Congress

New Orleans Democrats rally around Tammy Savoie, “first viable” challenger to Scalise

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The difficult odds of upsetting U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise cannot be understated: the nationally-known Republican has never garnered less than two-thirds of the vote in his Congressional district. Nevertheless, Tammy Savoie is persisting. And, for the first time in what may be decades, Democrats in New Orleans believe they have found a candidate who can make the race for the seat competitive. “I think this is the first viable candidate in the First Congressional District in a long time,” said Bill Hammack, who hosted a fundraiser for Savoie on Tuesday that filled in the banquet room at Calcasieu in the Warehouse District. Savoie’s supporters are energized by her background, a Jefferson Parish native with a Ph.D. in psychology who served for decades in the Air Force.

city government

Danae Columbus: Are home generators or solar panels a new necessity in New Orleans?

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I used to think that purchasing a “whole house” generator or putting a dozen or more solar panels on my roof was an unnecessary expense. Now I am reconsidering those options after surviving a recent brownout on one of those 100 degree days – and realizing the electricity is going out in New Orleans neighborhoods far too often. Integral to my rethinking process is the belief that Entergy currently lacks the capacity and updated infrastructure to generate and transmit the power needed to consistently keep every New Orleans homes and businesses comfortable on the hottest and coldest days of the year. Some customers might say that Entergy should have better prioritized repairing infrastructure like poles, transformers and transmission lines immediately after Hurricane Katrina. Others might want Entergy to diversify their sources of power with an eye toward more renewable resources like solar or wind.

crime

Man arrested after purse snatching on Prytania Street, police say

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A man who grabbed a woman’s purse from her as she walked on Prytania Street Tuesday evening was arrested shortly afterward, New Orleans police said. The victim, a woman in her 30s, was walking near Prytania and Milan streets around 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, July 24, when a man later identified as 22-year-old Marlick Williams came walking toward her, according to the initial NOPD report. When Williams approached, he said “Hello,” then grabbed her purse from her and ran, the report states. She chased him for two blocks before losing sight of him, but two security guards found him near Camp and Constantinople streets and held him there until NOPD officers arrived, the report states. Further details were not immediately available.

arts, books and music

City Planning Commission votes to approve “The Fallen Saint” immersive-theatre project (live coverage)

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The City Planning Commission gave unanimous approval this afternoon to the new “Fallen Saint” immersive theatre venue on Magazine Street, after hearing from dozens of Lower Garden District neighbors. The meeting has just concluded, and this article will be updated soon with a summary of the debate. To read a recap of the meeting, see our live coverage below:

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business

Freret Beer Room gains approval for packaged-liquor “Annex”

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The Freret Beer Room won easy approval from the New Orleans City Council to add an “Annex” selling packaged liquor next door, despite a slightly more contentious path through the city planning process earlier this summer. Eli Gay, owner of the Freret Beer Room, needed a conditional-use permit from the City Council in order to sell alcohol packaged for retail sale at 5012 Freret Street, half of a shotgun double he is calling the “Freret Beer Annex” next to his restaurant. City planners had been supportive of his request with a few specific operating conditions, primarily that they be given final approval of all signage and that the floor area for the liquor sales not exceed what is shown in the current plans. “These things can be good or bad, often dependent on the quality of the management,” said city planner Stephen Kroll in the July 12 meeting of the City Council. “If it’s well done, it can be a really great addition to the neighborhood.”

schools

Sci High prepares for new school year with new principal

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With two weeks left before New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics High School students return to class, the faculty is now 100 percent staffed for the coming year — including a new principal. Dr. Monique Cola — a Tulane University Ph.D. in neuroscience who was previously the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs/Executive Dean at Delgado Community College (read her full biography at the Sci High website) — was chosen by the school’s board as its next headmaster back in April, but did not start work until this summer. She told the Sci High governing board Thursday (July 23) that last week was her first week with children in the building as well — for a summer program — giving her a taste of the year to come. Of the Sci High faculty, 28 are returning and 13 are new, for a retention rate of 68 percent. Michelle Brown, vice principal academic affairs, said that a downside of an improving national economy is that the private sector is becoming an increasingly attractive to strong teachers.

arts, books and music

“Moonlight on Magazine” block party this weekend features music, food, shopping

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Magazine Street’s annual summertime shindig — now called “Moonlight on Magazine” after years as the “Cool Down Block Party” — returns this weekend with a special birthday performance by jazz trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis showcasing his new album, alongside a host of late-evening shopping and dining specials from local businesses. The party runs from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday (July 28) on the 3900 to 4600 blocks of Magazine Street, between Austerlitz and Valence streets. “Shops and restaurants will be staying open late and celebrating with complimentary drinks and appetizers, live music, special sales and exclusive activities,” according to the event announcement from Magazine Street Merchants. “Explore Magazine Street by moonlight, discover new favorite shops and rediscover old favorites while supporting local businesses.” Marsalis will perform at Peaches Records.

arts, books and music

Popular band’s instruments stolen from van parked near Oak Street

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The popular local band The New Orleans Suspects are seeking help from the public after all their instruments were stolen from a van parked in the Oak Street area near the Maple Leaf Bar, according to our partners at WWL-TV. “From keyboards to guitar amps to Willie Green’s Neville Bros custom drum kit…these thieves seemed to have gotten just about everything we own,” band members wrote in a GoFundMe appeal for help that had already raised $10,000 out of a $15,000 goal by Monday morning. 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.

arts, books and music

City planners endorse “Fallen Saint” immersive theatre venue in Lower Garden District

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As the first hearing before city officials approaches for a warehouse on Magazine Street slated to be converted into the venue for an avant-garde immersive theatre project called “The Fallen Saint,” Lower Garden District residents are continuing an increasingly heated debate about whether its traffic will revitalize that corner of the neighborhood or overburden it. The proposal by Lower Garden District residents Seth and Rosa Dunlap to redevelop a warehouse at 1152 Magazine Street — practically underneath the Pontchartrain Expressway — into the permanent venue for a show that will plunge visitors into a Prohibition-era jazz story, with multiple small performances simultaneously ongoing in different spaces within the building. They propose eight shows a week — once a day during the week, and two on the weekends — with a restaurant and cafe operating full-time during the day and during the show, and would like to be open in time for Jazz Fest 2019. The project needs a conditional-use permit from the city to become a bar with live entertainment as its secondary use, and that request is scheduled to have its first appearance before the City Planning Commission on Tuesday afternoon. The city planners who reviewed the proposal are recommending the commissioners approve it, saying it meets the goal of the master plan to increase walkability of major commercial corridors.

business

StayLocal provides free “Office Hours” consultations with local business experts

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StayLocal is hosting a free “Office Hours” consultation Thursday featuring local experts in marketing and technology, as part of its broader effort to encourage New Orleans businesses to seek these services from firms in the city. The “Office Hours” consultations are free 20-minute sessions with local business experts on a variety of topics, which also include accounting, insurance and branding. The next sessions will be from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 26, at Propeller Incubator, 4035 Washington Avenue. “The sessions are part of StayLocal’s SourceNOLA Pledge that encourages businesses to switch at least one aspect of their business operations to a local provider,” according to the event announcement. For more information or to reserve a session, visit staylocal.org/officehours.