June 15, 2009
–URGENT—FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–
the ChairwomanCITY HALL –Chief Administrative Officer Dr. Brenda Hatfield staged a coup d’état that wrested control of the municipal government during the early morning hours of June 11th 2009. New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin was quarantined in Shanghai since Sunday over swine flu concerns.
He was released today, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.
Nagin, his wife and a guard had been quarantined after a passenger on their flight from the United States had flu-like symptoms.
The Coup, lead by Hatfield and the Royal Thai Army against the elected government of Mayor Nagin was New Orleans’s first non-constitutional change of government in nearly three years, followed a year-long political crisis the imposition of martial law after the 2005 hurricane season.
The overthrow as undertaken by Nagin’s former allies and obvious political opponents occurred less than a month into this year’s hurricane season which began on June 1st.
It has been widely reported in Thailand and elsewhere that General Prem Tinsulanonda, Chairman of the Privy Council was the mastermind of the Coup. He has had the ear of CAO Hatfield since a meeting 2006 which neither one of them can recall. The military canceled the upcoming elections, abrogated the Constitution, dissolved City Council, banned protests and all political activities, suppressed and censored the media, declared martial law, and arrested Council Members Head, Feilkow and Clarkson among others.
Prior to joining the City of New Orleans, Dr. Hatfield served as Director of Governmental Affairs and Local Programming for Cox Communications and managed the award-winning Cox 10 productions and programming department.
At a news conference this morning on the steps of City Hall, Chairwoman Hatfield promised that Democracy would be restored to the Crescent City within the year. Chairwoman Hatfield will enforce her new government’s regulation with all of the awesome power of the Royal Thai Army, which arrived during the coup and be assisted by the Royal Thai Navy, said to be heading up river at this very moment.
New Nola EmblemNagin, who could not be reached for comment, is speculated to have left the Chinese quarantine for Australia for a planned series of speeches, the AP said.
Citizens of New Orleans are awaiting Nagin’s next move, who has had to surrender control of the city and parish for the second time in his mayoral stewardship since 2005.
June 8, 2009
New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin has been quarantined in Shanghai, China under suspicion of being a carrier of H1N1 influenza, also known as “Swine Flu.” What do you think?
“Yet another example of the Chinese taking a job we should have done years ago and doing it better that us.”
-Maureen Francis, Nurse, Gentilly
“Did this have anything to do with David Carradine? I thought I read that he was in China.”
-C. Elgin Taylor, Flambeau, Bucktown
“You know what they say. You lie down with dogs, you get fleas. You lie down with pigs you get swine flu.”
-Michael Duplass, Insurance Adjuster, Northshore
“Seriously, what the hell is Nagin doing in China? They ain’t no levee system to check out there.”
-Gina Chavet, Travel Agent, Garden District
“I say let that bastard come back, then we’ll have another good reason to kick is swine flu-carrying ass!”
-Lena Schiro, Retired Substitute Teacher, Mid-City
“That’s it I’m deleting him off my MySpace!”
-Franklin Percy, Tattoo and Body Piercing Artist, The Marigny
C-T Editors’ Note: Are you local? Do you have a reaction? Don’t feel left out! Click “leave comment” in the lower right-hand corner or fill in the box below.
May 11, 2009
Ready to service the people of Louisiana.CBD — After completion of the first step of her ‘listening tour,’ at Serio’s Deli, Baton Rouge native Stormy Daniels, has come to a conclusion about her proposed run for Senate.
Ms. Daniels (30), famed star, director, and featured player in films that your mom hopefully doesn’t know that you’ve seen, has been visiting local spots like the Roux House in Baton Rouge in an attempt to feel the pulse of the average Louisiana voter.
Since being informally drafted by an Internet site, Stormy–her film nom de guerre–has been been pursuing ways to finance her campaign.
Pubic Public records show she just got a big, hot injection from the Big Daddy’s political action fund, whose stated goal is “to keep the spirit of Big Daddy’s of Bourbon Street alive for future generations.”
Full Story »
May 8, 2009
Where would you rather have been in November 2005?On Thursday, May 7, 2009, The Times-Picayune published a story about New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin’s trip to Jamaica–as financed by embattled former Chief of Technology Greg Meffert.
The headline read: “Jamaica Trip a ‘Blur,’ Mayor Ray Nagin Says.”
We’ll take the Mayor at his word that he didn’t accept lavish “things of value” from city vendors. Because, when you think about it, who can put a value on something as weightless as smoke?
Allow us to explain. It is widely known that Jamaica is a Carribean Island south of Cuba.
But what you may not know is this: Jamaica has a thriving drug culture.
Cannabis, or marijuana or ganja–as its known locally, is illegal throughout Jamaica. Does this mean that you won’t see it? Not at all.
Marijuana can be found virtually everywhere. We’ve seen Rastas smoking spliffs the size of cigars right along the roadside. If you take a tourist bus from Montego Bay to Negril, you’ll see vendors jump from behind a tree with a wad of ganja and a marijuana cigarette the size of a small baton as the bus slows down to make a sharp turn.
In November 2005, we were working in Orleans Parish, cleaning debris and ordering rebuilding materials. We were not in Jamaica, privy to Mayor Nagin’s actions.
So why was Nagin’s trip a “blur?”
The Creole-Tomato can never be sure. We can, however, make an educated guess.
One Love,
The Editors
July 18, 2007
Sun, Sand, and Storm Chasing.Most New Orleanians spend at least one weekend on the Gulf Coast during the summer months, and this special section of the Creole Tomato evaluates and rates many popular summer destinations for quality, value, style and the touches of home.
Our travel writers have established a rating system of five categories.
Pensacola Beach
Category: 4
On the famous white shores of Santa Rosa Island, one finds fewer amenities, but can discover comfort in the low key quality of the action on the beach. PB sustained severe damage during hurricanes Erin, Opal, Ivan and Dennis.
Rosemary Beach
Category: 1
East of Sandestin, Rosemary Beach has become a destination for destination weddings, Disneyesque condos and town squares. RB has limited devastation, but constant new construction gives the appearance of destruction.
Ono Island
Category: 2
The exclusive Ono Island off the coast of Gulf Shores, Alabama is a popular resort destination for moneyed New Orleanians. It sustained only minor wind damage in Hurricane Lily.
Gulfport/Biloxi
Category: 4
These adjacent Mississippi Gulf Coast towns boast casinos, quality seafood restaurants, and the historic home of Confederacy President Jefferson Davis. Both Gulfport and Biloxi suffered extreme damage from Hurricane Katrina.
Bay Saint Louis
Category: 5
This Category 5 winner is a quaint town that is separated slightly from the Gulf by the bay of the same name. It is the proud home of antique shops, St. Stanilslaus, a crab festival and a competitive yacht club. Famous for its mossy oaks, antebellum homes and peaceful way of life, BSL took the direct hit from Katrina. It was essentially leveled.
