Essay 1010

Recipes for disaster in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin visited New York City and addressed his controversial comments on the World Trade Center site. “I tell you what I will never do again is refer to that site as a hole. It’s a sacred site that is presently in an undeveloped state. I’ll leave it at that,” said Nagin. He then probably proceeded to refer to New Orleans as chocolate soup.

• Hazleton, Pennsylvania, delayed launching a new law targeting illegal immigrants. The law would slap $1,000 fines on landlords who rent to illegal immigrants; plus, employers hiring them would be denied business permits. Additionally, English would become the city’s official language. Hispanic groups and the ACLU had filed a lawsuit challenging the ordinance’s constitutionality. Hazleton’s mayor insisted the delay was required because officials are creating a replacement ordinance. “We’re not enforcing it because we are in the midst of amending it,” said the mayor. “The amended ordinance will be even stronger and more defensible.” It will probably simply proclaim, “No Mexicans Allowed.”

• The National Latino Congreso is slated to stage its inaugural powwow in Los Angeles starting Wednesday through September 9. The event is billed as the first major gathering of Latino leaders and community members in almost 30 years. The folks seek to address pervasive gaps between Whites and Latinos in areas like income, home ownership, education and healthcare. “The sad news is that the gap is as big as it was 30 years ago,” said one leader. “We hope that [the National Latino Congreso] is a turning point in Latino politics and policy.” Maybe next year the event can be held in Hazleton, Pennsylvania.

• Mos Def sought to stage a semi-impromptu performance at the MTV Music Video Awards, but cops wound up busting him. The rapper-actor appeared outside the event, quickly assembled a stage and proceeded to jam his 2005 Katrina Clap. But Def was shut down by police and charged with “operating a sound-reproduction device without a permit.” A spokesperson said, “Mos Def did not set out to get arrested or break laws. … His only intention was to remind people that after one year, the people hardest hit by Katrina still need the support of all Americans.” Mos Def and Ray Nagin should start coordinating their New York-related hype.