LaRootsViews Storms 09 12 08

							Welcome again to the LaRoots e-bulletin network, publishing since March 2004.

Beaucoup Blues III – Delivering Louisiana, which was scheduled for Saturday September
13th is canceled due to Hurricane Ike as well as the recovery activities from last week's
Hurricane Gustav, which keeps the lights out in many homes in south Louisiana. The
cooperation and understanding of the Caughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center in
Alexandria and to our scheduled speakers and panelists are appreciated.
New video – We Shall Not Be Moved http://www.weshallnotbemoved.org

CONGRESSIONAL NEWS:

Endorsed Congressional candidates ask LaRoots to form volunteer teams of two or three to
help, as our time allows, with GOTV with office help, telephone calls, canvassing and other
duties. Please reply if you can give a little time to the Jim Harlan campaign in the 1 st and to
the James Carter campaign in the 2nd Congressional District.

From Britton Loftin ON CD-07...”Senator Don Cravins Jr is on the national website
www.dailykos.com for being one of the "Best Sleeper Races in Dixie". Please go show your
support for Jr. and vote for him by clicking this link. Scroll down the page a bit and you will see
the ballot or you can press "CTRL/F" and type in Cravins, press enter and it will take you
directly to it.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/8/135355/9865/736/591152


Orleans Parish Democratic Executive Committee Endorsed Candidates Info:

President – Barack Obama www.barackobama.com
View the Obama family album http://obamascrapbook.com/index.htm
REGISTER TO VOTE https://www.voteforchange.com/
JohnMcCain is lying, same-old, same-old http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH0xzsogzAk


United States Senator – Mary Landrieu www.marylandrieu.com
To join the LaRoots table at Senator Landrieu's New Orleans luncheon on October 10 th at the
Hilton, please contact deborahlanghoff@cox.net

U.S. Representative District 1 – Jim Harlan www.harlanforcongress.org
Momentum gaining as Harlan makes 1st district stops on the southshore

EDITORIAL STATEMENT ABOUT THE 2ND CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN:
U.S. Representative District 2 – James Carter www.jamescarter.us
City Councilman James Carter is working for us every day in City Council Chambers as well
as in meetings with neighborhood representatives
http://www.nola.com/timespic/stories/index.ssf?/base/library-
155/1221111140253660.xml&coll=1
Councilman James Carter is the only candidate who received endorsements of both the
newly-elected Orleans Parish Democratic Executive Committee and the Jefferson Parish
Democratic Executive Committee, as well as from the New Orleans Coalition and numerous
officeholders, proving he has the confidence of those who have worked with him and of many
reform-minded activists. He is a hard-working, independent-minded, honest, and effective
officeholder.

Bill Jefferson should not have sought this seat again in our opinion. Among previously noted
problems, it now appears Jefferson doesn't support the immediate closing of the MRGO,
according to a recent blogger. An interesting read
http://wecouldbefamous.blogspot.com/2008/09/southern-scrap-more-than-meets-eye.html

Newscaster Helena Moreno has no experience in government, and she did not file her FEC
papers as a Democrat, but later qualified as one. In a district with current voter registration at
62% African-American and 76% Democratic, her odds are not good, in our opinion, in a runoff
that could deliver the district back to the incumbent.

Cedric Richmond enjoys some support from his “state legislative colleagues” which helps with
endorsements, but we doubt that District 2 can afford the national publicity that could result
from an unfavorable post-election decision about possible suspension of his law license.
More important, Richmond repeatedly refuses to distance himself from the Jefferson team
and refuses to criticize the Congressman's behavior and decisions. District 2 deserves a
clear and unqualified change from the incumbent.

Troy C Carter's career in government in the 1990's is a strong track record, but with his family
now permanently residing in North Carolina, additional travel on weekends could impose even
more burden on what is already a challenging and time-consuming job that requires
residences in both New Orleans and Washington DC.

Please consider supporting City Councilman James Carter for Congress from District 2.

