TREME - The time has come once again for Mayor Mitch to give a major speech. Today's oratory is designed to update the citizens on the State of the City. NoDef is at the Mahalia Jackson Theatre for the speech, and will be taking stock of the Mayor's words, who's there (and who's not there) and, of course, the stagecraft.

Amid recent discord on several fronts, The State of the City affords Mayor Mitch the chance to take back the narrative of what's happening in local politics, citizens who think he is trying to give control of tax dollars to the hotel and restaurant industry and, as ever in New Orleans, murderers. Today, he laid out a new strategy for reducing murder that built on the "holistic approach" he has been advocating for months. This approach looks at the murder rate as a public health issue, as well as a law enforcement issue, and has touches of counterinsurgency strategy.

Follow our updates to read more below:

An Optimistic Finale 3:05 p.m.

"Were all in this together" is the main theme at the end. "Let me be clear, he says. "We're asking everyone to put skin in the game" The last lines of the speech turn optimistic. Now a story about a kid. This kid turned to the streets. He was shot three times. He turned his life around through Cafe Reconcile, and is in college now. The kid, Ryan Dalton, is here. Mitch asks him to stand. Everyone claps. That move is straight out of the presidential playbook.

He uses the story to propel him into the speech's final stanza:

"And so today, I have great hope for all our young men. Because their potential is inspiring. And I have hope for the City of New Orleans. Because of people like Ryan and because of you - the people of New Orleans who never stop moving forward, even during our darkest hours. I hope you'll join us in changing the culture of death into a culture of life, NOLA for Life. We have made great progress. ANd we have a long way to go together. One team. One fight. One voice. One city. Let's get to work, New Orleans."

The crowd gives him a standing ovation, and the speech is over.

Murder Reduction Plan Unveiled 3:00 p.m.

Now, he is introducing NOLA For Life, his new plan to reduce the murder rate. Glossy booklets were passed out to the press beforehand, outlining the strategy. 
The Mayor sounds a preachy refrain:  "I need you to be with me. I need you to be with me, and NOLA... For life"Before jobs prevention rebuilding, must stop bleeding. He lists all sorts of people who are needed like pastors, aunties, brothers, sisters and neighbors. This is a little much. Mitch can preach, but he ain't a preacher.

Now he talks about programs. He discusses the new neighborhood-focused program, Ceasefire. He wants "strike/surge teams"and support from the Feds. Essentially, the strike force that can clean up worst neighborhoods. Returning to the Afghanistan comparison, he talks about "hotspots."

The plan advocates the kind of approach the mayor has been talking about for some time now: A holistic strategy. Officially, NOLA for Life will be helmed by not only NOPD Chief Ronal Serpas, but also Health Commissioner Karen Desalvo and Criminal Justice Commissioner James Carter. 

The goal is to Stop the Shooting, Invest in Prevention, Promote Jobs and Opportunity, Improve the NOPD, Get Involved and Rebuild Neighborhoods. Also in the new plan is a murder reduction approach developed by renowned criminologist David M. Kennedy called Group Violence Reduction, which has resulted in a reduction in homicides in cities like Boston and Los Angeles.

Strategies include: 

-collaborating with respected members of the affected communities to deliver a single message: the violence must stop.

-Organizing and building the capacity of social service providers, clergy and probation and parole officers so that they can provide support and services to those that no longer wish to engage in violent lifestyles

-A focused law enforcement effort intended to deter violent behavior and ensure consequences for those who continue to commit violence.

Addressing Crime With a Nod to the Kennedys 2:50 p.m.

Landrieu starts his passage on crime with a nod to RFK. "If not us who, if not now when," he says. He references "our culture of death, the ugly side of our city." And it's about the mamas: "The pain is too great for the mothers of New Orleans to bear," he says. Later he quotes Langston Hughes' "The Dream Deferred" section.

Landrieu references Lincoln, and a letter he wrote to a mother who lost five kids in war. He compares it to a family here that lost four sons to street violence. Now he talks about the recent death of Ricky Summers death, who he says was an "original "kippster." Landrieu says there's a higher chance of McDonough student killed  than a soldier stationed in Afghanistan. NOLA is number one for murders per peron, he says. It's been this way for five presidents and six mayors. The slides in the background are showing ain't  bags, Mandela and gas prices to make the point.

Landrieu seems to have saved his most impassioned oratory for this section of the speech. He's making great eye contact, looking around the entire room, and showing a dramatic use of his hands. Looking around the entire room. He seems sincere in conviction that our murder rate is too high

"This problem is not unique to our city, although we have more of it," he says.

Taking Flight on Blight 2:43 p.m.

