With a vote scheduled Thursday that could double water rates in New Orleans by 2020, Sewerage & Water Board officials on Wednesday bowed to public pressure and spelled out how they plan to spend $582.7 million in extra money. The New Orleans City Council appears likely to approve the rate increase, backed aggressively by Mayor […]
Tag: MITCH LANDRIEU
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Hurricane alert: Keeping your cool likely to get harder and harder
How was your Labor Day weekend? Mine was hot, dark and wet. A confounded, slow-moving tempest knocked out my electricity and exposed leaks around my windows. After a couple days of sweating and mopping up, my wife and I decided to consume all the beer in the fridge, before it got warm. Emergency measures, you […]
Posted inOpinion
A former New Orleanian glances back across the pond from London
Outside the bubble, the perception of New Orleans continues to improve. Returning to South London in April after 18 months as a criminal justice reporter at The Lens, I was reluctant to pass snap judgment on New Orleans. Apart from the good friends I made, I loved Mardi Gras as much as any sane human […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
GOP strategist saw gay marriage shift gaining momentum
More straights are marching under the gay rights banner. credit: Creative Commons In light of my last post on President Obama’s repositioning in support of gay-marriage rights, I found this recent GOP strategy memo fascinating. It’s from President George W. Bush’s 2004 pollster, Jan R. van Lohuizen. Within a few years of Bush’s re-election victory […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Earl updated: Don’t tweet or blog what you can wink or nod
Earl Long: close-lipped Eight years ago, I was up at odd hours of the night, helping my wife care for a newborn. After a bit of noodling on the internet I discovered and joined the wonderful (and wonderfully small) community of South Louisiana bloggers. We discussed politics and current events and mocked the stupid things […]
Posted inOpinion
What's with City Hall's ongoing campaign to kill District Councils?
The New Orleans City Council will soon vote on the future of citizen participation in our city. It’s an ideal mandated by both a post-Katrina amendment to the City Charter and the city’s long-overdue master plan. But despite overwhelming popular support, it appears to be in grave peril.
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Primary politics: Does Jindal secretly want Obama to win?
Seamus, the now world-famous family pet Mitt Romney strapped to the roof of his car for a 12-hour drive to Canada. (credit: www.dogsagainstromney.com) mons 1. Basketball analyst Digger Phelps appeared on CNBC’s Squawk Box show to talk about the men’s NCAA basketball tournament known as March Madness. At the end of the segment (video here) […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Nagin probe warrants soul-searching by voters, media as well
As details emerge about a multi-track federal investigation into former Mayor Ray Nagin’s personal dealings with city contractors, The Times-Picayune recently reminded us that Nagin was viewed as a “colossal disappointment”…
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Land Use
Because of Winn-Dixie: City lets grocery add vehicle crossing over pedestrian greenway
Click to enlarge. The city has agreed to let Winn-Dixie cross the proposed Lafitte Greenway in one direction, from the mail lot into the satellite lot, despite objections from greenway supporters. Map courtesy of Google Maps. By Ariella Cohen and Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writers | Over the objections of Lafitte Greenway advocates, Mayor Mitch Landrieu […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Recreation Commission sets important meeting tonight, but doesn't comply with law
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Update, 7:28 p.m.: Landrieu’s spokesman Ryan Berni says the meeting has been rescheduled for tomorrow, January 18, at 5 p.m., after all. To clarify, a meeting of the recreation commission foundation was rescheduled. The executive search committee will meet in the Office of Homeland Security conference room […]