Veronica White
Encyclopedia
Veronica Toussaint White—born 1963 in Louisiana—is Director of Sanitation for the City of New Orleans, having held that position under appointment by mayor Ray Nagin
since 2003. She received her pink slip from mayor-elect Mitch Landrieu on April 22, 2010.
(master of public health) from Tulane University School of Medicine
, also serves as adjunct instructor of public health
at her undergraduate alma mater Dillard University
.
woman Stacy Head
, most directly over garbage-collection fees and services. The feud morphed into a controversy over confidentiality of e-mail messages when White sought, via attorney Tracie Washington, to divulge the contents of e-mails in the internet accounts of four members of the City Council—an effort which resulted in seizure of White's computers by the FBI
. Nagin criticized "deviation from procedure" on White's part but otherwise defended her. When Washington's brief (prior to a court injunction) internet display of e-mails from councilwomen Stacy Head
and Shelley Stephenson Midura
indicated that Head and Midura might have personal reasons for wanting to shield their City Council e-mail accounts from disclosure, the Times-Picayune editorialized in support of Washington. Nagin supported the efforts of City Attorney Penya Moses-Fields, siding with White, to get the Council's e-mails revealed, which move was denied by Civil District Judge Lloyd Medley, whose decision was overturned on appeal. In a separate suit District Judge Madeleine Landrieu instructed Nagin to deliver to City Council attorneys the e-mail traffic sought by WWL-TV
, WDSU-TV, the Times-Picayune and other news organizations so that the City Council attorneys could remove sensitive information which is not definable as a public record. As the courts considered the appeals, WDSU reported it had obtained "tens of thousands" of the emails in question and published many of them on air and online. Another station—WGNO
—announced it had received a handful of those files. Finally, Fox affiliate WVUE
said it, too, had obtained some of the documents. The various e-mail controversies and the related lawsuits became quite convoluted, even within the political context of Louisiana.
After being notified of intent to release her from city employment by incoming mayor Mitch Landrieu
, with 4 days left in her tenure with Nagin's administration, White resurfaced in the news by way of allegations from the city's inspector general
Ed Quatrevaux regarding thousands of dollars of travel expenses claimed by White.
Ray Nagin
Clarence Ray Nagin, Jr. is a former mayor of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Nagin gained international note in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the New Orleans area....
since 2003. She received her pink slip from mayor-elect Mitch Landrieu on April 22, 2010.
Author
White is author of a book, published in March 2009 and titled How to Maximize FEMA Funding after a Natural Disaster. A few days after publication of the 80-page book, the Times-Picayunes Michelle Krupa, noting the book's $35 list price, described the book as bearing supportive statements by certain state and city officials; the publisher, DEW Enterprises, was established in 2008 by White's husband. On 2009 April 10 the Times-Picayune accorded Krupa the unusual step of reviewing the book in a front-page article; the review, generally positive with respect to the book's utility, conveys that the book,-
- which is divided into pre- and post-disaster sections, reads like a basic how-to manual for municipal officials anywhere in the country who might find themselves enmeshed in a major recovery effort of any sort.
Academic record
White, who holds the degree of MPHMaster of Public Health
The Master of Public Health and the Doctor of Public Health are multi-disciplinary professional degrees awarded for studies in areas related to public health....
(master of public health) from Tulane University School of Medicine
Tulane University School of Medicine
The Tulane University School of Medicine is located in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA and is a part of Tulane University. The school is located in the Medical District of the New Orleans Central Business District.-History:...
, also serves as adjunct instructor of public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
at her undergraduate alma mater Dillard University
Dillard University
Dillard University is a private, historically black liberal arts college in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 1930 incorporating earlier institutions that went back to 1869, it is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church....
.
Controversy
In 2008, White became newsworthy in the New Orleans area because of a feud between her and New Orleans City CouncilCity council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
woman Stacy Head
Stacy Head
Stacy Aline Singleton Head is a member of the New Orleans City Council.-Early Life and Career:Stacy Head was born in 1969 as the daughter of Katherine Hamberlin Singleton and Ernest Lynn Singleton. She grew up in Greensburg, Saint Helena Parish, Louisiana...
