Moreno When several news outlets got an anonymous early morning e-mail Thursday describing a fatal two-car accident involving state House District 93 candidate Helena Moreno, a “summary” preceding the report was less than accurate. As explained in The Times-Picayune today, Moreno’s opponent, James Perry, put out a news release repeating some of the inaccuracies or […]
Category: Government & Politics
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Schools
Charter school conversion leaves some parents anxious, some hopeful
An infant rattled his mother’s car keys in blissful ignorance as she wondered aloud where his brothers would go to school in the fall. Two students in matching school uniforms whispered and appeared confused by the worked-up parents standing around them. And a toddler covered her ears with her hands as a stranger yelled. The […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Farewell Lens and, soon, farewell New Orleans
I recently finalized plans to leave New Orleans to continue my education. I will be attending the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University to pursue a master’s degree in public administration. Classes will begin in August, and I will be leaving New Orleans sometime in June to spend some quality time with […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Police brutality activists protest mayor's selection for chief
Despite what her shirt says, one participant needs to take a rest during the Thursday morning protest against new police Superintendent Ronal Serpas. Police-brutality activists rallied on the steps of City Hall today calling for the removal of New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Ronal Serpas. “We want a completely new landscape free of people who […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Landrieu's environmental office on hold during oil spill
With an environmental disaster imminent off the Louisiana coast, the New Orleans government’s web page on “Coastal Restoration” is blank – as is the seat for the mayor’s director of Office of Environmental Affairs. While it’s noted on the city’s home page that the site is being redesigned, the page for Coastal Restoration is tabula […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
The I.G. wants YOU!
Responding to what he said was the public’s tremendous desire to help, New Orleans Inspector General Ed Quatrevaux said Tuesday that his office is starting a volunteer Citizen’s Reserve force. He said he envisions, among other things, training people to observe public meetings and asking them to send reports to his staff. Volunteers also could […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Nagin's wisdom now for hire on the speaking circuit
As he suggested in one of his many farewell interviews, it looks like former New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin is embarking on a career in public speaking.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Landrieu administration to take data-driven approach
Mayor Mitch Landrieu plans to boost efficiency at City Hall with a data-driven performance-management system modeled after one pioneered in Baltimore, his top appointee said Tuesday. Landrieu’s quantitative approach to governing, something long advocated by open-government advocates, came out during a news conference announcing the creation of new deputy mayor positions and the appointees to […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Like spring training, hope springs eternal on inauguration day
Stevens On the first day of New Orleans’ first white mayor in 32 years, City Hall felt remarkably free of the racial tension that for the past five years has become as much of a fixture in the building as the faux tiles on the walls spelling out the city’s street names. Far from the […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Land Use
Committee advances bill to increase budget oversight of state housing largesse
Tucker A bill to increase legislative oversight of the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency cleared a committee this week, coming out stronger than when it went in. House Bill 1414, filed by Speaker Jim Tucker, D-Algiers, intially required that a legislative committee simply review the agency’s annual budget. The bill now requires approval of the Joint […]