By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | An Orleans Parish Sheriff’s deputy arrested and suspended Monday after being booked with simple assault also has been fired from his second job as a deputy constable after being accused of a separate assault this month, records show. And even before being fired from his part-time position […]
Posted inOpinion
City blight blitz is overlooking key allies: owners trying to rebuild
By Tess Monaghan, The Lens contributing opinion writer | Nearly six years after Hurricane Katrina, tens of thousands of residential properties in New Orleans sit vacant. Some have been blighted for decades. But many remain in disrepair simply because their owners lack the funds to repair damage from Hurricane Katrina. City Hall has set a […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Council puts hope in criminal-justice reforms but raises questions about some budgets
Update, Jun 30: This story has been corrected in several places related to the budget for the Public Defender’s Office. See corrections in italics. By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | “For decades our city has justified its collective reluctance to change through the mantra of ‘we’re different here’,” Councilwoman Susan Guidry said, opening […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
When it comes to weird and slippery, Weiner’s got nothing on Vitter
The senator is seemingly invulnerable to his sex scandals. James Gill of The Times-Picayune is probably the region’s most talented political columnist, yet he’s not immune from the occasional howler. Consider this excerpt from his Sunday column: A strong case could be made that [Sen. David] Vitter is neither so weird nor so slippery as […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Deputy arrested, booked with assault
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer| Correction, June 30: The deputy’s name is Mark Andry. A previous version of this story had the last name “Landry.” Another sheriff’s deputy has been suspended after being arrested and booked with assault, the sheriff’s office confirmed Tuesday. This is the fourth disciplinary incident at Orleans Parish Sheriff […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Environment, Government & Politics
Mixed Council response to Fielkow's request for transparency and an earlier budget start
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | City Council members appear to be falling in line in a move toward more transparent and timely budgeting – but not all of them. Last week’s joint meeting of the Criminal Justice and Budget committees was a first of its kind. For as long as anyone can […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Deputy charged with domestic abuse, battery on girlfriend pleads guilty to lesser charge
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | An Orleans Parish sheriff’s deputy, initially suspended after being booked with domestic abuse and battery on his girlfriend, has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of disturbing the peace after the alleged victim refused to cooperate, the District Attorney’s office said this week. Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
District attorney declines prosecution for cop who allegedly brandished pair of guns
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | A rookie New Orleans cop who resigned in April after allegedly brandishing two guns during an off-duty altercation at a gas station will not face criminal charges in the incident, prosecutors have decided. Swanier “After reviewing all of the evidence, the District Attorney’s office determined that it […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Land Use
Homeowner or homeless? St. Louis Street resident fights to hang on to what he has
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | The stretch of St. Louis Street near Claiborne Avenue more closely resembles an industrial brown field than a residential neighborhood. And even in that context, the ramshackle house in the 1900 block has eccentricities of its own: the plastic flowers and ribbons that hang from the front […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Time to kiss gay ‘Kiss Cam’ bigotry goodbye
The first “interracial” kiss in television history took place in the fall of 1968, during the famous Star Trek episode titled “Plato’s Stepchildren.” The episode’s storyline has Captain Kirk and Lieutenant Uhura trapped on a planet ruled by sadistic philosopher kings. As an amusement, these “Platonians” use their powers of telekinesis to force Kirk and […]