The "living list"

We're still waiting to hear from Blakely. But he's likely to be talking about what's on the front page of the T-P today. The article looks at what it terms "the most solid piece of Blakely's otherwise tenuous financing package for the city's $1.1 billion recovery plan" which derives from a $260 million capital improvements bond issue passed by the voters back in 2004.

The bond issue was passed according to a pre-Katrina set of improvements priorities. Although the flood has obviously altered those priorities, the money cannot be legally appropriated for projects not specified in the item originally passed by the voters. Blakely is now trying to interpret the bond issue's wording loosely enough to subtly redirect funds to fit similar projects within his 17 targeted "recovery zones".

"What were doing is we're trying to match the projects with the zones. So a library is a library is a library, you know. If we move the library a block or two and put in the zone, we're fulfilling both objectives," Blakely said. "Certain streets are designated, but it doesn't necessarily say what block you're doing on that street, all right," he said. "So if we can move that block into one of our zones, that's what were doing. But were going to be within the intent of the legislation."

When Blakely's zones were first made public, I was a bit puzzled by some of the items marked for improvement in the plan. The fact that this bond issue had already set many of the parameters at least explains why the Blakely plan looks the way it does. At least it provides evidence that the plan was not spontaneously generated as Blakely said at the time, "in my head."

How much wiggle room the city has with this money is a point of contention however so, naturally, they're being as coy as possible with their plans.

"This list will become more solidified as a result of the process we are undertaking, but it will always be a living list, depending on the urgency of projects," spokesman James Ross said by e-mail, adding that the docket of new projects is being drawn up by the Office of Recovery Management and the City Planning Commission. Ross declined to provide a current draft.

So it is that our continued quest for specifics and transparency from the city once again comes down to "trust me".

Update: Oyster recaps another "living list" of recovery promises that haven't quite worked out the way Mayor cheerleader said they would. "Dying list" seems more appropriate.

Also: Happy Recovery Day btw. Celebrate by banging your head against the nearest brick wall until all the worries go away.