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YatPundit’s Pub 21-May-2019

YatPundit’s Pub 21-May-2019

by | May 21, 2019 | New Orleans, New Orleans, Podcast, Politics

YatPundit’s Pub 21-May-2019

yatpudit's pub

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

yatpundit's pub 21-may-2019

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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YatPundit’s Pub 23-April-2019 JazzFest and Public Schools

YatPundit’s Pub 23-April-2019 JazzFest and Public Schools

by | Apr 23, 2019 | Jefferson Parish, Metairie, Music, Politics

JazzFest and Public Schools in Jefferson Parish are on tap at YatPundit’s Pub 23-April-2019

yatpudit's pub

YatPundit’s Pub 23-April-2019

Strong brews in the pub this week! JazzFest approaches, so let’s talk about its past and future. Early voting is open for local elections to be held on 4-May. One of the items for consideration is a property tax renewal in Jefferson Parish that’s for public schools. We’ll talk about the complicated history and relationship between public and private schools in #themetrys.

Da Fest

YatPundit's Pub 23-April-2019

Alabama Shakes performing at NOJHF in 2017 (courtesy Nicholas Henderson)

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is almost fifty years old. Are the Foundation and the producers catering to the wrong audience. After cancellations by septuagenarians Mick Jagger and Stevie Nicks, it looked for a while like a satire site said, “Karaoke Craig from Gennaro’s” would headline the 2-May fest date. Rather than tapping an act that appeals to a younger crowd, such as Alabama Shakes (in the photo), Da Fest replaced Fleetwood Mack with Widespread Panic.

It’s not all on the Fest, though. Hotels and restaurants rely heavily now on Da Fest for booked rooms and tables. Is the NOJHF too big t fail?

Jefferson Parish Public Schools

There’s a property tax renewal on the ballot in Jefferson Parish on May 4th. It’s dedicated to schools. Residents of Jefferson Parish have an unusual relationship with their public school system. Initially, the schools were segregated, de facto. The small African-American population lived in specific neighborhoods. Local “districting” kept them out of the majority-white schools. Then federal lawsuits and consent decrees brought court-ordered busing to Jefferson Parish. Racial balance was the goal. By then, however, the Catholic schools in the parish created almost a de jure segregation system. Between requirements related to religion and tuition/fees, white folks kept their schools white. Forty years later, this complicates generating revenue for public schools.

Offbeat’s JazzFest Bible 2019

Last Tuesday’s Pod

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YatPundit’s Pub 16-April-2019 Party Buses and School Zones

by | Apr 16, 2019 | New Orleans

YatPundit’s Pub 16-April-2019

brown butter mid-city

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

YatPundit's Pub 16-April-2019

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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Subtle anti-semitism of “Nice People” incites violence in America

Subtle anti-semitism of “Nice People” incites violence in America

by | Oct 30, 2018 | Jefferson Parish, Religion

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Subtle antisemitism makes me sad.

subtle antisemitism

Protest against circumcision in Metairie, LA, 29-Oct-2018

Subtle antisemitism is problematic

There are a number of issues in our body politic that have origins in discrimination against Jews. While there are many reasons for ignorance on these, I’m still concerned. Therefore, it’s important to take a moment and talk about things that have their roots in hatred of Jews.

Circumcision

There was a protest against circumcision in my neighborhood (#themetrys) yesterday. I know a number of people who do not approve of circumcision. While their numbers are few, they make a solid case for not doing this to their infant sons. I respect that.

What I don’t respect is a group of men protesting this issue in public within days of a massacre of Jews. The Jewish people are the one single group in the world immediately connected to circumcision. Did those men standing on Clearview and Veterans in Metairie yesterday consider this when protesting this procedure? It’s unclear. It’s unclear because they did it in the wake of the massacre of Jews in Pittsburgh over the weekend.

Failure to recognize context

I saw the photos of this protest tweeted by a friend around mid-afternoon yesterday. My first reaction was, this is way too tone deaf. No legitimate group looking to promote an idea or issue could possibly be this unaware of the world around them. So, my process took the next step. Clearly these people were organized. They had to know what happened Saturday. They had to know those people in Pittsburgh were gunned down at a bris, of all events. Therefore, there was a good chance the protesters were antisemitic.

