Citizens for 1

The NOLA.com website has a link to an article touting today's City Council hearings on the Nagin administration's 311 system and defunct crime cameras.

This is an initial step toward understanding how the municipal executive branch awards contracts to private firms for city services.

At the end of the article there was a plug for the watchdog group, Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans, who is urging citizens to attend today's hearing.

Good. People should be urged to go.

But I was curious about Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans. Sure, I've heard of them. But who are they and what do they do? Why do they get to be called a "watchdog" group by the Times-Picayune?

I went to their website and it's pretty non-offensive. Seems like a decent group.

Could use a little help here, though.

It is difficult when Nagin supporters cry race when there is an investigation into his handling of city contracts. Yet, when you look at that Executive Committee it makes you wonder if Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans shoots itself in the foot.