...End of editorializing

Other candidates receiving OPDEC endorsements
Associate Justice – Roland Belsome http://judgerolandbelsome.com/
District Attorney – Jason Roger Williams
Magistrate Criminal Court – Gerard J. Hansen
Civil District Court Judge Section F – Paula Brown
Criminal District Court Judge Section B – Lynda Van Davis
Criminal District Court Judge Section F – Robin Pittman

Criminal District Court Judge Section I – Karen Herman www.karenhermanforudge.com
Karen Herman Campaign for Judge Criminal Court, Section I holds an event at F&M Patio
Bar, 4841 Tchoupitoulas Street on Thursday, September 18, 2008 from 6 PM ‘til 8 PM -
$25.00 Open Bar

Criminal District Court Judge Section J – Darryl Derbigny
Criminal District Court Judge Section K – Arthur Hunter http://www.judgearthurhunter.com/
Orleans Parish School Board District 1 – John M. “Johnny” Blanchard
Orleans Parish School Board District 2 – Cynthia Cade

Orleans Parish School Board District 3 – C. Davin Boldissar www.davin2008.org
New Orleans School Board candidate Davin Boldissar's party at his home is this Thursday
September 11th from 6 – 9pm at 3327 Dumaine Street. Pin Stripe Brass Band will entertain
and refreshments will be offered. The suggested contribution is $50. www.davin2008.org

Orleans Parish School Board District 4 – Camacia Ross
Orleans Parish School Board District 5 – Avis Brock
Orleans Parish School Board District 6 – Percy J. Marchand www.vote4marchand.org
LaRoots congratulates all Democratic candidates, not only those receiving OPDEC's
endorsements, on their public service and we value their commitment to Democratic
principles.


HURRICANE INFORMATION -

Native American communities in south Lafourche and south Terrebonne Parishes hundreds
of years old were devastated by Hurricane Gustav and will take additional anticipated storm
surges outside of the levee protection system as Hurricane Ike skirts by the coast on its way
to Texas.
Help lines have been set up through the Louisiana Environmental Action Network
http://leanweb.org/news/latest/hurricane-gustav-relief-2.html
and through United Houma Nation
http://www.unitedhoumanation.org/?q=node/11

Evaculations from Ike are called for areas of south Louisiana outside of the levee protection
system.
http://www.emergency.louisiana.gov/Releases/IkeEvacuations.html

Food Stamps Deadline to apply has been extended until Sept 23 rd to apply for foodstamps,
and application to the federal government has been made to waive the in-person requirement.
Locations
http://www.dss.state.la.us/departments/dss/Disaster_Food_Stamp_Program_.html#Orleans

Utilities – Deadline to apply for the Utility Bill Deferment plan is Friday Sept 12th. This
program allows elderly (over 65), low income and disabled customers to defer paying portions
of the electricity bills for as long as a year. Cleco and Entergy have suspended utility
disconnections temporarily and are willing to work with individuals unable to pay their bills on
a case by case basis. Call Entergy 1-800-ENTERGY or 1-800-622-6537.

Blue Roof Program - The program is open to those who qualify, as follows:
1.Have a photo ID such as driver's license or proof of residency at the location.
2.Know the kind of roof you have. Structures with flat roofs and tile roofs consisting of clay,
slate or asbestos (transite) do not qualify. Mobile homes and roofs consisting of metal will be
reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
3.Roof must be less than 50% damaged.
4.The structure must be assessed as habitable once the blue roof is installed.
5.All debris must be removed from the roof for it to qualify.
6.The applicant has to sign a right-of-entry form.
Residents can call a toll-free telephone number, 1-888-Roof-Blu (1-888-766-3258), to find out
the location of the Blue Roof Right of Entry collection sites in their parish.
Orleans Demolitions – All neighborhood associations should be monitoring the city's
demolition database www.velocitycityhall.com for an unanticipated suspension of the
established review process of demolitions in the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav. It has been
reported that some owners are getting “over the counter” permits for properties where the
neighbors are vocally opposed to the demolitions.


