None of the jokes are landing

This was supposed to be a very important municipal election.  It was supposed to be an opportunity for organized push back against the obscene acceleration of hyper-capitalism and exploding inequality and have been grinding New Orleanians into the dirt in the post-Katrina years. Instead it has been the most insidery business-as-usual snooze fest imaginable. Somehow even the entertainment division of the mayor's race feels like an exercise in going through the motions.

How did this happen? Where did the joy go? There should at least be some joy.  Look at all these oddball candidates.  There's a grifter in a top hat who literally wants to build monorails. There is a guy who is running pretty much because he read one pop management theory book.  There is a lady who wears sparkly boas and talks about gladiators and space aliens and the like. There's a guy who is intentionally running as a joke candidate for the fourth time and he's actually kind of the sane one. This should be, at least in some way, entertaining. It isn't, though. It's flat and tired.

If we're going enjoy the comic relief part of the program, we first have to feel invested enough in the main even that we need to be relieved.  But, for the most part, we're not invested. The election is happening in near perfect isolation from the voters who would seek to engage with it. The principal candidates are focused on the donor circuit and their own inside baseball. Their policy positions are hollow iterations of cynical condescension.  When there's no hope that any outcome in an election can benefit anyone but wealthiest elites, there's no drama that needs to be cut with comedy.   One could argue there is a Dadaist statement to be made here but so what. Absurdism is a great lens for politics but it only has value if one can imagine a rational counterpoint worth aspiring to. The joke candidates this year, then, aren't really jokes. They are insults.

The situation is so bad that our clarion call for reengagement comes to us this week via Clancy DuBos, is inspired by something Newell Normand said, and praises the work of two upper class business community organizations. There's just no hope, is there?  Certainly not if this is any indication. 

Less than six months into implementation of the city’s short-term rental (STR) ordinance, the leading local proponent of expanded STRs is raising money for some City Council candidates “who have pledged to work with us,” according to an email sent by the pro-STR Alliance for Neighborhood Prosperity (ANP). In the email, ANP makes clear that the organization seeks to expand the “footprint of inclusion” for STRs and increase “both day count and occupancy permitted” in the city’s STR ordinance.

An ANP email sent last month titled "Call to Arms and Action-All Members City Wide" asked the group’s members and supporters to help raise campaign money by attending fundraisers for two council candidates in particular — District C incumbent Nadine Ramsey and District A hopeful Aylin Acikalin Maklansky, who until recently served as Ramsey’s legislative director. In addition to hosting fundraisers for Ramsey and Maklansky, ANP and its president have contributed to several other council candidates directly.

"Both are Equally important to our futures," the email said, "as their contending opposing candidates have announced anti-STR sentiment and prioritized restrictions going forward if elected. Please make every effort to contribute online and if unable to attend. Support your future by supporting those who have pledged to work with us."

There's definite political engagement happening here. It's just all on the wrong side, unfortunately. The pro-Airbnb team is pushing to expand short term rentals in New Orleans as soon as this December. With a show of strength in the fall election they should be able to get whatever they want passed. We've previously noted the odds-on favorite in the mayor's race is more or less on board with them.  I wish I had a joke to end on here but, well, it's not funny anymore.