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 […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
$800,000 award from city could end up hurting Zulu
Accepting a recent $800,000 award from City Hall could further jeopardize Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club’s tax exempt status. That’s because its unusual IRS status requires that it get at least 65 percent of its gross income from membership dues. Its latest tax filing, for 2007, shows that it apparently violated that provision, with […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Police station not ‘evicted,’ developer says
See the coverage of this story from our partners at Fox8 News No good deed goes unpunished. That was how real estate developer Pres Kabacoff ended an e-mail sent recently to New Orleans City Councilwoman Cynthia Hedge-Morrell. The good deed in question was Kabacoff loaning space for a temporary 5th District police headquarters. The punishment, […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
‘Misplaced’ videotape matches defense team narrative
This week, I took in the sights and sounds at convicted killer Michael Anderson’s motion for a new trial. Anderson is sentenced to death for the 2006 murder of five teens in Central City. The massacre resulted in national headlines, local outrage, the deployment of the national guard, and, ultimately, the downfall of former District […]