By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | Mayor Mitch Landrieu tonight will host the first in a series of community meetings to learn what residents’ priorities are for the 2012 budget, which is already being drafted. Billed as a part of the city’s effort to spend taxpayer money more efficiently, the meetings represent a […]
Category: Government & Politics
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Are guns on campus OK? Ask the students and cops on northshore
When not campaigning for other offices or switching parties, state Rep. Ernest Wooton, I-Belle Chasse, has distinguished himself by leading the effort to allow concealed firearms on Louisiana college campuses. In three of the past four years he has sponsored bills to let qualified students and faculty carry permitted weapons at public universities. Though the […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Child porn sickos deaf to Jindal’s tough talk
For the past three years or so, Governor Bobby Jindal has traveled far and wide bragging about how tough his administration is on child predators. He’s told audiences that violent child rapists deserve the death penalty, and that sexual predators should be chemically castrated. They’re “monsters,” he never fails to say. As he tours beyond […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Schools
Innovative RSD planning process enters final month: public weighs in on needed changes
By Jessica Williams, The Lens staff writer | More transparency, more equity, and greater levels of commitment to non-charter schools were among requests from community members at a public task force meeting Tuesday night with Recovery School District head John White. Members of the task force – comprising representatives from the RSD, the non-profit Orleans […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Land Use
Blight worsened by housing preservation program, Hoffman Triangle residents say
The process of transplanting this house to 3332 First St. created an intermittent pond that has become a mosquito breeding ground. Photos by Karen Gadbois. By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | Hoffman Triangle residents thought they were getting a handle on the blight problem that has gripped their community since Hurricane Katrina. A […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Tap it, Gramps: Notes on the Roemerlution and sundry tidbits
Today, let’s do a round-up of recent political news stories. 1. The “Roemerlution” continues! Last week former Louisiana governor-turned- presidential-candidate Buddy Roemer took the guest seat on Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report.” This probably marked the widest exposure Roemer’s struggling campaign has achieved to date. He took the opportunity to appeal directly to “regular folks” […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
NOPD officer accused of off-duty shooting will be retried after jury deadlocks
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | A jury was unable to reach a verdict this evening in the case of a New Orleans Police officer who was arrested after firing his gun during an off-duty altercation in December. The District Attorney’s Office plans to retry Officer Jermaine Lecour in September, spokesman Chris Bowman […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Judge lets stand charges against Eris revelers accused of disturbing the peace
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Saying she was confused by the facts at hand, a New Orleans judge today did not dismiss charges and set a trial date for two people accused of disturbing the peace at a raucous, unpermitted Eris parade in Faubourg Marigny during Carnival, which was broken up by […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Leadership Forum impresario still hasn't paid contractors left in the lurch from April event
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | Nearly two months after globetrotting entrepreneur Bill Loiry told The Lens that he would pay stiffed New Orleans contractors who worked on a Gulf Coast Leadership Summit held here in April, most still haven’t been paid in full. Megan Hargroder, left, tweets from the Gulf Coast Leadership […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Jindal campaign funds flow from out-of-state — New Orleans donations? Not so much
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | The latest campaign filings from Gov. Bobby Jindal show more money flowing to him from former eBay CEO and defeated California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman than from the entire population of New Orleans. Jindal donors by city The largely uncontested incumbent raised $313,859 in cash between April […]