Ok readers, get your brickbats to heave them at me.

I support 100% the position of Mayor Tom Arceneaux's position on the Mardi Gras parades as to starting times and dates.

I will say that again--I support his positions on the starting times and dates of the Mardi Gras parades.

The Mayor has publicly stated many times that the African American Parade has precedence over any Mardi Gras parade. He is to be commended for recognizing the importance of this parade and its historical date of the first Sat. in Feb. 

Unfortunately he has not been given credit for his support of the parade.

Arceneaux has also stated that his job is to ensure public safety at the parades. 

Last year a student was killed at a Mardi Gras parade and each year there are incidents of violence and inappropriate behavior.

The Mayor is on solid ground in putting public safety first.

The Mayor stated today on KEEL radio that he had taken efforts to get the assistance of an additional 60 law enforcement officers for the scheduled Feb. 4 Centaur parade. He said he had a short window to keep these officials committed to this date.

The ball is in the Mardi Gras Krewes' courts. The Mayor has said he will not budge on this parameters for the parades. He is putting public safety first and foremost, which is exactly what he should be doing as mayor.