Trimming a fraction of NOPD's budget or rightsizing the jail population would fully fund a low-barrier shelter, crisis units, youth programs, and eviction defense.
City Hall is once again asking residents to pay more to close its budget gaps. But to win over skeptical voters, we need real transparency. City leaders must pull back the curtain on spending and codify financial transparency into law.
Sometimes, being recognized for the community work you do gives you a moment to pause and ask an even bigger question: What happens when that same community needs its leaders to stand up for what’s right?
New Orleans experiences an exceptional number of fair-weather power outages as aging and failing equipment raises concerns across the city.
While Entergy struggles with everyday power outages, city officials are skeptical of the utility’s ability to keep the lights on during hurricane season
The storm-prone city is making its local utility design a $28 million incentive program to get hundreds more backup batteries into homes and businesses.
The Jerome “Big Duck” Smith Justice System Advisory committee was tasked with advising the council on criminal justice spending and policies.
"It’s standard operating procedure in politics these days to deride bold policy reform as “pie-in-the-sky,” or a “pipe-dream.” This requires a willful ignorance of the fact that visionary policy, driven and shaped by grassroot movements, has always been the engine that moves our democracy forward."
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.
