A Letter from LaToya Cantrell (sponsored)

Friends,

It has been the honor of my life to serve as your mayor and I’m writing to ask for your vote on November 13 so that we can build on the progress we have made the past three years. In that time, we have been presented with challenges we could never have imagined, but we have also achieved things that we were told were not possible, from historic investments in our infrastructure, to championing equity in our city, to forging a deal to get our fair share of revenue after we were told it couldn’t be done. And we’ve done it all while improving the city’s finances, making city operations run more efficiently, and better connecting our people with services. We’ve gotten through those challenges and made progress together because we have chosen to be a city that says yes. We’ve said yes to doing the hard work that’s necessary to leave a sustainable city that’s here for future generations. We said yes to putting public health first to protect our people during a global pandemic.

Viewpoint: Sheriff Marlin Gusman on the special needs facility, compliance order and his tenure as sheriff

Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman spoke with the Uptown Messenger about the changes that have occurred in his office and in the criminal justice system during his more than 15 years as sheriff as well as the challenges ahead. Gusman is currently a candidate for re-election and has four challengers: Quentin Brown Jr., Janet Hayes, Susan Hutson and Christopher Williams.

Danae Columbus: Tell us about your background. Where you were born, educated, degrees or certifications you may have received. Sheriff Marlin Gusman: I am a native of New Orleans, born on the West Bank and married a 7th Ward girl who continues to this day to be my best partner and friend. Renee and I have been married for 43 years, raised our family in Gentilly, where we continue to live.

NOLA Vet Fest on Saturday features James Andrews and John Papa Gros

The New Orleans Veterans of Foreign Wars is hosting NOLA Vet Fest, a block party fundraiser, Saturday (Oct. 23) to support its services for veterans and their families. The event will take place on Lyons Street between Annunciation and Tchoupitoulas from 1 until 6 p.m.

Tickets are $20 and include beer from Urban South Brewery and music from celebrated artists John Papa Gros and New Orleans’ favorite trumpeter James Andrews. Food from Taco Loceaux, Hanson’s Sno-Bliz and Zee’s Pizzeria will be for sale, with restaurants donating their proceeds to the VFW. The VA’s Mobile Vet Center will be onsite with free Covid and flu vaccinations.

Challenger Lesli Harris leads the District B pack in campaign contributions

With the primary election for City Council less than a month away, the candidates for the District B seat have spent more than $200,000 battling for a seat, according to the latest campaign finance reports filed with the Louisiana Ethics Administration Program. But it appears that several candidates have had to reach deep into their own pockets to finance an extra month of spending after election day was pushed from Oct. 9 to Nov. 13 due to Hurricane Ida. 

Both incumbent Jay H. Banks and one of his four challengers, Rosalind “Roz” Reed-Thibodaux, have only a few hundred dollars left in cash on hand, while challenger Rella Zapletal, the biggest spender in the race, is relying on a $200,000 loan she made to herself. 

Candidates Banks, Lesli Harris, Reed-Thibodaeux and Zapletal have received a total of $184,688.84 in campaign contributions in 2021, with more than half of that amount going to the Harris campaign. 

In addition, Harris loaned herself $28,700 and Zapletal has loaned herself $200,000. 

As of Wednesday morning (Oct. 20), the Louisiana Ethics Administration website did not show a campaign finance report for candidate Timothy David Ray, an adjunct professor at the University of New Orleans.

Joe Giarrusso is crushing his opponents in campaign contributions for District A City Council race

With less than a month to go until the primary election, the three candidates for the District A seat on the City Council have collected more than $285,000 in campaign contributions. Unfortunately for two of those candidates, nearly all of that money has gone to incumbent Joseph Giarrusso III. 

The councilman raised almost $260,000 this year for his campaign and still has roughly $230,000 cash on hand, according to the latest finance reports candidates submitted Thursday (Oct. 14) to the Louisiana Ethics Administration Program. And he’s also spent over three times more than his two opponents, Amy Misko and Robert Murrell, combined. 

Key contributors to Giarrusso’s campaign include political action committees that represent the real estate and hospitality industries and controversial landfill magnates Jim Ward and Fred Heebe. With the election coming on Nov.

Business Profile: The next evolution of Church Alley Cafe

Church Alley Cafe & Grocery, already ranked one of New Orleans’ top coffee shops by Eater Nola, is growing in its beloved Canal Street space. The Mid-City cafe is now offering an array of retail items alongside its classic hand brew, cold brew, espresso drinks, teas and menu of creative sandwiches, pastries, salads, snacks and six-pack growlers of cold brew. Church Alley started like many businesses, as a home-grown pursuit to bring something great to the community. Owner Renee Blanchard, a Lafayette native, knew she had created something special bringing her handcrafted beverages to New Orleans. The evolution from Church Alley Coffee Bar to Church Alley Cafe & Grocery was the next step. 

Having a spirit of serving and a goal to put a smile on people’s faces, Blanchard opened her first Church Alley on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard before moving the coffee bar to its current home at Canal St.

City Council approves Patron Saint wine shop in Lower Garden District

A once-industrial corner of the Lower Garden District that’s been steadily adding new bars and businesses is expanding its offerings again, as City Council approved plans last week for a new wine shop at 1152 Magazine St. 

The council voted on Thursday (Oct. 7) to permit the opening of Patron Saint, which will sell wine, groceries, books, and locally-made home goods. The unanimous vote came with eight provisos, requiring the store to get city approval on everything from lighting to the placement of its trash container.