Jindal: Eyes on the prize, but which one? Photo by Gage Skidmore In his Oct. 22 re-election victory speech, Gov. Bobby Jindal repeatedly stressed his desire to make his second term as productive as possible. “I will use every day, every hour of these next four years to make Louisiana the very best that we […]
Category: Government & Politics
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
After more than six months, deputies finally get paid for security work at city auto pound
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Sheriff Marlin Gusman finally paid some of the thousands of dollars he owed to reserve deputies who have been working a security detail at the city’s auto impound lot since May. The sheriff is staffing these security spots through a contract with the city. But the city […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Is Buddy Roemer now trailing even dolphins and archangels??
Often, my conscience readers ask why I waste so much digital ink on former Governor Buddy Roemer’s silliness, when I should be working up a lather over Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s slipperiness. Fair point, but they miss the larger picture. I’ll have umpteen future chances to jab the Landrieu administration, whereas this might be my last shot […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Jesse Jackson stops by Occupy Nola to provide support as eviction hints get stronger
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | Backlit by the insistent neon signage of New Orleans City Hall, the Rev. Jesse Jackson last night told Occupy Nola protesters that they had a right to assemble peacefully in Duncan Plaza, the Loyola Avenue public green where Occupy first set up camp in early October. The […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Jeffersons might be movin' on out; former congressman puts Uptown house on market
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | Convicted former Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson put his house in New Orleans on the market today. According to the listing, the 5,000-square-foot six-bedroom, five-and-a-half bathroom Uptown home is on the market for $723,000. The disclosure statement said there is no pending litigation regarding the property and that […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Council says it can't reveal proposed budget despite open-government group's request
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | The City Council declined today for the second year in a row to give the public an early look at its proposed budget so that citizens can digest it before the council votes to adopt it Dec. 1. Council members said they have been disappointed by the […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Gambit joins us in quest for transparency; even with progress, City Hall falling short
This item was first published on The Lens’ Tumblr site, which we use for promoting our events and providing the news behind the news. By Ariella Cohen and Maggie Calmes, The Lens staff writers | Gambit published an excellent story yesterday on transparency in Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s City Hall. It’s an issue that’s, let’s just say, familiar to […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Council members asking what happens if they don't raise taxes as mayor is requesting
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | With a grueling schedule of hearings and an endless parade of department heads and administration officials, New Orleans City Council members appear to be contestants in a dance marathon rather than elected officials attempting to parse a budget in difficult financial times. Here’s a recap of Friday’s […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
RTA chief tells it like it is: pre-Katrina service won't be restored in depopulated areas
Budget constraints are forcing RTA chief Justin Augustine to curtail planned expansions, he told City Council on Wednesday. Photo by Ariella Cohen By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | The city’s transit chief delivered a blunt message this week: Don’t expect service to return to pre-Katrina levels in parts of the city where significant […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Satellite government bodies doing just fine, not likely to return much money to city
As part of its annual budget review, the City Council heard presentations today from the dozen semi-autonomous agencies that manage New Orleans assets such as Piazza D’Italia in the Central Business District and, less glamorously, the city’s thousands of blighted lots. Though none of the entities depends on the tax dollars that go into the city’s general operating fund, their budgets must be approved by the council.