The wife of Municipal Court’s chief judge isn’t the only appraiser lacking a license in that field who is working at the pleasure of Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman – and earning tens of thousands of dollars doing so. In fact, Ann Sens, wife of Judge Paul Sens, is a licensed real-estate broker and might […]
Category: Government & Politics
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Strike up the band: Bacchanal scores parking waiver, as permit tussle nears resolution
“Cool as heck”: A comment filed in support of Bacchanal at the city hearing. (photo: Karen Gadbois) By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff reporter | Patrons, neighbors and employees of Bacchanal, the ultra-hip Bywater nightspot, turned out in force for this week’s meeting of the Board of Zoning Adjustment. Bacchanal, at the corner of Poland […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Sheriff finds job for chief judge's wife despite lack of appraisal experience
Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman hired the wife of Municipal Court Chief Judge Paul Sens as a real-estate appraiser about the same time the judge hired Gusman’s wife.
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Saints bounty mystery: Why such a puny return on such a big risk?
Andrew Breitbart: r.i.p. (credit: DonkeyHotey, Flickr Creative Commons) While I let some topical themes marinate, here are some quick thoughts and links to other posts I find interesting: 1) Tulane grad and conservative new media innovator Andrew Breitbart died suddenly last week. Lamar White at Cenlamar was the last person to tweet to him, and […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Would-be bidder miffed as NORA snatches 7th Ward property from the auction block
The house at 2327 Governor Nicholls Street was suddenly removed from the auction, despite competing interest in acquiring it. (photo: Karen Gadbois) By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | Cashier’s check in hand, local developer Peter Gardner showed up at Tuesday’s sheriff’s auction eager to bid on real estate – in particular a raised […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
A community organizer who knew better than Goldman Sachs’ boss
The bull has the upper hand these days. Photo by Thomas Richter, Creative Commons license. Three years ago President Obama offered us some unsolicited financial advice. He said that stocks looked like a good buy for investors with a long-term perspective. At the time, you’ll recall, the country was in the Great Recession. The pace […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Schools
Would-be local charter operators vent frustrations at state school board meeting
A frustration that’s become commonplace among community groups that feel disenfranchised by the Recovery School District’s latest decisions prevailed Wednesday night at a New Orleans meeting of the state school board. More than 100 people gathered Wednesday to hear the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approve requests for changes to one submitted charter application, […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Land Use
City seeks to demolish cemetery cottages, replace them with concrete block structures
City Hall says sexton’s cottage in Lafayette No. 2 is too damaged to repair. (Photos by TombTrekker.com) Correction: Based on misinformation provided by City Hall, an earlier version of this article stated incorrectly that FEMA’s March 1 meeting on the West Bank is open to the public. It is for consultants only. By Karen Gadbois, […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Increasingly frustrated Council members say city can't afford mental-health cuts at LSU
City officials met Thursday morning to try and solve a nagging $15 million problem: How to restore critical health-care money for LSU Interim Hospital cut from Gov. Bobby Jindal’s mid-year budget adjustment.
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Nagin probe warrants soul-searching by voters, media as well
As details emerge about a multi-track federal investigation into former Mayor Ray Nagin’s personal dealings with city contractors, The Times-Picayune recently reminded us that Nagin was viewed as a “colossal disappointment”…