city government

Another contender to join District A field as filing for New Orleans elections begins

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An entrepreneur and Carrollton neighborhood leader joined the field for the District A seat on the New Orleans City Council on Wednesday, as candidates began filing their paperwork to appear on the ballot. Tilman Hardy was among the first candidates to file for the District A seat being vacated by term-limited Councilwoman Susan Guidry. A U.S. Army veteran, Hardy is the founder and CEO of the nonprofit Core USA community development firm — which conducts training in environmental certification and consulting on real-estate development — and a leader of the Pensiontown Neighborhood Association, which represents the upriver areas of Carrollton. Hardy has been an active voice in Carrollton neighborhood issues for years, arguing for the redevelopment of the former Priestley school site, criticizing the halting progress on a Carrollton community center, and promoting the development of his organization’s own headquarters at Leonidas and Willow. Filing to appear on the ballot for the Oct.

crime

Guns, drugs seized in Carrollton traffic stops; one led to crash on Panola, police say

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Two separate recent traffic stops in the Carrollton area led officers to guns and drugs, and one of them resulted in a crash on Panola Street, New Orleans police said. The first stop took place on Thursday afternoon (July 6) on South Carrollton Avenue near Earhart Boulevard, according to the NOPD report:

At approximately 4:24 p.m. on July 6, 2017, Officer Alexander Winks conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of South Carrollton Avenue and Earhart Boulevard. The driver, identified as Caresses Perique, 31, provided the officer with his license without incident and when the officer ran the driver’s name through the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database, it revealed that Perique had an outstanding warrant for criminal damage to property from an incident on April 5, 2017. After checking the driver’s name, the officer approached the driver’s side of the vehicle and observed Perique with his left hand wedged between the bottom of the driver’s seat and the door. Officer Winks then ordered Perique out of the vehicle and placed him in handcuffs.

city government

Competition intensifies for open District A City Council seat as filing period approaches

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The competition for the open New Orleans City Council seat serving the Audubon, university, Bayou St. John and Lakeview areas is becoming more visible as the official filing period for this year’s city elections is about to begin. While lawyer and former Lakeview neighborhood leader Joe Giarrusso Jr. has led the highest-profile campaign thus far for the seat that Susan Guidry is leaving, two other candidates have begun to make public showings. Attorney and former City Hall staffer Aylin Maklansky’s signs have begun appearing in Uptown yards as she builds her campaign team, and neighborhood activist Drew Ward announced his own candidacy at a recent event held by mayoral candidate LaToya Cantrell. Meanwhile, attorney Mark Vicknair, former president of the Alliance for Good Government, said that after long consideration he has decided against running for the seat.

crime

Five armed robbery incidents reported around Uptown over the weekend, police say

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Five armed robbery incidents were reported around Uptown New Orleans over the weekend along St. Charles Avenue, Louisiana Avenue Parkway, South Rampart Street and St. Andrew Street, police said. Around 10:20 p.m. Friday, July 7, two women and a man — all in their early 20s — were standing near Lowerline and St. Charles Avenue when a gold Camry pulled up and a man inside rolled down the window and demanded money, according to the initial NOPD report.

crime

Man injured in gunfire on Martin Luther King Boulevard, police say

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A man standing on Martin Luther King Boulevard was injured when gunfire broke out Sunday afternoon, New Orleans police said. The victim, a man in his 30s, was standing in the 2700 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard shortly before 5 p.m. Sunday, July 9, when “someone began firing shots,” according to the NOPD report. “The victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to a local hospital.” Further details were not immediately available. Anyone with information is urged to call the NOPD Sixth District station at 658-6060 to speak to a detective, or CrimeStoppers at 822-1111 to leave an anonymous tip that could be eligible for a cash reward.

city government

City Council to hear public comment on master plan amendments Monday

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The New Orleans City Council will hear public comments on the proposed amendments to the city’s master plan Monday morning, officials announced. The public hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, July 10, in City Council chambers at 1300 Perdido Street. Monday’s hearing is solely to receive comments, and the council is not expected to vote until its July 27 meeting. The council is considering two sets of amendments to the plan — Calendar Ordinance 31,918 for amendments to the Future Land Use Map, and Calendar Ordinance 31,917 for amendments to the text of the Master Plan. Both can be reviewed at the City Council website.

crime

Three charged with violent crimes, five with property crimes in recent Uptown arrests

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Three people were charged with a variety of violent crimes around the Central City area, and five others were charged with theft, burglary and illegal possession of stolen property around the university area and other parts of Uptown over the last week, New Orleans police officials announced. VIOLENT CRIMES

The violent-crimes arrests were as follows:

On Friday, June 30, the Violent Offenders Warrant Squad arrested 34-year-old Latoya Nathan on a charge of aggravated battery by cutting in the 3200 block of Thalia Street, according to a NOPD report. The same day, the squad arrested Troy Lee Jr., 39, on charges of simple battery, simple robbery and simple burglary in connection with a June 10 incident in the 2000 block of Third Street, the report states. He was also charged with simple battery and simple assault in two other incidents. Barbara White, 66, was arrested Sunday, July 2, on a charge of aggravated assault in the 2000 block of St.

city government

City begins $1 million drainage project on Henry Clay Avenue

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A $1 million project to improve drainage on Henry Clay Avenue near St. Charles Avenue has begun and will last through the summer, according to the city of New Orleans Department of Public Works. The project runs on Henry Clay between St. Charles Avenue and Hurst Street, and will include removing the top layer of pavement, patching the base, repairing a damaged drain line near St. Charles Avenue, installing a new 24-inch drain and eight new catch basins, repaving the street and installing new Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps.

crime

Woman carjacked on LaSalle near universities, police say

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A woman had her vehicle taken from her at gunpoint overnight on LaSalle Street near the universities, New Orleans police said. The victim, a woman in her 40s, was in the 6200 block of LaSalle (near Palmer Avenue) around 2 a.m. Thursday, July 6, when she was confronted by an armed man “who demanded she get out of her vehicle and leave her purse,” according to the initial NOPD report. She complied, and he drove off in her 2006 white Kia Sorento with license plate “YJP 500,” the report states. Further details were not immediately available. Anyone with information is urged to call the NOPD Second District station at 658-6020 to speak to a detective, or CrimeStoppers at 822-1111 to leave an anonymous tip that could be eligible for a cash reward.

crime

Assault rifle, crack cocaine, meth found in Carrollton traffic stop

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Four people were arrested over the weekend after a traffic stop led officers to the discovery of an assault rifle, a handgun, crack cocaine and meth, New Orleans police said. NOPD Officers Russell Gary and Jason Jorgenson of the Uptown-based Second District stopped the vehicle shortly before midnight Saturday at the intersection of Hickory and Eagle streets, according to a NOPD report. Inside, the officers found “three bags of crack cocaine, a bag of methamphetamine, a Para Arms 1911 .45 semi-automatic handgun and a Panther Arms .308 assault rifle,” the report states. The driver of the vehicle, 30-year-old Danny Hunter, and three passengers — Gregory Darensbourg, 30; Isiah Johnson, 41, and Daniel Valcour, 29 — were all arrested on charges of possession of a crack cocaine and illegal carrying of weapons while in possession of narcotics. Hunter and one of the passengers were also cited for having an alcoholic beverage inside a vehicle, the report states.