Lafourche Parish Facts And Opinions

FACTS:

An article by Alcess P. Adams, entitled “Council Fails to Override Randolph’s Veto” in the Lafourche Gazette edition of October 1,2006, raise the question, don’t the Lafourche Parish Council understand?  The article states, the  council must now propose a new ordinance to address the Attorney General opinion.  My question is why?

OPINIONS:

In my opinion, State Attorney General, Charles Fottie and Lafourche Parish District Attorney Cam Morvant are off the mark where it comes to their OPINION on the installation of culverts.  The Lafourche Parish Council was elected by the tax payers of Lafourche Parish, to serve as the GOVERNING AUTHORITY, not Charles Fottie, Cam Morvant, Charlotte Randolph or Ray Cheramie.  If the members of the Lafourche Parish Council are truly representatives of the tax payers of Lafourche Parish, they have the opportunity to say, the installation of culverts in Lafourche will continue as it has for the past twenty somewhat years.  If Charles Fottie, Cam Morvant, Charlotte Randolph or Ray Cheramie do not approve, any one of them have a right to bring the tax payers to court for a final ruling.  It is past time for nine men to stand up for their constituency for a change.

Stay in touch, observe which elected officials are really for the tax payers of Lafourche Parish.

FACTS:

It is alleged that deceased voters appear and cast their vote on election day in Louisiana. 

OPINIONS:

In my opinion, in Lafourche Parish, not only does the deceased voters continue to vote, but a candidate for a seat on the Greater Lafourche Port Commission is campaigning with a deceased member of the family.  Is this candidate running on qualifications or trying to pick up a few sympathy votes.  It is alleged that the candidate is campaigning for a candidate of another seat, if the other candidate reciprocate.  Who are these alleged unqualified candidates running for seats on the Greater Lafourche Port Commission?  Could one of them be the spouse of a former commissioner and the other a parent of a Lafourche Parish Councilman? 

Stay in touch as we observe whether money will continue to rule in Lafourche Parish, or will the tax payers try people with qualifications for a change.

Please consider qualifications.

FACTS:

The function of the Lafourche Parish council, as the governing authority, is to legislate local laws and set policy for the parish administration and employees.  The policy for the installation of culverts in a parish drainage canal calls for the land owner to purchase the recommended size culverts and catch basin.  The Lafourche Parish employees will install the culverts when time permits.  The installation of culverts by parish employees was incorrectly labeled as a free service.  All work done by parish employees, including equipment and fuel is paid with tax dollars, provided by the tax payers of Lafourche Parish.  The government does not provide free services, all government services are funded with tax dollars. 
The Lafourche Parish Council, at the recommendation of the Parish President and her administration, recently passed an ordinance which will mandate the land owner pay an additional fee to the parish for the installation of culverts in a parish drainage ditch.  Tax dollars pay for every parish employee, parish equipment, fuel, etc., why must tax payers pay additional fees for a service which is already funded by the tax payers? 

OPINIONS:

The quest for more money by Parish President Charlotte Randolph is expected.  The disappointment felt by the tax payers is with the Lafourche Parish Council, the governing authority.  Granted, the council passed the ordinance with less of a fee than recommended by the administration, but the tax payers will have to pay more money for a service already funded by the taxpayers.
It is alleged that Charlotte Randolph will veto the ordinance because she wants more money.  Surprised?
It is alleged that Lafourche Parish District Attorney, Mr. Morvant sent a letter to council members, stating that the fee charged should recoup the expenses by the parish.  Is the DA basing his opinion on the correct interpretation of the law or on precedence set in a court of law, or is the DA part of this administration’s scheme to continue shafting the tax payers of Lafourche Parish? 

What shall we adopt as a motto for the 2004-2008 Lafourche Parish Council?  “Pay more taxes and we guarantee you less service”?
What about the DA motto?  Don’t worry about the law, just follow my opinion?

Keep in touch, pray for your elected officials, they need help.

FACTS:

It appears that CARL and his team of expert investigators have located the “Water Weenies”.  Thank you Carl, not the media and not our elected officials, for keeping the tax payers informed.  It appears that the alleged flood protection devices are close enough to aid the Charlotte Randolph Administration should a possible flood threat occur ( maybe a need of quick bucks for someone?).

OPINIONS:

If memory serve me correctly, Charlotte Randolph or a member of her staff stated that one of the reasons for renting ($5.3) the “Water Weenies” for an extended period of time, was because of the fact that there were still tropical systems in the Caribbean which could have an affect on Lafourche Parish.
An earthquake centered about 350 miles south east of New Orleans, in the Gulf of Mexico, occurred about two weeks ago.  In my opinion, a threat of a tsunami from an earthquake in the Gulf of Mexico poses more of a threat to Lafourche than a tropical wave in the Caribbean.  Will the tax payers of Lafourche Parish receive another bill ten months from now, for what could have been for tsunami threat?

