listen that we are lucky enough to live in the greatest country in the world because America truly is “The Land of Opportunity”. Nowhere else can you wake up in the morning, regardless of your socioeconomic, family or educational background and start a business.

Now, while America is “The Land of Opportunity”, not all opportunities are equal.

A few months back, the host of Spike TV’s ’Bar Rescue’, JonTaffer, a bar consultant, went to Omaha, Nebraska, to do a “Bar Rescue” on The Oasis Hookah Bar.   

Omaha, with its population of over 400,000 seemed like a place where Hookah would work.  The demographics of Omaha also showed promise, with a younger, more affluent White population and, as the home of 3 Universities, Omaha also was home to trendsetters.

Unfortunately, according to Taffer, Hookah would never succeed in Omaha and he removed the water pipes and replaced The Oasis Hookah Bar with a trendier, Middle Eastern-themed bar called “Taza”.

Shortly after Taffer left, proving that some people just can’t be helped, the owner of Taza flipped it back to a Hookah Bar.

To be honest, I’ve never smoked Hookah and don’t believe that I ever will. While the idea of smoking is not appealing to me, the thought of inhaling something from a communal pipe disgusts me. I’m the kind of person who checks the fountain spigots for mold at a Convenience Store before I pour myself a 52-oz Diet Mt. Dew (thankfully, Mayor Yenni hasn’t followed NY Mayor Bloomberg’s lead and tried to ban those yet).

While Metairie residents rejoice and imbibe at the new Cheescake Factory and anxiously await the arrival of Fresh Market, there’s word that Kenner – that’s right, Kenner – is also getting a new business - its very own Hookah Bar. Tucked away in the old TeCoRo’s/Sakora space on Williams will soon be Hookah.

I don't think that's exactly the kind of Economic Development that Kenner needs - or wants. But, what do I know? I wasn't on Mayor Yenni's handpicked Economic Development Committee. 

During the time that I’ve lived in Kenner, that space has been home to several restaurants, the longest tenured being TeCoRo’s, named after three sisters who operated the Italian Restaurant.

There are places in New Orleans that still supply Hookah but the original, The Hookah, closed its doors last year after a 9 year run.

Despite uneven results in more Metropolitan (and infinitely ‘hipper’) New Orleans, someone believes that Hookah can be successful in Kenner.

The demographics point otherwise.

Hookah is largely consumed by teens and college students – Kenner is not a hotbed of either. Hookah bars are frequented by young, affluent, hipster Whites. Again, Kenner is not the hippest, trendsetting city in New Orleans.

There is a growing Middle Eastern population in Kenner but I’m sure that they are already Hookah-ing at home if they are so inclined. So, while the population is growing, the market isn’t.

As someone who isn’t young, affluent or hip (although I am White), I’m disappointed that this prime real estate on Williams Blvd. will be home to a Hookah Bar, a place where you will never see me. Of course, it could have been the new home of a Cigar Bar, where you would also never see me.

Given that several restaurants have utilized that space, and all died unseemly deaths, I hope this new venture does well. Kenner needs thriving businesses. I’m just not sure that Hookah is it.

Hopefully, we won’t be seeing Jon Taffer and his Bar Rescue crew in Kenner anytime soon. I’m sure he’s not a big fan of Hookah.

The jury is out on whether Kenner agrees.

So, Who Paid $450k In CASH For Mike Yenni’s New House? (Hint: It Probably Wasn’t Mike Yenni)

During the recent Mayoral campaign, Kenner Mayor Mike Yenni repeatedly made attempts to contrast himself to me by stating that he was a “stakeholder” in Kenner and I was merely a “renter”.

While it’s true that I rent my house, and have since I moved to Kenner in 2001, I think living in Kenner for 13 years in the same location kinda shows that I’m a “stakeholder” too, unlike some well-known Kenner politicos who reside in a Henry Shane-owned apartment.

In debates, I tried to not make things personal with Yenni and didn’t want to point out that the house that he lived in was right next door to his mom’s house and given to him by his mother. I mean, why else would you live next door to your mom, right?

