Joe Giarrusso endorsed by The Times-Picayune, NOLA.com and The Gambit (sponsored)

Joe Giarrusso has earned endorsements from the Times-Picayune and Gambit, adding to a long list (below) that includes senators, representatives, School Board members, and a host of elected officials and civic organizations. Both papers stress Joe’s unrelenting but reasonable approach to quality-of-life issues. In endorsing Joe, The Times-Picayune writes:

Giarrusso brought a quality-of-life focus to the council during his first term. Giarrusso, who chairs the Public Works, Sanitation and Environment Committee, has been an aggressive but fair-minded watchdog over the city’s infrastructure functions and the Sewerage & Water Board. He’s effectively advocated for his diverse constituents, including residents of the university area concerned over the disruptive “doubles to dorms” trend.

Viewpoint: How will election apathy affect the statewide constitutional amendments?

With the unusual level of apathy that has pervaded this year’s election cycle, supporters of the four constitutional amendments on the ballot are naturally worried that the few citizens who plan on voting will just skip over them. “Voters tend to ignore ballot measures that they know nothing about,” said one consultant yesterday. Still, supporters and opponents of the various initiatives are pushing ahead toward election day, Saturday Nov. 13. 

Ballot language can be confusing — and sometimes even misleading. Voters should read and study the amendments carefully.  

U.S. Congressman Troy Carter Endorses JP Morrell (sponsored)

U.S. Congressman Troy Carter Endorses JP Morrell

United States Congressman Troy Carter is endorsing JP Morrell for New Orleans City Council At-Large, Division 2 in the Nov. 13 election. Early voting is Oct. 30 through Nov. 6, excluding Sunday. Along with Congressman Carter’s endorsement, Morrell is the ONLY candidate endorsed by Governor John Bel Edwards, the Democratic Party, and theIndependent Women’s Organization, among many others.

Three films shot in Uptown to be shown at New Orleans Film Festival

The Uptown Prytania Theatre was slated to be a venue for the 32nd New Orleans Film Festival, until it was damaged in Hurricane Ida. The beloved single-screen movie house remains closed for repairs. But Uptown will be represented in three shorts shot in Uptown neighborhoods. 

The annual film festival kicks off in-person screenings on Nov. 4, and runs through Nov. 14.

Sanitation Department officials to address questions Wednesday at District B’s Community Office Hours

Representatives from the city’s Sanitation Department will be joining the District B representative from the Neighborhood Engagement Office on Wednesday (Oct. 27) for Community Office Hours. The outreach event is being held Wednesday at a new location, the Central City Library at 2020 Jackson Ave. Hours are from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For the first hour, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., the Sanitation Department will be answering questions virtually. You’ll need to make an appointment to ask questions and discuss your concerns about garbage pickup and other Sanitation Department issues.

Traffic advisory: Octavia between Freret and Clara streets to close for six months

Beginning on Monday (Oct. 25) at 7 a.m., weather permitting, crews will close Octavia Street between Clara and Freret streets for approximately six months to safely accommodate full reconstruction of the roadway.

The city’s contractor, Command Construction Industries, is starting construction on the $5.1 million bond-funded Octavia (Freret to Claiborne) full-depth reconstruction project.

Suspect booked in 2018 mass shooting that killed three people on Claiborne Avenue

A suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting that killed three people on South Claiborne Avenue more than three years ago. Seven additional victims were wounded by gunfire in the triple homicide in the 3400 block of South Claiborne Avenue on July 28, 2018. Jamal Smith, 32, faces three counts of second-degree murder and seven counts of attempted second-degree murder in connection with the incident. Two men and one woman were killed. Two women and five men were injured in the gunfire.

Pomelo on Magazine Street offers new take on Thai

There’s a new Thai restaurant coming to the Uptown area. Pomelo is settling into the small Magazine Street building in the Touro-Bouligny area that housed another Thai restaurant, Long Chim, which closed over the summer. 

Pomelo owners Aom Srisuk and her husband, Frankie Weinberg, are currently enjoying a soft opening and are planning a grand opening for November. 

Srisuk, a Thai native, said she is ready to take on the challenge of owning a restaurant in a food town like New Orleans and she is eager to bring authentic Thai food to the neighborhood. Srisuk is a seasoned restaurateur. She worked in her family’s restaurant before opening a Japanese restaurant and Thai restaurant in the central business district of Bangkok. She then opened restaurants in her hometown of Ayutthaya.