In recent months, it’s become apparent that the only thing not in contention about the New Orleans budget process is the fact that no one trusts it. As Eli Ackerman and others have pointed out in no uncertain terms, the City Council feels like it lacks proper oversight of the city’s spending of taxpayer dollars. […]
Posted inEnvironment
The politics of affordable housing: are solutions a problem?
With a new Mayor and City Council on the way, is anyone out there taking the affordable housing issue seriously? Save for housing advocates like mayoral candidate James Perry, former executive director of the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Center, few other candidates have released a cursory statement acknowledging the report. The affordable housing crisis […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Hey, who turned the lights off?
When New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin explained in mid-December the administration’s decision to close most city buildings on Friday, he described it as a last-resort attempt to save the city money on utility costs and janitorial services. Budget document released by his office show a projected $100,000 savings on janitorial service in Municipal Traffic […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
James Perry campaign a success or a failure?
Fair housing non-profit executive James Perry’s underdog bid for mayor of New Orleans has garnered significant fanfare in the media that may not manifest itself as voters at the polls on Election Day. When Perry launched his campaign a year ago, it was uncertain that he’d make it this far, considering his youth and his […]
Posted inSquandered Heritage Vintage
WordPress and Tenacity
I have know for a few weeks that the series of reports done by Lee Zurik had been awarded the “duPont award”:http://www.journalism.columbia.edu/cs/ContentServer/jrn/1212612076307/page/1212612076272/JRNSimplePage2.htm but it was nice to see it announced today. I heard the announcment via Twitter via “@The_Gambit”:http://twitter.com/The_Gambit Nice to see new media spreading the news of old media around. I look forward to […]
Posted inSquandered Heritage Vintage
Cracking the eggs to make the Carrollton Avenue omelet
Work will begin this week on the resurfacing and sidewalk replacement on South Carrollton Avenue from Interstate 10 to St. Charles Avenue, a project expected to finish by August. The project also will bring a bike lane, handicapped-accessible curb cuts at each cross street, and new curbs along the 2.2-mile stretch of road. Though the […]
Posted inSquandered Heritage Vintage
No Power for the People
In a cost-cutting move, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin declared that all city buildings will be closed on Fridays. Supposedly, this will cut the city’s light bill and help the city meet its budget goals. Hizzoner’s announcement led to more than one wisecrack about the level of service available at City Hall even when it […]
Posted inSquandered Heritage Vintage
Louisiana Land Trust
Here are the first 50 of the 300 houses going through 106 review before they are eligible to be demolished. The neighborhoods where these houses are located are Bywater Carrollton aka Northwest Carrollton Edgewood Park and Broadmoor You are encouraged to leave comments at this site as well as “view the full list”:http://www.crt.state.la.us/hp/latrust/readnotice.asp?NoticeID=2 Some of […]
Posted inSquandered Heritage Vintage
Demolition continues unabated
Yesterday while driving down Earhart Blvd. I came across a demolition which was being performed with no dust mitigation. The structure was a substantial Church bldg and generated a large amount of dust and debris. Here is the Church just before demolition. When I arrived on site yesterday they were well on the way to […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Soros: Economic Rights Versus Human Rights
Social justice is not the same as simple justice, said billionaire Holocaust survivor George Soros in an interview with The Lens. According to the Hungarian-born American investor and currency speculator, there is a distinction between judicial rights rights of freedom and rights to particular amenities or services, such as housing. “There is a legitimate objective […]