This will be of interest to at least four readers of PoliBlog:
The Southern Political Science Association has posted the following regarding the January meeting (currently scheduled to meet in New Orleans):
The SPSA meets in early January each year at the Hotel Inter-Continental in New Orleans. This weekend’s hurricane and the floods occurring in its aftermath have done considerable damage to people and property in New Orleans.Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Hotel Inter-Continental’s employees and their families. We are heartbroken when we watch media coverage of the destruction being suffered by that lovely city and its residents. And we wish everyone in New Orleans a speedy return to safety and prosperity.
Secondarily, we are being vigilant concerning conditions in New Orleans and are expending considerable effort to backstop our conference plans. We talk with our conference booking consultants on a daily basis, and they are getting detailed reports out of New Orleans.
We will only shift to backup plans if or when we and the booking agent conclude that our meeting cannot be successful under the original plan. The SPSA always honors its contractual commitments, and we always deal with our corporate partners in good faith.
For now, we counsel patience as well as preparedness. Our contract partners in New Orleans deserve nothing less.
George H. Cox
Executive Director and Treasurer
Southern Political Science Association
I certainly would not want the association to make a move that would take money out of the city, if, in fact, the meetings can take palce in January. However, I really don’t see that happening. The hotel, given its location and pictures I have seen is probably largely fine. However, what about the electrical grid, the phones, the water system, the roads, the police, the general support struture for tourists (restaurants, other hotels, etc.)? I just don’t see the city being able to host any events by the first week or so of January.
Hopefully SPSA is making the appropriate back-up plans, or looking to postpone.
SPSA to members: grow gills
Via PoliBlog: the Southern Political Science Association thinks it will hold its annual convention in three months in New Orleans. Steven Taylor is unconvinced: I certainly would not want the association to make a move that would take money out of the …
Trackback by Signifying Nothing — Tuesday, September 6, 2024 @ 11:25 am
Well, after the horrible way that Nagin and Broussard handled this event, I would hope that conventions like the SPSA would boycott the city. If anything, the convention should move to a place where local politicans had a plan and where they saved lives–like Mississippi.
Until we stop supporting the liberals with our money they are going to continue to engage in their self-destructive behavior and try and drag us down with them.
Comment by Grover Norkiss — Tuesday, September 6, 2024 @ 1:20 pm
As I have pointed out to you and for the sake of other readers. I do not believe that the city will be ready by January and the bridges are a big problem. I hope they think of another location. I often have to stay at an alternate hotel at these conference and I think that these would not be ready.
Comment by Mark — Tuesday, September 6, 2024 @ 4:51 pm
There is every effort to put some sort of brave effort on this whole reconstruction. But seriously, this sounds like the SPSA is whistling past the graveyard (no pun intended). No Way is New Orleans ready to host a convention of any considerable size by January 1.
Sept. - Draining the city and trying to restore some sorts of power/water, picking up dead bodies.
October - Massive clean-up
November - More massive clean-up, reconstruction efforts
December - Reconstruction efforts
That’s to say nothing of the millions of people who won’t even be in the city for a couple of months while all this work is going on.
I suppose that such a miracle is possible. However, is the SPSA expecting members to make airplane reservations in such uncertainty?
Comment by Bryan S. — Tuesday, September 6, 2024 @ 5:45 pm
The SPSA always honors its contractual commitments, and we always deal with our corporate partners in good faith.
And I assume such commitments contain some sort of “opt out” clause for catastrophic events. To suggest that leading the convention out of new orleans for one year in light of recent events is “bad faith” doesn’t make sense.
Comment by Bryan S. — Tuesday, September 6, 2024 @ 5:48 pm