At the Gulf Coast Leadership Summit held in New Orleans on April 19, local businesswoman Leslie Bertucci stood at an audience microphone and passionately explained her story to former Oil Spill Commission Co-Chairman Bob Graham, who listened from the conference room stage. She told him that she was the owner of R&D Enterprises, and that […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Lens' Gert Town investigation draws IG attention; city review met with resistance
By Jessica Williams, The Lens staff writer | As a result of an investigation by The Lens, the secretive director of the Gert Town Revival Initiative not only had to provide answers to the city about her finances – but the organization may well have to face the inspector general’s probing eye, too. During a […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Sheriff draws attention to unspent money for city building projects in fund he controls
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Sheriff Marlin Gusman used a 10-minute meeting of his little-scrutinized but extremely powerful law enforcement district this morning to draw attention to the city’s failure to take advantage of millions of dollars for capital projects that have sat dormant in the district’s fund for more than a […]
Posted inOpinion
BGR housing study was complemented, not contradicted, by UNO
Janet R. Howard, The Lens contributing opinion writer | On May 24, The Lens posted an article from Sara Meadows Tolleson on a bill proposed by House Speaker Jim Tucker to consolidate three housing agencies into a new entity. After discussing the need for amendments, Ms. Tolleson attacked the accuracy of a study by the […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Schools
Rethinkers ink pact with RSD and ARAMARK to use local food in 37 school cafeterias
By Jessica Williams, The Lens staff writer | The school ratings are out – and, no, we’re not talking LEAP scores. Student reformers from Kids Rethink New Orleans Schools, a coalition of students advocating upgrades in school food choices, on Thursday released their 2011 cafeteria ratings for nine schools. The report card, created with help […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Schools
OPSB blames co-defendant as teachers seek compensation for 2006 mass firings
By Jessica Williams, The Lens staff writer | One defendant — the Orleans Parish School Board — tried repeatedly to blame a co- defendant – the state Department of Education — as school board employees who were terminated after Katrina made their case against both parties in Civil District Court on Wednesday. It was the […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics, Investigations
Shining a light: One month's NOPD disciplinary proceedings
From letters of reprimand to firing, a month’s disciplinary measures at the NOPD punished a host of infractions — including napping in a patrol car, wrongful arrest and failure to follow up on leads.
Posted inOpinion
Kudos to city for new blight strategy in historic areas
By Brad Vogel, The Lens contributing opinion writer | I didn’t expect to, but I actually broke into applause last Thursday at the city’s BlightStat meeting. Toward the end of the meeting, Jeff Hebert, the city’s Director of Blight Policy and Neighborhood Revitalization, casually mentioned that the city would no longer be pushing blighted properties […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Law Enforcement District meets to consider loan, other items of interest to sheriff
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer| A little-scrutinized but extremely powerful government body is holding a rare public meeting Thursday morning. Among other things, the taxpayer-funded New Orleans Law Enforcement District effectively works as Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman’s piggy bank for construction projects such as his planned new jail. The governing body of […]
Posted inOpinion
Bills to revamp housing agency should nail down ethics issues
By Sara Meadows Tolleson, The Lens contributing opinion writer | Reshaping the way Louisiana handles affordable housing may be a worthwhile endeavor, but tandem housing bills now nearing a vote in the state Legislature are not ready for a floor vote. Thoughtful amendments to these bills are needed now to ensure that the state’s housing […]