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<h1 class="lead"><small><small>Mayor and police chief still silent in
response to NYPD spying in N.O.</small></small></h1>
<span class="redd">
<p><b> 27th August 2012<br>
<small><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.louisianaweekly.com/mayor-and-police-chief-still-silent-in-response-to-nypd-spying-in-n-o/">http://www.louisianaweekly.com/mayor-and-police-chief-still-silent-in-response-to-nypd-spying-in-n-o/</a></small><br>
</b></p>
</span>
<p><strong>By Jordan Flaherty</strong><br>
<em>Contributing Writer</em></p>
<p><em>Editor’s Note: Documents recently uncovered by Associated Press
reveal that the New York City Police Department traveled to New Orleans
in 2008 to conduct surveillance operations. Louisiana Weekly
contributor Jordan Flaherty was among the named targets of the spying.</em></p>
<p>In a Pulitzer prize-winning series of investigations over the past
year, the Associated Press revealed that the New York City Police
Department was conducting spying operations on U.S. citizens across
several states, including as far away as here in New Orleans. However,
the difference in how cities have responded to the revelations
highlights much of what is wrong with our local political system,
criminal justice system, and even media.</p>
<p>Compare New Orleans to Newark, New Jersey. When evidence of New
York City spying activities was uncovered, it became a major story
across New Jersey print and TV. Here in New Orleans, The Louisiana
Weekly was the only outlet to cover the story (although the
Times-Picayune did reprint the Associated Press story).</p>
<p>In New Jersey, politicians from across the political spectrum were
quick to condemn the spying program. New Jersey’s Republican governor,
Chris Christie, told reporters that he was angered by the spying. “I
don’t know if this NYPD action was born out of arrogance, or out of
paranoia, or out of both,” he declared at a press conference. On the
Democrat side, Newark mayor Cory Booker called the spying program
“offensive,” and his police chief Samuel DeMaio assured residents that
“this type of activity is not what the Newark PD would ever do.”</p>
<p>When Mayor Landrieu and Superintendent Serpas were asked for their
comment on the actions of the NYPD, both appeared to be completely in
the dark, and displayed little curiosity. “To be honest with you, I
think that’s the first I’m ever hearing that,” said Serpas when asked
at a recent press conference. “So I don’t know anything about it one
way or another. I might have to catch up.”</p>
<p>“I hadn’t heard about it,” agreed Mayor Landrieu, speaking at the
same press event. When asked if he approved of the NYPD actions,
Landrieu commented, “I don’t like getting spied on,” but had no further
comment.</p>
<p>Ryan Berni, the mayor’s director of communications, refused all
follow-up requests for comment. When asked if the mayor’s office has
any comment or opinion on the story, he gave this three-word answer:
“We do not.”</p>
<p>In response to follow-up inquiries, NOPD spokesperson Frank
Robertson told me, “we have researched this incident and in no way is
it documented in our records.” When pressed, via email, for any opinion
on the appropriateness of another city’s police department conducting
surveillance activities in New Orleans, Robertson added this cryptic
phrase: “Surveillance is the epicenter on crime fighting initiatives.”</p>
<p>This cavalier attitude is cause for concern. Mayor Landrieu has made
police reform a centerpiece of his administration’s focus. When our
mayor and police chief show that they don’t care about their citizens’
civil rights, and when our media and politicians treat these violations
less seriously than it would be treated in other cities, it adds to New
Orleans’ status as a “second-class” city, and gives all of us, as
residents, second-class rights. Until we have a mayor and police chief
take these issues seriously, reform of our criminal justice system will
remain stunted.</p>
<p>Jordan Flaherty is a journalist based in New Orleans, and the author
of Floodlines: Community and Resistance From Katrina to the Jena Six.</p>
<p><em>This article originally published in the August 27, 2012 print
edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.</em></p>
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