Scoping Meeting Summary
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NNeeww OOrrlleeaannss RRaaiill GGaatteewwaayy PPrrooggrraamm Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development U.S. Department of Transportation - Federal Railroad Administration New Orleans Rail Gateway EIS Jefferson and Orleans Parishes State Project No. H.005168 F.A.P. No. DE-9208(500) Summary of Public Scoping Meetings Tuesday, February 7, 2012 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Xavier University of Louisiana University Center, 3rd Floor Mary and William McCaffrey Ballroom B 4980 Dixon Street New Orleans, LA 70125 Wednesday, February 8, 2012 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Joseph S. Yenni Building Council Chambers 1221 Elmwood Park Boulevard Jefferson, LA 70123 Table of Contents Public Notices Newspaper Ads Public Mailers Public Service Announcements (PSA’s) Technical Presentation Handout Materials Individuals Making Formal Statements Sign-In Sheets Individual’s Written Comments PUBLIC NOTICES Newspaper Ads 7NN17NMA0122 SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2012 THE TIMES-PICAYUNE A-17 NATION For some, pardons are about redemption — For others, the pardons offer released on a suspended sen- a chance at a better job and a tence — meaning he was still on Others get a second better life. parole and didn’t have the convic- Larry Harper, a convicted kill- tion wiped from his record. shot at better jobs er who worked in the Governor’s Barbour’s pardon could cut Mansion for Barbour’s prede- Harper loose from parole. If it — cessor, Democratic Gov. Ron- stands. By Holbrook Mohr nie Musgrove, said he has been Attorney General Jim Hood, The Associated Press cleaning a chicken pro- the lone Democrat in cessing plant for eight statewide office, has WESSON, MISS. — When Thomas years since he got out pledged to fight dozens Ailes heard from a friend that of prison on a suspend- of the pardons, saying he’d been pardoned for a mari- ed sentence. The mur- many didn’t publish noti- juana conviction from the 1970s, der, aggravated assault fications in local news- he didn’t wait for the Mississippi and weapon violations, papers every day for a Parole Board to mail him the he says, are like heavy month as required for paperwork. He jumped in his chains that keep him pardons. blue Dodge truck and drove an from moving up in the Haley Barbour The pardon of five hour to the capital to pick it up world. Former Miss. Governor’s Mansion himself. “That’s all I want is governor criti- trusties sentenced to life On an unseasonably warm to do a better job. As far cized for par- — four for killings and morning last week, the Vietnam owning a gun and all that dons granted the other for robbery — veteran kicked back on his front other stuff, I don’t care. got the most attention. porch in the tiny town of Wesson I just want a better job,” Harper One had shot his estranged and proudly displayed Executive told The Associated Press in a wife in the head while she held Order No. 1083, one of nearly telephone interview. their baby, and then shot and 200 pardons former Gov. Haley Harper acknowledges he wounded her friend. Another Barbour signed in his final days killed a man in the early 1980s, trusty shot his wife in the back. in office. ROGELIO V. SOLIS / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS but said he meant only to shoot Hood first moved to block their “I’m going to have about 10 On the porch of his Wesson, Miss., home Wednesday, Thomas Ailes displays Executive Order No. the man in the shoulder while pardons, then filed papers to copies of this bad boy made. And 1083, which pardons him for a marijuana conviction from the 1970s. The Vietnam veteran drove to protecting himself. block dozens more. this one here is getting framed,” Harper was sentenced to life But Parole Board Chairwom- Ailes said. Jackson to pick up the executive order from the Mississippi Parole Board after first learning of the in 1983. He was a good prisoner an Shannon Warnock told the The pardon isn’t life-changing pardon from a friend earlier this month. and earned the coveted trusty AP Ailes and others got vague for Ailes, 61. He’s been out of job in 1997. Governors histori- instructions. Some were led to prison since 1977. He’s disabled, Barbour, a two-term Republi- convicted of crimes in the 1960s Now 64, Lowery served less cally released the trusties at the believe they could publish once so it won’t help him land a job. can governor, has been criticized — one for arson, two for bur- than a year in 1979 and hasn’t end of their terms, though new a week for a month — not every He never lost his right to vote. for granting