Viewpoint: Cassidy offers support to ensure minority-owned businesses maximize opportunities

In a webinar sponsored Wednesday (March 3) by the New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy told participants that his staff in Washington and Louisiana will be available to help resolve problems businesses might encounter when applying for the Payroll Protection Program, Small Business Administration and other funding available from the $1.9 billion federal stimulus package currently in the U.S. Senate. 

“Everybody in my state has a seat at the table,” Cassidy said. Several of Cassidy’s staff members were also on the call to introduce themselves and field questions from participants. 

The pandemic was “a punch in the gut” for cities like New Orleans that depend on tourism, he said. Cassidy congratulated attendees for their work in building businesses that will “employ future generations.”

Cassidy said he expects the economy to grow by 4.2 percent in the coming year, which he called “a good thing” and the highest growth spurt in recent years. “We’re trying to get the economy reopened by trying to control the pandemic,” he continued. Though President Joe Biden’s efforts to include the $15 minimum wage in the stimulus package is now off the table, Cassidy said he would not be surprised if another push was made soon to pass the legislation.

Where to score a platter of boiled crawfish Uptown

 

It’s one of the best seasons of the year — crawfish season. While crawfish boils might be looking a little different this year, we’re still going to be getting together to safely enjoy some delicious crawfish with our friends. Here are some spots Uptown where you can get your fix. These restaurants and bars ask that you follow all social distancing guidelines, so that everyone can have a good time. Ale on Oak
8124 Oak St.

City begins pulling out and hauling off pay phone kiosks

Central City resident Michael Burnside has been walking New Orleans neighborhoods counting abandoned pay phone kiosks. He developed a list of 77 addresses that he turned over to City Hall. And this week the city began removing those kiosks, in batches of 10, starting in Central City. Anyone harboring nostalgia for 20th century communications devices can purchase the retired apparatus at public auctions. The first 10 removed from the Central City neighborhood will be available during the April public auction.

Troy Carter leads congressional field, pollster Silas Lee finds

In a recent poll of 450 chronic voters in the Second Congressional District, state Sen. Troy Carter has a nine point lead over state Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, 28 percent to 19 percent. Polling third at 6 percent was Baton Rouge activist was Baton Rouge activist Gary Chambers Jr.

Small business owner Desiree Ontiveros came in fourth at 2 percent followed by Gonzales Republican challenger Claston Bernard, who also polled at 2 percent. Collectively the 10 remaining candidates — Chelsea Ardoin, Belden Batiste, Harold John, J. Christopher Johnson, Brandon Jolicoeur, Jenette Porter, Lloyd Kelly, Greg Lirette, Mindy McConnell and Sheldon Vincent — polled at a combined 6 percent.  District-wide, 38 percent of voters are still undecided.  In a heads-up competition between Carter and Carter Peterson the undecided vote dropped to 9 percent. Paid for by Sen. Carter’s campaign, the poll was taken Feb. 12-14 by Silas Lee using landlines and cell phones.  The margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent.

NOPD video shows armed robbery of landscaping crew in Audubon area

New Orleans police are requesting assistance in locating and identifying two male suspects in the investigation of an armed robbery on Feb. 10 in the 400 block of Eleonore Street. A landscaping crew was working in front of a home on Eleonore. At 1:13 p.m., a white Honda CRV with a temporary license tag arrived at the location. About four minutes later, two men exited the Honda with their guns drawn and took the three workers’ wallets before fleeing the scene.

Out: Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Parade. In: Shamrock Our Blocks

 

The Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Club has canceled the Irish Channel Parade for the second year in a row as the coronavirus continues community spread. Additionally, the  annual block party at Annunciation Playground benefiting St. Michael Special School is canceled. But New Orleanians have found a way to celebrate, along with some Irish and Irish-at-heart brethren in Chicago.