On the fifth day of the City Council’s budget hearings, administration officials laid out how it planned to crack down on STR enforcement and restore trust in the Department of Safety and Permits.
Author Archives: 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.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
At budget hearing, council raises privacy, cost concerns over ‘smart cities’ proposal
A proposal under consideration by the Cantrell administration would create a city-led internet service and lead to the installation of thousands of ‘smart’ devices that could collect data on residents.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
See inside the proposal to create a ‘city-directed’ internet service to compete with Cox and AT&T
The proposal also includes the introduction of thousands of “smart cities” equipment throughout the city equipped with cameras and other data collecting sensors.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Two years after Hard Rock collapse, City Council passes ‘responsible’ contractor requirements
The new law creates new disclosure requirements for contractors and new responsibilities for the city, including keeping a list of “non-responsible” contractors.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
City Council reduces Entergy bill increase, but gas bill hikes still coming next week
The council also began the process to create a “system resiliency and storm hardening plan” by March of next year.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Mayor Cantrell releases proposed 2022 city budget
The City Council will begin hearings next week to determine whether it’s going to make any changes to Mayor Cantrell’s draft before finalizing a budget by the end of November.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
New Orleans expects 2022 revenues to nearly reach pre-pandemic levels
A key indicator of the city’s financial health — recurring general fund revenue — in 2022 is expected to be within three percent of 2019 levels.
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Council defers vote on Cantrell’s $77M federal COVID recovery spending plan over lack of details
The ordinances would allocate the first dollars from the estimated $380 million the city expects to receive from the federal American Rescue Plan.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
NOPD would deputize civilian municipal employees under new plan from Cantrell administration
The plan received preliminary approval this week from a City Council committee, but still needs final approval from the full council.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Hurricane Ida puts multi-million dollar dent in city coffers
The city is estimating an $8.6 million loss in 2021 and a $7.7 million loss in 2022 due to Hurricane Ida and a related tax cut from the Orleans Parish Assessor.