By Kira Akerman, The Lens contributing opinion writer | Every afternoon, I enter the chaotic cafeteria of a middle school in Treme— a punch for a punch, a broken finger, broken jaw — nothing unusual. A hush, and the children huddle around plastic orange tables, quiet and upright. “Y’all know what happens if you don’t […]
Despite public's pleas for basic repairs, mayor wants to cut public works spending
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | Spending on road and infrastructure maintenance likely will decrease in 2012 despite its importance to voters. The move by Mayor Mitch Landrieu to decrease spending for the Department of Public Works is a bold one. Unlike more esoteric sectors of city governance such as the Office of […]
Board meeting announcement
The Dryades Y and James M. Singleton Charter School Board have confirmed that this month’s meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at noon at 2220 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.
New Orleans will soon boast bigger libraries — which will soon need bigger budgets
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | New Orleans taxpayers are likely to be asked to pay more money to run city libraries, officials with that system told the City Council today. The need for more operating funds is due in large part to a post-Katrina rebuilding of the system that one-time disaster grants […]
Sheriff borrows another $5 million for jail
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman held a six-minute meeting of a little-scrutinized agency he controls this afternoon to issue $5 million of taxpayer-financed bonds to help build his new jail. Gusman still has the ability to issue as much as $30 million more in bonds, permission voters […]
Council OK's St. Charles Avenue demolition
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | A substantial group of Uptown property owners attended today’s City Council meeting to address a proposal to tear down an 80-year-old house on St. Charles Avenue. Jeffery Goldring was seeking permission to demolish a 1928 Emile Weil-designed triplex. The applicant’s father, William Goldring, in 2007 wanted to […]