Bad news from CNN.com

New Orleans' record on rebuilding firehouses: 0-22 - CNN.com

This is an article about how the City of New Orleans has not yet rebuilt a single firehouse, two years after Katrina. Now this I did not know. It was forwarded to me by my husband, who used to work briefly for the Fire Dept. It turns out Dennis Leary, the actor and comedian, has rebuilt more fire stations with his foundation that the City of New Orleans.

Shit! That is deplorable! It makes me ashamed to be a New Orleans civil servant. Even I cannot agree that it is better to have rebuilt the libraries than the police and fire stations.

(I mean, it's not a zero-sum game, they should all be rebuilt -- but damn!)

In the article Dr. Ed Flakely, our Magic Recovery Crane Fairy, once again exposes his ignorance and mendacity.

In the article, Dennis Leary is quoted as saying, "it's a sad commentary on society when actors and musicians become the key players in helping a city rebound." In one sense, yes, where is the government? But in another sense, it's great. Who better to rebuild NOLA than artists and musicians?

But again, it's not a zero-sum game. Bureaucrats and artists both are required. We shouldn't have to pick between them.

Blog this on, please, people. It's a disgrace and people ought to know how New Orleans' Bravest are being treated by the City.