Viewpoint: Longtime watchdog gives Chief Ferguson an A for handling of NOPD during pandemic and protests

Metropolitan Crime Commission President Rafael Goyeneche said yesterday that NOPD Superintendent Shaun D. Ferguson deserves the highest accolades for his handling of the department since the pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests began. “Chief Ferguson has been dealing with an issue that no police chief has had to deal with in 100 years,” Goyeneche said. “In the context of New Orleans, look at some of the unrest in other cities around the country. I want to give him nothing but an A as to the way things have gone here. “New Orleans had our George Floyd awakening 15 years ago on the Danzinger Bridge.

Oshun spreads message of love on Valentine’s Day (photo gallery)

The Krewe of Oshun traveled the Uptown route Friday (Feb. 14) with the theme “The Message is Love.” The group’s 24th annual parade featured 18 floats decorated with hearts and flowers to recognize Valentine’s Day. Marching bands, walking clubs and dance troupes, including Baby Dolls, were part of the nearly 50 units that made up the parade. Around 300 male and female member tossed handmade fans, theme beads, peacock krewe beads, lighted batons and lighted peacock rings.

Jazz Half Marathon to hit Uptown streets Saturday morning

The Jazz Half Marathon and 5K is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 26, from 7 to 11 a.m.

The Central City, Lower Garden District, Garden District, Milan, Touro, Uptown, Audubon, CBD and Tulane-Gravier neighborhoods will be affected. Traffic will be restricted along the route below until the last participant passes and course materials are removed. The city will track the beginning and end of the half marathon as it progresses along the route in real time at routewise.nola.gov.

Roads along the route are expected to reopen within the following timeframe:

8 a.m. All of Poydras Street will be open in both directions
10 a.m. St. Charles Avenue will be open in both directions from S. Carrollton to Jefferson avenues.

Kingsley House unveils Patrick Taylor statue

Kingsley House has unveiled a new sculpture, “Pointing the Way to a Better Future,” in commemoration of the late New Orleans philanthropist, Patrick F. Taylor. Taylor pushed for the Lower Garden District agency’s expansion before his death in 2004, and whose foundation was a significant donor to its newest facility. The dedication ceremony on Friday included remarks from Phyllis Taylor, widow of Patrick F. Taylor, representatives from the Mayor’s Office and City Council, before the statue was unveiled by Kingsley House children. Kingsley House, headquartered at 1600 Constance Street, has facilities throughout the metro area. The statue is at its Lower Garden District location at 901 Richard Street.

Book Report: ‘Tulane Observed,’ ‘Louisiana Poets,’ Ani DiFranco memoir and more

Thursday, May 16
Allison Levy: “House of Secrets: Many Lives of a Florentine Palazzo”
6-7:30 p.m.
Garden District Book Shop
2727 Prytania Street (The Rink)
504-895-2266

Allison Levy discusses and signs her book, “House of Secrets,” the remarkable story of Palazzo Rucellai from behind its celebrated façade.  

 

Sunday, May 19
Errol Barron: “Tulane Observed” book launch
2 p.m.
Octavia Books
513 Octavia St. 504-899-7323

Please join us in celebrating the release of New Orleans architect Errol Barron’s new book, “Tulane Observed: A Campus Sketchbook,” drawings, essays and observations of Tulane and Newcomb colleges.  
“Louisiana Poets: A Literary Guide”
2-4 p.m.
Garden District Book Shop
2727 Prytania Street (The Rink)
504-895-2266

Editors Catharine Savage Brosman and Olivia McNeely Pass and poets Ralph Adamo, Darrell Bourque, Ava Leavell Haymon, Julie Kane, William Lavender and Mona Lisa Saloy discuss and sign their book, “Louisiana Poets: A Literary Guide,” detailing the history and output of 40 Louisiana poets.  
Tuesday, May 21
Kris Waldherr: “The Lost History of Dreams”
6-7:30 p.m.
Garden District Book Shop
2727 Prytania Street (The Rink)
504-895-2266

Kris Waldherr discusses her novel “The Lost History of Dreams” with writer Terry Lynn Thomas.

Woman robbed at gunpoint in Central City

A woman was robbed at gunpoint early Monday in Central City, the New Orleans Police Department reported. The 44-year-old woman was approached from behind on Willow and First streets at 4:06 a.m. on March 25, the police report said. The armed man grabbed her in bear hug and took $20 before fleeing. The suspect is described as a black man, about 5 foot 10 inches and stocky, with flat-top haircut and wearing a dark hoodie. Anyone with information about the incident or the suspect is asked to all the NOPD Sixth District at 504-658-6060 or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.

Dump trailer stolen in Freret neighborhood

A dump trailer was stolen in the Freret neighborhood, the New Orleans Police Department reported. On Feb. 12, at 2:27 p.m., the victim’s black, 2013 Big Tex dump trailer bearing Louisiana license plate # J580217 was stolen from the intersection of Cadiz and LaSalle streets. The dark pickup truck was used during the theft. Anyone with information on this incident or the identity and whereabouts of the wanted subjects is asked to contact NOPD Detective Sa’Brina James or any Second District detective at 504-658-6020 or call Crimestoppers anonymously at 504-822-1111 and toll-free at 877-903-7867.

Man injured in shootout on Delachaise Street, police say

A man was injured Tuesday evening in an exchange of gunfire on Delachaise Street, New Orleans police said. The victim, a 20-year-old man, got into an argument with another person around 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9, in the 2200 block of Delachaise Street (near Loyola Street), according to the initial NOPD report. The dispute escalated into a gunfight, and the victim was hit in the left foot and taken to the hospital for treatment, the report states. Further details were not immediately available.

AllState celebrates grand opening in new Broadmoor development

The development saga that started years ago with the displacement of a small Chinese restaurant from the Garden District ended Sunday with the grand opening of an Allstate insurance agency in Broadmoor, the final tenant in the new Green Tea development there. Green Tea was formerly next door to the Blockbuster video store, but after the video-rental business’s demise, plans were announced in 2014 to convert the entire development into a CVS, displacing the restaurant and other tenants. Last year, however, owner Yung Lau finished construction on a new development for his restaurant at the prominent corner of South Claiborne and Napoleon avenues, which then-Councilwoman LaToya Cantrell hailed as an important milestone in the revitalization of South Claiborne Avenue. Over the past year, a Verizon store leased the second unit in Lau’s development, and on Sunday, his wife, Mei Xiao, opened her branch of Allstate insurance in the third and final unit. The grand opening brought out not only friends and well-wishers, but also new District B City Councilman Jay H. Banks, who praised the couple’s work at the corner.

Housing advocacy group developing new short term rental ordinance after years of data study

One year after the New Orleans City Council instituted regulations for short-term rental properties, one affordable housing advocacy group has developed policy changes (and eventually a new ordinance) meant to tackle the city’s affordable housing crisis. The Jane Place Neighborhood Sustainability Initiative works to reduce the number of short term rentals around the city as part of a broader effort to increase the number of affordable housing units for New Orleanian. After compiling three years of data into one comprehensive report – title “Short Term Rentals, Long Term Impacts” – the group has established several policy change proposals for the city, as well as calls to action for its residents. JPNSI’s leadership held a town hall Wednesday to present their findings and proposed policy changes. Jane Place staff have been tracking short term rentals for three years using three data sources: data scrapes from Inside Airbnb; the city’s own public permit database; and open records requests from the city’s attorneys office.