"Thanks to the Knight Foundation for this 'knot-hole' [The Vault] through which we, the unwashed, can peer to see just how our tax dollars are being spent by City Hall. Please keep up the good work."
—Eugene B. Kordahl
The Lens (https://thelensnola.org/author/michaelstein/)
Michael Isaac Stein
Michael Isaac Stein covers New Orleans' cultural economy and local government for The Lens. Before joining the staff, he freelanced for The Lens as well as The Intercept, CityLab, The New Republic, and Pacific Standard. He was recently awarded a fellowship from the Heinrich Boll Foundation, which he used to report on water scarcity, division, and colonialism in Cyprus.
The council approved the controversial $211 million gas plant in a 6-1 vote last year. Some council members have since indicated they would be open to a revote. Now, Councilman Jason Williams is calling a special meeting related to the plant.
Software package can track movement and identify objects and people. The suite also includes "predictive policing" software, but officials say the city isn't using it.
The lawyer for groups opposed to the Entergy New Orleans power plant in eastern New Orleans says urging recipients of foundation donations to publicly support the company violates tax law.
Surveillance of a drug suspect may have violated his civil rights, his lawyer tells The Lens. Police report claims an undercover officer was on the scene, but that’s not clear.
Cantrell budget proposal says the additional funds will be spent on pretrial diversion, but DA Cannizzaro says the money will be spent on prosecutor salaries.
Police, DA and city surveillance system get bumps in Cantrell's budget, but public defender appropriation remains steady. Decreased camera tickets could lead to lost funding for defense.
