No new T-shirt shops would be allowed to open in the French Quarter under a proposed ordinance by New Orleans City Council member Kristin Gisleson Palmer, who represents the historic area. The proposal would let existing souvenir shops continue to operate, but they couldn’t expand. Such restrictive legislation isn’t new, Palmer said, pointing to similar […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Land Use
Temporary jail cells costing more than $11 million to build
Sheriff Marlin Gusman’s temporary jail will cost over $11 million, The Lens has learned.
Posted inLand Use
HRI and C.J. Peete developer chosen for Iberville work
The Housing Authority of New Orleans today selected a proposed partnership between prominent local developer and a national company to lead efforts to redevelop the Iberville public housing development on the fringe of the French Quarter. The partnership is between HRI Properties and McCormack Baron Salazar. McCormack Baron Salazar is based in St. Louis, but […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Land Use
Some support temporary jail; others want work stopped
Sheriff Marlin Gusman’s decision to move ahead with construction of 400 temporary jail beds before a working group meets to examine the jail expansion has divided the group and drawn criticism from City Council President Arnie Fielkow.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Public comments invited on plan to spend $28.8 million
City officials will hold a public hearing tonight on how to spend $28.8 million in federal anti-poverty and homelessness grants. The federal money, computed using formulas that take into account local poverty rates, is a key source for emergency shelter, affordable housing and social-service programs for low-income, homeless or HIV-positive Louisiana residents. In 2009, an […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Land Use
Sheriff building 400 jail beds before working group meets
The sheriff has started work on buildings for 400 new temporary jail beds even before the city’s Criminal Justice Working Group – established last week by the mayor to examine the jail expansion – holds its first official meeting.
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Here’s a powerful tip for Cao: Don’t say “shagalicious”
The billboard on Louisiana Avenue reads, “Did you know that Joseph Cao secured over $1 million for neighborhood redevelopment?” It refers viewers to DidYouNOLA.com, which redirects them to the website for the Republican’s campaign to win re-election to Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District. One MILLION dollars. That’s more than three bucks per resident! It’s an unintentionally […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Sheriff: I have never housed arrestees ‘to make money’
Sheriff Marlin Gusman has hit back at remarks made Thursday by a member of the mayor’s new advisory group on plans for Gusman’s new jail. Former Chief Judge of Criminal District Court Calvin Johnson told The Lens yesterday that jails have been used as “an economic development tool in Louisiana over the last 30 years,” […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Mayor announces new group to offer recommendation on jail
Mayor Mitch Landrieu today announced the membership and goals of a new jail advisory group, which will deliver a recommendation to his office on the “optimal” size of a planned new jail complex. The mayor signed an executive order convening the group yesterday, and charged it with giving him a written recommendation and report by […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Public not invited to city meeting on key jail issue
The City Council’s Criminal Justice Committee met this morning to discuss inmate-release issues that could have an effect on the size of the city’s planned new jail, but it’s unclear whether adequate public notice was given about the meeting under the state’s open meetings law.