bike lanes

City refurbishes bike lanes on the Broad Street overpass

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The Department of Public Works and its contractor Pavement Markings last week completed work on the Broad Street overpass that featured upgrades and maintenance on the bike lanes between Third Street and Tulane Avenue. The wide bollards on the overpass were replaced with narrow delineator flexposts to allow for regular cleaning by the city’s bike lane sweeper. The renovation of the bike lanes also included refreshed roadway markings, overall cleaning and green bike lane surfacing. “We recognize that infrastructure maintenance is just as important as the infrastructure work itself,” said Josh Hartley, the acting director of the city’s Department of Public Works. The protected bike lanes were added to the Broad Street overpass in 2019 to more safely connect Mid-City and Uptown neighborhoods, Hartley said.

food and drink

Banh Mi Boys is bringing its fast Vietnamese fare to the Garden District

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Banh Mi Boys, a fast and casual Vietnamese restaurant, is expanding and opening a location at 3244 Magazine St. The site was formerly home to Reginelli’s Pizzeria. Banh Mi Boys has developed a following since Peter Nguyen opened the Metairie favorite in 2015. Nguyen is now expanding through franchise operations, with the first on Magazine in the Garden District. 

The restaurant is known for its Vietnamese-style poor boys packed with goodies such as grilled pork, grilled chicken and grilled shrimp wedged into crispy baguettes. It also offers rice and vermicelli bowls, salads, New Orleans-style poor boys and fries.

Man found shot to death on porch in Hollygrove; NOPD arrests woman accused of killing him in domestic dispute

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A man was shot to death Saturday morning (Dec. 4) in Hollygrove, the New Orleans Police Department reported. Police reported Sunday that a woman was arrested in the killing. Second District officers responding to a report of gunfire in the 3100 block of Mistletoe Street found Lorenzo Cortez, lying on a front porch at about 11:25 a.m. He was unresponsive and had sustained a gunshot wound. Medical responders declared him dead at the scene.

business

Harry’s Ace Hardware to close after 63 years on Magazine Street

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The owners of Harry’s Ace Hardware, Cary Becker and Kelly and Scott Fox, announced Thursday (Dec. 2) that their iconic hardware store will close after 63 years of serving New Orleans’ do-it-yourselfers at 3535 Magazine St., and over 100 years in business in New Orleans.

Harry’s Ace Hardware will close its doors in the second quarter of 2022, the company said in a press release.

opinion

Viewpoint: Progressives show mainstream clout in the sheriff’s race

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With the Dec. 11 runoff election just nine days away, the candidates and the political action committees behind them are wasting no time getting out their last-minute messages — mostly in the form of attacks. Though not officially on the ballot, the construction of an 89-bed special needs jail is at the heart of this year’s competition between Sheriff Marlin Gusman and former Independent Police Monitor Susan Hutson. Gusman won 48% of the vote in the primary while Hutson ran second with 32%.  

With the Sheriff’s Office still under the federal consent decree, U.S. District Judge Lance Africk’s posturing has made it clear: build a special needs jail from scratch and commit the resources to operate it or face the consequences. It’s hard to disagree in public with a federal judge.

Police blotter: Three carjackings, four purse snatchings, an armed robbery

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Uptown neighborhoods saw a rash of carjackings and purse snatchings in the past week. Four of the eight robberies and carjackings reported took place in the Irish Channel, and five of the eight victims were 60 or older. Carjackings in Lower Garden District, Irish Channel

A carjacker got into a pickup truck that was left running in the Irish Channel early Wednesday (Dec. 1). The owner, a 63-year-old man, stepped away from his pickup in the 400 block of Philip Street at about 4:15 a.m. When he returned, he found the man inside.

Advertiser specials

Janet Hays: Why I’m with Marlin Gusman (sponsored)

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“Unconstitutional medical and mental health issues have permeated this litigation, and your efforts have greatly helped the Court address those concerns. Our work is not yet completed, but the path is clear. Once Phase III has been completed, a major obstacle will have been cleared toward substantial compliance.” –  Judge Lance Africk addressing Sheriff Gusman’s progress on federal consent decree, Nov. 3, 2021

“I expect a federal court order, such as any issued by this Court, to be complied with, whether it be by the City of New Orleans or anyone else who is a party to that court order. Throughout history, not complying with federal court orders has not been a successful strategy, and we will just leave it at that.” – Judge Lance Africk addressing the City of New Orleans on their refusal to move forward with Phase III, Nov. 3, 2021 
Really read those quotes above and then think about this: a flashpoint in the sheriff’s race right now is whether or not we are going to build a federally mandated infirmary and mental health facility. I have endorsed Sheriff Marlin Gusman because, as an expert in removing policy barriers for acute mental health disorders and treatments, the Phase III special-needs facility is far more humane than a Phase II retrofit, and because his opponent Susan Hutson’s agenda is harmful to the health and safety of these communities.

crime

Teenager shot to death in Hoffman Triangle

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A 19-year-old man was shot to death Tuesday night (Nov. 30) in the Hoffman Triangle neighborhood, the New Orleans Police Department reported. NOPD Sixth District officers responded to shots fired in the 3800 block of Washington Avenue just before 9:10 p.m. Officers discovered Darrell Catchings, 19, with a gunshot wound. Medical responders pronounced him dead at the scene. Homicide Detective James Fyfe is leading the ongoing investigation and can be reached at 504-658-5300 with any additional information regarding this incident, or call anonymously to Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans at 504-822-1111.