OPINIONS

Editorials, opinions and commentary from The Times-Picayune

Mardi Gras Indians are an irreplaceable part of New Orleans' cultural fabric. For ages, they have masked and paraded in their hand-sewn, feathery costumes, in a beloved tradition that city officials should strive to preserve and honor. That's why the New Orleans Police Department needs to work with the Indian chiefs to address complaints stemming from an incident after... Full story »

Drivers can't possibly give their full attention to what's happening on the road when they're text messaging, a fact that Louisiana lawmakers recognized in 2008, when they passed legislation banning the practice. But under that law, police officers can only ticket drivers for texting if they've first been stopped for another traffic infraction, making it a so-called secondary offense.... Full story »

Many New Orleanians probably have a list of qualities they'd like to see in the next police chief, and the task force in charge of that search wants to hear from all of you. Residents can attend a community meeting Thursday or fill out a survey about the characteristics the new superintendent should have. The meeting starts at 6:30... Full story »

Mayor Ray Nagin can leave office with the security that no history of his administration will accuse him of micromanaging the city. Granted, there probably won't be many that celebrate him for effective macromanagement, there being so few big projects his administration has seen through to fruition. What the mayor has managed to do is convince the public of... Full story »

From the beginning, 2010 had the makings of a classic "change" election. After eight years of Mayor Ray Nagin's antics and nearly five of a frustratingly slow recovery, New Orleans voters were clearly eager for a new dynamic. Now that the last two City Council contests have been settled, you've got to wonder: If change really was the election season's... Full story »

Re: "Many sacrifice for health care," Your Opinions, March 8. Few letters to the editor have slapped me in the face as hard as this one. The letter asserts that if you want access to heath insurance, get a job. My heart reached out to the millions who are denied choice on health care due to no fault of their... Full story »

I'd like to thank Scott Fujita for being the first free agent to sign with the Saints in 2006 after Katrina and for being an integral part of our Super Bowl XLIV winning team. I'd also like to thank him for being such a proponent of my great hometown, New Orleans, and for giving some of his personal money to... Full story »

Scott Fujita says his decision to sign with the Browns is just "business." Spare us the justifications. Greed has trumped Fujita's vaunted devotion to, and roots in, New Orleans. Apparently, those roots are shallow enough to easily uproot for Northern soil. I am disappointed in Fujita, but "business" dictates that I sell his jersey rather than throw it away. Maybe... Full story »

After reading the article about teachers working 10-hour dayas and risking burnout at Akili Academy and similar charters in New Orleans, I came to this logical conclusion. This article is the best rationale for collective bargaining rights for teachers that I have ever read in my entire life. Even the teachers unions couldn't have done a better job. Nothing else... Full story »

Re: "President gives in to urges: smoking, taxing," Your Opinions, March 8. I had to chuckle at Joseph Maselli's comments. His example of the egregious and mortally sinful occasional smoke casts significant illumination on the total corruption of the office of the presidency under Mr. Obama. I'd certainly like to hear more about that from him and other role models... Full story »

Re: "Inspector says Riley is stifling access: NO. chief ignores law on records, he says," Page 1, March 4. Bruce Eggler's coverage this week of Inspector General Ed Quatrevaux's claim that New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren Riley has "repeatedly refused to comply with the law" rings true with me. Innocence Project New Orleans has long struggled to get public records... Full story »

Louisiana officials have spent years trying to make the rest of the country understand that this state's coastal erosion crisis is a national environmental issue. That's why it is encouraging that a White House working group is calling for coastal restoration in Louisiana and Mississippi to be a priority on par with navigation and flood protection in future federal decision-making.... Full story »

Low-riding pants are certainly obnoxious, and young people who expose their underwear and even their backsides should know that. But just because something is annoying, that doesn't mean it should be illegal. State Rep. Rickey Hardy of Lafayette has filed House Bill 103, which seeks to criminalize the fashion trend, and that's a huge overreaction. "It may be a trend,... Full story »

I first met Dan and Sharon Struthers in the months after Hurricane Katrina, when I felt the need to help someone other than myself put their home back together after the storm. The Minnesota couple and I spent a day pulling nails from the gutted walls of a flood-damaged home near Slidell, a monotonous if simple job. But it gave... Full story »

I was a one-day visitor to your lovely city. When I am in a new town, I like to pick up the local newspaper to get a sense of the community. As I sat having lunch in a bistro on Royal Street I read The Times-Picayune. What a great newspaper you put out! The front page was full of local... Full story »