Texsox Posted January 2, 2006 Share Posted January 2, 2006 http://2theadvocate.com/stories/123105/new...deling001.shtml Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NUKE_CLEVELAND Posted January 2, 2006 Share Posted January 2, 2006 QUOTE(Texsox @ Jan 1, 2006 -> 10:42 PM) http://2theadvocate.com/stories/123105/new...deling001.shtml B.B.B.B.B...BUT ITS BUSH'S FAULT THE PARISHES ARE BANKRUPT AND NOBODY'S GETTING ANY HELP DOWN THERE!!! :rolly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WCSox Posted January 2, 2006 Share Posted January 2, 2006 QUOTE(NUKE_CLEVELAND @ Jan 2, 2006 -> 01:16 AM) B.B.B.B.B...BUT ITS BUSH'S FAULT THE PARISHES ARE BANKRUPT AND NOBODY'S GETTING ANY HELP DOWN THERE!!! :rolly To be fair, all three levels of government (federal, state, and local) were equally unprepared to deal with this mess. All of the political finger-pointing is ridiculous. I'm not sure if Blanco's an idiot, but this news suggests that she may be corrupt as hell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthSideSox72 Posted January 2, 2006 Share Posted January 2, 2006 QUOTE(WCSox @ Jan 2, 2006 -> 12:51 PM) To be fair, all three levels of government (federal, state, and local) were equally unprepared to deal with this mess. All of the political finger-pointing is ridiculous. I'm not sure if Blanco's an idiot, but this news suggests that she may be corrupt as hell. Exactly - FEMA, the state of Lousiana and all the local cities and counties/parishes were equally unprepared for a disaster that they KNEW was coming (in the short AND long term). And since New Orleans is known for having the most corruput local government in this country (exhibit one: NOPD), I guess we shouldn't be surprised to see the governor of LA is right there with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NUKE_CLEVELAND Posted January 2, 2006 Share Posted January 2, 2006 QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 2, 2006 -> 12:08 PM) Exactly - FEMA, the state of Lousiana and all the local cities and counties/parishes were equally unprepared for a disaster that they KNEW was coming (in the short AND long term). And since New Orleans is known for having the most corruput local government in this country (exhibit one: NOPD), I guess we shouldn't be surprised to see the governor of LA is right there with them. Im in total agreement that the state, local and federal governments are equally to blame for this mess. My problem is that Blanco and Nagin didn't even wait for the rain to stop before blaming Bush for everything and anything that went wrong there. There was no accountability at the state and local level whatsoever for mistakes made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WCSox Posted January 2, 2006 Share Posted January 2, 2006 QUOTE(NUKE_CLEVELAND @ Jan 2, 2006 -> 12:27 PM) My problem is that Blanco and Nagin didn't even wait for the rain to stop before blaming Bush for everything and anything that went wrong there. There was no accountability at the state and local level whatsoever for mistakes made. Agreed. Nagin and Blanco are both hacks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Kickass Posted January 2, 2006 Share Posted January 2, 2006 QUOTE(NUKE_CLEVELAND @ Jan 2, 2006 -> 02:27 PM) Im in total agreement that the state, local and federal governments are equally to blame for this mess. My problem is that Blanco and Nagin didn't even wait for the rain to stop before blaming Bush for everything and anything that went wrong there. There was no accountability at the state and local level whatsoever for mistakes made. There's all sorts of accountability there. On every level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted January 2, 2006 Author Share Posted January 2, 2006 I don't think it is corruption to spend half a million on remodeling. It is stupid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WCSox Posted January 3, 2006 Share Posted January 3, 2006 QUOTE(Texsox @ Jan 2, 2006 -> 04:41 PM) I don't think it is corruption to spend half a million on remodeling. It is stupid. Or maybe "unethical" would've been a better way to describe the appropriation of funds, given the circumstances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted January 3, 2006 Author Share Posted January 3, 2006 QUOTE(WCSox @ Jan 2, 2006 -> 06:11 PM) Or maybe "unethical" would've been a better way to describe the appropriation of funds, given the circumstances. I was reading some other articles as well. Seems that the bids were sent out before the hurricane, the work was needed to meet safety codes. There was some concern that if they didn't go through with the work, the successful bidders could sue. The offices