by Sam Winston

The latest New Orleans Index report is out.

“With unemployment at a three-year low, New Orleans continues to make economic strides. However, the first notable slowdown in population recovery in nearly two years threatens these gains, particularly due to a dearth of skilled workers for recovery-related jobs.”

Click here to see the full report (pdf).

Don’t miss the record release party for Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes at Tipitina’s Friday 1/18. The new record has the gonzo rock and funk that they have become known for. And they were on my radio show last week where they said that they had something special planned for this gig. Their last release party at Tips they dressed in tuxedos for the first song and then dropped their trousers and played the rest of the gig sans pants. That’s NOT happening this year, but who knows what might, ya heard me?

Knowing what’s good for you to eat is easy, but finding it in New Orleans can be difficult. Sure, people have plenty of misconceptions about food — potato chips really aren’t vegetables — but most folks know that fresh fruits and vegetables are healthy choices. The problem in New Orleans is access to fresh produce. According to Tulane University, nearly 60 percent of New Orleans residents must drive over three miles to reach a supermarket and there is only one supermarket per 18,500 residents; the national average is one per 8,800.

As we pointed out last October, programs like “Steps to a Healthier New Orleans” are now more focused on environmental and public-policy changes than public education. Last week, the Food Policy Advisory Committee — made up of numerous community partners including grocery store owners, city agencies, charity organizations and health organizations — brought a list of recommendations to the City Council. Although the committee introduced the list with a statement “that all our citizens deserve equal access to fresh and nutritious food,” the following recommended actions took on a decidedly economic tone such as providing grants and loans for new businesses, reducing regulatory barriers for those that sell fresh food and creating tax incentives to encourage the sale of fresh food. Read the rest of this entry »

by Sam Winston

When I say that I’ve got an addiction, it’s not the German chocolate, the good beer, or the endless variety of freshly baked bread here. It’s the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

No matter how many articles, blogs, video clips and op-ed essays I read and watch, I can’t get enough. It doesn’t matter how silly the press, the pollsters, and the entire circus of overconsumption seems, I read on. And although I already decided who am I voting for about a month ago, I continue to scour the internet compulsively every morning.

Why? Because like the rest of America, I’m dying to see who is going to win. There is nothing more American than a good fight. A battle. A contest. A competition. I don’t want to just see who wins. I want to inject myself into the competition and say, “I’m going to win too!”

I suppose that I’ve justified my overconsumption until now for a number of reasons. I’m abroad so my access to information is limited. I’m a journalist so it’s important for me to know what’s going on. I’m an American and this is such an important time in our country, it’s important that I make an educated decision with my vote.

But we know that’s not why I watch. What you tell yourself is not why you watch, either. Of course it’s not. Read the rest of this entry »