Candidate questions: Rella Zapletal, City Council District B

The election originally scheduled for Oct. 9, which includes an open primary for all City Council seats, has been rescheduled for Nov. 13 due to Hurricane Ida.

To give voters a chance to learn the policies, platforms and personal attributes their City Council candidates plan to bring to the office, Uptown Messenger has sent questionnaires to all of the District A and District B candidates. District B candidate Rella Zapletal reveals her answers below.

Cavan Restaurant closes after five years on Magazine Street

Acclaimed Uptown restaurant Cavan announced its closure Thursday after five years on Magazine Street. The decision came after 18 months of struggling during the Covid-19 pandemic. Robert LeBlanc⁠ of local restaurant operator LeBlanc+Smith announced the closure on social media. “In the wake of Hurricane Ida and after a prolonged period of instability in our industry, we have made the decision to close Cavan Restaurant and Bar,” he said in a statement posted on Instagram. He noted the historic building at 3607 Magazine St.

Police blotter: Victim identified in Central City homicide; Lower Garden District shooting causes injury

Two shootings, one of them fatal, were reported this week in Uptown neighborhoods. The homicide occurred Monday (Sept. 14) in Central City. At about 9:50 p.m., officers found Terrance Gibson in the 1200 block of South Saratoga Street suffering from gunshot wounds. Medical responders took Gibson to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Audubon Park attractions are reopening Saturday

 

Audubon Park is reopening on Saturday (Sept. 18), although the jogging paths are open now for limited use. Bicycles will not be permitted until the entire park opens. The Audubon Nature Institute announced a two-phase plan for reopening its facilities following closures due to the impacts of Hurricane Ida. The Uptown park is in the second phase.

Candidate questions: Robert ‘Bob’ Murrell, City Council District A

The election originally scheduled for Oct. 9, which includes an open primary for all City Council seats, has been rescheduled for Nov. 13 due to Hurricane Ida.

To give voters a chance to learn the policies, platforms and personal attributes their City Council candidates plan to bring to the office, Uptown Messenger has sent questionnaires to all of the District A and District B candidates.

Police blotter: Two carjackings, three robberies reported in Uptown neighborhoods

Two carjackings and three robberies, including an armed vehicle theft, were reported in Uptown neighborhoods during the past weekend. One of the carjackings was foiled in the Freret area. The victims in that incident were two 55-year-old women and a 22-year-old man. They were in a car in the 2200 block of Valmont Street, between LaSalle and Freret streets, at about 4 p.m. on Sunday (Sept. 12) when a black sedan drove up.