IMMIGRATION PRESS RELEASE -Please pass to those you know in Texas
STATEMENT BY HOMELAND SECURITY ASSISTANT PRESS SECRETARY MICHAEL
KEEGAN ON IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT POSTURE DURING HURRICANE IKE
In the event of an emergency -- such as a hurricane -- and the need for an officially ordered
evacuation, our highest priorities are the safe evacuation of people who are leaving the
danger zone, engagement in life-saving and life-sustaining activities, maintenance of public
order, prevention of the loss of property to the extent possible, and assistance with the
speedy recovery of the region.
There will be no DHS immigration enforcement operations associated with evacuations and
sheltering.
The Department's law enforcement components will be at the ready to help anyone in need of
assistance. Obviously, the laws will not be suspended, but in the event of an evacuation, we
want to make sure that we can help local authorities move traffic out of the danger zone
quickly, safely, and efficiently.
###
DECLARACIÓN DEL SERETARIO ASSISTENTE DE PRENSA PARA EL DEPARTAMENTO
DE SEGURIDAD NACIONAL MICHAEL KEEGAN EN MATERIA DE OPERATIVOS DE
IMMIGRACION DURANTE EL HURACÁN IKE
En el caso de una emergencia - como un huracán - y la necesidad de una orden official de
evacuación, nuestras máximas prioridades son la evacuación segura de las personas que
están abandonando la zona de peligro, la participación de tratar de salvar vidas y el
sostenimiento de esas vidas, el orden público, proteccion de la propiedad en la medida
posible, y asistir con la recuperación de la region affectada una vez pasada la emergencia.
No habrá operativos de inmigración asociados con los esfuerzos de evacuación y refugio.
Las agencias del departamento con responsabilidad de hacer cumplir las leyes estaran a la
dispocición para ayudar a cualquier persona en necesidad de asistencia. Obviamente, las
leyes no seran obviadas durante este periodo, pero en el caso de una evacuación, queremos
asegurarnos de que las autoridades locales reciban la ayuda necesaria para mover el tráfico
de la zona de peligro de una forma rápida, segura y eficaz.
###

ON 9/11/08...
To commemorate the end the seventh year since the terrorists attacks of 9/11, please refer to
the home page of the www.CatholicDemocrats.org website.
In an effort to spotlight the substantive work of the Obama-Biden ticket, which lost the
spotlight this week to the other guys, please note that the Obama-Biden ticket and the DNC
has clearly articulated the common ground that supports a reduction in the number of
abortions performed in America without criminalizing or ostracizing women and their doctors.
Here is an example of the messages developed by Catholic Democrats founder Dr Patrick
Whelan, along with others who value life in its fullest context.
"Democrats care as much or more about the wellbeing of babies and children as any
Republican. The difference is that Senator McCain is a prisoner of the do-nothing, divisive,
failed rhetoric of the past. Many Americans who care deeply about the abortion question are
similarly prisoners of this vague, dead-end, Karl Rovian sloganeering.

In contrast, as stated clearly in our Democratic Party Platform, the Obama/Biden
Administration will build on constructive Democratic approaches to decreasing unintended
pregnancies with strategies that proved to be spectacularly successful all through the 1990s.
Abortions fell at a rate 50% faster under the last Democratic Administration, compared to the
stagnation we've seen under Bush that will continue under McCain. Anyone who really cares
about the abortion question in America should declare their independence from the old
thinking about this, and vote for new Democratic leadership on this issue."

Be safe -

Deborah and Alan Langhoff

www.LaRoots.net

4234 Canal Street New Orleans 70119


Items can be included in the next e-bulletin by submitting information to
deborahlanghoff@cox.net

LaRoots is a privately owned project that will not be given away or sold. It was developed
during the Presidential campaign cycle of 2004. Writers strive to be fair, but do not pretend to
be impartial. This bulletin is designed to foster conversations across Louisiana that promote
liberal and progressive initiatives, and where possible to welcome independent thinking and
support The Democratic Party.




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