by YatPundit | Jul 2, 2026 | Democratic Party, Louisiana, New Orleans, New Orleans, Politics, Resistance
Racists disturb me when they shift from “dogwhistle” social media posts to saying things out loud.
This isn’t a dogwhistle
There’s a lot of online nonsense currently on social media involving the Louisiana Deserves Better (LDB) organization. LDB coordinates the movement to recall Louisiana Governor Jeff Murray and Attorney General Liz Murrill. Two women stepped up and organized LDB as a means to collect signatures on legal, verifiable petitions. The movement and organization achieved unprecedented levels of support since its inception.
Online isn’t reality
Disagreement and dissension among liberals on social media exist in quantities much greater than real life, IRL, meatspace. While I hesitate to give too much oxygen to a person known online for disruption of progressive causes and organizations, there are times when comment is necessary.
Leila Habib can be best described as a person who regularly disrupts progressive discussions. To make a point, she clipped a scene from Disney’s movie The Jungle Book in a recent social media post. Again, this is social media nonsense, but it speaks volumes about the person posting. That’s because this is absolutely racist.
Why is this racist?
This social media post shows an orangutan, “King Louie.” The jazz musician Louis Prima, from New Orleans, voiced the character. While Disney always rejected the notion that their portrayal of orangutans in the film were racist caricatures, the film received criticism. The studio argued that Prima provided a recognizable voice and that was that. In spite of that defense, Jungle Book is one of five movies the studio later added a “Cultural Warning” to.
In my NOLA History Guy writing and podcasting, I deal with an extensive amount of primary source material. Discerning someone’s meaning when using these sources often presents a challenge. You can almost hear someone in a Disney writers’ room saying, “we’re not using chimps or monkeys for this, orangutans are orange!” Then they hired a Sicilian jazz musician. The relationship between Creole musicians and Sicilians in the city was fraught. This dates back to Nick LaRocca, who argued that the Sicilian musicians owed black musicians nothing with respect to the development of their jazz interpretations.
In short, a Sicilian voicing a character representing a Black person is problematic.
Ignorance?
Is it possible the OP here is ignorant of the background here? Of course. The Jungle Book came out in 1967. A lot has happened in the intervening sixty-odd years. Still, when someone wants to make a point about an organization that is led by two Black women, reaching for a clip of a dancing primate doesn’t leave me with questions. This isn’t subtle. It’s racist.
by YatPundit | Dec 9, 2023 | Government, Jefferson Parish, New Orleans, Orleans Parish
Racism plagues the New Orleans drainage system.
Originally posted to r/NewOrleans
A. Baldwin Wood (left), inventor of the wood-screw pump (photo 1)
Drainage and Racism
As we travel once again into the realm of drainage solutions butthurtia, let’s discuss why whyte people get so indignant and angry whenever it rains.
Meet A. Baldwin Wood, inventor of the wood-screw pump. His invention facilitated the drainage of the city for decades. Those pumps were built in the 1910s and 1920s. They were expected to last for fifty-ish years. So, what happened fifty years later?
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965 happened. Whyte people ran from Orleans Parish to the suburbs. The remaining ones pulled their kids out of public schools in the city, enrolling them in Catholic schools. Those schools were able to continue de jure segregation, protected by the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Since they were paying tuition, they didn’t want to pay property tax. That shifted the burden of paying for city services to businesses. Those folks had the money to donate to political campaigns, making sure their property taxes didn’t go up.
“I’m not paying more taxes to give to a black mayor who will misspend it and steal it.”
They said that when Dutch took office in 1978.
They said that when Sidney took office in 1986.
They said that when Marc took office in 1994.
They said that when Ray took office in 2002.
When Mitch took office in 2010, whyte people blamed his daddy for encouraging black people to vote in his first mayoral election in 1971.
All the while, businesses did what they always do, shift the burdens to the residents. Whyte people in the suburbs sat, waiting for the city to tank. Their dream was to have the city fall apart under majority black governance, then step in with regional control. David Vitter led this movement in 2004 with the Recovery School District. By then, Orleans Parish Public Schools were in such a state that the Legislature mustered the votes to take over. The plan was to transition the black-managed schools to charters. (Hurricane Katrina accelerated this like nobody expected.)
The pumps today
Melpomene Pumping Station, named for Baldwin Wood (photo 2)
Back to drainage. Those pumps from the 1920s were in need of replacement by the 1970s. Suburban whyte people missed the boat on where the city anchors the suburbs, not the other way around. As the revenue base in Orleans Parish eroded, the suburban parishes refused to help. They wanted black folks to give control back to them. Regional solutions weren’t going to happen–shit, Jefferson Parish wouldn’t even join the Regional Transit Authority, lest a robust bus system bring more black people near their homes. Republicans in the suburbs wouldn’t pony up to fix the city’s drainage. Federal solutions under Republican presidents weren’t likely, either.
Now, it’s 2023. Louis Armstrong was a twelve-year-old boy selling newspapers on Canal Street when Baldwin Wood’s pumps were installed. They’re still in operation (sort of). Saying you won’t give money to Cantrell because she’s corrupt (translation: she’s Black) is silly. She didn’t create the problem, and wouldn’t have the funds to fix it even if she didn’t travel to Europe and the Emirates.
