Ringside Politics With A Punch

It is amazing what public pressure and media attention can do. On Thursday, New Orleans Police Chief Warren Riley finally decided to do the right thing regarding misconduct within his department. Riley fired police trainee Ashley Terry, who flipped out at the Treme Community Center last week, yelling expletives and reportedly waving a firearm. The Chief also released Officer Donyell Sanchell from the department. This is the policeman who emulated Mario Andretti on the Crescent City Connection, bumped a bridge officer with his vehicle and then slapped that officer in an amazing display of arrogance. Sanchell was outraged that a bridge officer was trying to stop him from driving like a lunatic at 90 mph on the Crescent City Connection.

Last Saturday night, the Alliance for Good Government held their annual banquet. Throughout the evening, I was accosted by Louisiana Legislators who complained that I was “too critical” and that I needed to stop “bashing the Legislature.” Well, that is an almost impossible task since at least some legislators give me so much material to work with on an almost daily basis. To make amends, I am offering some friendly advice to my legislative friends. They should forgo the idea of a special legislative session and try to rehabilitate their poor image with the voters of Louisiana.