city government

Danae Columbus: State Rep. Walt Leger delivers opening salvo in Mayor’s race

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In a passionate speech that made frequent references to his seven-week old daughter Kate, State Rep Walt Leger laid out his vision for New Orleans and Louisiana’s future to a packed, appreciative audience of business, tourism and political leaders at his fundraiser Monday night. With a rousing introduction by Mayor Mitch Landrieu, Leger delivered what could easily be considered an opening salvo in the 2017 mayor’s race. Surrounded by his mother Kathy, father Walt Jr., wife Danielle and close friends, Leger said Kate’s birth changed his life dramatically and has given him a new perspective on what kind of city and state his child should grow up in. “We have everything we need to make it work,” said Leger, “the mightiest river, the greatest railroad, and the most pipelines. Anything is possible.

city government

NOPD negotiations with Department of Justice on pause after prosecutor’s online comments, state lawmaker says

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The negotiations with the U.S. Department of Justice that will result in a long-awaited order governing the operations of the New Orleans Police Department are now at a standstill, after the resignation of a federal prosecutor involved in the process over his copious online commenting about his work, a state lawmaker told a group of Uptown constituents Thursday night. In late February, state Rep. Walt Leger prefiled House Bill 514 in the Louisiana House of Representatives that would have allowed the city of New Orleans to enact a new property tax specifically for police and fire protection. Because of well-known civil rights abuses within the New Orleans Police Department, the U.S. Department of Justice is drafting an order known as a consent decree that will govern police operations, and many of its provisions are widely expected to be expensive, such as training or monitoring programs.

The bill, Leger told the Claiborne University Neighborhood Association in a Thursday night meeting about a security district, would have given the city a way to meet those costs quickly. It would have been modified before passage to fit the specifics of the federal order, Leger said. “A lot of things are needed to upgrade the criminal justice system,” said Leger, a Democrat whose district covers a wide band of Uptown New Orleans from the Irish Channel to Hollygrove.

court

Only one Uptown-area lawmaker draws challengers

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One Uptown-based lawmaker will face three opponents in his newly drawn district in the Oct. 22 election, while the rest of the area’s legislative delegation appears likely to return to Baton Rouge without a re-election fight. Incumbent state Rep. Neil Abramson, a Democrat, drew one Republican challenger, “Fenn” French, and two challengers from his own party, Myron Katz and Evan Wolf, after qualifying ended Thursday afternoon. French is a retail developer and business partner to former City Councilman Jay Batt as well as former Congressman Joe Cao’s campaign manager. Katz, an energy consultant, ran for Congress against U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise last fall, and Wolf ran in 2007 for in the Carrollton-based District 95 that existed prior to redistricting.

elections

Carrollton residents push for Orleans-based lawmakers

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After years of representation in Baton Rouge by Jefferson Parish lawmakers, Carrollton residents see this year’s redistricting process as a chance to rejoin their neighbors in New Orleans, they told a panel of legislators in charge of the process Thursday night. Similarly, the Irish Channel is seeking to have its neighborhood voice reunited in one legislative district, and at least one local state lawmaker called that request a goal he shares. The Riverbend area of Carrollton is currently represented by state Rep. Cameron Henry in the state House of Representatives, forming a far eastern corner of his Jefferson Parish-based district. The four Orleans Parish voting precincts dmade up less than 10 percent of the vote in Henry’s district in the 2008 elections, said Marshall Hevron of the Carrollton-Riverbend Neighborhood Association, and also voted very differently from the rest of the district. Most of the Jefferson voters cast ballots for Republicans John McCain in 2008 and David Vitter for Senator in 2010, while the Orleans Parish enclave strongly supported President Obama and then U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon against Vitter, Hevron said.

elections

Nola.com: Uptown could lose two House seats in redistricting

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Uptown New Orleans could be represented by as few as three seats when the state House of Representatives is redistricted using the new Census numbers this year, according to an analysis by Bill Barrow and Ed Anderson of the Times-Picayune. New Orleans will likely lose three seats in the House because of its shrunken population, and state Rep. Walker Hines’ decision not to seek re-election means his district will likely be among those carved up in the redistricting process, the newspaper reports. State Rep. Cameron Henry of Jefferson told the reporters he was open to giving up the Black Pearl area he also represents. Some of that area would then presumably be absorbed by Reps. Neil Abramson, Walt Leger and Helena Moreno, the three remaining Uptown incumbents.

arts, books and music

Freret business owners consider security district

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The association is addressing both security and blight issues. Part of a $25,000 grant that the association was just awarded will be used to hire a security officer to begin a few hours’ patrol on Saturdays, and state Rep. Walt Leger encouraged business owners to compile a list of the most neglected properties along Freret Street so that he can begin pressuring the city to act on them.