Stay in touch, follow the money and be aware of the upcoming political groups. 

FACTS:

Is open public corruption becoming a way of life in Lafourche Parish?  A candidate for public office recently asked, what can be done about the embarrassment brought to Lafourche Parish by some local elected officials?  My answer is simple, the tax payers must realize that the political power is with the majority of the people and not with a few, indulging in special interest.  Lafourche Parish is one of the highest taxed parish in the state.  Some of our elected local officials and their staff members are some of the highest paid in the state.  Why do the people of Lafourche Parish choose to elect self serving individuals?  The candidate stated that he agreed with my analogy, but what can the people do?   My response was, the people have the power to petition the parish and state legislators.  The parish may want to adopt the original Home Rule Charter and its 15 member Council.  It worked well for over 20 years.  The tax payers of Lafourche can petition the state legislature to remove the District Attorney as legal advisor for parish government.  Take the DA out of the picture.

OPINIONS:

As stated in a recent blog entry, a group (special interest) of self proclaimed Charter experts wanted to change the original charter to one proposed by the group.  Some of the Caillouet administration council (1996-2000) opposed the issue because the proposed charter was ill-written and done away with the balance of power in Government.  The people voted in favor of the new charter.  The 2000-2004 council took an oath to up hold the people’s wishes (obey the new 2000 charter), the majority five did and the parish president, along with the minority four, did not.  There was no amendment to the oath of office, it did not say that I will follow the charter only if I like it.  This parish administration (2000-2004) realized that the majority five were correct in their actions, and decided to change the charter again.  The new (2000) charter only lasted four years.  The present Charter is another ill-written document.  The balance of power is again one sided.  In my opinion, Lafourche Parish must return to its original Charter.

At the beginning of Cam Morvant’s term as District Attorney, He attended his first council meeting, pulling a dolly loaded with what he alleged to be government ordinances which weren’t done correctly and files on litigation.  When asked by Councilman Marlbrough, “why are you doing this Mr. Morvant”, he stated ” because I am a Stickler for the law.  In my opinion, Mr. Morvant was show-boating and attempting to be a bully.  In my opinion, the DA was attempting to discredit the five, but ended up looking like the incompetent puppet he is alleged to be.  Mr. Morvant’s incompetency really came to light in January of 2004.  The 2000-2004 Council was still in office and Mr. Morvant was still their legal adviser.  The council called a Special Meeting,( it is alleged that some of the members of the silk stocking group told Mr. Morvant to stop the meeting, because some members of the SSG might be investigated) if Mr. Morvant really believed that the meeting would be illegal,  all he had to do was pick up the phone and advise the chairman of that fact.  Why didn’t he?  In my opinion he wanted to show boat again.  It is alleged that he choose to get a Temporary restraining order on his own clients.  It is also alleged that he was able to locate a judge which issued the order.  Mr. Morvant himself showed up before a unsuspecting client and demanded a halt to government business (showboating?).  If Morvant is not incompetent, why then, did he not handle the situation professionally and courteously?  Note: The above is public record.

Stay in touch, it is up to the people of Lafourche Parish to continue putting up with selective arrest, selective prosecution and alleged corruption by our public officials without consequences.     

FACTS:

The change from the Police Juror form of local government in Lafourche Parish to Home Rule began with the Egle’ Administration.  Duffy Breaux was victorious as sheriff over former sheriff Bobby Tardo.  Mr. Francis Dugas was the Lafourche Parish District Attorney. With the exception of a couple of judicial challenges during the Tardo (Lafourche Parish President) Administration, the Home Rule Charter worked well.
During the Arron Caillouet Administration, a group of self proclaimed Charter experts brought a new Charter up for a referendum (election) in Lafourche Parish.  The group campaigned for the new charter by advertising that the new Charter would reduce the size of the Lafourche Parish Council from 15 members to 9 members.  The group convinced the public that acceptance of the new charter would save the tax payers $100,000.00.  The Public was enticed into voting for an ill written document (the Lafourche Parish Home Rule Charter).
The 2000-2004 Lafourche Parish Council ( “Buzz” Breaux Administration or 5-4 Council) was the first group to act under the new Charter.  Mr. Breaux, for what ever reason, insisted on governing under the old Charter.  The “FIVE” (majority of the 2000-2004 Lafourche Parish Council) swore an oath to uphold the Lafourche Parish Charter, and they did.  Mr. Breaux challenged the “Five ” in a court of law.  Then DA, Walter “Buth” Naquin, advised the “FIVE” to seek outside legal representation.  The “FIVE” did and was ruled on by the State Supreme Court that the five were correct in their actions by acting under the new charter.  At this juncture, the “FIVE” could have been celebrated as a group of elected individuals who understood the charter and provided services to all of the people.  Instead of being proud of the “FIVE”, some people went as far as to accuse them of being public villains rather than public servants.  WHY?

