Good evening Mayor and Council. I would appreciate no one interrupting while I read my statement. I
wish to correct some of what I said before this Council last month. I am getting older and sometimes can
not speak as clearly as I would like. That is why I will give you a copy of this statement after I have
finished. I apologize to those who may have misunderstood what I was saying. I have had several issues
with the city almost since Mr Johnston became mayor. None of these issues have been addressed to my
satisfaction by the mayor or council. It has always been lip service with maybe a “don’t forget to vote for
me next time and I might be able to do something about your issues.” This is why I stated that the
council and mayor do absolutely nothing, (about my issues).
The afternoon before the meeting I approached the mayor with a request to bring up a code issue about
front yard fences in the older neighborhoods. I had been complaining about dogs running loose, and
coming in my front yard, ruining my lawn and killing my plants while doing their business there so their
owners would not have that mess in their yards. It was a simple reasonable request but hizzoner insisted
that I come to the meeting with this issue. At the same time I told him about this man who came in front of
my house with his unleashed Labrador. The dog looked like he was going to mess in my yard. I chased
the dog off and reminded the guy of our leash law. He replied, “You must think you own the street.” The
dog went two feet up the levee and did his business. I asked him, if he had something to pick up the dog
mess.
He shrugged and said as he walked on, “Leave me alone.” I am too old to handle someone physically, but
if I were a few years younger I would have smeared his face in that dog mess. It may be that hizzoner had
a lapse of memory when he said I referred to this guy as someone on the levee with his dog. I do not know
all the newer neighbors on my street but by his replies to me I took it as if he lived on my street and I told
hizzoner that soon as I spot the dog in one of the yards I would give him the address. The issue was if
you relax the front yard code on fences on streets that already had these fences the citizens would not
have to fight irresponsible dog owners who leave their dogs run loose on the street.
I will not dwell very long on other issues.The city does not enforce code on all businesses equally.
Double M Feed uses up their required parking spaces and public rights of way with their products. Many
of their customers have to back up into the highway when they are leaving. Sometimes they have to
almost block the dead end side street. Their fork lift operates illegally in the street and does not have a
back up beeper or required red triangle sign. Eighteen wheelers park on the side street and have crushed
the storm drain several times. All of Woodlawn is crumbling. The right of way in front of the store is
broken up. The hwy contractor has not even prepared it for the new highway layer. Some of the
customers think they can get to River Rd by coming down Woodlawn. They turn in my driveway to get
back out. My end of the street and the driveway apron are badly damaged. Mr Cobb has stated at the last
meeting and at other times that they have been cited and have paid $3500.00 in fines. However I have
found from other sources that they have not paid a fine in over a year. Everyday that has passed since
the last fine paid they have been grossly violating the code and have not paid additional fines.
Mr. Mayor, you can not enforce the code or the dog leash law. You can not run for Dog Catcher much less
Police chief. I definitely would not vote for you for any public office. Maybe the Parish President can
appoint you to some office. Looks like there is going to be a lot of openings over there at the Yenni
Building.
Dangerous ditches along the Highway have not been addressed by this administration. Hizzoner hunched
his shoulders and palms up he tells me it’s the states problem not his. He proceeded to tell me that the
death trap ditch at Folse and Harris, across Folse from the Winn Dixie building was not within the city
limits and it was not his problem. This ditch could swallow a whole school bus easily, upside down
drowning the children of Harahan parents.
Hizzoner passed on it. It was not in City limits. I have written letters to different officials but they all
passed the buck like hizzoner did.
I complained about the death trap ditches in front of the country club. He responded with three tin stick
signs with black and yellow reflective stripes. I just learned today that a Harahan police car on a very
stormy day ran into this ditch. Now this officer knows the highway. Why did this happen? It is a very
dangerous situation.
There are many other issues but like before I don’t want to waste anybody’s time any more than I have to.
I know it is important to enlarge and remodel city hall and also to have those special French Quarter street
lights out in the front so I will leave you all wishing each and everyone a very Merry Christmas. I have a
special gift for hizzoner. It is something that the mayor has none of and I think as mayor he needs this
very much. Good night and God Bless.
(The gift to hizzoner was a pair of walnuts. If you know him well enough you would know that this was a fitting gift.
Without looking at them he daintily picked them up and tossed them to the corner behind Mr Landrys' seat.)
wish to correct some of what I said before this Council last month. I am getting older and sometimes can
not speak as clearly as I would like. That is why I will give you a copy of this statement after I have
finished. I apologize to those who may have misunderstood what I was saying. I have had several issues
with the city almost since Mr Johnston became mayor. None of these issues have been addressed to my
satisfaction by the mayor or council. It has always been lip service with maybe a “don’t forget to vote for
me next time and I might be able to do something about your issues.” This is why I stated that the
council and mayor do absolutely nothing, (about my issues).
