Levees.

Org: a non-partisan, non-sectarian grassroots group

August 31, 2017

Mitchell J. Landrieu, Mayor City Council

City of New Orleans City of New Orleans
1300 Perdido Street 1300 Perdido Street
New Orleans, LA 70112 New Orleans, LA 70112

RE: Analysis of S&WB

Dear Mayor Landrieu and City Councilmembers,

With Hurricane Irma potentially headed in our direction. Levees.org respectfully submits
this open letter to the Mayor of New Orleans and the New Orleans City Council.

We understand that under Mayor Mitch Landrieus Executive Order (MJL 10-05), the
Citys Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) will establish a selection committee of five
individuals to review and evaluate proposals for a firm to conduct a comprehensive
analysis of the flood events of July 22, August 5 and August 8, and also the turbine
failure at the Sewerage & Water Boards Carrollton Street plant on August 9.

We also understand that money coming from the Citys fund balance will include
$500,000 to the Chief Administrative Office for this analysis.

And we understand that the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is Jeff Hebert, the same
person who the mayor appointed to attend S&WB meetings in his place, and that under
the Executive Order, he or his designee is a member of the selection committee. This
appears to us a clear conflict of interest.

Finally, we note that subject matter experts can be interviewed for the analysis.

In light of the above, we have just 4 questions:

1. Who makes up the five-member selection committee?

2. Is the analysis/investigation limited, (i.e. can the investigating firm ask any
question they wish and interview any S&WB employee they wish)?
3. Who shall choose the outside "subject matter experts"?
4. Can the investigators speak to the media if they find something critically
important that should be communicated immediately?

Please be advised that we plan to release this letter to the press at COB today August
31, 2017. We hope to receive a response by Wed Sept 6.

Sincerely,
Sandy Rosenthal, Founder of Levees.org
H.J. Bosworth, Jr., P.E., Research director for Levees.org

www.levees.org sandy@levees.org