Home » February, 2010 Entries posted on “February, 2010”

“Credibility” is not just a BS political hurdle

“Credibility” is not just a BS political hurdle

In the wake of the most disturbing police coverup conspiracy I’ve ever seen, I questioned whether a local candidate for our next police superintendent, a veteran of this broken NOPD, would be considered a credible leader for the force.
Commenter jeffrey responded to the post:
Do we want a police department that works in the sense that [...]

February 26 2010 | Posted in Crime and Punishment | Read More »

New evidence should mean new trial, says man convicted in 2006 Central City masscre

New evidence should mean new trial, says man convicted in 2006 Central City masscre

Before sunrise on June 17, 2006, five young New Orleanians were gunned down in an SUV at Josephine and Danneel streets in what was dubbed the Central City massacre.
News of the killings rocked the community and made headlines around the country. The reaction of local elected officials was swift and extreme. Within days, Mayor Ray [...]

February 26 2010 | Posted in Crime and Punishment | Read More »

Will any NOPD veteran have the credibility to lead?

Will any NOPD veteran have the credibility to lead?

On Monday, Mayor-elect Mitch Landrieu unveiled a 21-member committee that will advise him on the selection of the city’s next police superintendent. Landrieu used the opportunity to reiterate that the selection of a new top cop remains his top priority.
Landrieu and all of his campaign rivals promised to conduct a national search to find the [...]

February 24 2010 | Posted in Money and Politics | Read More »

Donation boosts Web site and city staff, not citizen-participation efforts

Donation boosts Web site and city staff, not citizen-participation efforts

By Ariella Cohen, staff writer – A year and a half after the city of New Orleans received a half-million-dollar donation to foster citizen involvement in the recovery, none of the programs has been fully implemented and neighborhood activists complain that the main beneficiary so far is City Hall.
“This grant was supposed to build capacity [...]

February 23 2010 | Posted in Money and Politics, Schools, Slider | Read More »

Louisiana hit hard, but not among the “hardest hit”

Louisiana hit hard, but not among the “hardest hit”

Today, President Barack Obama announced $1.5 billion for the “hardest hit housing markets,” money that will go to state housing-finance agencies to help foreclosure and declining housing price chaos.
Though foreclosures are the main focus, the money may also be used for sustainable and affordable homeownership.
Louisiana likely won’t benefit much from the plan. The money is [...]

February 19 2010 | Posted in Money and Politics | Read More »

HUD: HANO would “halt” if consultants were phased out

HUD: HANO would “halt” if consultants were phased out

The Housing Authority of New Orleans is “overly dependent” on private contractors,  resulting in higher costs for taxpayers and a loss of efficiency, said a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development report on the local housing agency released Thursday.
“If the consultants were to cease providing services, activities within [HANO] departments would essentially come to [...]

February 19 2010 | Posted in Money and Politics | Read More »

$800,000 to Zulu raises many questions

$800,000 to Zulu raises many questions

Click here to read the city’s request for applications, which resulted in Mayor Ray Nagin presenting Zulu with a giant check for $800,000 on Lundi Gras.

February 19 2010 | Posted in Home, Money and Politics | Read More »

The streetcar is nice, but we’ve missed the train

The streetcar is nice, but we’ve missed the train

After the announcement earlier this week that New Orleans won a $45 million federal stimulus program grant to build a new streetcar line on Loyola Avenue, I reminisced about the role of citizen watchdogs in ensuring that the Regional Transit Authority  didn’t capitulate to tourism industry interests that wanted only  to apply for a route [...]

February 19 2010 | Posted in Money and Politics | Read More »

Streetcar expansion earned through public cooperation

Streetcar expansion earned through public cooperation

New Orleans is on a rail!
Mardi Gras is over and the Super Bowl celebrations are retracting from their peak but the good news keeps on sliding down the track. On Wednesday, New Orleans was awarded one of 51 grants made eligible for the expansion of public transportation under last year’s stimulus program. The city will [...]

February 18 2010 | Posted in Money and Politics | Read More »

Judge approves pact requiring city, School Board improve juvenile hall

Judge approves pact requiring city, School Board improve juvenile hall

A federal judge gave final approval Friday to two agreements for broad reform at the New Orleans juvenile detention center.
Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle’s approval of the consent decrees legally obligates the city and Orleans Parish School Board to improve conditions and increase educational resources at the jail-like facility, a holding center for juvenile offenders euphemistically [...]

February 12 2010 | Posted in Money and Politics | Read More »