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Author: Michael Isaac Stein

About 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.

‘We’re looking at a lot of new homeless people’: Service providers report growing number of people on street as pandemic drags on

September 2, 2020 Updated September 8, 2020
A recent survey by Unity of Greater New Orleans found the number of homeless people was more than four times its previous estimate a few months ago.

City allowed confederate monument supporters to appraise value of vandalized McDonogh statue, potentially upping charges for accused demonstrator

August 28, 2020 Updated August 28, 2020

City Council advances proposal to cut library tax funding by 40 percent, claiming that the cut will come ‘without detriment to the library system’

August 20, 2020 Updated October 27, 2020
The proposal would go before voters in the Dec. 5 election.

Library to see 40 percent budget cut under Cantrell property tax proposal

August 18, 2020 Updated August 18, 2020
Mayor wants to rededicate library taxes to infrastructure, maintenance.

A Metairie wedding venue has stayed open despite complaints about flouting coronavirus restrictions. Its paid consultant — Jefferson Parish Councilwoman Jennifer Van Vrancken — spoke to state officials on its behalf.

August 17, 2020 Updated August 18, 2020
Public policy professor says the councilwoman doesn’t appear to have violated any laws. But he says it doesn’t look good.

Landlord Joshua Bruno once again issues three-day eviction notices in apparent violation of CARES Act

August 11, 2020 Updated August 12, 2020
Bruno sent out similar notices in April, even though the city had an active moratorium on evictions at the time.

Council approves short-term rental tax, with 25 percent cut going to tourism marketing agency

August 6, 2020 Updated August 6, 2020
Members of the public were largely supportive of taxing STRs, less so about sending more money to New Orleans and Company.

Library employees worried that city’s response to infected worker could increase risk of spread

August 3, 2020 Updated August 4, 2020
After the city shut down three locations for deep cleans, their employees were reassigned to unaffected branches.

Protesters block access to courts, force City Hall to lock its doors in anti-eviction demonstration

July 30, 2020 Updated July 30, 2020
Protesters said that the city and state either need to provide adequate rental assistance or shut down eviction court.

‘A major paradigm shift’: New Orleans hires former short-term rental executive to lead land use regulation

July 28, 2020 Updated July 28, 2020
Peter Bowen will run a brand new office, called the Office of Business and External Services, that will try to blend land use regulation with business development

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