COVERITLIVE.COM

11:01

Jeff Crouere -

Joining me today is legal analyst Tim Meche. We are discussing the email controversy at New Orleans City Hall. Tim, you researched this issue and have come to an interesting conclusion. In your view, the law is on the side of Tracie Washington and Veronica White. Tell us more please.

11:03

Tim Meche - Yes , Jeff, if you take a close look at the Louisiana public records act, La. $.@. 44.1, it does seem to support Ms. White/Washington.

11:04

Tim Meche - E-mails from those within the legislative branch, like the City Council members are definitely covered by the public records act. And, if they were requested pursuant to the Act they must be turned over and, Ms. White/Washington are free to do what they want with them.

11:05

[Comment From Dennis]
Mr. Meche, are you saying that Ms. White has the legal right to have copies of all emails sent and received from city hall without notifiying anyone?

11:05

[Comment From Kurt Heumann]
Then why weren't Ray Nagins turned over?

11:06

Jeff Crouere -

What is surprising is the speed with which this request was fulfilled while Mayor Nagin has stonewalled for months.

11:07

Tim Meche - Ms. White did notify the person in charge of the information when she made her request just as Lee Zurick did. There are exceptions to the law but the decision on whether or not records are covered by the exceptions are to be made by the "custodian of records" and that person apparently made the decision to turn them over. The same entitly apparently made a different decision in Nagin's case. That's just politics, but it's not illegal.

11:07

[Comment From nolaniche]
I thought the issues was the WAY it was done not if they had a right to request.

11:08

Jeff Crouere -

To me the public is upset that Mayor Nagin has been able to thwart the media requests, while the council members received no notice and then discovered months later that their e-mails were made public. There should be a consistent standard for the mayor and the council.

11:08

[Comment From john]
will we ever seen an end to screwball politics that hold our city captive

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