Viewpoint: Can the next governor actually do something about crime?

For more than a month now, Attorney General Jeff Landry, a former sheriff’s deputy and the leading candidate for governor of Louisiana, has been airing television commercials about his experience fighting crime. Not to be outdone, a political action committee supporting gubernatorial candidate Steve Waguespack, the former head of the state’s business lobby and a previous aide to Gov. Bobby Jindal, has counter-claimed that Landry has done little to solve the problem as the state’s top law enforcement official. State Treasurer John Schroeder, also a Republican candidate for governor, has been spending big bucks on television addressing the issue. Democratic candidate Shawn Wilson, a native New Orleanian, speaks passionately on the subject. Last week, District Attorney Jason Williams surprised many political insiders with his pronouncement that he, too, might enter the race because Landry’s commercials had offended his sensibilities.

Police seeking car involved in shooting and hit-and-run

The New Orleans Police Department is searching for a vehicle connected to a May 19 shooting in Central City. The vehicle was first involved in a hit-and-run; damage may be visible on the front passenger-side bumper. After the hit-and-run, the shooting victim, a 40-year-old man, followed the car to Danneel and Sixth streets at about 1:15 p.m. The gunman responded by opening fire, striking the victim multiple times. NOPD Sixth District detectives are seeking the blue Honda Accord pictured above and those occupying the vehicle at the time of the incident. The Honda has chrome trim, no license plate and a temporary license tag in the rear window. Anyone with information on this incident, the pictured vehicle or its occupants is urged to contact NOPD Sixth District detectives at 504-658-6060.

Patrol officers arrest two suspects on drug, weapons charges in Central City

New Orleans police arrested two suspects and recovered drugs and weapons in Central City over Memorial Day weekend. On Sunday (May 28), Sixth District officers were patrolling in the 2700 block of Loyola Avenue when they observed a man who appeared to be concealing a firearm. He got into a vehicle with another man. Officers attempted a stop and arrested one of the men. The other fled on foot, throwing bags over a fence as he ran, police said.

InspireNOLA Class of 2023 earns over $33 million in merit-based scholarships (sponsored)

They’ve put in the work, crossed the stage, and can now call themselves high school graduates! Congratulations to the class of 2023 from McDonogh 35 High School, Eleanor McMain Secondary School, and Edna Karr High School! These scholars have accomplished a multitude of things including over 33 million dollars in merit-based scholarships, We can’t wait to see what else our graduates will achieve in the future! Congratulations to our top scholars who were named Valedictorian and Salutatorian! Eleanor McMain Secondary School
Valedictorian: Benjamin Trinh Le
Salutatorian: Keith Anthony Patterson
McDonogh 35 Senior High School
Valedictorian: Kali Rose Marie Gethers
Salutatorian: Breanna Sharell Williams
Edna Karr High School
Valedictorian: Saniya Amari Black
Salutatorian: Makayla Ajene’ Nabor

All of the graduations featured dynamic, alumni speakers including:
Shay O’Connor, Eleanor McMain ‘07, – WDSU – TV Reporter; Rachael Johnson, McDonogh 35 ‘94, – Judge, Division D, Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit and Edward Buckles Jr., Edna Karr ’10 – Filmmaker and Director.

Woman shot to death on Gen. Taylor Street in Broadmoor

A woman was fatally shot Thursday night (June 1) in Broadmoor, the New Orleans Police Department reported. A suspect has been arrested, police said. At around 9:40 p.m., Second District officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 3800 block of Gen. Taylor Street. They discovered a 34-year-old woman suffering from gunshot wounds. The Emergency Medical Services pronounced her dead at the scene.

Viewpoint: Who is really to blame for New Orleans crime?

Lawyer Bill Aaron, a former city attorney under Mayor Sidney Barthelemy, raised a few eyebrows recently when he posted support for Republican state Rep. Debbie Villio’s House Bill 321, the Truth and Transparency Act, which would make public the criminal records of juveniles over the age of 13 who commit violent crimes in Orleans and other large parishes. Several of Aaron’s social media followers, including former Judge Ron Sholes and former Criminal Magistrate Marie Bookman, disagreed and suggested the bill targeted juveniles only in majority-Black parishes and at too young an age. 

A separate WDSU-TV news report Tuesday evening (May 30) pointed to the high percentage of Black homicide victims in New Orleans.  Councilmember Oliver Thomas, who was interviewed for the story, blamed those murders in part on systemic racism and a lack of resources. Who is committing these crimes? More often than not, other Black males — many of whom start down the wrong path while still juveniles — are named as the perpetrators. Their crimes can be viewed as status symbols by their peers. 

Let’s take for example 22-year-old convicted felon Kyron Keith Fazande, whom WWL Radio broadcaster Newell Normand labeled “a pure killer” during his on-air interview Wednesday (May 31) with Rafael Goyeneche of the Metropolitan Crime Commission.

Work on water main near Carrollton Plant could affect Garden District

From the Sewerage & Water Board

Sewerage & Water Board crews will perform a water valve closure on a 48-inch transmission main on Panola Street near Broadway as a part of the South Claiborne Transmission Main project. Crews will begin closing the valve on Saturday (May 27) beginning at 8 a.m. The water closure is expected to last until mid-July. This 48-inch water main supplements much of the water supply to the Central Business District and the Garden District resulting in potential lower-than-normal water pressure. Customers will observe similar pressures from the test closure performed on March 25. The 48-inch water main is one of six large transmission mains that supplements water to much of the metro area, which means there are redundancies in the water distribution system.