Why do we even have a DDD?

It's a little bit different from most of the parcel fees and security districts that fragment our municipal map. But only in that it's even more of a ridiculous slush fund.  What they're arguing about here is Mitch's decision to raid DDD in order to shore up city pension funds a few years back.  That was probably technically illegal... but also without a doubt one of the best things Mitch did while he was in office.

That doesn't make its director happy. But only because it means less money he gets to pass out to friends and patrons to do "economic development."

Weigle shot back that his organization's lawsuit to stop the city from withholding its funds to pay pension costs was necessary.

"Keep in mind, the revenue of the DDD comes from taxpayers downtown," he said. "I think there is a responsibility on behalf of the organization to stand up for its taxpayers and to ensure that DDD funds are spent downtown."

The organization levies a special property tax to pay for enhanced government services, capital projects and economic development efforts in the area bounded by Claiborne Avenue, Iberville, the river and the Pontchartrain Expressway.

Weigle said his organization needs things like an economic development department to help attract retail and other businesses to the Central Business District. And he denied that trash and graffiti abatement is lackluster in areas the DDD maintains.

Notice that line about how the DDD entity is supposed to "stand up for its taxpayers" as if there is some sort of legitimacy imbued by their skimming arrangement. Nobody elected Kurt Weigel to anything. None of these taxpayers belong to him or to DDD which shouldn't even exist in the first place.