By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | A tone of triumph and hope characterized a forum of academic, nonprofit and governmental leaders held Monday at the University of New Orleans to mark the sixth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Yet despite the overall positive message, concern about the city’s shrinking black middle and upper class […]
Author Archives: Ariella Cohen
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Investigations
Drivers rejoice: FEMA and city find a way to start fixing neighborhood streets damaged by Katrina floodwaters
Tens of millions of new federal dollars are about flow into neighborhoods to fix one of the least sexy but most widely felt problem since Hurricane Katrina: The streets we love to hate.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Algiers residents unload road frustrations on mayor, who says long-term fix is expensive
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | Streets and infrastructure topped the list of budget priorities for Algiers residents who came out Wednesday night for the second of seven public hearings regarding Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s 2012 budget. “More than a year ago, we were sitting in this exact spot and I told you about […]
Posted inInvestigations, Schools
Pioneer of urban farm and school learns lessons of his own, hopes struggles lead to success
An idealistic New Yorker last year drew praise and donations for his urban farm and alternative school in the Lower 9th Ward, but after barely making it through the year, he admits he has a lot to learn.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Anyone want to buy a used theme park? City seeking bidders on decaying Six Flags site
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | An eastern New Orleans icon of post-Katrina abandonment is up for the taking. After nearly six years of handwringing over the future of the city-owned former Jazzland/Six Flags theme park, the city put out a call Wednesday for companies to submit proposals for the redevelopment of the […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Landrieu says city's poor financial situation isn't likely to improve anytime soon
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | It’s going to get worse before it gets better. That was the financial message Mayor Mitch Landrieu left with New Orleanians at the first of his public meetings on the 2012 budget held Tuesday night in the heart of Central City. Though he worked the crowd with […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Residents asked to lay out budget priorities
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | Mayor Mitch Landrieu tonight will host the first in a series of community meetings to learn what residents’ priorities are for the 2012 budget, which is already being drafted. Billed as a part of the city’s effort to spend taxpayer money more efficiently, the meetings represent a […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Leadership Forum impresario still hasn't paid contractors left in the lurch from April event
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | Nearly two months after globetrotting entrepreneur Bill Loiry told The Lens that he would pay stiffed New Orleans contractors who worked on a Gulf Coast Leadership Summit held here in April, most still haven’t been paid in full. Megan Hargroder, left, tweets from the Gulf Coast Leadership […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Jindal campaign funds flow from out-of-state — New Orleans donations? Not so much
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | The latest campaign filings from Gov. Bobby Jindal show more money flowing to him from former eBay CEO and defeated California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman than from the entire population of New Orleans. Jindal donors by city The largely uncontested incumbent raised $313,859 in cash between April […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Land Use
Filled-in canal drives up cost of planned Loyola Avenue streetcar extension
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | A bridge running over a buried canal beneath a streetcar track — the setup sounds like a backdrop for the post-industrial romance of an Arcade Fire video. On Loyola Avenue in the Central Business District, however, the infrastructure sandwich will soon be a very expensive reality – and […]