OPINIONS:

In my opinion, Sheriff Webre and DA Naquin were political enemies.  The alleged Thibodaux silk Stocking elites, no longer had total political control and was further hampered by a governing authority (FIVE”) who the Silk Stocking elites could NOT control.  In my opinion, people with money and perceived powers can convince the general public of just about anything. 
EXAMPLE:
The public voted for Cam Morvant over Butch Naquin as DA of Lafourche Parish.  In my opinion, the public gave the Silk Stocking group(SSG) control of the Sheriff and DA.  The SSG could not control the “FIVE”.  In my opinion, a lot of time and money was invested in forming a political group known as “Lafourche First” for the sole purpose of electing individuals to the Lafourche Parish Council who the SSG could control.  In my opinion, the SSG fooled the public again, by creating the present day Council.  In my opinion, not the tax payers, but the SSG has total control of local Government in Lafourche. 
EXAMPLE:
The “FIVE” called a special meeting in January of 2004.  The purpose was to investigate and litigate some members of the SSG in an attempt to retrieve the alleged unauthorized payments of tax payers money to/by Boards, Banks, Engineers and contractors.  In my opinion, one of the most despicable act was when Cam allowed the SSG into allegedly pressuring him to take legal action against his client, The Lafourche Parish Governing Authority.  In my opinion, the next most despicable act by Cam was when he allegedly advised this Council at their first meeting, to drop all litigation against members of the SSG.  Was he thinking of the public or the SSG?  Controlled?
To use a phrase from a Japanese military leader after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the SSG and their alleged controlled elected officials may one day “awaken a Sleeping Giant”, the tax payers of Lafourche Parish.

Stay in touch, the SSG and elected officials can only have the level of power that the tax payers allow them to have.  In my opinion,  the tax payers of Lafourche lost their children’s future when they compromised the “People’s Council” (2000-2004 Council) for the present day Council, Sheriff and District Attorney.    

Tomorrow, the Nation will celebrate Constitution Day (Sept. 17).  We may examine the Lafourche Parish Charter.

FACTS:

Viewing last Tuesday’s Lafourche Parish Council meeting reinforced the public perception of this administration and its department heads having more excuses for not doing things, then Carter have Liver Pills.  The focus was on the lack of leadership of the Chairperson. 

OPINIONS:

It appeared that the Chairperson had the attention span of a flea, which was embarassing to watch and insulting to the public speakers, to say the least.  He Lacked professionalism by looking down and side to side as he arrogantly did not address the speakers by their sir names.  It is obvious that the Chairperson did not vote on the FEMA map issue based on facts presented by both sides of the issue. He voted to appease both sides, that is not leadership.  The Chairperson called for a vote on the FEMA map issue.  He began by naming four council individuals to his right, one at a time, they voiced their yeas and nays.  When it was time for the Chairperson to vote, he did not, he turned to the left and called on the four council members, one individual at a time as their votes were recorded.  The vote at this time was 5 against and 3 for the issue.  The Chairperson voted with the three, his vote had no affect on the outcome, thus appeasing both sides.  This display by Mr. Brent Callais supports the assertions that he is highly incompetent and truly belong in the “Jelly Fish Pond”.

Keep in touch, be alert because we, as tax payers will have a chance to vote our conscious in this month’s election and next year’s election (This month, the tree and next year, the acorn).

Facts:

It is often stated that the American public is against profiling people at airports because it may offend some ethnic race or culture.  It is said that the American public is against torturing terrorist for information because it is against the Geneva Convention.  It is said that the American public is for removal of any symbol that depict the slave era.  All of this feel good garbage is coming from the same group of people who are allegedly in favor of abortion an removing GOD from the pledge of allegiance (not the American Public).

OPINIONS:

I was brought up at a time when parents were in charge of the household.  When I wanted to go to the show on a school night, I would ask my Mom.  If she said said “NO”, I would say, all of my friends are going.  My Mom  would reply, “may, If your friends jump in the Bayou, you going to jump too?  My point is, that the tax payers of Lafourche Parish may want to learn to say no and stick to it.  The tax payers of Lafourche may want to treat our elected officials as being children in our family.  Lafourche Parish requires more than a few tax payers going out on election day and speak for all of the parish.  We all have a voice, we may want to please the majority of the tax payers.  Does the Majority want to keep the “Colonel” as a mascot?  Does the Majority want to put an end to the alleged public corruption?  Does the Majority want the Sheriff and DA to do the job they were elected to do or just continue socializing as we watch the children jump in the bayou because their friends are doing it?

Stay in touch, be energetic, do not fear the children (elected officials).