So, no, my mom didn’t give me a house in Chateau. In fact, my mom doesn’t live in Kenner – none of my relatives do. In 2001, I chose to live in Kenner, in my humble, rented Highway Park home and I still reside there. I guess that makes me a BAAAAD man.

Now, Mayor Yenni is on the move again. Again in Chateau but this time into an even bigger, more expensive house worth almost double the home that he has now.

According to public records, Yenni and his wife paid $450,000 CASH for another home in Chateau.

How could the Mayor pay $450k in cash for a new home? He couldn’t.

According to the Louisiana State Ethics Board’s Financial Disclosure forms, Yenni and his wife have no stock investments over $5,000; each owns 1 rental property (Yenni still has a mortgage on his rental in Mississippi – in his 2010 financial disclosure, he listed rental income of “less than $5,000”, recent disclosures have bumped that to the next tier, “$5,000-24,999”.);they have not disposed of the home that Yenni’s mom gave him, and they list no business assets.

Sure, Mayor Yenni makes good money from the City, $72,500 a year (although he won’t be getting the $35-40k raise that District 3 Councilman Keith Reynaud wanted him to get. BTW, Reynaud’s not getting a raise either.) and a little more for his stint as a “Public Affairs Officer” in the Naval Reserve. Yenni’s wife also works at the Country Club owned by her grandfather.

They could have saved $450,000 but, with a new baby and Yenni’s poor history with money, that is unlikely. I mean, if you’re spending over $100,000 from your campaign account (aka “Other People’s Money”) to enhance your lifestyle and pay for everything from Mardi Gras beads and dues, fancy restaurant meals ($1,461 in one night at Antoine’s. Really?), and gifts ($1,468 in Jewelry right before Valentine’s Day), chances are you’re a little cash poor.

I don’t know too many people, except for Yenni’s friend Ben Zahn, with the gall to charge $2.99 at Starbucks to his campaign account. But, that’s what our favorite Mayor did.  

Of course, Yenni also funneled over $10,000 from his campaign account back to the Chateau Golf and Country Club. It’s always good to give back to the “family” business.

So, where did the $450k come from?

Since it’s doubtful that Yenni’s mom, a retired schoolteacher, could come up with $450k in cash, could the money have come from another family member, perhaps a doting Grandfather-In-Law? It’s possible. If it did, that would be a very generous gift – but it would be a gift nonetheless, and it would require that taxes be paid on it as income.

But, if it was a gift, be upfront about it. Don’t act like you can afford an expensive home in Chateau on your Mayoral pay and what your Grandfather-In-Law pays your wife. 

Of course, Mayor Yenni could end the rumors by releasing his tax returns. Sorry, I didn't mean for you to laugh out loud at that one.

If it was a very generous gift from a family member, then the Yenni's should do the right thing and pay taxes on it. Yenni got away with that the first time. He won’t get away with it this time.

People are watching now Mikey.

When does the next campaign finance report come out?

Reversing Course (Again) Yenni Formally Fills An Unfilled Position

After the people of Kenner resoundingly defeated his plan to double property taxes, Kenner Mayor Mike Yenni convened a hand-picked “Streamlining Budget Committee” headed by former Assessor-turned-Blogger Lawrence Chehardy.

The feeling in Kenner was that Chehardy, one of Yenni’s most ardent cheerleaders, would deflect heat from Yenni in cutting Kenner’s bloated budget. After all, Yenni could simply claim that his “independent” committee recommended these cuts and he ‘reluctantly’ went along with them.

Anyone with any real knowledge of Yenni knew that, just as with his Economic Development Committee and the 2030 Plan, the Streamlining Budget Committee was pre-fed the cuts. In fact, at the Press Conference announcing the Streamlining Committee’s report, several members of the committee hadn’t even been consulted about the cuts or the final report. An hour before the Press Conference, one member told me, “We’ll both know what’s in the report when it’s released.”

So much for ‘independence’.

