Budget constraints are forcing RTA chief Justin Augustine to curtail planned expansions, he told City Council on Wednesday. Photo by Ariella Cohen By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | The city’s transit chief delivered a blunt message this week: Don’t expect service to return to pre-Katrina levels in parts of the city where significant […]
Author Archives: Ariella Cohen
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Satellite government bodies doing just fine, not likely to return much money to city
As part of its annual budget review, the City Council heard presentations today from the dozen semi-autonomous agencies that manage New Orleans assets such as Piazza D’Italia in the Central Business District and, less glamorously, the city’s thousands of blighted lots. Though none of the entities depends on the tax dollars that go into the city’s general operating fund, their budgets must be approved by the council.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Despite public's pleas for basic repairs, mayor wants to cut public works spending
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | Spending on road and infrastructure maintenance likely will decrease in 2012 despite its importance to voters. The move by Mayor Mitch Landrieu to decrease spending for the Department of Public Works is a bold one. Unlike more esoteric sectors of city governance such as the Office of […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
New Orleans will soon boast bigger libraries — which will soon need bigger budgets
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | New Orleans taxpayers are likely to be asked to pay more money to run city libraries, officials with that system told the City Council today. The need for more operating funds is due in large part to a post-Katrina rebuilding of the system that one-time disaster grants […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Public library to raid reserves, cut programs if city slashes budget supplement to zero
A literacy class exercise spells out the library’s challenge: doing more with less. Photo by Ariella Cohen By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | Despite perennial financial woes and a tough rebound from Hurricane Katrina, the city’s long-beleaguered library system will start 2012 in better shape than many of its peers around the country. […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Council frustrated that rank-and-file jobs frozen while top-brass spots getting filled
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | Since Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s inauguration nearly a year and a half ago – he’d know how many days it has been – he’s enjoyed an amicable relationship with the City Council that serves as his legislative check and balance. Members laugh at his jokes. Often, they praise […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Police monitor says she's working with volunteers, asks for a million dollars more
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | The city’s independent police monitor hired last year to be a watchdog for the New Orleans Police Department needs more money to do the job her office was created to do, she told the City Council today. Susan Hutson’s three-person office is part of the Office of […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Council set to begin budget hearings, will ultimately decide on rolling forward tax rate
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | The New Orleans City Council will begin three weeks of hearings on Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s proposed 2012 budget at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Orleans Parish Assessor Errol Williams will kick off the annual fall rite with a presentation of how much property-tax revenue the city can expect to […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Investigations
Walmart coming to Gentilly with the aid of a federal grant
Despite statements from three city officials that Walmart would build in Gentilly with no government assistance, the retailer is like to benefit from as $2.7 million in federal grants.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Despite community input, Landrieu increases NOPD spending, cuts most other areas
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | This summer, Mayor Mitch Landrieu invited residents to come out and tell him how they wanted their tax dollars spent in 2012. Community meetings held in every section of the city attracted hundreds of residents who spoke passionately about needs in their community – needs for jobs, […]