Behind The Lens episode 148: ‘Best future use’

The city continues to seek contractors for a plan to turn the Municipal Auditorium into City Hall. Phase III timeline puts FEMA funding at risk. And a look at the upcoming election.

This week on Behind the Lens,  despite widespread criticism, Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration continues the hunt for designers for a new City Hall on the site of the Municipal Auditorium in Armstrong Park. 

COVID cases remain relatively low in New Orleans schools, according to district data. We’ll get the latest numbers.

And funding for the new jail facility, known as Phase III, is at risk.

Finally, it’s election season. We will take a look at the race for Orleans parish Sheriff, New Orleans city government races and several constitutional amendments on the ballot. 

 Our guests this week are contributing reporter Jordan Hirsch, education reporter Marta Jewson, cultural economy reporter Michael Isaac Stein, criminal justice reporter Nick Chrastil, and Lens editor Charles Maldonado.

Behind The Lens is available on Apple PodcastsSpotify and Stitcher. And we broadcast the show on community radio stations 102.3 FM WHIV LP and 90.3 FM WAMF-LP.

Carolyne Heldman

Carolyne Heldman Rovira has been in media for 35 years, and is currently the podcast host and producer for Behind The Lens. Heldman served as executive director at Aspen Public Radio, an NPR affiliate, where she launched four weekly news, public affairs, and cultural affairs programs. She has been a guest lecturer at Tulane University, is a frequent guest and moderator for the Aspen Institute, Rocky Mountain Institute, and the American Enterprise Institute.