This week on Behind The Lens, about a month before the Super Bowl, to the surprise of many local officials, Gov. Jeff Landry announced the imminent construction of the “Transitional Center,” a 200-bed congregate homeless shelter in an uninsulated warehouse. Records show however that while the City was kept in the dark about the plans, some prominent local real estate developers had been in on the discussions for months.

And Last October, Orleans Parish school district officials announced a $36 million deficit for the 2024-25 school year due in part to internal projection errors and unclear tax information from the city. In November, with OPSB staring down the unexpected deficit, board members stepped up discussions with the New Orleans City Council about a pending lawsuit which had resulted from the discovery that the city was skimming a portion off of the top of its tax payments owed to OPSB. The two parties ultimately forged a deal staving off the financial crisis, but soon after, word came that the mayor planned to scuttle the deal saying the city could not afford the settlement.

Our guests this week are Lens reporters Nick Chrastil and Marta Jewson 

Theme music by Podington Bear. Additional music Spring Solstice by Podington Bear soundofpicture.com. 

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