By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | An earlier weekend curfew for youth approved today by the City Council – targeting the French Quarter and Frenchman Street’s entertainment district – sparked two days of contentious hearings in council chambers. Those opposed to the measure say it will encourage racial profiling of young African Americans, […]
Tag: MITCH LANDRIEU
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Land Use
Cyclists and pedestrians to benefit from new Complete Streets program started by city
The combination of horrible roads and a population that relies on bicycles for basic transportation has created a lethal situation, which city officials hope to address with better planning.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Road warriors: City officials score $52 million for repairs to flood-damaged side streets
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | Good news for your undercarriage – Mayor Mitch Landrieu has secured more FEMA money for street repairs in Broadmoor, the Lakeview area and St. Claude. The combined total of $52 million divided between the neighborhoods came as a result of Landrieu-initiated damage assessments done on neighborhood streets. […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Coalition urges mayor to 'man up' and fulfill promises on jail size and budget reforms
Jail reform coalition member Norris Henderson hands a 2,200-signature petition to Councilwoman Susan Guidry’s chief of staff, Deborah Langhoff, at City Hall this afternoon. Photo by Matt Davis. By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | A reform coalition, calling for a smaller, more accountably budgeted jail, dropped off two copies of a 2,200-signature petition […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Is Buddy Roemer now trailing even dolphins and archangels??
Often, my conscience readers ask why I waste so much digital ink on former Governor Buddy Roemer’s silliness, when I should be working up a lather over Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s slipperiness. Fair point, but they miss the larger picture. I’ll have umpteen future chances to jab the Landrieu administration, whereas this might be my last shot […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
RTA chief tells it like it is: pre-Katrina service won't be restored in depopulated areas
Budget constraints are forcing RTA chief Justin Augustine to curtail planned expansions, he told City Council on Wednesday. Photo by Ariella Cohen By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | The city’s transit chief delivered a blunt message this week: Don’t expect service to return to pre-Katrina levels in parts of the city where significant […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Weeks after saying the checks were coming, Gusman still hasn't paid deputies for work
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | A month after saying he would do it, Sheriff Marlin Gusman has not paid thousands of dollars to reserve deputies who have been working a security detail at the city’s auto impound lot since May. “I feel like he lied to us,” said a deputy who originally […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Despite public's pleas for basic repairs, mayor wants to cut public works spending
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | Spending on road and infrastructure maintenance likely will decrease in 2012 despite its importance to voters. The move by Mayor Mitch Landrieu to decrease spending for the Department of Public Works is a bold one. Unlike more esoteric sectors of city governance such as the Office of […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
New Orleans will soon boast bigger libraries — which will soon need bigger budgets
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | New Orleans taxpayers are likely to be asked to pay more money to run city libraries, officials with that system told the City Council today. The need for more operating funds is due in large part to a post-Katrina rebuilding of the system that one-time disaster grants […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
With 20 percent ignoring costs, council pushes city to collect delinquent trash fees
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s top lieutenant faced pressure from the City Council Monday after stepping in to defend one of his department heads for only collecting 80 percent of the city’s trash fees. Chief Administrative Officer Andy Kopplin stepped in to protect Chief Financial Officer Norman Foster after […]