“But then it got beautiful.” — St. Louis Cardinals right- fielder Lance Berkman. 1. I like nearly all sports, in the right dosages. But if you forced me to choose only one sport to watch for the rest of my life, I’d smile and answer: baseball. Yes, I’m one of those eggheads who loves to […]
Category: Government & Politics
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Council frustrated that rank-and-file jobs frozen while top-brass spots getting filled
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | Since Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s inauguration nearly a year and a half ago – he’d know how many days it has been – he’s enjoyed an amicable relationship with the City Council that serves as his legislative check and balance. Members laugh at his jokes. Often, they praise […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Police monitor says she's working with volunteers, asks for a million dollars more
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | The city’s independent police monitor hired last year to be a watchdog for the New Orleans Police Department needs more money to do the job her office was created to do, she told the City Council today. Susan Hutson’s three-person office is part of the Office of […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Like Vitter, Nungesser opted for racist ads, not serious proposals
Notice which way the flow is now heading. In the final week of the race for lieutenant governor, candidate Billy Nungesser, the president of Plaquemines Parish, thought he would win if he carried both Orleans and Jefferson parishes. Well, he did carry both — Jefferson easily, Orleans by a nose — but still lost to […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Guide to participation in budget is released
New Orleans citizens interested in learning more about, and getting involved in, the city’s budget process can download a new guide created by an open-government coalition. The New Orleans Coalition on Open Governance produced the guide to encourage residents to become more active in the public-hearing process, which began Tuesday. The Lens is one of […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Land Use
Plans for Central City reception hall pit cousin against cousin at hearing on zone change
Construction of a reception hall was already under way when city officials rescinded permission to build. Photo by Karen Gadbois. By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | An after-the-fact request for a zoning change pitted cousin against cousin this week at the City Planning Commission meeting. The property is in the middle of the […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Fairness of property assessments comes up at budget hearing, probably not for last time
By Jessica Williams, The Lens staff writer | The City Council began its three-week budget-review process Tuesday, with council members learning how much of $494 million in general-fund cash will come from property taxes, and hearing how the finance department intends to spend a proposed $50 million chunk of that money. The day began with […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Council set to begin budget hearings, will ultimately decide on rolling forward tax rate
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | The New Orleans City Council will begin three weeks of hearings on Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s proposed 2012 budget at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Orleans Parish Assessor Errol Williams will kick off the annual fall rite with a presentation of how much property-tax revenue the city can expect to […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Looking for Democrats on the gridiron sidelines
This election weekend was full of historic landslides. Gov. Bobby Jindal coasted to another term with over two-thirds of the vote. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand received a jaw-dropping 90 percent mandate. Most impressively, though, the LSU Tigers and New Orleans Saints dominated Auburn and Indianapolis by a combined score of 107 to 17. The […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Come on, Buddy! Take my advice or I’m going to occupy Hawaii
Nobody’s listening to me. Presidential candidate Buddy Roemer won’t heed my advice to stage a fight with Occupy Wall Street protesters. And the local Occupy Nola movement refuses to focus their message, as I suggested.