New Orleans Mayor Landrieu plans to fire top officials over flooding

[alp227]

Source: Times-Picayune

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said Tuesday (Aug. 8) he wants two top officials at the Sewerage & Water Board fired after it became clear that the public was misled over the agency's handling of citywide flooding on Saturday. Landrieu also accepted the resignation of his public works director, Mark Jernigan, saying he has become frustrated with getting answers about how effectively the department is maintaining the drainage system.

Cedric Grant, executive director of the Sewerage and Water Board, announced earlier in the day he intends to retire at the end of hurricane season, Nov. 30.

Landrieu said he will pursue the terminations of Joseph Becker, the Sewerage and Water Board's general superintendent and a 30-year employee, and the utility's chief spokeswoman, Lisa Martin. The mayor made his decision to ask the Sewerage and Water Board to approve the terminations as his staff began reviewing documents that indicated Becker had not disclosed that some city pumping stations were not operating at full capacity.

Becker withheld documents showing the pumping stations' diminished capacity as Grant sought to reassure the public over the weekend that the city's pumping stations were prepared for Saturday's deluge. Adding to Becker's problems was his disastrous testimony before the City Council on Tuesday, which included some council members accusing the Sewerage and Water Board of obfuscation.

Read more: http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/08/new_orleans_mayor_landrieu_fir.html

[dembotoz]

1. Mechanical devices need to be serviced

Does look like it could have been planned better

[Sgent]

3. Not during the height of hurricane season

I've been a Mitch supporter, but this whole incident was a cluster.

[TexasBushwhacker]

2. We flood a lot in Houston

A people always complain, but when it comes time to possibly raise tax rates, all they do is bitch and moan. In the article it said $3 million had be allocated, but I wonder if it's too little, too late.