The left hand has not been talking to the right, and there have been assumptions made all around.
Yesterday, as all surely know by now, Mayor Nagin reversed position abruptly by stating he would allow residents of the unflooded areas to return home. That was released (near as I can determine) in the afternoon. Yet the Times-Picayune went to print yesterday stating that Algiers is open while the rest of the parish is closed. That page confounded me so completely, in fact, that I got up at 5:30 a.m. this morning, just to see whether the print version was pdfâed and available that early. Yup â like most newspapers, they go to print very early in the morning.
So why did the paper say Algiers was open so many hours before Mayor Naginâs âreversalâ??
Odder still â yesterday, I had an email from someone who had copied/pasted an article that said, “The return, which the mayor hopes to launch early next week, would involve the French Quarter, Central Business District and Uptown, Nagin said. None of those areas were flooded. Algiers, which was also spared flooding damage, has been open since the storm and not subject to the mandatory evacuation that covers
the rest of the city.”
That reader and I spent a great deal of time yesterday evening trying to relocate the article, but we found nothing stating Algiers had been open since the storm. Because that statement is not out there anymore, I hesitated to tell you about it â but it fits the larger picture so well.
This morning, NOLA.com has a more comprehensive article about the return. It appears that some mental separation is taking hold about Algiers, but there is still some vagueness. Among other things, it sounds like the Mayor is non-committal about a firm date. There are statements like âUnflooded portions of New Orleans may be opened to residents as early as Mondayâ? and âpending results of federal tests measuring the toxicity of the city’s air and waterâ?. Does that mean if test results are not good Uptown, Algiers wonât be opened?
Another statement that is interesting is, âHe plans to enforce a dusk-to-dawn curfew.â? The statement itself is pretty clear⦠but it follows a sentence about restoration of services on the East Bank. Will that then be parish-wide? One assumes so â but there have been far too many assumptions.
And just to cap off my morning tour of available information, will residents from the West Bank of Orleans Parish be allowed to enter Gretna to buy supplies while businesses try to resume in Algiers? It seems as if this should be a âno-brainerâ?, yet another article this morning, by reporter Matt Scallon (again via NOLA.com), includes a statement from Aaron Broussard, who is quoted as saying, âPlaquemines Parish residents also will be allowed into the parish because Jefferson Parish is a major access route into the area.â? Does Algiers need a separate statement, do you think?
(Update 9:33 am – I just posted an email from Rep. Tucker about Jeff. Parish roadblocks.)
Is it just my imagination, or are things still as clear as mud?
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This is really amazing. Truly astounding. In today’s Times-Picayune (print version), Page 2, left column… under the Parish Updates… for Orleans…. it says: “Algiers open; rest of parish closed.” You can view the image here: (You need the Adobe Reader.) …
This is news? Bush: Religion factor in Miers pick duh. Sure am glad religion doesn’t influence American politics…. (cough cough)
The long-anticipated fight between the liberals and the conservatives is about to break loose, and it’s likely to be loud, emotional, and absolutely divisive. It’s also been years in the making. As Charles Lane of the Washington Post wrote: With …
Yup – just in case anybody isn’t listening to the radio right now…. Monday morning they reopen Algiers. More soon… Update 12:44 pm: WWLTV.com has more specifics. Update: WWLTV has a brief summary online here, courtesy of Brett Martel / …
All we can do is sing along with The Who:
Every day I get in the queue (Too much, Magic Bus)
To get on the bus that takes me to you (Too much, Magic Bus)
I’m so nervous, I just sit and smile (Too much, Magic Bus)
You house is only another mile (Too much, Magic Bus)
Thank you, driver, for getting me here (Too much, Magic Bus)
You’ll be an inspector, have no fear (Too much, Magic Bus)
I don’t want to cause no fuss (Too much, Magic Bus)
But can I buy your Magic Bus? (Too much, Magic Bus)
Nooooooooo!
I don’t care how much I pay (Too much, Magic Bus)
I wanna drive my bus to my baby each day (Too much, Magic Bus)
I want it, I want it, I want it, I want it … (You can’t have it!)
Thruppence and sixpence every day
Just to drive to my baby
Thruppence and sixpence each day
‘Cause I drive my baby every way
Magic Bus, Magic Bus, Magic Bus …
I said, now I’ve got my Magic Bus (Too much, Magic Bus)
I said, now I’ve got my Magic Bus (Too much, Magic Bus)
I drive my baby every way (Too much, Magic Bus)
Each time I go a different way (Too much, Magic Bus)
I want it, i want it, I want it, I want it …
Every day you’ll see the dust (Too much, Magic Bus)
As I drive my baby in my Magic Bus (Too much, Magic Bus)
Tried getting from Houma to the Point yesterday P.M. Got stopped at Des Allemands as there were two check points, one there and one at the Jeff. Parish line. Stayed the night with John & Judi Emery and headed out this a.m. at 7. Got straight through on Expressway (typing from 335 Pelican). Gas, water, toilets, electric & phones working. Called Wayne, went to see him at Mardi Gras World where he is handing out food, water, provisions of all sorts, all free. He was even awarded a medal by a General for his humanitarian work!!! We stocked up before we drove in.
He said the Dry Dock opened last night for Happy Hour – free beer – guess where I’m going tonight???
There is a curfew on at dusk. Very eerie here with no one around, except soldiers and a few who stayed behind. Assessing damage at the moment but I know the Algiers Point Jolly Girls & Boys Social Aid & Pleasure Club like to be kept abreast of the times. Hope to see y’all soon!!!!!! Yes, I’ll have a drink for you at the Dry Dock,
Cheers,
Kevin & Wendy.
My husband called last night with the good news…..power back on Beck St! I am hoping this means I can join him soon.
FYI – Mayor Nagin is scheduled to be on Larry King Live tonight at 8:00. It would be nice if someone could get a call in to ask about the vague language……
I made it home to Opelousas Ave. in Algier’s Point last night. I was stopped on Airline Hwy in Jeff Parish, however I had the proper pass to get in. Other than that, I got home with no problems. Power is on! It was great to finally sleep in my own bed. No cable though. Had to watch DVD’s. People are out and about. I saw several people out walking their dogs. The National Guard is all over The Point. Algier’s Point seems safer than ever! It’s good to be home.
I’m listening to WWL 870 via the Internet. The news segment about 15 minutes ago reported that the EPA does not like the condition of the water supply in Orleans parish. Stated that this could possibly change Nagin’s plan to let people back into parts of the parish. Algiers was specifically mentioned as one of those parts.
Somebody help me here. Doesn’t Algiers have its own water supply? That they’ve been drinking all along? And was already defined as “potable”? Surely they just mis-spoke…
the city of new orleans website claims that the boil order for algiers has been lifed:
http://www.cityofno.com/portal.aspx?portal=1&load=~/PortalModules/ViewPressRelease.ascx&itemid=3144
• Algiers has been cleared from a boil water notice. For additional information, visit t.
you can get to the pdf file here:
http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices/publications.asp?ID=145&Detail=742
Drank the water from the tap (faucet) this p.m. I forgot to drink the bottled water as I was working in the yard clearing debris and very thirsty. Had a funny smell to it but I thought it was my putrifying fish ponds. Expected to spend the p.m. on the porcelain throne. 5 hours later…still OK. Just got back from the Dry Dock “Happy Hour.” Everyone (5 people) said “Hello!”
Kevin… happier than I was!.