opinion

Viewpoint: Crime and Cantrell will hurt the city’s bottom line

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Like many New Orleanians, I’ve been inundated with national and international news reports about New Orleans’ crime and Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s missteps. This week’s piece in the New York Post is only one of many recent examples. With New Orleans’ designation as “Murder Capital of the U.S.” and the lack of progress being made in reversing that trend, I expect those stories to become more frequent. Bourbon Street is still hopping and no conventions have cancelled because of the record number of murders, armed robberies and carjackings. Perhaps some are naïve enough to believe that crime and Mayor Cantrell are not hurting our economy.

roadwork

Roadwork ahead: St. Charles Avenue to close between Fern and Burdette

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Beginning on Monday (Sept. 26) at 7 a.m. the Department of Public Works contractor will temporarily close the westbound travel lane of St. Charles Avenue between Burdette Street and Fern Street for about four weeks to accommodate waterline installation work. During this time, westbound traffic on St. Charles Avenue will be detoured either south onto Broadway Street and rerouted to Leake Avenue or north onto Broadway Street and rerouted to South Claiborne Avenue.

Advertiser specials

Join us for our Archives Month showcase, hosted by Chelsey Richard Napoleon, Clerk of Civil District Court (sponsored)

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The Honorable Chelsey Richard Napoleon is excited to announce this year’s Archives Month showcase! Email your interest in experiencing this new showcase: civilclerkresearchctr@orleanscdc.com
The Notarial Archives Research Center is located in our Land Records Division. These documents, which date back to the 1700s, represent the rich history of New Orleans. The archives can be used for property, genealogical, architectural and landscaping research, among other subjects. The Land Records Division is where documents regarding property are recorded.

Rep. Freeman and fire marshal host meeting tonight to discuss doubles-to-dorms (sponsored)

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Representative Aimee Adatto Freeman’s office is hosting a meeting with State Fire Marshal Daniel Wallis to discuss Doubles to Dorms and other neighborhood issues related to fire code adherence. Please join tonight, September 15, from 5:30-7:30 PM
Faith Baptist Church, 2318 Fern St. Refreshments will be provided. For more information and how you can show your support, please visit www.voteaimee.com.

city government

City officials celebrate Nix Library’s reopening

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After a long closure, then a reopening, then again closing and reopening, the ribbon was officially cut last week on the renovated and fully accessible Nix Library on South Carrollton Avenue. The modifications for American Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance include the addition of a wheelchair lift at the building entrance and construction of a new restroom, at a total cost of $591,000. Other repairs included work on the roof and the drainage system. “We certainly encountered a few setbacks and unexpected challenges,” said Emily Painton, executive director of the New Orleans Public Library. “The Carrollton community has been so patient and deserves a library that is open to all people.

Viewpoint: New survey reveals broad voter dissatisfaction

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Regardless of race, gender, age, political affiliation or neighborhood, the residents of New Orleans are clearly at a crossroads. Voters in every City Council district voiced displeasure about the direction the city is moving in a survey released Wednesday (Sept. 7). Conducted by Edgewater Research in cooperation with My People Vote, the poll indicated that nearly two-thirds (64.5%) of respondents believe that New Orleans is headed in the wrong direction. The survey also tested the strength of the current campaign aimed at recalling Mayor LaToya Cantrell.

roadwork

Roadwork ahead: Zimpel Street closed at Broadway for two weeks

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From the Mayor’s Office

Part of Zimpel Street at Broadway will be closed for two weeks beginning Friday (Sept. 2), the Department of Public Works announced. The city’s construction contractor Hard Rock Construction will temporarily close the 7200 block of Zimpel Street and the intersection of Broadway at Zimpel to through traffic beginning Friday at 7 a.m. and ending Sept. 16 at 5 p.m.

The closure will allow crews to perform a sewer line repair as part of the Audubon Group B Infrastructure Improvement Project. Southbound traffic on Broadway will be detoured at South Claiborne Avenue to South Carrollton Avenue.

opinion

Viewpoint: Mayor’s ongoing missteps fuel recall campaign

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Social media guru Eileen Carter and community organizer Belden “Noonie Man” Batiste grew up on the opposite sides of New Orleans. While it’s easy to think of them as an odd couple, they’re really a perfect match. Batiste, who was trained in grassroots organizing by Treme living legend Jerome “Duck” Smith, verbally attacked Carter’s sister Karen Carter Peterson at a political forum a few years back when both were running for Congress. Yet the spontaneous, organic, people-powered movement Carter and Batiste launched together last week has a chance to force a recall election of Mayor LaToya Cantrell.  

The campaign, which is in the early stages of organization, offers an easy-to-navigate website (noLatoya.org), detailed instructions on how to download the petition and what information is needed for anyone who wants to sign it. There is also an opportunity for people to join the site’s mailing list, volunteer their services or even host a petition signing “party.” The website includes a feature that counts down the days until the campaign ends, Ash Wednesday 2023, and how many signatures have been turned in.    

There are several things that make this campaign unique and could give it the lift needed to succeed. 

First of all, Mayor Cantrell somehow continues to anger more than a few of her constituents, and that number keeps growing.

city government

Cantrell recall organizers collecting signatures at Ms. Mae’s on Magazine

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Uptown voters will have a chance today (Aug. 28) to sign a recently filed recall petition to oust Mayor LaToya Cantrell from office. Organizers will collect signatures at Ms. Mae’s Bar, 4336 Magazine St., at Napoleon Avenue, from 2 to 6 p.m. The Ms. Mae’s “signin’ party”  is the first event in the recall effort. Belden “Noonie Man” Batiste, an activist and frequent long-shot candidate, and Eileen Carter, Cantrell’s former social media manager and the sister of former state Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, filed the petition Friday (Aug. 26) with the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office.

Advertiser specials

Join us for our Archives Month showcase, hosted by Chelsey Richard Napoleon, Clerk of Civil District Court (sponsored)

By |

The Honorable Chelsey Richard Napoleon is excited to announce this year’s Archives Month showcase! The Notarial Archives Research Center is located in our Land Records Division. These documents, which date back to the 1700s, represent the rich history of New Orleans. The archives can be used for property, genealogical, architectural and landscaping research, among other subjects. The Land Records Division is where documents regarding property are recorded.