Reddit downvotes won’t drain the water. Working in the suburbs to affect change in the attitudes of elected officials will.
(h/t to James Karst for the factoid about Pops)
by Edward Branley | Apr 12, 2023 | New Orleans, Politics
Understanding the origins of Alphabet Soup – Black Political Organizations.
Marc Morial, 59th Mayor of New Orleans.
Alphabet Soup – Black Political Organizations
I read with interest an article on Verite News, The rise and fall of Black political organizations in New Orleans. My first reaction to the Professor Collins’ article was, as I tweeted, disappointment. The story of Black political organizations in New Orleans deserves a full telling.
A second reading revealed it wasn’t intended as a full treatment of the subject. The editors tagged it as a “4 min read.” Perhaps what was delivered was all Verite wanted.
Things missing
What really struck me, though, were two serious omissions.
The first is in the telling of the rise of BOLD, COUP, LIFE, SOUL, and other groups. Collins offers no background here, other than increasing Black voter registration was how these groups came into being. That’s true, but only a small part of the story. The Black organizations did indeed come together. They supported Dutch Morial in his campaign to succeed Moon Landrieu as mayor. Collins doesn’t mention the biggest accommplishment of the political groups at that time.
The Deal With The Judges.
Collins offers this summary of the political landscape of the 1980s:
It should be noted that by the late 1980s, suburban white flight was in full effect in New Orleans, decreasing the white population, and increasing the Black population. The Black organizations enjoyed their most power during this period when the city voting rolls flipped from majority white to majority Black. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the groups increased their power by electing many city council members, state legislators, and judges.
This is entirely accurate, but it’s not enough. The whyte infrastructure of New Orleans eroded over time, starting with Dutch’s election in 1977*. A Black leader in City Hall marked the start of the transition, but for all intents and purposes, city government was incredibly whyte. Right out of the gate, Dutch was forced to face down the whyte police union, as NOPD went on strike. While Dutch overcame the union, the strike demonstrated just how deep the whyte roots of government extended.
Getting Stronger
That’s when the Black organizations discovered a way to strengthen their position. They struck an unofficial deal with the judges of Orleans Parish. In exchange for the Black political infrastructure allowing those judges to run unopposed, the judges agreed to not endorse whyte candidates to succeed them. Black lawyers fought it out as the incumbents retired. It took longer to shift the balance, but it worked.
Decline
There are other stories related to the Black organizations that don’t fit in a “4 min read,” and I can’t hold Professor Collins for that. Still, the piece leaves so much out.
Collins writes about the groups’ decline:
There were several structural factors that led to this decline. The first was unique to New Orleans: Hurricane Katrina in 2005. These organizations are neighborhood-based. The hurricane ripped apart many traditional neighborhood ties as former residents rebuilt in new locations.
The decline of the Black organizations pre-dates Hurricane Katrina. Department of Justice came for these organizations almost immediately after George W. Bush took office as President. James B. Letten succeeded Eddie Jordan as US Attorney. Letten and staff came for outgoing Mayor Marc Morial (LIFE). He then came for Congressman Bill Jefferson (Progressive Democrats). Years before the storm, Republicans aggressively came for the Black political infrastructure.
Impact
They incarcerated Oliver Thomas
DOJ locked up Bill Jefferson.
The feds came hard for Jacques Morial, in the hopes he would roll on his brother.
Bush’s Department of Justice seriously damaged the Black organizations in Orleans Parish.
Understanding the past is how any group moves forward. Understanding just how much Republicans want to destroy voting blocs who will never support them is important.
*While Dutch did not take office until 1-May-1978, he won the election in November of the previous year. That long delay between election and inauguration was changed for Mitch Landrieu’s second term.
by Edward Branley | Sep 21, 2022 | New Orleans, Politics
There’s a Mayoral Recall in New Orleans.
Infrogmation photo
Mayoral Recall is dumb
Residents of Orleans Parish filed a recall petition against Mayor LaToya Cantrell in August. It was a silly idea then and it continues to be a month later. Here’s the top five reasons the recall is dumb:
5. City Leadership aren’t interested
At least in public. Oh, you know full well they’re quite interested. Like most folks, they just don’t want to give the petition oxygen.
4. Horrible timing
Petitioners filed on 26-August, which means they must produce 54,000 signatures. While the grass isn’t greener for the other six months of the year, the Fall, going into Carnival, is dumb. Any and all events taking place during this period become automatically more interesting. Events that attract tourists make it more of a challenge to collect valid signatures.
3. Costs will be more than $30K
The recall effort will absolutely cost more than $30,000. That’s basically the amount at issue here. Yes, the petitioners have a lot of things to say about the mayor’s “leadership” and such, but what they’re really upset about is that her honor sat in the front of the planes she took on her European junket. Your opinion on spending city money on flight upgrades doesn’t matter at this point. Someone decided first class was the rallying cry. That means the direct outrage focuses on thirty large. If the organizers get their signatures, the city will then be forced to spend half a million on the election.
