The best and brightest...or not

So our recovery czar du jour has put together his crack team. Of course, they're sucking half a million annually out of a city budget that can't afford to pay firemen their raises. This money is supplemented by $1M in grants from the Rockefeller, Ford, and Gates foundations.

Blakely, who has been on the job about six weeks, hailed his new staff’s academic credentials, citing that three of the appointees have Ph.D’s and 11 have master’s degrees. He also pointed out the team’s diversity, noting that nine are women and eight are men, that their ages range from 25 to 75 and that while most are from Louisiana, one is from Australia and another from Yugoslavia.

“It would be hard to get this staff anywhere in the world,” he said.

I could get a better qualified staff off of my blogroll. More PhDs, more MS degrees, more diverse, more varied backgrounds, more qualified. More importantly, they genuinely care about New Orleans.

Maybe he was insinuating that it would be hard to get a staff this dismal.

Case in point:

Jessie Smallwood, a local businesswoman who was executive director of the Housing Authority of New Orleans from 1986-89, as deputy director of the Recovery Office. Smallwood, who owns a vacation rentals reservation service, has worked in a variety of government administration positions over the past four decades,including as an assistant commissioner of administration for former Gov. Edwin Edwards.

And what magic did she work as executive director for HANO?

On January 14, 1988, Johnnie Smith, his wife, and four children burned to death in a fire at the Desire housing project in New Orleans. Just two weeks earlier, the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) had forfeited $106,000 of a federal grant to install smoke detectors in the high-rise building. Although the money had been awarded a year earlier and there were smoke detectors gathering dust in a downtown warebouse, HANO had failed to find anyone in or out of the authority qualited to screw them in.

When HANO was questioned about the failure by the New Orleans Times-Picayune, then director Jesse Smallwood explained, "I don't want to belabor that we could've or should've. . . .1 don't feel anyone should be blamed."

Same as it ever was...same as it ever was.

H/T and bow to Karen

Comments

[bayoustjohndavidb]

From nola.com:

"The city said 66 people applied for jobs in the office, whose original budget was about $500,000 for five positions. City spokesman James Ross said private foundations provided funding for nine of the remaining positions; the state also has provided two staff, and the New Orleans Police Department, one, he said."

How's the NOPD able to spare the help? With his ego, he probably demands a full time police escort as well. Even with the private money it will cost the city more than $500,000.

[Mr. Clio]

Smallwood--the ultimate brother-in-law appointment.

[Mr. Clio]

By the way, I saw your KDV float on PBS last night.

Since when are you and your associates smart enough to get attention on PBS?

[liprap]

Wow, half a mill to be divided amongst five lucky Golden Ticket winners? I should have applied for the job. If I'd have gotten it, my husband wouldn't have to commute to Baton Rouge anymore...

[Howie Luvzus]

Come on Ashley, they had cool blue shirts and this guy is only one of six who has actually done this. That's got to give us hope!

Trust me. I work in the same office with city staff members. There's just no way that Nagin can hire competent employees. Remember, he spent $150,000 on Kimberly Butler!

[MAD]

How does Blakely have time to do his job, what with the full-time ego stroking he engages in?
He has the credentials, to be sure, but he is obnoxious, and that is not an admirable quality for a re-building czar.

[Belstaff Jacken]

the fresh Affordable Guidance subsequently goes on to fight highly regarding neighborhood discussion especially on Belstaff Tasche pricing matters in difficult moments.

[Mulberry Bags]

the fresh Affordable Guidance subsequently goes on to fight highly regarding neighborhood discussion especially on Belstaff Tasche pricing matters in difficult moments.

[North Face Sale]

I am so sad I can't even breathe.

Ashley was my brother.

Anything, just ask. Anything.