Living in the New Orleans area as a newcomer, one is struck with the daily fare of crime and corruption. One wonders whether the populace is aware of the incessant nature of the situation, inured to the point of blindness to the lifestyle that the lawlessness imposes on one and all. The crimes are in-your-face, as in murders, shootings, beatings, robberies, carjacking. Corruption is also a crime, more beneath the surface, like a cancer, active on the inside. There are two sides to the police effort, courageous officers working in a difficult situation, some getting enriched though side deals, some criminals themselves, frequently being caught by the honest element. Some of the stupid acts of criminals and their interactions with law enforcement will make you crack up with laughter. Some of the nefarious activities are generational, pulling the younger generation into crime, and some are due to blocks of influence that lead to reelection for decades of the powerful incumbents. Some of the abuses of the public trust are enshrined into law, written by the special interests and passed by the legislature. The governance by local and state administrations is rife with difficulties, incompetence, and mixed purposes, making any intersection with authority fraught with negative possibilities. Presents the repeated taxpayer ripoff by elected officials who create publicly funded scam charities which they plunder, as well as the manner in which some judges form cooperative criminal bonds with those doing business with the courts and thereby enrich themselves. Within this clouded atmosphere are vibrant elements of faith, art, creativity and joy. This book paints this situation in one detailed and documented narration. The central location of this book is Venetian Isles, a small waterfront community east of the main portion of New Orleans. Episodes of life portrayed here are representative of the low risk recreational and adventurous activities along the coast. The coastal area is influenced by big picture elements, such as the Mississippi River, the levees, the offshore oil and gas industry, the NASA Michoud Facility, the onshore and offshore natural resources that are subject to exploitation and abuse or preservation depending on the prevailing dispensation of the lawmakers. We have the fatalities from natural phenomena, the failure of protective efforts by various elements of the government, and the exacerbation of the threat by a profit-seeking industry. These are the themes developed in detail within this book.
Author has advanced degrees in wildlife biology and ecology, research experience in wildlife diseases, and impacts and remediation of coal mining in Appalachia, ecological aspects of offshore oil and gas development, Held positions as Infantry Officer, US Army; Park Ranger, National Park Service; Asst Chief of Game, and Research Supervisor, OK Dept. Wildlife Conservation; Supervisory Biological Scientist, US Dept Interior; Regional Supervisor Leasing and Environment, USDI, Gulf of Mexico. He created the Appalachian Clean Streams Initiative within the USDI Office of Surface Mining. Awards include American Motors national award for exceptional service in the cause of conservation, VPOTUS Hammer award; Bowhunting Council of Oklahoma award in recognition of outstanding service to sportsmen of Oklahoma as a professional wildlife manager, Citation by special act of the legislature of the State of Oklahoma for innovative leadership, awards for the Appalachian, Clean Streams Initiative, and the Meritorious Service Award from the US Department of the Interior for Offshore management achievements. Published popular and scientific papers and speeches cover the topics of whitetailed deer disease research and management, furbearer takes, trapping and hunting, acid/toxic mine drainage prevention and management, and floating production storage and offloading platforms (ships) for offshore oil and gas operations.