have not been touched in over 20 years. Seems that the either the laws are stupid, or the bid was poorly worded. I've worked on government and private bids that have all said the work/purchase may or not be made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthSideSox72 Posted January 3, 2006 Share Posted January 3, 2006 QUOTE(Texsox @ Jan 2, 2006 -> 06:41 PM) I don't think it is corruption to spend half a million on remodeling. It is stupid. Corruption and lack of fiscal discipline tend to go hand in hand. That's why this is no surprise. That's what I was getting at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted January 3, 2006 Author Share Posted January 3, 2006 QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 2, 2006 -> 07:12 PM) Corruption and lack of fiscal discipline tend to go hand in hand. That's why this is no surprise. That's what I was getting at. Are you questioning the original budgeting of remodeling the offices, or continuing the project after the hurricane? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthSideSox72 Posted January 3, 2006 Share Posted January 3, 2006 QUOTE(Texsox @ Jan 2, 2006 -> 08:35 PM) Are you questioning the original budgeting of remodeling the offices, or continuing the project after the hurricane? I am questioning the continuation of the work. I doubt the threat of a lawsuit was a reality here, but even if it was, with all the other concerns they have, they shouldn't have spent the money on that. The project should have been shelved. Even if they got sued for some percentage of that money, that still would have been better for the state if less money was spent. Now the project itself may have been over-spending in the first place too - I have no idea. Hard to evaluate without a lot more info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Kickass Posted January 3, 2006 Share Posted January 3, 2006 To play devils advocate, would it have been? What about the legal fees they'd have to mount to make it happen? For the record, the renovation is stupid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthSideSox72 Posted January 3, 2006 Share Posted January 3, 2006 QUOTE(Rex Kickass @ Jan 2, 2006 -> 10:15 PM) To play devils advocate, would it have been? What about the legal fees they'd have to mount to make it happen? For the record, the renovation is stupid. Is a construction company going to spend the extravagant legal fees to sue for a sum much larger than the project itself, which won't win? No. Will they maybe try to sue for some precentage of it? Maybe, but then they'd also pay lots of fees, possibly more than the payoff. I just doubt either side would want to mess with it, given the circumstances. But you never know for sure, I suppose. I just think Blanco's office made the poor choice here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WCSox Posted January 3, 2006 Share Posted January 3, 2006 (edited) QUOTE(Texsox @ Jan 2, 2006 -> 06:11 PM) I was reading some other articles as well. Seems that the bids were sent out before the hurricane, the work was needed to meet safety codes. There was some concern that if they didn't go through with the work, the successful bidders could sue. That might've been a problem, although I can't see a judge ruling for the contractor, given the magnitude of the disaster. At the very least, I would've offered to "buy out" the contractor. If Katrina didn't kill Blanco's chances of re-election, this PR disaster most likely did. Edited January 3, 2006 by WCSox Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted January 3, 2006 Author Share Posted January 3, 2006 I can understand spending money to refurbish and remodel outdated offices to make the users more productive. It happens in private industry all the time. When computers, printers, and all that stuff replaced secretaries and file clerks, many offices needed updating. But, this would have been a great PR move for the governor to stop construction for a year and help the budget shortfall. Some would have complained it was grandstanding and meaningless with something like a billion dollar deficit, but it would have been the right thing to do. Plus, it wasn't like the Governor wouldn't have known that work was happening. I'm just thinking, there are two major components of being a Governor, getting elected and being a governor. It would seem the getting elected comes first and weeds out too many individuals that would be great governors. You have to be a politician first. I think that is why some small cities with City Managers and a part time mayor have a better system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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