Meffert Out

Greg Meffert, the man responsible for launching the most poorly performing site on the internet, attempting to install surveillance cameras in New Orleans classrooms, as well as not quite winning the battle for free municipal wi-fi, is leaving City Hall apparently to go make millions of dollars somewhere... a largely unremarkable development aside from the fact that it has prompted some particularly hideous sycophantic reporting from Frank Donze this morning.

Greg Meffert, the brash computer whiz recruited by New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin in 2002 to bring digital technology to a horse-and-buggy city government, has resigned unexpectedly, becoming the last original member of Nagin's inner circle to leave the administration.

Yup.. he actually used the word, "whiz." And then there's this.

Nagin announced that Mark Kurt will immediately replace Meffert. In a sharp departure from normal procedure, the administration provided no background on Kurt, failing to give basic information such as his age and whether he had been working for the city.

Really? The Mayor's office is being less than forthcoming with what should be public information and this is a "sharp departure"? Could have fooled me. Also could have fooled Clancy DuBos, who I heard on the Garland Robinette show yesterday afternoon talking about how secretive the Nagin administration has been. He even talked about how he recently comiserated WITH DONZE about how hard it is for reporters to get their phone calls returned at City Hall. Maybe Donze figures he can get back in the loop if he puckers up enough.. I don't know.

Also.. for more on the City's bizzare opacity and the T-P's repeated failings to penetrate it see.. just about everything David has written for the past month or so.

Update: Applicants already lining up to replace Meffert. And they come with rec letters