Reactions from social media

I said as much on Zuckerbook. Read the responses. A number of people know the group and its agenda. They claimed the protesters are not antisemitic. Commenters presented logical reasons for their beliefs.

My concern continued. These people have a website. They’re literally “on tour” with these protests. Zuckerfriends reported seeing them in Shreveport, Galveston, and Baton Rouge, before their appearance in Metairie. That level of commitment requires logistics. It requires communication.

So, now I’m even more skeptical. They’re not operating in a vacuum. A group concerned about the bigger issues would stand down, out of respect for others who disagree with them. This group didn’t. Are they ignorant, or do they have an an additional agenda?

Antisemitism has long roots

subtle antisemitism

Pogroms in Russia. Turned away from the United States. Hitler and Himmler. These are but examples of discrimination and hate focused on Jews.

Hitler served in the German Imperial Army in World War I. The Treaty of Versailles ended that war. That accord dealt harsh terms and conditions to Germany. Those terms included demands for reparations that were unreasonable. Like many at the time, Hitler was hurt and angry and defeated. He channeled that anger not towards the British or the French, but towards German Jews.

Hitler believed the Jews came out of World War I way too nicely, while Christian Germans suffered. This is a common theme going back millennia.  Shakespeare created “Shylock, a Jew”, as his bad guy for The Merchant of Venice. That didn’t happen in a vacuum.

Pogroms in Russia

The Tsars treated their serfs badly for centuries. To make Christian serfs feel better about their lot in life, the Tsars and the Church focused the anger of the serfs on the Jews. Blood libel and profiting from Christians were two examples of “crimes” of the Jews. The Tsars allowed Christians to carry out “pogroms” against Jews. Thousands of Jews were displaced, turned out of Russian cities. Jews were attacked, injured, and killed.

Have you ever watched Fiddler on the Roof? Go back, now that you know what a pogrom is.

“Mutilation” of Christian boys

One of the common tropes of the 20th and 21st centuries with respect to Jews relates to circumcision. Groups spreading hatred of Jews claim there is a conspiracy involving Jewish doctors to mutilate Christians. This goes back long before the Nazis. That regime used this accusation as one of many to deny Jews civil rights in Germany between the World Wars.

Lack of understanding

Read. Learn. Understand. Do you have Jewish friends? Ask them why they circumcise their children. Do you think they’re part of an international conspiracy? Do you believe they should be shot down in their places of worship? Take a step back. Look at the entire picture.

Punditocracy ignores racism – @JonFavs and @DanPfeiffer disappoint

Punditocracy ignores racism – @JonFavs and @DanPfeiffer disappoint

by | Oct 8, 2018 | 2018 midterms, Democratic Party, Pundits, Resistance

Support Edward Branley on Patreon!

Punditocracy ignores racism – #whiteprivilege on the podcasts

punditocracy ignores racism

Pod Save America – Favreau, Lovett, Vietor on Tuesdays, Favreau and Pfeiffer on Thursdays.

The Punditocracy ignores racism

Pundits like the ObamaBros of Crooked Media dance around the main issue. In last Thursday’s Pod Save America ep, Favreau and Pfeiffer say all the right things, except one. They fail when it comes to addressing racism.

Southern Strategy Racism

punditocracy ignores racism

LBJ knew what would happen

LBJ got it right when it comes to Southern Strategy racism. He knew that signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 would set the Democratic Party back generations in the rebel states. Nixon turned LBJ’s concern into a full-blown strategy. He ran on it and won in 1968. While Nixon’s corruption ended his administration, racism remained.

Carter’s defeated Ford because Nixon was a crook. Reagan defeated Carter because Ronnie ran as a racist. Reagan knew how to bring fear from a simmer to a boil. His rhetoric on the Black Panthers in California contributed to the fear and uncertainty of white voters. Nixon teed up the racism. Ronnie added the fear. Carter wanted people to practice compassion. Reagan wanted a 600-ship Navy.

Nixon to Reagan to Trump

The racism never left. Radical clerics like Falwell and Robertson gave racism a cross. Trump expanded the hate. Now it includes brown folks from the Middle East. When Al Qaeda and ISIS cooled down, Donnie added MS13, promoting fear.

