The request is a familiar one, initially made two and half years ago and repeated several times since then. Once again, the city is asking that the National Guard stay just a little bit longer in New Orleans.

Associated Press / File Photo

"Hopefully, we can go to the state," said Mayor Ray Nagin. "We still have about 110 to 120 National Guard troops are still here and maybe we can convince the state to allow them to stay here."

Governor Bobby Jindal granted an extension six months ago, with a gradual decrease in the number of National Guard members patrolling and a goal of having all of them out of New Orleans, by January 1, 2009.

"Many of these soldiers are having to go back to their regular jobs, some are going to be deployed and we have to make sure that we're also sensitive to their families as well," said Governor Bobby Jindal.

However, the city fell into a financial hole this year. The mayor now wants to limit the number of police officers the department can hire in 2009. A spokesman for the NOPD says that led to the request for extending the guard's presence here, something NOPD Chief Warren Riley touched on last Friday.

"The facts are, there is a financial crisis right now and the members of the NOPD will do our very best to continue to reduce crime as we have this year and we'll focus on that. Certainly, we will seek additional assistance from the National Guard, which I've already done," Chief Riley.

The request would keep 120 guard members in the city through February. On Monday, Governor Jindal said he would be willing to work on such a deal.

"We had a commitment made in the summer, six months ago, and we're certainly willing to be flexible and work with the city," Gov. Jindal said.

Yet, the governor also made it clear today that granting the request would come with some strings attached.

"We're willing to work with them. We just want to make sure there is a concrete plan in place to make sure they will have the resources, the recruits, the people," Jindal said. "We're more than happy to help the city get back on its feet, continue to attack crime, but the National Guard is not a permanent solution."

Chief Riley said, ideally, the department would have between 1,600 and 1,700 officers. Next year, though, the mayor's budget plan only allows for 1,550. Riley says they will have more than 1,500 officers by the end of this month. In the meantime, Governor Jindal says he plans to meet with Mayor Nagin and Chief Riley this week-- and have a decision made by as early as Friday.