New Orleans is a democratic city in a sea of red. The AG is a rabid Trump-like lawyer who bases a lot of his decision on these beliefs. The AG wants us to look like this.
A campaign led by state Attorney General Jeff Landry to delay approval of a line of credit intended to help improve New Orleans drainage came under criticism Tuesday during a visit by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Landry has pushed the delay over the city’s refusal to enforce Louisiana’s strict abortion laws. Gov. John Bel Edwards, despite his personal opposition to abortion, called the Landry-led delay “misguided,” while Mayor LaToya Cantrell spoke of the need for the project, saying “there is nothing more important for emergency management.” Mayorkas said he did not want to comment on a matter of “local jurisdiction,” but added that “emergency management is not a partisan issue.” “It speaks to the health and well-being of the residents of this city and this state,” Mayorkas said during a visit to the Sewerage & Water Board complex on South Claiborne Avenue, where FEMA is helping finance work to stop leaks.
nola.com
At stake is a line of credit that we can use to bolster our defenses.
The dispute involves a line of credit that will help finance a new power complex for drainage and drinking water supplies amid the heightened risk of flooding in an era of intensified storms resulting from climate change. Landry, a Donald Trump-style Republican and staunch abortion opponent, is expected to run for governor next year. He has led the way in delaying approval of the line of credit at the state Bond Commission, bluntly questioning why the state should sign off on projects in New Orleans if the city’s leaders won’t commit to enforcing Louisiana’s strict abortion laws. Those laws took effect after the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The laws outlaw nearly all abortions, with no exceptions for rape or incest, and threaten lengthy jail terms for doctors who perform them. New Orleans officials, including District Attorney Jason Williams, have said they do not intend to enforce the law – though the issue may be moot since the state’s three clinics have now closed.
Politics have not been a factor in these bond decision before but a lot of change has occurred since 2016 and, like this, not for the good.
The Bond Commission’s decisions rarely become ensnared in such political maneuvering. The commission voted 7-6 last week to delay the $39 million in funding, with three Republican senators joining Democratic Sen. Jimmy Harris of New Orleans and Edwards’ representatives in opposing it. Landry’s office did not return calls for comment on Tuesday. He has previously said “those who want to fight Louisiana’s abortion laws are in for a rough fight.” Edwards, a Democrat and frequent sparring partner of Landry’s, spoke out against using the Bond Commission for political purposes during his appearance alongside Mayorkas and Cantrell. “The idea that you should ever hold up such an important project that deals with power generation, that deals with getting flood waters out of New Orleans and making sure that we’re able to have drinking water distributed through the city, that’s just misguided,” he said. Cantrell said: “There is nothing more important for emergency preparedness, and as it relates to adequate supply of power, then right here, this facility.” Edwards said he believed the Bond Commission would approve the project next month, which would not lead to a delay in construction.
Misguided? No, more boneheaded.
The visit was also aimed at hurricane preparedness and reminders that, despite the slow start to the season in comparison to recent highly active years, risks remain. NOAA has maintained its forecast for an above-normal season. Louisiana is still recovering from the past two years, particularly from 2020’s Hurricane Laura, which devastated the state’s southwest, and Ida, which tore through the southeast last year. Both were Category 4 storms and among the strongest to ever hit the state. More than 3,100 households remain in FEMA mobile homes and travel trailers due to Ida, while another 5,362 trailers distributed by the state remain in use related to that storm. Mayorkas spoke of FEMA’s efforts to quicken the pace for assistance after storms for residents in need.
Just like Climate Change, so many things that are not political, as they impact all, have become that. That is sad.
