FEMA trailers that sheltered New Orleanians after Katrina after back in service on the resale market, despite health warnings and a government ban on their use as housing.
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Landrieu asks City Council to move appeals of camera-generated tickets to Traffic Court
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s office this morning will place an ordinance before the City Council that, if approved, would move contested traffic-camera tickets from Civil Court to Traffic Court, a move that could raise millions of dollars for Traffic Court. Landrieu’s spokesman, Ryan Berni, confirmed the move. “The […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Mockery of scientific research comes back to haunt Bobby Jindal
A recent News Star editorial praised Governor Bobby Jindal’s leadership as the state and the Army Corps of Engineers take historic steps to manage the swollen Mississippi River. Titled “Jindal steps up in time of need,” the opinion piece commends our governor’s data-driven, pro-active approach to the situation. I’ll commend Jindal as well. He’s skilled […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Carnage at daughter's birthday does not make dad a foe of bar where it happened
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | Tuesday’s meeting on whether to revoke the license of a Ninth Ward watering hole made for painful memories. And yet, even though Adrian Joseph was host of the birthday party for his daughter at which an 18-year-old was shot dead and four other patrons wounded, he was […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Deputy who punched girlfriend in face has been fired; not the first encounter with law
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | An Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy who was fired recently after admitting he punched his girlfriend in the face had other brushes with the law before he was hired less than a year ago, according to records and interviews with an alleged statutory rape victim’s mother. It’s […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Investigations
Dejean kept Gert Town board in the dark, ex-chairman of secretive non-profit contends
By Jessica Williams, The Lens staff writer | The embattled director of a Gert Town community fund has been as reluctant to share information with her board as with the community she is meant to serve, according to a former board chairman. An investigative report published last week by The Lens noted neighborhood concern that […]
Posted inOpinion
Opportunity missed: Why aren't we coating the wetlands with mud from a mighty high river?
The “mighty” Mississippi again is offering a dazzling display of its power. Unfortunately, Louisiana is blowing an equally mighty opportunity to show the world that we are serious about saving our coast.
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
Tales of a river gone mad and a would-be suicide’s cork leg
Historian and local mensch John Barry has written some recent articles comparing the current Mississippi River flood conditions to the Great Flood of 1927, about which he authored the definitive account. These prompted me to look up other Mississippi flood years, and through the power of the Internet I learned about the flood of 1882. […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Investigations
Why the secrecy? Gert Town community agency won't show how it's spending lawsuit windfall
Five years after the Gert Town neighborhood started collecting $404,000 for community renewal, the non-profit dispensing the cash refuses to give residents an accounting of how it’s being spent.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
House votes to jack up Traffic Court fees, despite ample current revenue streams
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | The state House this afternoon voted 86 to 1 to approve a bill that would let New Orleans Traffic Court charge higher fees even though its budget has ballooned recently. The legislator who sponsored the bill and one of the court’s judges gave different reasons why the […]