Mitch says they've eradicated 4,400 blighted houses since taking office. en route to goal of 10,000.

"But property owners - you're on notice," he says. "We will continue aggressive enforcement... We will fiht to preserve quality of life in our neighborhoods, like we did in Hollygrove at Big Time Tips Bar, which had become a big time problem for the community. Well, we shut it down." Big Time Tips was a bar in Hollygrove that saw 2 murders and countless gun and drug violations over the past few years. It was shut down, then had its liquor license removed.

Now it's sports. After listing off all of the city's major sporting events, Landrieu says, "We are about to host Super Bowl for 10th time. No other city has done this except Miami and were still better than them."

Public Works Reforms 2:40 p.m.

Mitch continues by rambling off a list of streets he's fixed. 60 miles of roads have been repaired, he says. "Everyone thinks they have the worst streets in their neighborhoods," he says. "Let me assure you the competition is fierce." He cites potholes in Lakeview that are the size of trees. Driving in Gentilly is like riding the Zephyr. When you get to the West Bank, watch out, he says.

But, Landrieu says, the city kept bugging the feds until they got more money. They've also added streetlight crews.

Reform and Rebuilding Efforts Championed  2:30 p.m.
The Mayor is deep into an opening about what he improved. "For years our city operated under a dark cloud... With the swipe of we leveled the playing field and stamped out cronyism," he says. He talks about "Awarding contracts based on what you know, not who you know. I have lost friendships over this fight, but it was the right thing to do." He mentions reform of the Public Belt Railroad, to big applause.

The airport on the up and up, he continues, and metions cab reforms. Next year all cabs will have gps, credit card, and security camera More reform: Operations at City Hall. It's open five days a week and the website URL no longer City of New Orleans. And he talks about construction.

"Yes Virginia there really are cranes in the sky right now," he sas.

Now the talk is about new libraries. He mentions one opening in Algiers and adds Madame President to the end of the sentence. Then he talks about New Orleans East,, adding Councilman Johnson to mention of the fact that a new hospital is coming to the area, just in case Johnson forgot.

The Joy and Sanger Theatres are mentioned, and there's a photo of Trombone Shorty.

Now education: He thanks Senator Laundrieu and President Obama for $1.8 bil that's hitting the ground to rebuild schools. Then he mentions new street car line coming to loyola, but says nothing about a Rampart line. In the back, a slide of the medical corridor goes up. Landrieu calls it the "crown jewel."

Sounding a Note on Economic Growth 2:26 p.m.

The requisite mentions of blight and, transparency are there, with little crowd reaction. Mitch speaks in a faster cadence to get through it. Applause finally comes on mention of NORD, and he's movin' in the right direction. Talks about new Costco and Walmart moving in, and calls Costco a "blockbuster deal." Sounding a Ron Popeil note, he says "But that's not all. There's more to come." He talks about Hollywood South, the Hornets staying and growth of the Port of New Orleans, as well.  staying.
 

'The Good, The Bad, The Ugly and the Really Ugly' 2:20 p.m.

Half of the theatre is full, and all present give da Mayor a standing ovation.Maybe I was wrong. Landrieau recognizes officials here. Thanks Jackie Clarkson and the other two council members here. :In the last 752 days, we've seen the good, the bad, the ugly, and the really ugly" he says. Later, he pivots back to positive. "But the people of this cityhave an unwavering spirit, and so against all odds, we kept the moving forward one step at a time. Now I stand before you to say that we have turned a corner and are blazing a new but very difficult path forward."

Now he's talking about the consent decree, and a photo of Mitch, U.S. Attorney Jim Letten and Serpas shows up on the screen. 

Lead-in: It's About the Kids 2:12 p.m.

The speech program starts at 2:04 p.m. with the introduction of the colors. All the moving and color guard still brushes the trees at the side of the stage. Form over function. Is it a metaphor? Then, a video interlude, featuring kids in a playground, and Mitch playing with kids.  Also: Jackie Clarkson and the general manager of the Hyatt.Jackie in video. Kids in the video talk about their wish to stop crime. Then, there's pedicab footage, and Roots of music marhing band. Now the kids are talking about food.

Scene is Set for Big Speech, One Missing Councillor Arrives 1:55 p.m.

As mayoral press secretary Ryan Berni brings an official looking portfolio to podium, attendance in looking pretty sparse. City Council at-large representatives Jackie Clarkson and Stacy Head are in the house, showing their unity via color: they are both wearing red. Jon Johnson is also in the building, making his first public appearance with the other Councilpeople since his May 3 disappearance. Brass from the New Orleans Fire Department is in the house, as are union representatives.