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Catch basin program inspires some sewer humor, and other area political news

The New Orleans Advocate - 2/20/2018

Catch basin program inspires sewer humor

Letting the internet name things can lead to some fun results, a lesson City Hall may be learning with its effort to encourage New Orleanians to clean catch basins near their homes.

The Adopt a Catch Basin program includes a site, catchbasin.nola.gov, that allows residents to sign up to be responsible for particular catch basins, marking them as clean or in need of attention. And, to personalize it a bit, users can give their catch basin a name.

While many users have picked predictably descriptive names - the location of the storm drain or the name of the person or family claiming it - others have gotten a bit more creative.

There are "Catchy McBasinpants" and "Catchy McBasinface," in the spirit of a 2016 online naming poll that nearly saw a British research ship named Boaty McBoatface. Others went with qualitative descriptions, like "Stinky Drain."

Among the handful named after science fiction and fantasy characters, perhaps the most apt was "Sarlacc," the massive subterranean beast in "Return of the Jedi" that appears only as a ravenous mouth and tongue.

And, of course, some names have a bit more of an edge.

"Why did the city spend tax money to make this site?" one person asked, using the naming field.

"MitchBettaHaveMyFloodMoney," said another.

St. Tammany sheriff: Jail tax is needed

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith has tangled with Concerned Citizens of St. Tammany before when he's sought public support for a tax, in one instance calling the self-styled government watchdog organization a "hate group" when it did not support a millage for his agency in 2016.

But with a sales tax for the parish jail going before voters for a third time, the sheriff is taking a more measured tone in his prepared response to Concerned Citizens' recently announced opposition, saying he is disappointed, "especially since it appears their decision was based partially on inaccurate information."

Concerned Citizens cited new sentencing alternatives that are expected to reduce inmate populations in Louisiana as part of its reason for opposing the one-fifth-cent sales tax. The state has already seen a decrease of 5,000 inmates in the last five years, according to Concerned Citizens, which said there is less if any need for a local prison.

The group also said state facilities offer more inmate services aimed at reducing recidivism.

Smith countered by calling the the parish jail "an essential component of the St. Tammany Parish judicial system," noting that the state Department of Public Safety and Corrections is responsible only for inmates who've been convicted. The parish jail houses some state inmates, he said, but also more than 560 parish inmates awaiting trial or cannot post bail.

Last year, more than 8,000 people were booked into the jail, Smith said, and that number is increasing.

The parish is obligated by state law to provide a "good and sufficient jail," he said, and the sheriff is responsible for operating it and paying the deputies to staff it.

If the tax fails, Smith said, it will hurt public safety because he'll be forced to further reduce the jail's staff. He said the jail will become a "revolving door."

"Criminals who victimize our citizens will be back on the streets quickly to potentially do it again," he said.

He also disagreed with Concerned Citizens' claims that the parish jail offers less in the way of inmate services, saying it offers multiple state inmate programs and provides education, rehabilitation and re-entry support, "many of the same programs which CCST's opinion states are not offered at our facility."

"This (tax) renewal is very important for our future. I'm asking the voters to please understand the importance of this renewal and support it," he said.

Concerned Citizens also opposes a one-fifth-cent sales tax for the parish courthouse. Both measures are on the March 24 ballot.

Officials preparing for church shootings

Call them unhappy signs of the times.

In the wake of the latest deadly mass shooting, at a Florida school, local law enforcement officials are reaching out to leaders of another type of institution that can become the target of such attacks: churches.

Greater New Orleans Crimestoppers, New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison and other local law enforcement officials are inviting clergy of all faiths to assemble at 10 a.m. Saturday at Greater St. Stephen Church, 5600 Read Blvd.

Crimestoppers President Darlene Cusanza said authorities will provide information to religious leaders tasked with any aspect of their worship services, including church security officers.

A panel of law enforcement experts will engage the audience in shooter scenarios, provide information and answer questions.

Church officials interested in attending are asked to register at info@crimestoppers.org.

For information, Crimestoppers clergy outreach coordinator Brandon Boutin or Cusanza can be reached at (504) 837-8477.

Meanwhile, the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office will meet with more than two dozen church leaders Thursday to discuss response training for various types of emergencies they may encounter, including armed intruders.

That event, which is for local clergy only, will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Sheriff's Office Training Center, 2118 Jackson Ave., in Chalmette, behind the Parish Courthouse.

Sheriff James Pohlmann and other officials will speak about ways the Sheriff's Office can help churches prepare for such emergencies.

"It's a question of being prepared in advance for what could happen, while hoping it doesn't happen. In today's environment, it's the preparation that's the key,'' the sheriff said. "We are hoping to offer some advice from a law enforcement perspective for these church leaders in the event they have a violent emergency at one of their houses of worship."

Compiled by Jeff Adelson, Sara Pagones and Bruce Eggler