The only problem is, you can’t count on a disaster occurring every five years or so to cover up mistakes made in governing.

New Orleans proceeds with its infrastructure rebuild after the hurricane disasters of 2005. Given $2.4 billion to accomplish this, about a sixth of that should commence this year, albeit on a pace that would see the last of it completed just before two decades have passed since Hurricane Katrina struck.

With the election of LaToya Cantrell as the new Mayor of New Orleans, Mitch Landrieu is officially a lame duck. His term will extend for a few more months, but the focus and attention of voters will now turn to the Mayor-Elect.

Landrieu could have used this period to exhaustively prepare for a seamless transition, but, instead, he decided to travel to Paris, France with a massive entourage, including three other lame duck politicians. Joining the Mayor in Paris are New Orleans City Council members James Gray and Nadine Ramsey, who lost bids for re-election and Susan Gray who is term-limited.

Let’s face it. The optics don’t look good.

On Monday, it was announced that subpoenas were issued for records associated with incoming New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s ongoing city credit card controversy that could turn into a criminal matter. Meanwhile, outgoing Mayor Mitch Landrieu, with almost a half-year left to serve in his last year of eight years in that position, is visiting Paris France paid for by the city.  

Today on the Ringside Politics radio show (M-F, 7-11 am, WGSO 990-AM & www.Wgso.com) we conducted our annual listener poll, asking the audience who should be our “Turkey of the Year.”

The competition is always spirited for there are so many potential turkeys to consider in 2017. Previous winners have included former President Barack Obama, documentary filmmaker Michael Moore, former House Speakers Nancy Pelosi and John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, former Florida Governor Jeb! Bush, Ohio Governor John Kasich, U.S. Senator Lindsay Graham of South Carolina, former Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, former New Orleans Mayor and current federal inmate Ray Nagin and former U.S. Congressman and recently released federal inmate William “Dollar Bill” Jefferson.

Today is one of those moments in which you feel a strong sense of accomplishment, even when simply observing.

New Orleans, has made strong advances in the area of technology over the years. This is largely due to numerous companies taking advantage of the Digital Media Tax Credits to help tech-based enterprises grow their respective businesses. At the beginning of this decade, GE Capitol opened up a large headquarters in the city which put a large skin on the wall to promote. Today, the city and the State of Louisiana announced they landed a really big one, DXC Technology, a multi-billion international enterprise that is one of the largest companies in the world. 

You are invited to join us for NOLA 300, an official event of the New Orleans Tricentennial!

As we approach New Orleans’ 300th anniversary in 2018, NOLA 300 will bring together diverse voices to recount the past, discuss the present and envision the future of New Orleans. Speakers include:

How important are endorsements by elected officials in the upcoming New Orleans Mayor’s race runoff?

Maybe not much, but it could all depend.

The major story line coming out of the New Orleans Mayor’s race this weekend, after Saturday’s election day is that after almost 300 years of existence, New Orleans will be run for the very first time in history, starting next year, by a woman, either Desiree Charbonnet or LaToya Cantrell.  Not only are they females, but they also are African American. Thus, not only will the first female Mayor run City Hall, but, she is black.

Today, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu rebuked the Donald Trump administraton over the issue of whether the city is in full compliance with the federal immigration law. Landrieu stated that his claim of full compliance has been confirmed by the Trump administration and that New Orleans would not follow the mandates of the administration regarding sanctuary cities.

So the  New Orleans Mayor’s Race endorsement debate is over, at least, that controversy which has occupied the minds of many speculating who two-term Mayor Mitch Landrieu might support to replace him.

Yesterday Landrieu formally decided not to support any candidate for Mayor of New Orleans, as he released his endorsements, which did not include the position of Mayor.