The city has paid the private company managing the bulk of New Orleans’ recovery projects more than $3 million for work actually done by city employees, according to an internal memo written by the ousted city capital projects director just weeks before he left City Hall. Bill Chrisman wrote in the Feb. 20 memo that […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
What price crunk?
You really can’t put a price on getting crunk. Still, the Ying Yang Twins, performers of the Saints anthem “Halftime (Stand up and Get Crunk!), had to put a price on their appearance with Mayor Ray Nagin at the Super Bowl celebration parade. Nagin recently signed a contract to pay the hip-hop stars up to […]
Posted inInvestigations
City permits system unplugged because of unpaid bills
A technology vendor to the city of New Orleans shut down a key computer system Monday because the city hasn’t paid “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in past-due bills, the contractor said Wednesday. Based on a tip from a developer unable to move a project forward, The Lens uncovered the problem in a joint investigation […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Not a good week for cop
Today, another NOPD investigator was charged in the alleged conspiracy to cover up the killings on Danziger Bridge. Jeffrey Lehrmann also just happened to have been the lead investigator of the 2006 Central City massacre, a quintuple killing for which Michael Anderson was convicted and sentenced to death. Earlier this week, Judge Lynda Van Davis […]
Posted inLand Use
Taxpayers donate property for homeless only to see it stagnate under non-profit
By Karen Gadbois – Staff writer – Three years after getting a piece of taxpayer-owned property for free, a New Orleans non-profit has yet to make improvements to the blighted site or fulfill promises made when it took the donation – and it apparently tried to sell the six-unit apartment house for $230,000 in pure […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
The mayor doesn't oversee education but should get involved anyway
Today, Mitch Landrieu unveiled another task force to advise his transition, this time on public education. I feel like I’ve been reminded 1,000 times that the city of New Orleans HAS NO CONTROL over education policy. Library Chronicles reminded me of it today, as a matter of fact. Even though I think Jeffrey was being […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Contractor for recovery oversight is overcharging, says ousted city official
Controversial contractor MWH Global, which serves as the project manager for most major city recovery projects, is billing the city at a higher rate than allowed for in federally subsidized projects, according to an internal city memo obtained by The Lens. “…MWH has grossly exceed [sic] the 8% cap max fee allowable for project billing,” […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Jordan not exonerated just because Anderson might be; Cannizzaro won’t yield
Earlier today, Criminal District Court Judge Lynda Van Davis ordered a new trial for Michael Anderson, accused of a 2006 quintuple homicide in Central City that resulted in the deployment of the National Guard. Anderson had been sentenced to death last year but Van Davis ruled that District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro’s office erred in failing […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
See for yourself: Zulu, others vie for city grant money
More than two weeks after filing a public records request, The Lens has gotten its hands on the proposals that competed with Zulu for a share of the city’s Urban Development Action Grant fund.In addition to the winning $800,000 Zulu proposal, the city considered a plan for a nightclub and multimedia production center on St. […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Investigations
Strip mall that won taxpayer money faces code problems
In January, The Lens reported on taxpayer money collected by DKM Acquisitions and Properties for economic development. At the time, nothing visible had been done to renovate the gutted and unkempt Lake Terrace Shopping Center at Robert E. Lee Boulevard and Paris Avenue. City officials said that the $162,500 given to the company had been […]