2. Most problems with the city date back decades
While there are many things a city chief executive or manager can do to screw things up in a couple of years, those are relatively minimal. Pumping stations? The electric grid? NOPD? All of these items were a mess when Cantrell took office. Shit, they were a mess for Morial. That’s why the pro-recall types needed a specific incident that they could hang directly on Cantrell. This is why almost all of the city’s elected officials are silent on the recall. They don’t want to kick the hornet’s nest. They know this is a “there but for the grace of god” situation. It might not be air travel upgrades, but there’s something worth $30K in everyone’s past.
1. It’s racist
The motivation behind the Cantrell effort is absolutely racist. How dare a Black woman fly first class? Imagine having to sit next to her?! Horrors! Racism is what brings Whyte New Orleans out to vote.
New Orleans is a minority-majority city/parish. This drives the larger whyte population in suburban parishes insane. We’re talking about whyte people who simply loathe the notion of Black people in charge. If there’s an opportunity for the whyte folks to increase their control in the city doesn’t come around every day.
So, let’s rile up the whyte people! We’ll bring along some Black folks who don’t agree with the flight reservations, either. While whyte legislators squeeze the city regularly, this would be an internal foothold. And yes, I know how this sounds. This nonsense is for real.
It’s too late to completely stop the recall process. It’s possible to remind folks of why it’s dumb until next February.
by YatPundit | May 21, 2019 | New Orleans, New Orleans, Podcast, Politics
YatPundit’s Pub 21-May-2019
YatPundit’s Pub 21-May-2019
Ranting about Short Term Rentals and the French Market this week.
Programming note: Yesterday’s Red Beans and Rice Monday moves to YatCuisine next week! We’re tweaking the present pod lineup. I created a “YatCuisine” group on Facebook. The pod fits better that way.
Short Term Rentals
With respect to the “strict” short-term rental ordinance passed yesterday by the New Orleans City Council:
1. This was not a final-passage. The ordinance will come back before the Council in a couple of months.
2. in the interim, the forces supporting unlicensed hotels in the city will open their wallets and dilute the ordinance.
3. It’s likely that, by the time of final passage, the ordinance will no longer contain the “domicile” requirement, where you can only short-term-rent the house you claim a homestead exemption on (i.e., you can only AirBnB the house you live in).
How the City Council screws New Orleans
4. By the time the ordinance comes back for final passage, the Councilmembers figure you think they did the right thing back in May. The unlicensed hotels continue on as if the vote yesterday never happened.
5. Advocates for limiting short-term rentals to the renter’s domicile, banning unlicensed hotels must remain vigilant. Demand any changes and amendments proposed to yesterday’s ordinance in advance. Watch the Council’s calendar. Don’t be sandbagged on the day of final passage.
6. Do not trust the Councilmembers who you believe are on “your side” – they know how this works, voted how you wanted them to yesterday, with confidence you won’t be looking when they vote the other way in a couple of months.
7. Follow the money.
Think I’m overreacting? This is why you fail at fixing things in New Orleans. Enjoy your protests, podcasts, and blogs.
French Market
New Orleans French Market
Mayor Cantrell considered some research on Seattle’s Pike Place Market. Her staff looked into re-purposing public facilities in other cities. Da Paper published a good article on the status of the city’s research. Unfortunately, the headline was click-baity.
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by YatPundit | Apr 16, 2019 | New Orleans
YatPundit’s Pub 16-April-2019
YatPundit’s Pub 16-April-2019
Two brews on tap today, both local, but hopefully not too bitter. Mr. Tim Morris of T-P/NOLA.com wrote an interesting piece discussing party buses and school zones, raising concerns about how Mayor Cantrell is treating some of her constituents.
Our first tap in the pub talks about the party buses. So, hese are those converted school buses you see downtown. So, they have loud sound systems. They flash lots of disco-style lighting inside. Groups charter the party buses. Party-goers load them up with a few ice chests of beer and wine (and possibly some of Lady Goddess’ Own Herb).
Now, the problem with these buses is compliance. They’re not legal on many counts. Buses lack CPNC certificates. Electric lights don’t meet code. Cantrell ordered them to get compliant. They didn’t. She extended the time period.
I also mention a bit about the “curmudgeon class” on Da Twittah. When I do, let’s be clear, I’m not talking about Tim Morris and his colleagues at Da Paper!
School Zones
St. Anthony of Padua on Canal Street, sight of a traffic-cam school zone
So, contrast that with the treatment some drivers in the city received in the last two weeks. The mayor’s office made a significant change in school zone enforcement.
Traditionally, we enforce school zone speed limits with a traffic cop out with a radar gun. You go over the speed limit, you’re breaking the law and could get a ticket. The cop would usually spot you five miles. So, if you’re going, say 23 in a 20, they’d let you slide.
Now that the traffic cameras and street-installed rollovers detect your speed and document who you are, things are quite precise and less human.
It’s still possible to toss out the violations that are less than 5 miles over the speed limit. Cantrell’s decided go zero-tolerance. Morris argues in his column that this is unfair. Like the business owners, drivers deserved fair warning.
I’m at the point with this where safety trumps whinging drivers. I discuss.
Monday’s Pod
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