Yes I remember and Katrina did not even hit New Orleans. It was corrupt elected Democrats that caused the damage to New Orleans not Katrina. A levy was not properly maintained and the neither was the pumping equipment. But Katrina gets the blame, easy scapegoat.
I worked in New Orleans and moved right before Katrina.
The Levee Boards were simply political appointees who were given generous expense accounts and remuneration, and did not have to possess expertise to properly manage Levees.
Voters approved a Constitutional Amendment to change the way they are selected and vetted. Some of the requirements include:
Specific guidelines
The law requires a specific mix of engineers, scientists and water managers, other professionals with college degrees and 10 years' experience in their fields, and everyday folks who don't have to meet educational or work requirements.
"This is a very complicated process, a very difficult board to fill," Lapeyre said.
An added challenge is that an overwhelming number of the applicants live in Jefferson Parish or Orleans Parish, yet the boards can seat them only in limited numbers.
For example, the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East will have 11 commissioners to govern the East Jefferson, Lake Borgne Basin and Orleans levee districts, as well as the newly created St. Tammany and Tangipahoa levee districts. It also will oversee regional projects east of the Mississippi River in St. John the Baptist and St. Charles parishes. But only one member each can come from Jefferson, Orleans, St. Bernard, St. John, St. Tammany, St. Charles and Tangipahoa. The remaining four spots are set aside for people living elsewhere.
The west bank regional board will oversee the West Jefferson Levee District and the Algiers portion of New Orleans with two commissioners from each of its jurisdictions and three nonresidents.
In spite of the geographic specificity, Lapeyre said, it looks as though the nominating committee has the required number of applicants from all jurisdictions. That could change once the ethical overlay is added and the numbers begin to decline.
Lapeyre already knows some applicants will be eliminated or remove themselves from consideration, once they better understand some very strict state guidelines. Disqualifying factors include:
-- No board member or close relative can have interest in any entity that does business of any kind with the regional levee district, its subdistricts or any facilities that the board controls.
-- No elected officials or former elected officials, within 24 months of the termination of their terms, can serve on the boards.
-- No public employees or former public employees, within 12 months of the termination of their employment, can serve.
-- No person who has registered as a legislative lobbyist within two calendar years of the date of appointment can serve.
-- No person can serve while also seated on another board or commission that is appointed by any elected official or body of elected members.
-- Levee board members cannot support or oppose a political candidate or issue except by voting, nor become a member of any political committee or faction, nor solicit money on behalf of a candidate or party or help manage a campaign.
