Fighting Crime In Post-Katrina New Orleans

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Drizzt

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Fighting Crime In Post-Katrina New Orleans


(CBS) Two years after Katrina, the "New Orleans sound" is a familiar melody of music, rebuilding and crime.

Gun sales remain brisk in a city with a deadly distinction: It has the highest per capita murder rate in the nation with 137 killings, so far this year, and counting.

Even those trying to rebuild New Orleans are under fire, reports CBS News correspondent Byron Pitts. In the past month, three contractors have been murdered.

"I like to think I'm not paranoid, but I'm scared," says Brian LeBlanc.

These days, LeBlanc works with a hammer in hand and an assault rifle at the ready.

What prompts him to have to bring gun to work?

"That's an act of desperation, no meanness intended," he says. "That's all self-defense."

Self-defense is forcing contractor Pablo Mejia to arm himself and his workers. His son, Pablo Mejia Jr., was at a house installing a lock when he was kicked, robbed and shot in the head.

"By us arming ourselves and arming our people, we are going to create a war in New Orleans. And that is what we don't want," says Mejia.

But Mejia says he has no other choice.

His son was a third-generation New Orleans resident. Soon, his widow, Luisa, will deliver a fourth generation, a little girl to be named Marianna.

Luisa Mejia says the murders are destroying the very people the city needs most.

"My husband was working, trying to make an honest living, supporting his family, trying to rebuild the city," she says.

Contractors like Mejia work in some of the hardest-hit areas and meanest streets of New Orleans. Many are newly arrived Latino workers who are often here illegally. Police say they have become prime targets.

Street thugs call the Hispanic contractors "Walking ATMs." New Orleans Police Chief Warren Riley says it's because the contractors often carry large amounts of cash. But Riley insists, "We are making progress."

The police academy is about to graduate its largest class ever, and the Justice Department has made $30 million available to rebuild the city's criminal justice system.

"If New Orleans is going to get better, this is the time for it to get better," Riley says.

Is it better yet?

"We're working on it," he says.

But that is little comfort for Luisa Mejia. She's moving now. Thieves took her husband and their dreams.

"They destroyed my life and my daughter’s life," she says.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/08/29/eveningnews/main3218613.shtml
 
With all of the hype, you'd think New Orleans was the only city in the country to experience a hurricane. They just learned what everyone else knew, buy your guns and ammo before the storm hits.
 
There would have been no hype had everyone heeded the evacuation orders. Oh, and that whole city being below sea level thing didn't help much either.

PS, people did have guns & ammo before the storm hit. They got taken away. ;)
 
What I laughed (frowned?) about most about that news segment i saw the other day was the contractor who had a ruger mini14 in his truck. The anchor said that he "keeps an assault rifle in his truck...". :rolleyes:
 
We have these problems in the US of A. We ought to be taking care of business in our country and not in others. Very big problem looming on the horizon.

It is a disgrace to say the least.
 
There would have been no hype had everyone heeded the evacuation orders. Oh, and that whole city being below sea level thing didn't help much either.

Actualy no, many areas were not under water, or only had a minimal amount of water which they could deal with. Other areas were completely submerged. The evacuation however was for everyone. People with homes that were still perfectly fine were being told to leave thier homes and neighborhoods to the looters.

Some compliedand left, some stayed. Some even formed armed neighborhood watch groups that watched neighborhoods from baclonies and rooftops. They defended from looters, and had to hide from police.
Some of those who stayed then had police coming around to gather up thier guns.
So one group of thugs they fought, and the other they tried to hide from to retain thier rights.

I have a real problem with forcing people to evacuate anything against thier will. This whole we know what is better for you than you do, and can tell you when you can and cannot remain on your own property seems like something that belongs in another country. Even at time when there is a real danger, like a tornado, fire, flood etc, I think all that should be legal is requesting an evacuation. They took it a step further in New Orleans however and told people they had to leave period, even if the storm barely effected thier area.
 
With projected deaths around 50,000+ based on computer modeling of a Cat 5 hitting what would you do if you were the Mayor of N.O. at the time but demand that residents evacuate? Letting them know that those who stay "Ya'll on ya own" is going to leave him open to all kinds of issues after the fact.

It is sad to see just how thin the veneer of civilzation lies within some of our fine citizens. Reports I've seen on the tube say that many of the contractors carry large amounts of cash to pay the mostly immigrant workers... setting themselves up as targets in a target rich environment that has minimal law enforcement or judicial restraint.

That thin blue line we so often castigate (for real and imagined reasons)? Really thin.
 
.....the Justice Department has made $30 million available to rebuild the city's criminal justice system.

Wow! I bet $30 mil buys a LOT of phantom police officers!

On a serious note: Do we have any members living in NOLA? Has the police department cleaned their act up any since Katrina?
 
I live in the New Orleans metro area and yes it has taken it's knocks but does seem to be getting better each day. The national media has been here for the past two weeks and seems intent on focussing on any and every negative item they can. There is a lot of good here to.

Our level of violent crime is presently centered around young black males (18-25) and seems predominantly drug related, either dealers returning to find others on their turf, or dealers trying to expand their areas.

Our police force is down by about 200 and they are doing a good job but it is
difficult to make cases when people in the neighborhoods effected (mostly black) will not cooperate with police. Our court system was disrupted and many records damaged so the courts are back at about 50 % level but are functioning.

