February 2008 is month 30 since Katrina. The third Mardi Gras, since the storm, was a big success although it was overshadowed this year by the coincidence of Super Tuesday national presidential primary elections also falling on February 5th. A few candidates visited New Orleans, but interest in the city's plight is waning. Hillary did drop by to participate in something called the State of the Black Union address with notables like Tavis Smiley, Al Sharpton and our own C. Ray Nagin ("...one nation, under God, indivisible..." anyone?), mmm...February is Black History Month (originated as Negro History Week in 1926). Obama gave a speech at Tulane.

McCain is rumored to be consorting with lobbyists, taking favors, and is in a tight spot over his campaign finances, but he's a big boy and doesn't let huge contributions affect his judgment. Obama and Hillary in a snit over words as their race tightens. Spending has started on the local races with Steve Scalise advertising his conservative credentials in pursuit of Jindal's House seat. William Jefferson's trial is still pending.

Formaldehyde levels in FEMA trailers resurfaced as a major issue when a CDC report warned that some trailers could be causing illness. About 35,000 trailers remain in use. With half the Road Home money still undistributed, trailer use will continue for a while longer.

The Corps remains active. Announcements that they intend to renovate the Industrial Canal locks in preparation for closing Mr.GO drew interest away from the announcement that 29 foot high levees would be needed to protect parts of New Orleans East and St. Bernard Parish from a 100 year storm.

Governor Jindal's special legislative session on ethics reform....is underway....and...legislators are arguing about free tickets to sporting events. The underlying issue is economic development. Government needs to be part of the attraction, not a problem to be overcome. With effective government ( is that an oxymoron? ) comes the possibility of good schools, less crime, and solid infrastructure. Doesn't anyone see a trend here?

The first ever head-on collision between two streetcars took place on the Canal Street line at 8:17 am on February 11th. Apparently a switch was in the wrong position and one car was diverted into the other with too little time for either to come to a full stop. Cars travel at up to 26 mph so a full speed head-on collision would have been devastating. Twenty-three people were injured in this collision at the corner of Canal and North Gayoso right in front of the RTA headquarters. The cars were damaged but able to drive away under their own power.

Automated traffic enforcement via the red light video cameras in Jefferson Parish is making a difference. Over 56,000 tickets have been written in three months. Just for reference there were 2,208 hours in those three months. That means over twenty tickets per hour at just eleven highly publicized locations. About 20,000 tickets have been paid, providing $2,000,000 in revenue. Fewer tickets are being written each month. People are driving differently. Some may even be slowing down and backing off. Predictably, the courts are falling behind in the appeals process and accident data is not being compiled and publicized. Orleans is up next.

The Super Bowl fell to the Giants with local favorite Eli Manning in the news as MVP. The NBA All Stars visited after Valentine's Day. Carnival is over, now Jazz Fest is on tap. Brittany, Lindsey and Snoop continue to command public attention. Bread and circuses anyone?