If you are a regular listener to my talk show - or just check into the show occasionally - it should be obvious to you that I love New Orleans.
I was born uptown at Touro Hospital - my parents brought me home to their apartment on Louisiana Avenue Pkwy. While I was still young, my parents decided to move to Metairie - not as part of a white flight exodus from the city - but because a 3-bedroom home was more affordable. Even though we lived in Metairie - as kids - we were in New Orleans all the time.
My Dad worked for Jax Beer, and we spent Mardi Gras on balconies and in the streets of the French Quarter. Growing up - I saw gay people and drag queens, and my brother and I would look in the partially opened doors of the strip clubs and rejoiced at any quick glimpse of a stripper we were afforded. I grew up knowing all about New Orleans and our culture.
But as much as I love New Orleans - I am brazenly honest about the city I grew up knowing. In fact, when opportunities for advancement dried up in New Orleans, my only option was to move to other markets. San Diego, San Antonio, Philadelphia, Seattle, Portland, and Denver were some of those markets. Those were great cities; and it was exciting moving to different places around the country, which let me meet people and learn about different cultures and different lifestyles.
But New Orleans was home, and the experience of living in and being on the air in other markets instinctively drew comparisons with New Orleans - not only the culture, but the audience.
As a young, inexperienced disc jockey who was put on an FM music station in the morning because no one listened to FM in the morning at that time - an initial cult following grew into a mass audience.
This city embraced me in the beginning as it does today, and the appreciation I have for that loyalty is difficult to put into words. Please know that I am honored by your support.
I realize not everyone likes me - in fact, some people have a deep dislike for me and all I represent; but I learned to accept that reality very early in my career. I realized that not everyone has to like me; and if I didn’t do the things I did in the beginning of my career that were outrageous and controversial - I would have been just another on-air personality whose name awareness would have faded with time.
And now - after 50 years of being in broadcasting - I feel an overwhelming sense of comfort and acceptance that is unique to the business of which I am still a part.
Honored is the best way to describe how I feel every time someone stops me and says they have been listening for many years and that they still listen every day now. I never take that for granted. I am touched every time a listener calls the show now and is happy to tell me that they have been listening since the early days of “the Rock of New Orleans,” B-97, or WQUE.
And I am also honored to have those listeners who only know who I am today and, without a link, from the past choose my show as their source for information and entertainment.
The fact that I have had such strong support from the African-American citizens of the entire New Orleans area speaks to the ambience of equality that has always been part of the Scoot image. The difficulties and challenges I have had in my life, personally and professionally, have blessed me with a true sense of the pain of feeling left out.
I’m not comparing my story to those of African-Americans, but I am explaining the source for my relentless pursuit of equality in every category..
The city of New Orleans is at a crossroads. The direction the city takes will determine whether we continue on a road of incestuous politics - or take a bold turn and strive to reach new levels of success that will improve the lives of those of us who live here, as well as the tourists to whom we cater. As citizens - you deserve better.
It is far easier to follow the well-traveled path than it is to blaze a new trail. There is comfort in complacency. This city needs a mayor - a leader - who is not using the office just to get re-elected and continue their reign of power. This city needs a leader who is willing to take the positions that are necessary to change the course of complacency that has become a way of life here - even if some decisions are unpopular.
This city is crying for leadership that is willing to demonstrate that doing the right thing for the people of New Orleans is more important than getting re-elected and continuing to build a power base.
This city desperately needs a leader who will push forward to expedite improvements in New Orleans East rather than make those voters feel like second-class citizens, void of the resident power-brokers necessary to manifest change in their neighborhoods.
Crime is bad everywhere, but in New Orleans East violent crime has become a daily threat to life and property while top city leaders act as if time is on their side. Time is not on the side of the people of New Orleans East. This city needs a candidate for mayor who will equally represent the East the way elected officials represent the more affluent areas of the city.
And the voters of this city need to come to terms with the harsh - and maybe painful - reality that a politician who looks like them should not be viewed as a leader who will actually care for them to the point of demanding change that matters.
Former Mayor Ray Nagin is but one example on the list of politicians that were presumed to care for the majority of New Orleans voters because of their race. The sad truth is that some of the politicians you presumed would hold your best interests in high-esteem were actually the ones who ripped you off and used you for their personal gain.
This city deserves a candidate for mayor with a proven record for dealing with the backlash that results from speaking the truth.
I have explained the type of candidate the city of New Orleans so desperately needs right now. In many ways I could be that candidate.
However, after much thought and consulting - I believe that it is in the best interest of the city I love to decline the honor of running for mayor of New Orleans.
I have talked about this on the air, and I spent time talking to my son and family about running for mayor while I was in Portland for Father’s Day. One of the first things my son said was, “Dad, you might win.” We talked about the major changes that would bring to my life - both personally and professionally.
The decision is that I can best serve the city of New Orleans by continuing my role as a reasonable voice both on the air and on social media.
New Orleans is facing problems that I could never guarantee to solve, and I’m not sure my honest and sincere approach to issues would resonate with the mass population. It would be egotistical to think that I could change the corrupt system that is baked into the DNA of New Orleans politics.
Please appreciate that this was a very difficult decision for me. If I did run, I would have the support of my family and many of you. As honest as I know I would be in leading this city away from its tendency to tolerate mediocrity, though, I can better fulfill that role on WWL and on social media.
I started in broadcasting as a painfully insecure teenager, and 50 years later I am blessed to continue a career that I love in a city I love with an audience I love.
Please do not interpret my decision as selfish thought - I think the selfish thing for me to do would be to think that I am the only right person for the job - and that is not a belief I hold.
And so it is with great love for the city and you that I decide that I can best serve this city by continuing to do what I do every day here on WWL.
To the many who offered to support my campaign by donating money and volunteering their time - I say thank you - especially those who live outside of the city limits and can’t even vote - but still wanted to be involved.
Let’s keep our relationship the way it is and always has been.
We’re on a great run, and it’s still going on. I wake up everyday with the belief that there is still much more to come. I learn every day, and I don’t think I have even don’t my best work yet.
Thank you for the years of support and the continued opportunity to spend time with you every day here on WWL and on social media. It is an honor to still be doing this after 50 years. It’s not worth giving this up to run for mayor, and my love and concern for the city of New Orleans will best be served with me behind the microphone on WWL.