Saints Win Super Bowl
After 43 years, the New Orleans Saints finally made it to the Super Bowl—and won! The victory came during an amazing weekend that only New Orleanians could experience in the midst of the first weekend of Carnival and the day after the New Orleans municipal elections. More than 106 million U.S. viewers watched the game. It ranks as the highest-rated Super Bowl ever and surpassed the final episode of M*A*S*H to become the highest-rated television program. The Saints followed their victory with a parade two days later and a party that lasted through Mardi Gras and pride and enthusiasm that continue into 2011.
BP Oil Spill
On April 20, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion crippled the rig, killing or otherwise wounding dozens of its 126-member crew. Horizon was owned by Transocean, Ltd., and was located about 40 miles southeast of the tip of Plaquemines Parish. It was leased by British Petroleum for approximately $500,000 per day. Eleven men died and the rig sank two days later. The oil well’s blow-out preventer failed and the well spewed thousands of barrels of oil throughout the summer.
BP tried numerous times to cap the well but seemed incapable of ending the gusher. Tempers of area citizens, government leaders, and BP executives flared. Local and state leaders accused the federal government of stonewalling their efforts to contain the spill, and all leaders considered BP incapable of capping the well and containing the oil. The federal government exacerbated a disastrous economic situation by imposing a moratorium on deep-water drilling and, at year’s end, oil companies were still struggling to obtain the necessary permits to resume drilling operations.
The spill seriously damaged the area’s seafood industry and Grand Isle’s summertime tourism economy. Oil primarily affected Louisiana’s coastline, but tarballs were found on beaches as far away as Florida’s panhandle. BP established a financial claims process for those affected by the oil spill, and many joined lawsuits that likely will take years to resolve. Louisiana and BP recently reached an agreement for the oil company to provide funds for coastal restoration, tourism promotion efforts, and seafood safety and testing.
U.S. Spared Tropical Activity
Although 19 named tropical systems churned through the Atlantic Ocean in the summer of 2010, none seriously impacted the United States. Only a few minor systems made their way through the Carribbean Sea or formed in the Gulf of Mexico. Most of the storms remained well off the east coast threatening only the tiny island of Bermuda. High pressure systems situated over the southern U.S. and in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean are credited with steering the systems away from the U.S. and out to sea.
In August and September, area residents recognized the five-year anniversaries of Katrina and Rita, two devastating 2005 storms that changed the way Southeast Louisiana residents live and how governments prepare for natural disaster.
Political Change in Jefferson Parish
The face of Jefferson Parish’s leadership changed several times in 2010. In October, Council Chairman John Young, opposed only by a political novice, was easily elected to become parish president. By Thanksgiving, Young had begun to replace several top administration officials with his own appointees. Diane Hollis, an educator and widow of Louisiana State Senator Ken Hollis, was appointed to replace Young on the Council. An election to replace Young was called for April 2011.
Longtime Jefferson Parish Assessor Lawrence Chehardy stunned political observers by announcing his early retirement, after more than 30 years as assessor, effective January 2011. Councilman At-Large Tom Capella thereafter announced his intention to seek the post in a special election to be held in April.
In the fall, four longtime Jefferson Parish School Board incumbents, Gene Katsanis, Libby Moran, Judy Colgan, and Martin Marino, were ousted by voters seeking change. The new board will face many pressing issues including decreasing revenues, public dissatisfaction with school performance, an investigation into the admission process at Gretna’s magnet school, and the renewal of Superintendent Diane Roussel’s contract.
In January, Jefferson Parish will get new congressional leadership. In the fall, District 2 incumbent Congressman Anh “Joseph” Cao lost his bid for re-election in a contest with Louisiana State Representative Cedric Richmond, of New Orleans, and independent candidates Anthony Marquize, of Violet, and “Jack” Radosta, of New Orleans. District 3 Incumbent Representative Charlie Melancon, a Democrat, did not seek re-election to his seat. Melancon instead unsuccessfully challenged Republican Senator David Vitter. Republican Jeff Landry, a New Iberia businessman, was easily elected to replace him.
The West Bank Remains Place for Fun and Festivities
West Bank residents continued to enjoy good food, fun, and entertainment at numerous festivals, fairs, and other events in 2010. In the spring, Terrytown leaders held a highly-successful event to celebrate the community’s golden anniversary. In 2011, the community hopes to capitalize on the success when it will launch an annual Terrytown Spring Festival. Meanwhile, the Gretna Heritage Festival expanded again this year with more bands, food vendors, and other attractions. The event continues to attract tens of thousands of visitors, many from across the United States.
Although the International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo was cancelled due to the BP oil spill’s effects on coastal Louisiana, the community was the site of an Island Aid Concert whose proceeds will help the island to promote the revival of its fishing and tourist industries. By summer’s end, some rodeos were again being held, and the tarpon rodeo is certain to return in 2011.
December saw the return of the Plaquemines Parish Fair and Orange Festival for the first time since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Weather was outstanding and thousands turned out to herald the parish’s citrus industry.
Library System on WB Recovers, Renews
Jefferson Parish’s Library Department saw much progress in 2010. Libraries in Lafitte and Gretna that were totally destroyed by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were dedicated and extensive renovations were made to the Jane O’Brien Chatelain West Bank Regional Library in Harvey. In December, parish officials broke ground on a new Grand Isle Library to replace the previous one destroyed by Katrina and Rita. This year, Live Oak Library in Waggaman will be reconfigured. When that is complete and the Grand Isle Library opens, the entire West Jefferson system will have undergone major and remarkable reconstruction and renovation in a period of just five years.
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