Closed Circuit

You really do have to hand it to our "transparent" city government for figuring out as many ways to un-transparentize itself as it has. We're fortunate enough to have so many frequent "emergencies" to take advantage of. But even that doesn't work all the time. However, if you can manage to get yourself sued as often as possible, you may never have to conduct business in public again.

Most of Monday's meeting was held in closed session because Southern Electronics' lawsuit against the city was on the agenda.

But Head said the private discussion held under the cloak of executive session had little if anything to do with the lawsuit and should have been in the open.

She also said that administrators at the meeting, including lawyers and purchasing agents, appeared shocked upon hearing of the payments to Ciber.

At least one of her colleagues was surprised as well.

"Jesus, Mary and Joseph, " said Councilwoman Cynthia Hedge-Morrell, after being told the gist of the letter. "Every time we ask questions, it's, 'you know, we're in litigation.' "

These are heady times in New Orleans. We are writing the textbook on Disaster Capitalism for local government.