Voice your opinion

With the announcement that at least one city council member (District A Councilwoman Shelley Midura) has officially chosen not to seek re-election in May and rumors and reports that there might be others on the current council that will bow out gracefully or not so gracefully next spring. We’re are also disheartened to hear that District C Councilman James Carter, too, might be considering resignation, perhaps even before his term ends—a move that would leave a void that would likely be filled through appointment and that would give someone who was not elected by the people an incumbent advantage if he or she chose to run for the post next year.

With all of this, it seems now is a good time to remind all citizens that the decision to run for public office is a sober one that must be made by individuals with the ability to put the best interest of this city’s residents over their own.

At The Tribune, we respect Midura’s decision and appreciate the fact that she has decided to not run again in lieu of half-heartedly serving New Orleanians.

Still, especially troubling are the some of the reasons cited for the decision not to run again—too many challenges, too many hours, not enough pay. New Orleans City Council members earn $42,000 a year for their service. We certainly would not disagree that a hard working public servant in this position deserves a raise. What we do take issue with is the idea the title itself, the amount of work or the challenges faced should command more money. And we take issue with anyone who would focus on pay more than people because surely a political candidate knows and accepts that challenges, hard work and a few obstacles are synonymous with leadership. We would like to believe they chose to run anyway because they truly felt a calling to make a difference.

As for the salary, consider that according to U.S. Census records, the per capita income in New Orleans in 2007 was just below $22,800—about $3400 less than the U.S. per capita income. So if the paycheck that comes with the job is the biggest concern for an individual, then public leadership will probably not suit him or her; and that’s fine. But before anyone declares that $42,000 is not enough, take a look around at your fellow New Orleanians—the hardworking citizens fortunate enough to have a job in this tough economy—and think about what they may be earning.

We implore those considering a run for office next May to make certain that they are ready for the challenges, will be committed to making a difference and dedicated to the people of this city despite the long hours and low pay. As always, that’s what we think, but we want to know what cha say? What qualities do you expect from or would like to see in a political candidate or our elected officials?

In late June, more news developed in the case involving a fight between white off-duty NOPD officers and Black RTA employees at the Beach Corner, a mid-city bar and restaurant.  Officer Jennifer Samuels, who was off duty at the time of the incident, claimed she took a gun off of RTA employee Lamont Williams.  But other accounts of the incident tell that she retrieved the gun from the parked car of one of Williams’ coworkers. Samuels has said she took the gun off of Williams and either handed it to her husband Jason Samuels, also an off-duty cop, or to another off-duty cop; but both deny ever being handed a gun by Samuels.

Meanwhile, Williams, against whom the charges were dropped by the DA’s office because the police statements and those of other witnesses were too murky of mangled mess, is suing NOPD. And he is looking to the community for support in his effort. Indeed, Williams’ case is not for him or only about the Beach Corner incident alone. It is for every man or woman—but especially those of us from OUR community—who has been or knows someone who has been the victim of police brutality and terrorist police tactics. We anxiously await the outcome of this proceeding as we hope that it will shed more light on what really occurred Mardi Gras night 2008 at the Beach Corner, provide Williams with some retribution and give the NOPD just the push it seems to need to clean up its ranks. Here at The Tribune we support and applaud his effort to stand up for his rights and encourage others in the community to do the same.

And we hope that NOPD would do more to indicate that it will not tolerate this sort of behavior form its sworn officers. Chief Warren Riley’s letter of reprimand cites Samuels for hiding information that led to Williams’ false arrest. Truth is Samuel’s did more than hide information. If the allegations are true, she egregiously and callously planted evidence and provided false statements to hide the previous act. Officer Samuels has been suspended for 80 days. We say that’s not enough—not nearly enough. Samuels needs to be fired.  Because of this incident, Samuels will forever spoil any case she touches.  The crime problem in New Orleans is too serious for NOPD to risk letting real criminals get away because Officer Samuels just happened to be the responding officer or first on the scene.  Her character is irreversibly impeachable. Get her off of our streets for good. That’s what we say; but as always, we want to know what cha say? The NOPD internal investigators are satisfied that Samuels at the very least lied about where she got the gun that she claimed she took off of Lamont Williams.  Last we checked that was called planting evidence. 

Would you want Officer Jennifer Samuels to stop you, your son or any member of your family?