The afternoon before the meeting I approached the mayor with a request to bring up a code issue about
front yard fences in the older neighborhoods. I had been complaining about dogs running loose, and
coming in my front yard, ruining my lawn and killing my plants while doing their business there so their
owners would not have that mess in their yards. It was a simple reasonable request but hizzoner insisted
that I come to the meeting with this issue. At the same time I told him about this man who came in front of
my house with his unleashed Labrador. The dog looked like he was going to mess in my yard. I chased
the dog off and reminded the guy of our leash law. He replied, “You must think you own the street.” The
dog went two feet up the levee and did his business. I asked him, if he had something to pick up the dog
mess.
He shrugged and said as he walked on, “Leave me alone.” I am too old to handle someone physically, but
if I were a few years younger I would have smeared his face in that dog mess. It may be that hizzoner had
a lapse of memory when he said I referred to this guy as someone on the levee with his dog. I do not know
all the newer neighbors on my street but by his replies to me I took it as if he lived on my street and I told
hizzoner that soon as I spot the dog in one of the yards I would give him the address. The issue was if
you relax the front yard code on fences on streets that already had these fences the citizens would not
have to fight irresponsible dog owners who leave their dogs run loose on the street.
I will not dwell very long on other issues.The city does not enforce code on all businesses equally.
Double M Feed uses up their required parking spaces and public rights of way with their products. Many
of their customers have to back up into the highway when they are leaving. Sometimes they have to
almost block the dead end side street. Their fork lift operates illegally in the street and does not have a
back up beeper or required red triangle sign. Eighteen wheelers park on the side street and have crushed
the storm drain several times. All of Woodlawn is crumbling. The right of way in front of the store is
broken up. The hwy contractor has not even prepared it for the new highway layer. Some of the
customers think they can get to River Rd by coming down Woodlawn. They turn in my driveway to get
back out. My end of the street and the driveway apron are badly damaged. Mr Cobb has stated at the last
meeting and at other times that they have been cited and have paid $3500.00 in fines. However I have
found from other sources that they have not paid a fine in over a year. Everyday that has passed since
the last fine paid they have been grossly violating the code and have not paid additional fines.
Mr. Mayor, you can not enforce the code or the dog leash law. You can not run for Dog Catcher much less
Police chief. I definitely would not vote for you for any public office. Maybe the Parish President can
appoint you to some office. Looks like there is going to be a lot of openings over there at the Yenni
Building.
Dangerous ditches along the Highway have not been addressed by this administration. Hizzoner hunched
his shoulders and palms up he tells me it’s the states problem not his. He proceeded to tell me that the
death trap ditch at Folse and Harris, across Folse from the Winn Dixie building was not within the city
limits and it was not his problem. This ditch could swallow a whole school bus easily, upside down
drowning the children of Harahan parents.
Hizzoner passed on it. It was not in City limits. I have written letters to different officials but they all
passed the buck like hizzoner did.
I complained about the death trap ditches in front of the country club. He responded with three tin stick
signs with black and yellow reflective stripes. I just learned today that a Harahan police car on a very
stormy day ran into this ditch. Now this officer knows the highway. Why did this happen? It is a very
dangerous situation.
There are many other issues but like before I don’t want to waste anybody’s time any more than I have to.
I know it is important to enlarge and remodel city hall and also to have those special French Quarter street
lights out in the front so I will leave you all wishing each and everyone a very Merry Christmas. I have a
special gift for hizzoner. It is something that the mayor has none of and I think as mayor he needs this
very much. Good night and God Bless.
(The gift to hizzoner was a pair of walnuts. If you know him well enough you would know that this was a fitting gift.
Without looking at them he daintily picked them up and tossed them to the corner behind Mr Landrys' seat.)
| In response to minutes of November 09 council meeting HARAHAN COUNCIL MEETING December 2009 Address the Council |
| This is a part of the published minutes for the City of Harahan Council Meeting 0f November, 19 2009 Published 01/07/2010 How can citizens know what is going on with minutes published so much later ? You can watch the Council meetings every Monday and Tuesday @ 7PM COX 6 The Government Channel You can Watch the December meeting there and see Johnston tell the Council to DISREGARD that TRASH after I had finished and left the stand. |
TOO BAD MR JOHNSTON YOU ARE NOT ROYALTY. YOU WORK FOR ALL CITIZENS, NOT JUST THOSE WHO GIVE YOU MONEY. I WILL CONFRONT YOU AND CALL YOU DOWN FOR YOUR FAILURES AS A MAYOR WHENEVER I FEEL LIKE IT. TRY THIS ONE ON. CLICK |
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