Ice cream shop in Irish Channel rejected over accusation of being a “front” for commercial AirBnB

A rezoning to create an ice-cream shop on Louisiana Avenue in the Irish Channel was rejected by the City Planning Commission this week amid neighbors’s allegations that it is merely intended as a “front” for a commercial AirBnB operation.

The owner, however, says he is just using short-term rentals as a way of supporting his small business in its early stages, providing a test case in New Orleans’ growing conflict over the operation of AirBnB in residential neighborhoods as the issue moves to the City Council.

Danae Columbus: Now it’s all about turnout

The winner of Saturday’s historic battle to elect the first female mayor of New Orleans will be the woman who does the best job of getting out her vote. Though all the polls still have City Councilmember LaToya Cantrell ahead against former Judge Desiree Charbonnet, insiders who are reading daily tracking polls believe that Cantrell’s lead has been shrinking as the race tightens up.