The areas visited by the tourists, i.e. the French Quarter, were virtually untouched by Katrina and the majority of those businesses are open. A few of the really famous restaurants, like Dookey Chases, have renovated and are about to open. We still know how to have a good time, come for a visit.

It will take time to get back to "normal" but I trust we will do so and would wish to extend our thanks to those who have helped us get back on our feet.

Sorry if this sounds like a rant , it is not.
 
That whole situation was a joke. I agree another cat. 5 would be the best thing for that city and it would take care of all of the trash that lives there.
 
Engel, I'm sure mister Sniper56 (or should I say "trash"?) in the post right above yours agrees and appreciates your comment.
 
While I don't disagree with the fact that new orleans may need a bit more "cleansing," i pray to god it doesn't happen as a result of another katrinaesque storm.
 
Yet another reason the entire area should be condemned and turned into a garbage dump. :rolleyes:
 
"By us arming ourselves and arming our people, we are going to create a war in New Orleans. And that is what we don't want," says Mejia.
SInce when is having a tool for self defensive seen as starting a war? I would think that would require an act of aggression.
 
Those of you who think a storm can "wash away the criminals" are dead wrong. The storm damage, coupled with the complete lack of responsible government in New Orleans, has acted as bait to nogoodnicks both local and outside. You might as well hope a lame cow dies so there will be fewer flies on it.

New Orleans will sink or swim based on whether the people ever wise up and start kicking out the trash that runs the place. The storm just highlights what was already there. In the case of other places hit by Katrina and Rita, it highlighted the opposite trends of solid local government and an indendent, responsible citizenry.
 
It will take time to get back to "normal" but I trust we will do so and would wish to extend our thanks to those who have helped us get back on our feet.

I have been wanting to get back to visit NOLA. I have been there quite a few times and had a lot of fun there. The wife and I even spent our honeymoon in the French Quarter. I'm glad thing are getting back to the way they were but I would never call it NORMAL no matter how much they rebuild!
 
From the "Changes at THR" thread:

Conduct becoming ladies and gentlemen is expected, without religious, national or other prejudices. That means no slurs on Californians, French, Muslims, cops, women or anyone else. If a particular group of people does something you dislike, let their actions speak for themselves. When debating, please avoid the typical logical fallacies common to debates at lesser forums. Remember that we should be more interested in a Socratic discourse, a search for the truth and a plan of action more than on winning the debates.

I don't know that wishing some of your fellow THR members undergo a Cat 5 hurricane or have the place where they and their families live wiped off the face of the Earth quite meets the standards described above. So how about we knock off those comments?
 
I know one thing is for sure, I would not go anywhere in New Orlean's without carrying a gun, preferably a shotgun in the car and a handgun on the hip.:D

I saw Anderson Cooper last night, hour long segment on New Orleans. He stated that their is a murder every 1.8 days in that city.:eek:
 
Sniper56,

Welcome to THR!

I'm glad to hear that things aren't as bleak as the media is portraying. I wish you folks the best.

I've only been to New Orleans a few times. The only thing I remember much of is the airport, and we walked around the Louis Armstrong Park (It was a Sunday and we were just passing through, so we didn't do much of anything touristy). This would have been in the late '90s, IIRC.
 
I have a real problem with forcing people to evacuate anything against thier will. This whole we know what is better for you than you do, and can tell you when you can and cannot remain on your own property seems like something that belongs in another country.

I agree, especially when I find myself stuck on the other side of the fence. My job is classified "Emergency & Essential" during hurricanes, so I have to work. Mandatory, no option. Family, house, pets, relatives, all come second.
 
This entire situation 2 years later is a perfect example of why gun control is absolutely ineffective. After all of the confisations in the aftermath of the storm, murder rates are through the roof. The police are doing everything they can in most cases, and government aid is all over the place, but it is not enough. The myth that somehow police are some magic charm or lucky rabbit's foot to ward away bag guys is just that...a myth.
 
"By us arming ourselves and arming our people, we are going to create a war in New Orleans. And that is what we don't want," says Mejia.

I always wonder about the mind-set of people who think this way. It is based on the idea that, given the weapons, honest people would suddenly go on a killing spree but that's silly. Sixties "liberals" always want to "give peace a chance" without realizing that would only require that everyone peacefully submit to the ever present bullies of this world.

We all hate war but there are somethings worse than a war, living with abject humiliation or injury are two. Having to live as docile victims of attackers while rolled in a fetal ball and pleading "Don't hurt me too much, PLEASE!" is not an option for me and my family.

For as long as I live I will strive to train my children and grandchildren to live in peace if it is an option, but to never submit to humiliation or injury if a means of defense is available. My wife and daughers are competent shooters.

Unlike Muslims, I have and would again place myself between my loved ones and any attackers. Meaning, I will never push my children out to some silly "martyrdom" nor, while I will I live, will I allow anyone else to harm them. Both our world leaders and local politicians should understand my mind-set before they try to take away the only really effective means I have to protect them.

I am not a criminal sneaky snake nor a helpless lamb waiting to be slain on the altar of liberal group-think. I am a man and will live as one so long as I draw breath, ready to defend all I hold dear.
 
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