I've got my attention divided in several directions at the moment. Some personal dealings, also the city is getting ready to experience a massive BLIZZARD OF THE CENTURY (there's a city hall press conference scheduled for 11:15 that I think may be entertaining.) All of which is to say that I am well aware of that Trump II: The Trumpening is the major event of the day but there's only so much time I can spend with that just now.
Anyway, enjoy the circus.
The U.S. Department of Justice issued a report Thursday evening finding that Louisiana State Police employs practices that violate the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, specifically the use of excessive force, often unjustifiably using Tasers and escalating minor incidents with people who do not pose a threat.
The Justice Department began its investigation of State Police in 2022 after revelations about the 2019 death of Black motorist Ronald Greene at the hands of Monroe-area troopers who beat and Tased him after a high-speed chase into Union Parish.
“We also found that troopers use excessive force to immediately control encounters, often within the first few moments of encountering a person and without giving the person a warning or an opportunity to comply,” the report said. “Additionally, LSP uses excessive force on people who run from troopers, even when that person is only suspected of a misdemeanor.”
The findings were released two days after federal prosecutors said they would not bring charges in the deadly 2019 arrest of Black motorist Ronald Greene, ending a lengthy probe into the white state troopers who stunned, punched and dragged Greene on a roadside following a high-speed chase outside Monroe, Louisiana.
Hopefully the DOJ has some plan to rectify these abuses? Right?
The Justice Department also examined whether state police engage in “racially discriminatory policing” but made no findings “at this time” as to whether that contributed to the misconduct.
The report recommends — but does not mandate — a long list of remedial measures, while also crediting the agency with making ”much-needed reforms after video of Mr. Greene’s death became public.”
Oh well. Best of luck, everybody
This isn't really a post in that there are more notes to share about both of these figures which we'll get to later. But we really need to mark these quotes down right now for future reference. Louisiana is at a specific conjuncture of profane stupidity right now. But also it is rich with examples of how even under fascist oligarchy, the leadership is still populated by insecure try-hard types who say and do stupid stupid things.
For example, the hack bureaucrat installed by the fossil fuel lobby to ruthlessly gut the state's Department of Environmental Quality, despite her no-lose situation and guarantee of lavish personal wealth now and forever, is still this insanely image conscious.. and incredibly stupid about it.
Louisiana's environmental chief is trying out a different spelling for her last name in agency statements — and it seems designed to strike a chord with residents of the Bayou State.
DEQ Secretary Aurelia Skipwith Giacometto changed the spelling of her last name to "Giacometteaux" in recent communications with the public and media because, she said, she loves Louisiana.
The shift appeared recently in a statement issued on Jan. 7 about the state Department of Environmental Quality's efforts to streamline permitting for the oil and gas industry.
Amazingly, the constitutional hollowness extends even further up the hierarchy. The current King of Louisiana, for example, is "best friends" with the Governor and can buy or have gifted to him whatever he wishes with no responsibility to anybody for anything. But even from that lofty height, he still has a pathetic need to be liked. He even goes so far to compare himself with current King of America and consequently World's Most Despicably Desperate Man to make that point for himself and for us.
Guidry also said that, though he is not elected or appointed to a position in an official capacity, he was providing his services to the governor and the levee authority pro-bono. He donated or raised $3 million to help elect Landry during his gubernatorial campaign.
“Look, I’m best friends with the governor. We talk ten times a day, seven days a week,” Guidry said. “Look at Elon Musk, right? There’s a reason why he’s doing something free for Trump — because he knows he can help him. And Trump wants that. There’s a reason why I do what I do free for Jeff because he knows I have nothing to gain.”
In a way, the analogy demonstrates remarkable self-awareness on Guidry's part. But it's also just so so sad.
I've had less time to be annoying online lately. That should change soon. But 2025 has been a monster already. Not only because the world seems to be on fire in various ways but also because of a series of personal crises. Hopefully that gets dealt with soon enough.
Even so, it's hard to know what there is to say anymore. Nobody has to work very hard to explain the cruelty and corruption that happens every day. It's all so blatantly on the table now. I'm not even going to say anything here. Just putting the relevant bits in bold for you.
As part of a sweeping effort to spruce up New Orleans before the Super Bowl on Feb. 9, Gov. Jeff Landry said Monday his administration will begin clearing homeless encampments downtown, moving some residents to a Gentilly warehouse miles away and others to undisclosed locations out of state.
The 70,000-square-foot shelter is expected to open by Wednesday, when state authorities plan to begin relocating those living on the streets around the Caesars Superdome, French Quarter, I-10 and US 90. Notices were being posted at some encampments on Monday, warning that failure to move to the new shelter “may result in enforcement action or legal proceedings.” The notices indicate that transportation and storage will be provided.
The warehouse, located at 5601 France Road, will serve as a temporary shelter and can accommodate 200 people, according to a proposal by Workforce Group, the company that Gov. Jeff Landry’s administration has tapped to operate the facility.
The building is owned by the Port of New Orleans and sits along the Industrial Canal across from Pontchartrain Park, far from the city's tourist-laden core. It will be subleased to the state for at least two months at an estimated cost of $11.4 million, with a possible one-month extension that would increase the price tag to $16.2, according to budget documents. That time frame ensures the shelter will be operational through Mardi Gras on March 4, another massive tourist draw.
Okay I will say one thing to move the story forward. Many have pointed out that the state could spend 16 million dollars on the same people and probably get them all housed or well on the path to being housed. Instead they are putting them in a concentration camp. Are they doing that because they think its efficient? Probably not. Or they doing it because "the cruelty is the point"? Maybe. Is there some other reason as well? Well, see...
Baton Rouge-based Workforce Group is a disaster recovery firm that helps state and local officials with federal grants, data management, staffing and insurance claims, according to its website. Workforce Group is owned by The Lemoine Company, a Lafayette firm backed by Bernhard Capital Partners.
Yes, that Bernhard Capital.