This week on Behind The Lens: NOLA Public schools makes their case for a complete roll-forward of their property tax millage, which will increase their budget in light of skyrocketing property tax assessments. And New Orlean City Council continues to hold hearings on the 2020 budget. Michael Isaac Stein has the latest. Also, Saturday is […]
Posted inNews
Ahead of major tourism industry merger, council members worry about accountability and public input in the city’s tourism future
The New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, a public municipal entity, will transfer the majority of its staff, mission and funding to the private nonprofit New Orleans & Company on Jan. 1.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
District Attorney asks for more funding ahead of second implementation phase of Louisiana’s “Raise the Age” law
Starting in 2020, 17 year olds accused of violent crimes will be automatically routed to juvenile courts instead of the adult system.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Advocates: City Council should use power of the purse to force criminal district court to change its use of bail and court fees
The city gave the court $3.8 million in additional funding this year. Reform advocates argue that the money should be contingent on reform.
Posted inOpinion
As activists are arrested in Baton Rouge, in-depth coverage shows Louisiana’s ‘Death Alley’ to the world
For the first time in years, the recently combined papers teamed up with the nonprofit ProPublica news service to give us the urgent, in-depth coverage that the worsening crisis deserves.
Posted inOpinion
Recent maneuvers on short-term rental enforcement jeopardize public trust, and the city can’t afford that right now
When people no longer trust the system, they stop showing up to voice their opinion, or to vote in favor of ballot measures intended to finance improvements for the public’s benefit.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Councilwoman Kristin Palmer has ‘serious skepticism’ that the city will be able to enforce new STR rules under Cantrell’s draft budget
Council members also questioned whether the Cantrell administration is properly tracking and allocating millions in funds dedicated to short-term rental enforcement.
Posted inBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens episode 56: ‘This is a rather tough round of assessments’
School assessment grades are in, City Council approves new electric and gas rates, and an Algiers home belonging to Senator Troy Carter goes up in flames.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Council passes $1 million fine and lower allowed profit for Entergy, over objections from Mayor Cantrell and the company
Entergy threatened to bring litigation against the city or try to change the profit rate again next year, which would cost customers an additional $7 million in regulatory costs, the company claimed.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Bollinger attempts to transfer $8 million industrial tax exemption to New Orleans, bypassing the local approval process
The exemption the company wants to transfer predates new rules calling for local input.