By Ariella Cohen, staff writer — In the months after Hurricane Katrina, traumatized New Orleanians turned out in droves to discuss the fate of their neighborhoods. They gave hours of their time with the understanding that their input would guide the rebuilding of their city – and help secure the federal disaster grants needed to […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Judge sympathetic, but dismisses complaint about housing money shifted to port
A federal judge in Mississippi this month rejected a complaint from housing advocates who were upset that millions of dollars marked for poor residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina had been diverted to rebuild a coastal port. And given the persistent – but unproven – contention that Louisiana has enough low-income housing, it’s not inconceivable that […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Investigations, Schools
"Economic development" grants leave empty storefronts
A taxpayer-financed program to stimulate economic development in New Orleans continues to back dubious business ventures, throwing into question the city’s stewardship of some $2.5 million in annual grants, an investigation by The Lens and Fox 8 News has found. Since December 2008, more than $200,000 has been funneled to the owners of a sorely […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Building trust and keeping track
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 […]