FACTS:

U. S. Attorney General, Roberto Gonzales, visited New Orleans Yesterday.  He was in New Orleans to assist officials with the crime problems and FEMA fraud activities.  Mr. Gonzales stated “people need to know that they will not get away with these crimes”, speaking on the subject of fraud.  Mr. Gonzales is aware of individuals using their positions with governmental agencies lining their pockets and he promised a crackdown.  On a positive note, the reason Mr. Gonzales did not come to Lafourche is probably because Lafourche has Sheriff Webre and DA Cam Morvant keeping our parish crime free.  I congratulate my friends, Sheriff Webre and DA Cam Morvant for being a deterrent to crime in Lafourche.

OPINIONS:

I had a dream that the tax payers of lafourche parish were less apathetic and much more critical of Lafourche Parish officials.
In my dream, I saw thousands of tax payers (not just one or two) storming Nichols State University when school officials deemed that the university mascot was inappropriate.  The “Colonel” mascot lasted 50 years in Lafourche Parish, now its gone forever.
In my dream, thousands of tax payers from Lafourche Parish, voiced their discontent toward the Sheriff and DA for taking little or no action towards alleged public corruption.  In my dream, the tax payers said that we will not tolerate this behavior until election time.  The tax payers said, “MR. Sheriff and MR. DA, step up to the plate or step down.” 
In my dream, MR. Roberto Gonzales asked the Lafourche parish sheriff and DA about the alleged “Water Weenie” scam, DPW Director generator fiasco, The Parish president’s spouse wrecking a parish vehicle at tax payers expense, The alleged use of Parish credit Cards by the parish president for personal gain, alleged cover-ups, the two councilmen who are alleged to have helped the administration cover up the “Water Weenie” event, etc.  I dreamed that the sheriff and DA said, “We are on top of it Mr. USAG, our tax payers demand that we do our jobs.  I dreamed that Mr. Gonzales later called the sheriff and DA and said, “I do not see anything happening,  don’t make me go down there”.
Then I woke up and realized it was all a dream.

Stay in touch, demand satisfaction from your elected officials, they are working for you (ha ha).

FACTS:

For decades, the tax dollars from South Lafourche benefited the northern region of Lafourche Parish.  There was one exception, the 2000-2004 Council equally distributed the wealth throughout the entire parish.  Everybody being treated equally, prompted Charlotte Randolph to coin one of her campaign phrases, “lets take our parish back”.  Judging from last night’s Lafourche Parish Council meeting, Ms. Randolph has successfully taken Lafourche Parish back to Thibodaux.( as the song goes, “I am Woman ,Here Me Roar”)
1. A motion to fire Jay Caillouet, architect for Lafourche parish, failed 5-4.
2. A motion to accept the FEMA flood elevations advisory maps failed 5-4.
3. On last night’s Lafourche Parish Council agenda was a proposed ordinance by Councilman Matherne (Thibodaux) to give a pay raise to all non-classified (department heads) parish employees.  Mr. Mathern pulled this item from the agenda without an explanation, allegedly.

OPINIONS:

Who is Jay Caillouet, Architect?
1. Is he a member of that same family who is allegedly  prohibiting tax payers from spending time on that section of Fourchon Beach claimed by the Caillouet Family?
2. Is he and other members of that family making a living off of the tax Payers?
3. Is he the same architect who designed the new Bayou Blue Library that recently flooded before it was even occupied?
4. Is he related to the Caillouet brothers who are employed by the Lafourche Parish District Attorney (paid by tax payers)?
5. Is he related to Mr. Charles Caillouet, Mayor of Thibodaux (paid by tax payers)?
6. Is it true that the grant writer hired by Charlotte Randolph is his sister-in-law?
7. Is it true that Ms. Randolph attempted to raise the grant writer’s salary by $15,000.00, but the council approved $10,000.00?
8. Is it true that the grant writer was allegedly only successful in obtaining a grant from a Thibodaux based Foundation allegedly led by Cam Morvant and whose money can only be spent within the City of Thibodaux?
9. Does it appear that this family who allegedly may be the same ones keeping tax payers off the beach, may be making a living at tax payers expense?
10. Does it appear that the Lafourche Parish jelly fish pond is back to its old tricks?

FEMA MAPS?
Acceptance of the FEMA maps may help home owners in the southern regions of Lafourche Parish.
Not accepting the FEMA maps may help land developers in the North/central regions of the parish.
Who is the majority of this Parish Council looking out for?
In my opinion, the biggest disappointment of all individual council members is the “wind sock councilman” (Lindell Toups) his vote depend on how the wind is blowing.

The previous 5-4 council helped all of the Lafourche tax payers.  This 5-4 council takes money away from the tax payers and reduce services (culverts?)  The previous council wasn’t expecting an invitation to Thanksgiving dinner.  This council appears to be helping themselves.

Stay in touch, be thankful to “Lafourche First” and Charlotte Randolph, for our present negative political atmosphere.