so many pardons glary and one for robbery. More been in trouble since. But the Republican Gov. Phil Bryant end- day as constitutionally required. “I just wanted the same clean and for giving them to people than four times that many were felony conviction was a haunting ed the program Thursday. On Monday, a judge will record I had when I joined the convicted of serious crimes like convicted of crimes in the 1970s, embarrassment. Harper was paroled Aug. 17, decide whether the pardons can Marines,” he said. “I wanted it so murder and rape. Among those and even more in the ’80s and Like Ailes, the pardon isn’t 1998. But less than a year later, stand, though the ruling can be I can clear my conscience.” pardoned were trusties — pris- ’90s. Barbour has said 189 of the likely to have much effect on he was arrested again, this time appealed. Ailes’ hopes may be dashed. oners so trusted that they are people who got reprieves were Lowery’s life. He too is disabled, on aggravated assault and weap- Thinking back to that day on The Mississippi attorney gener- allowed to work at the Gover- already out of prison, like Her- from heart surgery and lung can- ons charges. He said he didn’t the porch, smiling in the warm al’s office is trying to have dozens nor’s Mansion. Some lawmakers bert Lowery of Vicksburg. cer. He’s an avid hunter, but a have a weapon and didn’t assault sun and celebrating his good for- of pardons thrown out, includ- have vowed to craft legislation Lowery was 30 when he was judge restored his right to own a anyone, but was mixed up with tune, Ailes felt betrayed when ing his. that would limit the governor’s busted for delivering marijuana gun years ago. He’s been voting the wrong crowd. he learned his pardon could be In the shadows of the national pardoning powers. and admitted he was looking for ever since he got of prison. He was sent back to prison erased. headlines and angry reaction Most of the pardons were for fast money to build a house and “I just wanted to clear my in June 1999 and again became “That’s a crock,” Ailes said. from victims of heinous crimes, lesser crimes, some dating back start a family. A shameful mis- name before I died,” Lowery a Governor’s Mansion trusty in “I guess that’s the way they do there are many like Ailes, search- decades. Four men who benefit- take, he called it, saying he’s nev- said. “I’m so ashamed of what I March 2001. When Musgrove a veteran. I did everything they ing for redemption, not freedom. ed from Barbour’s pardons were er even smoked pot. did.” left office in 2004, he had Harper told me to do.” SHOP Gay marriage gains support in Wash. state THE DIFFERENCE — opposed same-sex marriage said several other states, including was spearheaded by Democrat- groundwork, but now the state is he will now vote for it. California, Oregon and New Jer- ic Sen. Ed Murray, a gay law- ready to address same-sex mar- Bills to get first Bills to legalize same-sex mar- sey, have laws that either recog- maker from Seattle who has led riage. “The culture changes and Visit us to try riage have been introduced in nize civil unions or domestic part- the push for gay civil rights and the politics follows,” he said. machines that PRECOR legislative hearings the House and Senate, spon- nerships that afford same-sex domestic partnerships and who The state Senate is now just you will not find HOME MODELS sored by two gay lawmakers who couples some or nearly all of the is sponsoring the Senate mar- one vote shy of having enough anywhere else! — have pushed for gay rights mea- rights of marriage. riage bill. backing to approve the bill, with ON SALE By Rachel La Corte sures in past years. The bills will The debate over same-sex Murray said that it may a half-dozen lawmakers remain- The Associated Press have their first public hearings marriage in Washington state have taken years to lay the ing uncommitted. on Monday, before Senate and has changed significantly since OLYMPIA, WASH. — The last time House committees. While gay lawmakers passed Washing- same-sex marriage was debated marriage bills have been intro- ton’s Defense of Marriage Act Notice is hereby given that the Louisiana Department of in the Washington state Legis- duced in Washington state before, in 1998. The constitutionality of Transportation and Development and Federal Railroad lature, lawmakers voted to ban this is the first time the issue will DOMA was ultimately upheld Administration will conduct open-forum public meetings for: it. Fourteen years later, the issue receive a public hearing. by the state Supreme Court in is before the Legislature once “If there’s one word to sum 2006, but earlier that year, a gay State Project No.