Hey Mayor Nagin, secrets don’t make friends
19 May, 2008
With the approach of the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the Times-Picayune’s Sunday editorial offers some timely advice for New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin in rebuilding the city.
No matter how weary he may be, no matter how difficult the work may be, Mayor Nagin promised voters in 2006 that he could lead the city through disaster. Residents, many of whom have taken on responsibilities that rightfully belong to city government, are hungry for signs of leadership.
The mayor owes them his best. He owes them a government that is efficient and responsive. He also owes them a government that is transparent. Instead, Mayor Nagin and his staff have a tendency to be secretive.
That must change. Withholding crucial information from the public is disrespectful, breeds distrust among residents and works against recovery.
The Times-Picayne suggests the following items for Mayor Nagin’s “To Do” list:
Increase public safety by hiring, training, and vetting more police officers Improve the city’s plans for redeveloping abandoned houses and demolishing blighted buildings Ensure code enforcement Get major recovery projects under way and put to use $411 million in grant money from the Louisiana Recovery Authority
Transparency with Tax Dollars: Git R Done!
Comment posted by Nicky Cheese on 22 May, 2008
Here I thought I was about to read a post about my hero Larry the Cable Guy in relation to transparency and all I get is a recycling of his beloved catch-phrase? I mean, I know it’s iconic (achieving worldwide success and garnering Larry legions of fans everywhere) but for shame!
In any case, for your next post related to (lousy) government websites, I suggest having a picture of Jeff Foxworthy with his famous “You know you’re a redneck when…” line and then below finish off the sentence with: “you think, by mere fact of its existence, your local government website is transparent.”
Hmm, I’m not sure I get it either…