Land Use
N.O. City Council approves sweeping code enforcement changes | The New Orleans Advocate – The changes have been met with opposition from residents concerned that the new rules are too strict and might penalize some people. They say low-income and elderly property owners may not have the wherewithal to pull off speedy renovations, and their properties may not be blighted, but simply in need of minor repair.
New Orleans City Council passes new fares for Algiers ferries | NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune – “City officials hope the new financing will restore the ferries to more than 18 hours of daily service.” The article includes a handy list of fees and rates for the Algiers Point and Chalmette ferries.
Ode to a Dogtrot: 2311-13 Iberville Street | Preservation in the Present
The dogtrot Creole cottage at 2311-13 Iberville Street was approved for demolition yesterday by the Neighborhood Conservation Districts Committee. The loss of this house means that only 12 will remain in New Orleans and, since dogtrot Creole cottages in their urban form are not known to exist outside of our city, in the entire country.
Environment
Levee board, Jindal administration remain at odds over lawsuit after hints of reconciliation | The Lens – The Jindal administration isn’t taken with the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East’s offer to pause the lawsuit against oil and gas companies.
Deepening the Mississippi River would have broad economic benefits, study concludes | NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune – “Every dollar spent to deepen the Mississippi River by 5 feet, allowing larger vessels to reach Louisiana’s ports, will create $89.4 in benefits, concluded a study released Thursday gauging the economics of dredging the river to a 50-foot depth.”
Economist Tim Ryan prepared the study for an advocacy group called the Big River Coalition. (More on Ryan in the Schools section of this roundup.)
World Press Latches Onto Tree Tumble Story from Bayou Corne | The Louisiana Sinkhole Bugle – The unreal video of tall trees being swallowed into the Bayou Corne sinkhole has gone viral. The Louisiana Sinkhole Bugle blog compiled a comprehensive list of links to all the stories about the event.
‘Sandy lung’: Shore residents, first responders screened for post-storm respiratory issues | The Star-Ledger – The parallels to New Jersey in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy continue. Mold and contamination in 2005 led New Orleans residents to complain about “Katrina cough.”
Government & Politics
Tax-related charges only scratch surface for resigned lawmaker | WWL-TV – State Rep. Girod Jackson (D-Marrero) resigned yesterday after federal authorities charged him with felony fraud. Reporter David Hammer reports, “Legislative audits of Jefferson Community Health Centers and the Jefferson Sports and Scholastic Foundation found that Jackson’s company got paid more than $100,000 for services that could not be substantiated.”
Former mayor Ray Nagin’s federal corruption trial delayed | FOX 8 WVUE — “Nagin’s attorney Robert Jenkins said he needs more time to prepare for trial. … In a 21 count indictment, prosecutors accuse the former mayor of accepting payoffs, free trips and other arrangements.”
In a separate video segment aired yesterday (not online), Fox 8 legal analyst Joe Raspanti claimed that the feds have a long line of witnesses ready to testify against Nagin, and that if the former mayor goes to trial, it would resemble a “rooster getting run over by an F-150.”
Reporter says George W. Bush library doesn’t tell Katrina’s whole story | WWL-TV – A Katrina exhibit at the new George W. Bush presidential library doesn’t acknowledge federal failures, according to reporter Bruce Nolan.
Schools
Public schools make computer gains | The Advocate – More schools have one computer for every seven students, which meets the minimum state computer requirement.
Tim Ryan quits as New Beginnings board member | The Lens — “New Beginnings Schools Foundation board chairman Tim Ryan tendered his resignation Wednesday night — the third board member to do so in the last week.”
Criminal Justice
Orleans Parish Prison’s new immigration policy endangers community, could cost federal funds, David Vitter says | NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune – On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. David Vitter wrote to Sheriff Marlin Gusman, criticizing him for not checking to see whether prisoners were legally in the country: “Instead of addressing needed reforms to the Orleans Parish Prison, you are telling the country that you will actively prevent federal enforcement of immigration law. What an embarrassment.”
Inmates In Prison Education Had 43% Lower Odds of Recidivism: New Study | The Crime Report
Inmates who participated in correctional education programs had 43 percent lower odds of returning to prison than inmates who did not, says a federally funded RAND Corp. study issued today. The U.S. Justice Department said the findings, from the largest-ever analysis of correctional educational studies, show that prison education programs are cost effective.