Why don’t the pundits address racism?

It’s simple: #whiteprivilege. The Crooked Media pundits outsourced race relations to Deray McKesson. A former teacher, now full-time activist, and author, Deray hosts Pod Save The People on Crooked Media.

While Deray, along with regulars Brittany Packnett, and Sam Singyangwe, and Clint Smith, III, address racial issues, the white guys focus on white pundits. In Thursday’s ep, Favs describes how Republican pundits freaked out when talking to reporters. They told the world the nomination was on life support.

Talking to the Punditocracy

But, of course, it wasn’t. That’s because McConnell had the votes. So-called knowledgeable liberals pointed out the delays. They argued McConnell didn’t have the votes. By Saturday, they all lined up.

And the guys can’t figure out how that happened? They understand the strategy. They know Republicans raise the flags of racism and fear. While they get it, they soft-pedal the whole thing. MS13 becomes “immigration”. They don’t even mention black folks.

Those Republicans knew they had the votes. They operate with different motives. Republican operatives want guest editorials. They want spots on Tapper’s CNN show. The never-Trumpers want mentions from Hayes and Maddow. If they say, we have the votes, those opportunities dry up.

Favreau and Pfeiffer need to get off twitter. They need to talk more to their own colleagues. We’re not going to affect change by ignoring racism.

 

Voter Registration Louisiana – TOMORROW – LAST DAY

Voter Registration Louisiana – TOMORROW – LAST DAY

by | Oct 8, 2018 | 2018 midterms, Louisiana, New Orleans, Resistance

Support Edward Branley on Patreon!

Voter Registration Louisiana – TOMORROW IS LAST DAY

Voter Registration Louisiana

TOMORROW, Tuesday, 9-October, is the last day you can register to vote in the November 6th election in Louisiana. So, it’s important!

Check Your Registration

voter registration louisiana

“But I’m already registered”, “I’ve lived in my house for twenty years”, “It’s not a problem.”
Or is it? While you think you’re registered, the Republicans purge!
Go to ResistBot and find out. ResistBot verifies your registration. So, it’s not a scam!

Text CHECK to 50409 and follow the instructions.

Vote Save America

The ObamaBros at Crooked Media run VoteSaveAmerica.com. The site helps folks check their registration. If they’re not registered, they receive instructions.

Registering in Louisiana

Register online in Louisiana. Go to the Louisiana Secretary of State website and follow the instructions. It’s simple and important. Therefore, there’s no excuse.

You can always register in person. Do it, today or tomorrow! Here’s the procedure from the LA SOS:

Apply in person to register to vote at any Registrar of Voters Office.

You may also register in person at any of the following locations:

  • Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles;
  • Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services;
  • WIC offices;
  • food stamp offices;
  • Medicaid offices;
  • offices serving persons with disabilities such as the Deaf Action Centers and Independent Living Offices; or
  • Armed Forces recruitment offices.

To review:

  • Check your registration
  • GO REGISTER, in person or online, if you’ve been purged

You’re not done!

The November 6th elections are extremely important. Verify your registration (and fix things if necessary). So, then, TELL YOUR FRIENDS. It’s not enough that you go vote. You need to check with TEN friends. Make sure they get out to the polls.

Go tell the Texans!

Here in Louisiana, we all have friends in Texas. All your exes, too. So, make sure they’re ready to vote for Beto O’Rourke.

Go tell the Georgians!

So, we know that NOLA means “Nobody Likes Atlanta”. While you hate the Falcons, make sure your friends vote! Tell them to verify their registration. Keep on them about getting out on November 6th. Make Stacey Abrams Governor!

Why is this a big deal?

Neither of our Senators from Louisiana stand for re-election in 2018. All of the CongressCritters do, and Democrats challenge each of them. So, we flip the House, if everyone votes.

Additionally, we must pass Constitutional Amendment #2, the Unanimous Juries Amendment. Louisiana is the only state where someone can be convicted of a serious felony by a non-unanimous (10-2) vote. The Louisiana Legislature voted to put the change on the ballot. Now we have to make it law.