The first round of a competition for the redevelopment rights of the city’s last major pre-Katrina public housing complex – the Iberville development – closed today. Interested developers had until 2 p.m. to present their qualifications to work with the Housing Authority of New Orleans. About 40 developers attended a pre-submission conference held Aug. 25 […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Landrieu relents, and opens jail-advisory meetings
Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s administration has decided to open previously secret meetings that could decide the fate of controversial jail expansion plans. Landrieu convened a stakeholders group in July, responding to concerns about Sheriff Marlin Gusman’s proposals to rebuild and expand the Orleans Parish Prison complex. But the meetings would be closed to the public, his […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
A ripple runs ahead of a wave
Matt Davis in his recent story on The Lens gave a shallow interpretation of the ongoing campaign by a diverse group of New Orleanians who understand that a bigger jail has not and will not make our city safer.
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
We’ll have to find another way to burn the Vikings tonight
Inspired by WhoDat mania and current events, I decided that today was the day to begin a new tradition. I’m calling it “Burn a Viking at the Stake Day.” My plan was to go to a nearby Capital One bank and grab one of those dirty Vikings they have on their commercials and burn him […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Major ad causes minor ripple
A full-page ad in today’s Times-Picayune urging the public to call elected city officials to protest jail-expansion plans had generated just 33 calls by 3 p.m. The ad, which cost $12,000, was paid for by a group of like-minded criminal justice reform advocates unhappy about a plan by Sheriff Marlin Gusman to expand the Orleans […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Iberville redevelopment quietly gets underway
With little fanfare or public conversation, the Housing Authority of New Orleans has begun the redevelopment process of the city’s last major pre-Katrina public housing complex — the Iberville development. Sitting on the fringe of the French Quarter, Iberville has long attracted interest from developers. Earlier this month, the housing authority issued a request to […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
Time to strike while the Bullock and wetlands are hot
In addition to The Times-Picayune’s story on FEMA’s massive lump sum compensation to battered New Orleans Schools, Bayou Buzz shared this good news: New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu will join Oscar-winning actress, Sandra Bullock, to announce the opening of the Warren Easton High School health clinic on Sunday, August 29. … The Warren Easton school-based health […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Investigations, Land Use
At K+5, recovery plan becoming clearer; Lens maps mayor-backed projects
Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s list of 100 sure-fire projects as welcome news. But there’s a long list of projects to which Landrieu hasn’t committed.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Landrieu cool to money for Citizen Participation Project
In his final meeting to get public input on next year’s budget priorities, Mayor Mitch Landrieu on Tuesday questioned whether the city should pay for a new program to encourage public input. David Welch of the Gentilly Civic Improvement Association asked the mayor to fund the Citizen Participation Project, an effort included in the city’s […]
Posted inEnvironment, Land Use
City posts contracts for Joe Brown, riverfront park work
Less than a week after announcing his administration’s plans for more than 100 projects, Mayor Mitch Landrieu on Monday signed a contract for another recreation effort. The $1.7 million contract to renovate the Joe Brown Park was posted to the city’s website today. Also posted was the $23 million contract for a new riverfront park […]