Political upsets warm my soul. They’re comforting reminders that the election game isn’t hopelessly rigged towards incumbents and wealthy interests. A voter can still enter a curtained booth on Election Day and push a button to throw the bums out… even if it’s only to replace them with new bums. Before you roll your eyes […]
Category: Government & Politics
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Park regulations that got Occupiers evicted are little known and rarely enforced
By Benjamin Leger, The Lens contributing writer | Every morning in New Orleans before the sun comes up, runners wind their way through the city’s public parks, getting in their miles before heading to work. Most of them probably don’t know they are breaking city law. The city’s parks and public spaces are closed from […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Road warriors: City officials score $52 million for repairs to flood-damaged side streets
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | Good news for your undercarriage – Mayor Mitch Landrieu has secured more FEMA money for street repairs in Broadmoor, the Lakeview area and St. Claude. The combined total of $52 million divided between the neighborhoods came as a result of Landrieu-initiated damage assessments done on neighborhood streets. […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
So you think Mitt’s got it sewed up? Get ready for GOP seams to rip
Mitt Romney. Photo by Matthew Reichbach, Creative Commons At the indispensable Library Chronicles, Jeffrey often says the current race for the Republican Party’s 2012 presidential nomination is basically a sham. He thinks all the maneuvering among the candidates, all the media hoopla over the televised debates, and all the changing poll numbers are just bread […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Despite previous grumbling, council meeting verges on love-fest in passing budget
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | In a city confronting an ever-rising homicide count and profound infrastructural and economic challenges, one place remains relatively calm: City Hall. With a noticeable absence of strife or dissent, the City Council voted today to unanimously approve a $497 million general operating budget for 2012 that looks […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Black Sabbath dawns — yep, your father’s Black Sabbath!
Reliable sources inform me that Black Sabbath, the inventors of heavy metal, will headline The Voodoo Experience music festival in 2012.
Posted inEnvironment, Government & Politics
Parking lots? An aquarium? Enviro groups question state bids for spending BP bucks
States seek to wring opportunity from BP disaster. By Benjamin Leger, The Lens contributing writer The $1 billion fund set up by BP is supposed to pay for restoration of natural resources damaged by last year’s Deepwater Horizon blowout and oil spill, the worst environmental disaster in the nation’s history. But a coalition has come […]
Posted inEnvironment, Government & Politics
Fresh testing shows persistent formaldehyde contamination in region's FEMA trailers
Barbara Syrie has lived in a FEMA trailer since losing her Mississippi home to Hurricane Katrina. In the past six years, her health has deteriorated dramatically, and she blames high levels of formaldehyde that remain in the trailer, despite promises from FEMA that over time the chemical would dissipate. Photo by Nick Shapiro/ http://boratory.org/ By […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Coalition urges mayor to 'man up' and fulfill promises on jail size and budget reforms
Jail reform coalition member Norris Henderson hands a 2,200-signature petition to Councilwoman Susan Guidry’s chief of staff, Deborah Langhoff, at City Hall this afternoon. Photo by Matt Davis. By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | A reform coalition, calling for a smaller, more accountably budgeted jail, dropped off two copies of a 2,200-signature petition […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
City won't disclose employee addresses, claiming its records are too scattered
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | The City of New Orleans has declined to release the addresses of its employees, saying it has not kept track of whether or not employees want their information kept private. The Lens sought the addresses as part of a public-records request for city payroll information filed on […]