By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | A $651 million redevelopment of the Iberville public-housing complex will be paid for with loans from the state, government-backed bonds and money from selling low-income housing tax credits, Housing Authority of New Orleans plans show. First submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in […]
Category: Government & Politics
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
As penance, maybe Rev. Storms can save other ‘Christian’ bigots
It’s a shame that 99 percent of the hard-line “family values” moralizers ruin it for the rest of them. Take Grant Storms, for example — please. The reverend, best known for protesting the Southern Decadence festival in the French Quarter, was recently arrested after two women said they saw him masturbating in his van at […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Land Use
Looking to buy a Road Home house at auction? What if it’s one you already own?
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer| The list of Road Home properties at risk of demolition is nothing new. It appears on the website of the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office, and is updated from time to time by CDM, the contractor that manages the demolition process. The Miro Street property is slated for […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Schools
With RSD Superintendent Vallas leaving, state moves in new liaison, undertakes search
By Jessica Williams, The Lens staff writer | In preparation for Recovery School District Superintendent Paul Vallas’ departure in August, state education officials took the first step in the transition to new leadership on Monday, as State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek appointed a new liaison to the RSD to handle governance issues. Patrick Dobard, […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Inside the quirky world of special funds: Landrieu team vows closer scrutiny
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | The New Orleans Police Department raised $70,975 and spent $107,778 registering sex offenders last year. During that same period, the parking garages at Harrah’s Casino took in $19.8 million while the New Orleans Building Corporation raised no money at all. These are just a few of the […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
City to buy recycling carts, which will be delivered to customers only by request
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | The City of New Orleans could pay millions of dollars in coming months to buy new recycling carts for residents, judging from a bid request issued by the city as part of a deal with the city’s trash haulers to add that service by May 2. Mayor […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Investigations, Land Use
Copter man wants to add aviation school beside contested Gert Town helipad
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | Jonas Johnson has a vision for Gert Town’s Zion City neighborhood. Seeking city permission to continue using a vacant lot as a helicopter pad, Johnson on Thursday said he would like to reinvigorate the area by creating an “aviation school” for underserved children. That would mean expanding […]
Posted inEnvironment, Government & Politics, Investigations
Toxic acid poses an unnecessary health risk to more than a million in the Greater New Orleans region
Despite the availability of a safer alternative, three New Orleans area refineries continue to rely on a lethal compound, as do two others in Louisiana.
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Land Use
It’s a bird, it’s a copter, it’s a zoning violation! City vows to cite Gert Town helipad
David Johnson’s reaction to a helicopter landing in his neighborhood was a mixture of profanity and incredulity. “My first reaction was, get the h…, get outta here! … Unbelievable!” A Gert Town resident his whole life, Johnson dwells next door to an increasingly A wind sock marks the site of a helicopter landing pad in […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Climate change makes local flood defense a real crap shoot
True odds are often misstated. Proctologists understand this fact well, since so many of their patients, at least on Seinfeld, explain their unfortunate predicaments in the same way: “It was a million to one shot, Doc. Million to one.” So, if a “million to one” means little in a proctologist’s examination room, would it be […]