Also at Thursday’s budget hearing, the Orleans Public Defender’s Office advocated for greater funding, saying their current budget isn’t enough to end a year-long hiring freeze.
Category: Government & Politics
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Records show how Cantrell administration officials walked back Airbnb enforcement plans over the past year
Earlier this year, officials asked for as many as 16 new STR enforcement employees. That later went down to three. Emails show that top-ranking officials were nervous about how new enforcement rules would affect city tax revenue.
Posted inSchools
How Louisiana’s TOPS program lets state’s richest students go to school, while poor students are often left out
The state’s TOPS scholarship program and state budget formulas handicap less-advantaged students and colleges, and it’s a national trend.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
In first day of city budget hearings, debate on property tax rates continues
Council members again ask if citywide property tax increases are necessary.
Posted inEnvironment, Government & Politics
Plaquemines council member accuses port of ‘appraiser shopping’ to justify $30.5M deal for proposed oil terminal
Plaquemines Parish Council Member Richie Blink brought before the council this month a series of emails between Port of Plaquemines officials and private firms working to develop an oil export terminal that show what Blink described as “several key missteps made by our port” in the process of negotiating the terminal deal. The emails suggest […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Council advances measure reducing electric bills for many Entergy customers, but relief may be short-lived
A proposed $1 million against the company also moves on to the full council.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
At meeting this week, more details emerge on new convention center hotel deal
The overall price tag for the 1200-room hotel is up nearly $30 million.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
City Council to consider $1 million fine on Entergy for frequent power outages
Outages in New Orleans became more frequent in the years following Entergy’s disinvestment in maintenance and system upgrades.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Safety and Permits employee appeals suspension in connection with a federal corruption investigation
Richella Maxwell’s lawyer argued that her suspension letter only mentions the investigation into the Department of Safety and Permits, not any specific misconduct by Maxwell.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Cantrell releases her 2020 budget proposal, while disagreements over property tax rate continues
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell on Thursday presented a proposed $722 million city general fund budget for next year, an increase of $21 million — or 2.8 percent — above this year’s expected $702 million budget. Much of the increase will go to public safety, such as the police and fire departments, as well as […]