I was shocked and surprised to read today's headline in the T-P that Inspector General Cerasoli quit due to health reasons. I hope his health returns to the better soon and thank him for all he's done and has tried to do. He had to work against great odds and resistance from City Hall. Cerasoli is from Boston, another town known for government corruption. The article says "One main goal has just been to simply identify the entity that is the city of New Orleans, " Cerasoli said. "Nobody can give you an organizational chart." I bet there are a ton of people on the payroll who are unnessary and know that they are but keep mum. I hope we can hire another person willing to go up against Nagin and his crew. On the bright side, we are saddled with Nagin for only one more year and I have hope we can elect someone who will clean City Hall up.

From my in-box- re: Letten

Hey all – I know I’ve been in touch with some of you concerning Jim Letten. We have started a letter writing campaign encouraging our leaders to keep Mr. Letten in New Orleans as he is about the only one who has been able to actually start cleaning up the political and criminal mess here. We’ve stressed to everyone that it doesn’t matter how you voted last week – the bottom line is the vital importance that Letten remain in office. Many of you have sent emails to both Senators Landrieu and Vitter and their response has been encouraging.

However, we got more information last night from another insider who has alerted us that even though we are voicing very loudly our desire to keep Letten, it’s not looking positive. Sadly, the political games may trump what is best for NOLA. Our inside contact has suggested we now bombard Rep. Karen Carter Peterson with letters in support of Letten – saying the more she hears from her constituents, the better.

I have enclosed her contact information and would encourage everyone to send an email -- then fax it. I’ve also included her legislative aide’s name and phone number and a call may not hurt as this will stress our desire to keep Letten in office so he can continue his work in NOLA. For those who have not written, I’ve enclosed all other contacts that we are approaching. If you feel as strongly about keeping Letten here, please send a message to all folks below and pass this email on to everyone you know. This fight is too important and we need our voices heard.

Rep. Karen Carter Peterson
email is larep093@legis.state.la.us
phone is (504)568-8346, fax is (504)568-8405
Her legislative aide is LeBraun Robinson

Mary Landrieu
724 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-1803
Phone: 202-224-5824
Fax: 202-224-9735
http://landrieu.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

David Vitter
516 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-1804
Phone: 202-224-4623
Fax: 202-228-5061
http://vitter.senate.gov/?module=webformIQV1

G and I leave this afternoon for a long weekend in Milwaukee. I'm looking forward to many things... exploring the city of beer, visiting the art museum, (The last time I was there was 1990 before the new expansion designed by Santiago Calatrava and it was a pretty impressive museum then.) drinking beer, eating brats, reconnecting with family, drinking more beer, visiting breweries (G's a home brewer so he's happy about this too), checking out the "beer barons" mansions, eating cheese and washing it down with more beer.

It will also be nice to escape the suffocating heat and humidity (NOLA's high 94 degrees, low of 76 and 72% humidity vs. Milwaukee high of 76 and low of 59 55% humidity. brrrr!) and the depressing newspaper headlines:

"Vitter had five calls with D.C. Madam"
"Police, DA battle over dropped murder case"
"N.O. water hasn’t had fluoride since storm"
"Parent faces accusations in school money theft"
"A federal grand jury looking into a bribery scandal at the Orleans Parish School Board continues"

And that's just the front page. *sigh* No wonder this city is in such a mess. Too many people looking to make gobs of money, illegally, or can't keep their you-know-what in their pants.
William Jefferson is probably relieved all this other news is keeping his name out of the head lines, though his brother is connected to the bribery scandal. Political dynasties, some good, but most not.

So to leave on an up note, I quote Homer Simpson: mmmmm..... beeeeeeer....