By Chris O’Neill, The Lens contributing opinion writer | Recovery School District Superintendent Paul Vallas is undeniably a busy man. Reorganizing the New Orleans public school system after Katrina and all the years of pre-Katrina neglect is a Herculean task. There’s so much to do, it leaves little time to pause and listen to suggestions, […]
Author Archives: The Editors
Posted inOpinion
Streetcars should bypass Elysian Fields connection for now
By Jeff Schwartz, guest opinion writer and founding member of Transport for Nola Streetcars once served communities throughout New Orleans. Today, for very good reasons, they’re coming back. That’s grounds for celebration, but also for concern that we don’t make some simple mistakes. This week, the RTA board made an important commitment to invest local […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Happy birthday to us! Our first-anniversary gift to you is this brand-new website
Welcome to the new website of The Lens. Today is our first anniversary, and we’re happy to start our second year with this newly designed website, courtesy of our design-minded, tech-savvy friends at FIVE65 Design. Our first year was about establishing ourselves as a viable, incisive and successful newsroom, and we did that. We’ve broken […]
Posted inEnvironment
Op-Ed: Why public transit matters
We all say we need more retail and business development in New Orleans, but one particular city requirement actually makes it more expensive for developers – and more expensive for all of us.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Kickin' it old school on Election Day
A clever South Carrollton Avenue resident seems to be longing for an earlier time in Louisiana politics. The sign, though, isn’t a collector’s item from The Kingfish. Instead, it was printed for a current candidate in Opelika, Ala, who is running for a seat in the state House of Representatives. The Lens Photo by Steve […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Homework for Election Day
The Nov. 2 features some marquee races, but it also has plenty of down-ballot items. Find out what awaits you in the voting booth by using the state’s handy ballot generator. And if you need help decoding those 10 Constitutional amendments, download this guide from the non-partisan Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana. It even […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
A ripple runs ahead of a wave
Matt Davis in his recent story on The Lens gave a shallow interpretation of the ongoing campaign by a diverse group of New Orleanians who understand that a bigger jail has not and will not make our city safer.
Posted inCriminal Justice, Environment, Government & Politics, Schools
Successful post-Katrina programs in jeopardy of losing federal backing
The Lower Ninth Ward Health Clinic relies on post-Katrina federal grants to operate. Those grants are due to expire this fall putting the clinic in jeopardy Without a continuation of post-Katrina grants for education, health care and improving the criminal justice system, New Orleans risks losing gains made since the storm, says a report released […]
Posted inEnvironment
Incoming Spill Claims Czar Will Drop BP’s Contractor
Kenneth Feinberg, the independent paymaster chosen by President Barack Obama to administer damage claims from the Gulf oil spill, will drop the contractor that BP has been using to manage the claims process and hire two new companies to replace it. Feinberg is expected to take over the claims system from BP In mid-August. He […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Pro Publica: BP Leaves Many Damage Claims Waiting in Limbo
BP is lagging on deciding the validity of many damage claims.