U.S. Sen. David Vitter has long criticized the state’s shaky financing plans to replace Charity Hospital with a new $1.2 billion Louisiana State University-owned teaching hospital. Today the Louisiana Republican made that concern clear in a letter to U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan urging him not to put taxpayers on the hook […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
City's Office of Neighborhood Engagement not yet ready to engage with everyone
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | Mayor Mitch Landrieu wants some advice from neighborhood leaders on how he should set up his newly created Office of Neighborhood Engagement – but he only wants it from selected leaders, with no press coverage allowed. Tonight’s invitation-only event is dubbed as a Neighborhood Engagement Charrette. The […]
Posted inOpinion
Don't go off the grid with second hospital
By Maggie Tishman and Jack Davis, guest opinion writers | For centuries, New Orleans’s largely intact street grid has fostered transportation efficiency, connectivity and the success of our compact and walkable neighborhoods. However, the grid is threatened by the $2.5-billion hospital complexes planned for Mid-City. The first of the two, the Veterans Affairs Hospital, has […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Land Use
City Council hops aboard plan to extend streetcar service to Bywater's far edge
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | The City Council is throwing its weight behind Bywater residents and businesses calling on the Regional Transit Authority to expand streetcar service to the neighborhood’s Poland Avenue eastern boundary. The council today approved a resolution requesting that the agency extend a planned French Quarter line another mile beyond […]
Posted inOpinion
Curtain could drop on opportunity to restore Municipal Auditorium
Follow our coverage on Twitter at Thursday night’s public meeting on the redevelopment of the Municipal Auditorium. By Marie Chinappi, The Lens contributing opinion writer | The Municipal Auditorium was once the site of bustling community activity – home to graduation ceremonies and pageants, a venue for Mardi Gras balls and festivities, host to sporting […]
Posted inOpinion
Going, going, gone! Auction proves a potent weapon in war on blight
By Brad Vogel, The Lens contributing opinion writer | The surest sign of success was when the fire marshal showed up. I’m not talking about a jazz gig on Frenchmen Street. I’m talking about Saturday’s auction of nearly 100 vacant Orleans Parish properties. The sale, orchestrated by the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority drew a crowd […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Katy Perry defeats conformism and 200 million fans cheer
Like many of you, in recent weeks I’ve been totally consumed with Katy Perry’s “Firework” video Why?. First off, the song is up tempo and has fireworks, which are fun. Second, some of these fireworks are shown spewing from Perry’s upper torso — and you don’t see that every day. Third, Katy’s personal fireworks are infectious; […]
Posted inOpinion
War on Blight more courteous but seems to lack coordination
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens opinion writer | The thing that will not die. A friend of mine – Ed — called and invited me to attend his code enforcement hearing on Wednesday. For him, it’s an event that’s beginning to feel like Groundhog Day all over again. The house in question is one he […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Investigations
Lens probe prompts City Hall to take a closer look at low-ball boathouse leases
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Mayor Mitch Landrieu has promised to revisit Municipal Yacht Harbor boathouse leases to ensure that taxpayers are getting a fair deal. The administration’s announcement comes a day after an investigation by The Lens and FOX8 News revealed that the leases are going for just $200 a month, […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Investigations, Land Use
City brings in only a portion of what the market demands for sought-after lakefront boathouses
How much would you pay to lease a prime lakefront boathouse at the city’s yacht harbor? How about $200 a month?