The contractor was selected without a public bidding process. And a local surveillance watchdog group has concerns about how it will be used.
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
Council defers library board appointment after public pushback
Nominee Dana Henry actively campaigned for a 2020 ballot measure that would have stripped 40 percent of the library’s tax collections
Posted inGovernment & Politics
City Council rejects multimillion-dollar Folgers tax breaks
Approvals for a package of tax breaks, including two that were rejected last month, could have cost the city $25 million over a decade.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
City Council members vote to put new French Quarter security sales tax on April ballot despite Cantrell administration objections
The revenue would be administered by the appointed French Quarter Management District instead of the City Council, under the new proposal.
Posted inCoronavirus
New Orleans council member asks state to overturn local assessor’s commercial tax cuts
The tax cuts were applied to nearly every commercial property in the parish, costing the city millions in property tax revenue.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
What’s next for DA-elect Williams’ City Council seat?
If Jason Williams resigns his seat before Monday, he will trigger a special election rather than an interim appointment. A statement from his office implies he is leaning toward resigning effective Monday, but he stopped short of a definite answer.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Cantrell ends public safety furloughs, says more personnel changes ahead
Administration is banking on better-than-expected economy and federal aid to fund the additional payroll costs, otherwise layoffs may come by the end of the year
Posted inGovernment & Politics
New Orleans City Council bans facial recognition, predictive policing and other surveillance tech
The ordinance that was ultimately passed wasn’t as ambitious as the original, but advocates say it’s a good start.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
City Council rejects two Folgers tax exemptions, defers voting on four others
A final City Council vote on the remaining four Folgers exemptions is expected on Jan. 14.
Posted inCriminal Justice
After overwhelming defeat at polls, French Quarter security sales tax heading back to the ballot in April
The success of the ballot measure could come down to whether the French Quarter Management District and the city can strike a deal on the use and control over the funds.