During the lead up to the Tax vote, many Kenner citizens, myself included, pointed out specific items that Yenni could and should cut from Kenner City Government prior to asking the voters to approve his plan to double property taxes and growing government.

One of those cuts involved eliminating the position of Public Information Officer (PIO). The PIO’s primary role was to write press releases for the city and many believed that this was a part-time position at best, while others believed the position could be absorbed by existing staff.

The Streamlining Budget Committee recommended that the PIO position be eliminated.

Rather than lose a political appointee, Yenni created the position of Assistant Director of the Clerk of Court. Yenni attempted to rationalize the position by saying that there was so much work in the Clerk of Court office that there was a need for a highly experienced manager to come in and take charge and assist the Clerk of Court.

In typical Yenni fashion, instead of finding a “highly experienced manager”, he simply moved the old PIO over and he kept writing press releases while “assisting” the Clerk of Court.

After the former PIO-turned Assistant Director of the Clerk of Court retired, Yenni hired a former New Orleans Times-Picayune reporter. Bob Ross, to fill that position. Again, someone with no experience. However, like his predecessor, he was skilled at writing press releases.

During his first Administration and continuing on through the re-election campaign and his Inauguration, Yenni continued to tout the ‘fact’ that he cut 135 positions from Kenner City Government however he never mentioned his musical chairs with his political appointees.

The truth is Yenni NEVER cut 135 full-time positions. Many of the slots that he claims credit for cutting were left unfilled during the Muniz Administration, which in the aftermath of Katrina, added needed employees for the maintenance and cleanup of Kenner.

Still more cuts that Yenni claims credit for were part-time Rivertown tour guides.

In 2010, when Yenni took office, the City of Kenner had 655 full-time equivalent employees. In the 2013-2014 budget, the City lists 621 full-time equivalent employees.

For a chart, please click here and scroll down to Page 139.

Were there cuts? Sure, but 34 doesn’t equal 135.

What is always swept under the rug are the politically appointed positions that Yenni fills or creates to add to Kenner’s top-heavy administration.

In 2010, Yenni replaced the Internal Auditor with someone who had no prior governmental oversight experience. Subsequently, she has been promoted to Deputy CAO and the position of Internal Auditor has remained unfilled for nearly 2 years.

Despite Jefferson Parish adding an Inspector General and calls by many in Kenner to use the IG to provide oversight in Kenner particularly in light of the $42 Million bond debt incurred by the 2030 Plan, Yenni has resisted utilizing any independent oversight.

Instead, buried within the new budget is the filling of the Internal Auditor position. This position will report to the Mayor, thus it will have ZERO independence.And, knowing Yenni, the person filling the position will have ZERO experience.

Back to the present, and again swept under the rug with no mention in either The Times-Picayune or The Advocate (the City’s new “official journal”), is the report that the current Assistant Director of the Clerk of Court (and chief Press Release Writer) Bob Ross is filling the unfilled, and thought to be eliminated, position of Public Information Officer, reversing what the Streamlining Budget Committee recommended and Yenni agreed to a few short years ago.

At least Mr. Ross will be back in his element full-time. But does he, or anyone for that matter in a city as small as Kenner, deserve to make writing press releases a full-time job?

And, what does he do besides write press releases?

We already know that, unless he knows the questions in advance or is feeding a story to the media, that Yenni doesn’t speak to reporters preferring instead to issue written statements from his political consultant Greg Buisson.

Of course, if I had as much to hide personally and professionally as Yenni does, I might not want to speak to reporters either.

But, why this reversal? Why does this position suddenly need to be filled especially when Ross, and his predecessor, were already doing the work? And why was there no mention of this in the media?

I’d ask the Mayor but he doesn’t like answering my questions.

“Politically Aged” Yenni Shows He’s Still Immature, Classless and Petty

Last year, after Judge Mentz dismissed our lawsuit against the City regarding Mayor Yenni’s 2030 Plan, Nola.com posted a piece about Yenn still stressing about a group of citizen activists despite winning that battle.

