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Category
Government & Politics

Council freezes most common type of short-term rental licenses in residential neighborhoods

It’s the first major rollback of the year-old law that legalized and regulated rentals via services like Airbnb, VRBO and HomeAway.
by Charles Maldonado May 24, 2018 Updated November 7, 2019

New Orleans City Council opens investigation into campaign to pay actors to support power plant

The investigation will "dig as deep as humanly possible" into the astroturfing campaign, said Council President Jason Williams.
by Charles Maldonado May 24, 2018 Updated November 7, 2019

Expedia agrees to help city of New Orleans find violators of short-term rental laws

The company told the city it would provide names of more than 200 hosts next week.
by Charles Maldonado May 22, 2018 Updated November 7, 2019

New Orleans City Council to consider ban on most whole-home short-term rentals in historic neighborhoods

The council would drop a current study and replace it with one looking at cities with strict regulations.
by Charles Maldonado May 21, 2018 Updated November 7, 2019

After astroturfing campaign, speakers at council meetings must disclose any compensation

The council has asked Entergy to preserve evidence of its astroturfing campaign.
by Michael Isaac Stein May 18, 2018 Updated November 7, 2019

School board puts off decision to cancel tax exemptions that cost $3.7 million a year

The city uses the tax exemption to lure companies, so the boards wants to hear from New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell.
by Charles Maldonado May 17, 2018 Updated November 7, 2019

Entergy acknowledges astroturfing campaign for power plant, but says it didn’t know about it

The company said it has ended its relationship with The Hawthorn Group. It hired Crowds on Demand, which hired the actors.
by Michael Isaac Stein May 10, 2018 Updated November 7, 2019

New Orleans may have improperly diverted millions in property taxes to pension funds

Those taxes can be used only for what voters approved.
by Charles Maldonado May 8, 2018 Updated November 7, 2019

Actors were paid to support Entergy’s power plant at New Orleans City Council meetings

Dozens of people in orange shirts showed up at meetings to support Entergy's new power plant. But for many of them, it was just an acting gig. They were paid to show up and speak on the company's behalf. The Lens interviewed a few of them and reviewed messages outlining the astroturfing effort.
by Michael Isaac Stein May 4, 2018 Updated September 5, 2022

Blighted Make It Right home to be demolished after standing vacant, half-repaired for two years

The property was the subject of a code-enforcement hearing Tuesday.
by Karen Gadbois April 17, 2018 Updated November 7, 2019

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The Lens fights to reveal and report on issues that impact the community and the region. Staunchly defending the public's right to know and deeply committed to sharing our knowledge with the community at large. We center human impact in all our work.
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For more than a decade, we have reported on issues as well as public policy meant to address the needs of residents. The Lens seeks to focus on the inherent inequality that has created a multi-tiered system. We, at The Lens seek to uncover, illuminate, inform and take part in a forward-looking community. Join us.

 
 

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