Statement

Somehow I don’t remember Governor Landry clearing out homeless encampments for the Essence Festival like he did for Taylor Swift. Maybe it’s just me. Maybe I just missed it. But I also don’t remember all the vows to help the city put its best foot forward and do what we can to make our visitors feel safe and welcomed. Maybe I just so happened to miss that too.

What took place

Operation Sanitation took place Wednesday morning. As the Swifties flew in, governor Landry ordered Troop NOLA to sweep the unhoused out. At the governor’s command, the Troop moved in and busted-up a homeless community living under the highway. They then took those people and crammed them in with another community of the unhoused living under the I10 by Home Depot. .Just like that, officials stacked poor people on top of one another, keeping them out of the Swifties’ sight and mind.

A Wish

Hopefully somebody, somewhere, went up to the governor, patted him on the back and said, Congratulations, sir, you’ve just created the homeless equivalent of a housing project.

A Comparison

When Governor Landry looks in the mirror does he see Donald Trump? Remember when Trump turned the Capitol Police on those George Floyd protesters so he could pose for a photo-op across the street? Yeah, I know, how could you ever forget that. Landry unleashing Troop NOLA on that homeless community is the equivalent. What we have is examples of two leaders using police force to uproot citizens. The only difference was that there was a giant Eras bracelet on the other side of Poydras instead of a church and bible.

Fact

Taylor Swift announced her plans over a year ago. Governor Landry announced his two days before she landed.

Another fact

Apparently there’s legal clarification on what property the city owns and what property belongs to the state. But there isn’t the same type of legal clarification for Troop NOLA’s jurisdiction.

And one more thing

The Essence Fest has an estimated $300 million impact on the city. Taylor Swift’s projected impact is $200 million. Both take place over a weekend. One gets the governor’s red carpet. The other gets businesses closing for “maintenance.” There’s a difference between the fan bases. And it goes deeper than sequin miniskirts and cowboy boots.

A Question

Where’s Mayor Cantrell during all this? Quick, somebody flash the Vappie signal in the sky. Oh, there she is. No, she’s not at the Pontalba. She’s at City Hall, trying to figure out why her handpicked police chief, Anne Kirkpatrick, threw her under the bus.

The Situation

The NOPD scheduled a number of officers for promotions. Two of them were being promoted to Majors. Supposedly, promotions to Major hadn’t taken place in 34 years. But that was about to change. Until it didn’t. We learned later that the two officers were involved in the Jeffery Vappie investigation.

What probably took place, and what definitely took place

The mayor instructed Kirkpatrick not to promote the two officers involved in the Vappie investigation. Kirkpatrick then went to the media and said the mayor told her not to promote the two officers who were involved in the Vappie investigation.

What Cantrell must’ve thought

Jeeeesus Christ, at least those people she rear ended walking in the Quarter had a couple of drinks in them first.

A Comparison part 2

When Mayor Cantrell looks in the mirror does she see Donald Trump? Remember how Trump has been going around vowing to clap-back at his enemies once he’s elected? Yeah, I know, how could you ever forget that. Well, Cantrell blocking those officers’ promotions is the equivalent. What we have is two leaders weaponizing their offices to punish citizens.

On top of the promotion blocking, Cantrell has already used her office to dig up dirt on another citizen. But so far she’s stopped short of threatening people with jail time or the death penalty like Trump.

Anyway

Back at the housing project for the homeless: What would’ve happened if after being moved, all those homeless people turned around and paraded right up Loyola Ave? Instead of tugging floats, they tugged tents and mattresses to the neutral ground across from the Hyatt instead? Then what? That’s city property, right?

What if they called the NOPD on Troop NOLA when the Troop showed up? Maybe then we would’ve found out whose city this really is. Is it Governor Landry’s or Mayor Cantrell’s? I wonder if Harrah’s has odds on that.

P.S

Eventually the city got a restraining order issued so no more homeless people could be uprooted. Alright, check Teedy out.

Kirkpatrick released a video insinuating that blocking the promotions was her idea. But ain’t nobody buying that. It’s too late for that lady. And that is that.