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 has been in media for 35 years, most recently as Executive Director at an NPR member station in Colorado where she was responsible for new multi-platform content initiatives, strategic planning, research, branding, and non-traditional revenue generation. During her tenure she also created and launched four weekly news, public affairs and cultural affairs programs and monthly live Town Hall broadcasts. Heldman moved to New Orleans last summer with her husband and canine companion and they live happily in The Marigny.