, most directly over garbage-collection fees and services. The feud morphed into a controversy over confidentiality of e-mail messages when White sought, via attorney Tracie Washington, to divulge the contents of e-mails in the internet accounts of four members of the City Council—an effort which resulted in seizure of White's computers by the FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
. Nagin criticized "deviation from procedure" on White's part but otherwise defended her. When Washington's brief (prior to a court injunction) internet display of e-mails from councilwomen Stacy Head
Stacy Head
Stacy Aline Singleton Head is a member of the New Orleans City Council.-Early Life and Career:Stacy Head was born in 1969 as the daughter of Katherine Hamberlin Singleton and Ernest Lynn Singleton. She grew up in Greensburg, Saint Helena Parish, Louisiana...
and Shelley Stephenson Midura
Shelley Stephenson Midura
Shelley Stephenson Midura is a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana and a former member of the New Orleans City Council. A Democrat, she represented District A from 2006 to her retirment in 2010. She first won election when she defeated Republican incumbent Jay Batt...
indicated that Head and Midura might have personal reasons for wanting to shield their City Council e-mail accounts from disclosure, the Times-Picayune editorialized in support of Washington. Nagin supported the efforts of City Attorney Penya Moses-Fields, siding with White, to get the Council's e-mails revealed, which move was denied by Civil District Judge Lloyd Medley, whose decision was overturned on appeal. In a separate suit District Judge Madeleine Landrieu instructed Nagin to deliver to City Council attorneys the e-mail traffic sought by WWL-TV
WWL-TV
WWL-TV, virtual channel 4, is the CBS-affiliated television station serving New Orleans, Louisiana, southeast Louisiana and parts of southern and coastal Mississippi, and is the primary CBS station for South and Coastal Mississippi. It broadcasts on UHF digital channel 36...
, WDSU-TV, the Times-Picayune and other news organizations so that the City Council attorneys could remove sensitive information which is not definable as a public record. As the courts considered the appeals, WDSU reported it had obtained "tens of thousands" of the emails in question and published many of them on air and online. Another station—WGNO
WGNO
WGNO, channel 26, is the ABC-affiliated television station for the greater New Orleans, Louisiana metropolitan area, as well parts of southern and coastal Mississippi. It is owned by Tribune Broadcasting, and is the only Big Three network affiliate owned by the company.The station offers ABC...
—announced it had received a handful of those files. Finally, Fox affiliate WVUE
WVUE
WVUE-DT, broadcasting on virtual channel 8, is a TV station in New Orleans, Louisiana, affiliated with the Fox Broadcasting Company. WVUE is owned by Louisiana Media Company, with studios in the Gert Town section of New Orleans and transmitter in Chalmette, Louisiana.- Digital television :WVUE-DT...
said it, too, had obtained some of the documents. The various e-mail controversies and the related lawsuits became quite convoluted, even within the political context of Louisiana.
After being notified of intent to release her from city employment by incoming mayor Mitch Landrieu
Mitch Landrieu
Mitchell Joseph "Mitch" Landrieu is the Mayor of New Orleans, former Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana, and a member of the Landrieu family. Landrieu is a member of the Democratic Party and a Roman Catholic. He is the son of former New Orleans mayor and Secretary of the United States Department of...
, with 4 days left in her tenure with Nagin's administration, White resurfaced in the news by way of allegations from the city's inspector general
Inspector General
An Inspector General is an investigative official in a civil or military organization. The plural of the term is Inspectors General.-Bangladesh:...
Ed Quatrevaux regarding thousands of dollars of travel expenses claimed by White.
Internal links
- Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson
- Arnie Fielkow
- Stacy Head
- Ray Nagin
- Norman RobinsonNorman Robinson (television news reporter)Norman Hollis Robinson is news anchor for WDSU-TV New Orleans Channel 6 , where he has worked in the news department since 1992...
External links
- Sunshine Review on the New Orleans Sanitation Department
- New Orleans City Council Argues Over Trash Pickup, WWL-TVWWL-TVWWL-TV, virtual channel 4, is the CBS-affiliated television station serving New Orleans, Louisiana, southeast Louisiana and parts of southern and coastal Mississippi, and is the primary CBS station for South and Coastal Mississippi. It broadcasts on UHF digital channel 36...
New Orleans Channel 4 (CBSCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
) on YouTube - Stacy Head - Veronica White altercation, New Orleans City Council video on YouTube