Rather than relishing his victory and moving on, Yenni showed his true petty nature and immaturity by continuing to blast the citizens that he was elected to represent.

“These people are crazy, and they will stop at nothing,” the mayor said.

It was reminiscent of Yenni’s op-ed piece in the Kenner Star criticizing citizens who speak at City Council meetings.

Imagine how much better Kenner and Yenni’s life would be if only the citizens of Kenner would not offer a dissenting opinion.

C’mon everybody! Let’s all rally around the one true omnipotent being in Kenner – Mike Yenni.

In the last election, Yenni’s allies swept all of the City Council seats except for the independent voters in District 1 who re-elected Councilman Greg Carroll.

Despite Yenni’s inauguration speech claiming that “no neighborhood will be left behind”, I’m sure that there will be hell to pay in District 1 as Yenni seeks retribution against those foolish citizens who voted against him and re-elected Carroll.

After the 2030 Plan was released, I joked with Councilman Carroll that, since District 1 was pretty much shut out of the $27 Million (now $37 Million) spending spree, that I would help him organize a bake sale to buy a sign to put on Airline Highway saying “Rivertown – This Way”.

My hope for Councilman Carroll and the residents of District 1 is that my premonition is incorrect and that Yenni has actually grown up.

Sadly, his actions the past few weeks don’t show me the personal growth that one would hope for in an (allegedly) Adult.

Before the last City Council meeting, Yenni issued proclamations to the outgoing elected officials. He honored term-limited Police Chief Steve Caraway, and term-limited councilmembers Jeannie Black and Michelle Branigan. When it came time to honor two other term-limited councilmembers, District 2 Councilman Joe Stagni and District 5 Councilman Kent Denapolis, Yenni introduced Black and Branigan to introduce Denapolis and Stagni.

After 8 years for Stagni and 10 years for Denapolis of service on the City Council representing their Districts and the City, Mike Yenni couldn’t bring himself to say a few nice words about either councilman.

At a Monday night pre-inauguration dinner attended by the incoming and outgoing Councilmembers, City Contractors and Yenni’s political contributors, Denapolis and Stagni were MIA. It seems that there were left off the invitation list.

At Tuesday’s inauguration, Yenni introduced videos highlighting Black, Branigan and Caraway’s work. Again, Denapolis and Stagni were not invited, not on stage, and not thanked for their service. In fact, Denapolis and Stagni weren’t even mentioned.

One slight, ok, it happens.

Three slights – well, that’s no accident.

Councilmen Denapolis and Stagni deserved better and far more respect from Yenni.They've earned it.

It should be noted that Denapolis and Stagni didn’t always see eye-to-eye with Yenni and vigorously opposed Yenni’s attempt to double property taxes. They also sided against the Mayor on other issues but does disagreeing with someone warrant the repeated slaps in the face?

Isn’t this America where dissent is welcomed?

In his speech, Yenni claimed that being Mayor for the past 4 years had “politically aged” him.

"I am politically aged, which is to say I am calm but driven, focused but open minded."

But still immature, petty and classless.

Chosen to introduce Yenni again at this inauguration, former Assessor-turned-Blogger, Lawrence Chehardy showed how clueless and out of touch he is.

While repeating the same tired, inaccurate rhetoric of how Yenni had cut $8.5 Million from the City budget (while managing to increase the budget during his term – must be Common Core math) and eliminated 135 positions (of course, many of which were unfilled positions from the Muniz Administration and part-time positions in Rivertown – but never mind the facts, if you say something loud enough and often enough it becomes the truch), Chehardy took us on a walk down memory lane as he discussed his advice to Yenni before the Mayor took office in 2010.

Chehardy had advised Yenni before the mayor's first term to be "decisive but not divisive," stay true to himself, be resourceful and to listen to critics. Yenni has done all these things, Chehardy said.

Former Assessor-turned-Blogger Chehardy, this Citizen-turned-Blogger respectfully disagrees.

Well, maybe not so “respectfully”.