There are many houses that do pose an imminent health threat that are taking too long to be taken care of. The one I live next to is a prime example. Its roof is collapsed. Pieces of the house fall off onto my property. It has never been gutted and is covered in mold inside. Until approximately 3 months ago it was open and a haven for rodents. Until that time, the grass had only been cut by members of my household in the front yard. In the back yard, the grass was 6 feet high.

I have complained, but it still stands. I know that the owner has no plans for the property and has abandoned it. Since we question anyone who arrives at the property, we know that it has been scheduled for demolition for almost a year. Approximately 8 months ago, we were told the property would be coming down within 30 days. Finally, this past week, Cox and Entergy removed their wiring from the home because it is scheduled for demolition. How much longer will it take?

This law was originally written to protect people like me and my family. Yet, it is not working for us either because we definitely live next to a building that is an imminent health threat.

I agree with you 100 percent on those three Demolition people: Rob Couhig, Nagin, and Blakely. Rob does not have the highest position at NORA, I think he might be like 3rd or 4th in command at NORA. Couhig is officially the secretary of NORA and I don’t know what the heck he does. We all know Nagin gave him that job because of Couhig’s support for Nagin at the last minute. If we had Mitch Landrieu for mayor then none of this would be happening right now. I mean NORA has even publicly admitted that it does not understand the own process so why do know why there are all these useless positions at NORA.. I am terrified of what will happen to all these Road Home properties that NORA will inherit, I mean if you read their draft about what they plan to do they do not even say that they will save all SALVEGALBLE historic properties they will only save historic properties the call “salvageable” where it is “economically feasible” for them to do so. Gosh it’s all such BS

Jackie wasn’t there to stop the meeting. She can’t. The meeting has the force of law, even run the way it’s run.

Jackie watched for two hours, then she spoke to the committee and told them to appear before city council.

Then the meeting continued for another three hours. They were the only ones who could stop themselves.

We are very fortunate that Jackie is taking this up as an issue. You should write your council person and send Jackie a letter of support. Thank you for reading.

Offhand, I’d say that it would take at least two of three factors to produce something like this.

1) Bureaucratic bumbling and indifference.

2) Corruption.

3) Unfathomable stupidity compounded by unbelievable arrogance.

On the last point, you have at least three colossal egos belong to major demolition proponents. Nagin, Blakely and Couhig all seem eager to bulldoze anything outside of a few rich or historic areas. Don’t know how much sway Couhig still has through his NORA position.

I met Savoie once, when he ran for City Council in 2002. He seemed like a jerk, but I couldn’t say why. I really don’t trust unclassified city employees from the Morial administration who managed to keep a position with Nagin.

We need a moratorium on demolitions right now.