8426 Apple is falling over - 311 Case Number 47300

Work of Art 8200 Block of Pritchard Place

$200 ticket for speeding (over 5 MPH) on flooded streets

You Will Be Ticketed If Driving Faster Than 5-MPH on Flooded Streets in
New Orleans

 (August 27, 2012)- Superintendent Ronal Serpas says you will be ticketed if you choose to drive down a flooded street going faster than 5-Miles per Hour.

When motorists make this decision, they immediately put themselves and the street’s residents at risk. The car’s engine could flood, stalling the vehicle and trapping the driver. Or, if the car exceeds 5 miles an hour, the driver might lose control of the vehicle. There’s also a possibility that the waves the car creates will seep into other residents’ cars, homes or businesses, possibly causing costly damages.

Superintendent Serpas said, “Our officers will strictly be enforcing this ordinance. Drivers who disregard it are acting irresponsibly and recklessly, and putting themselves and others in a dangerous situation. I can’t stress enough that residents should stay home during storms like this. No one should be venturing out either on foot or in their cars unless an emergency situation makes it absolutely imperative that they do so.”

A citation for violating the ordinance will cost no less than $200 in fines plus court fees. The ordinance in its entirety is below:

17271 MCS 154-404, Operation on Flooded Streets

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any motor vehicle or boat on the streets, roads, highways or bridges which are flooded or inundated within this city either (i) in excess of a speed of five miles per hour or (ii) in such a manner as to cause water, waves or wakes to damage property alongside of or adjacent to such streets, roads, highways or bridges at any speed.

(b) No person shall in any way tamper with, move, damage or destroy any barricades, signs or signals placed upon any streets, roads, highways or bridges within the city by any department of the city government or any other governmental agency in connection with any such street, road, highway or bridge being flooded or inundated, nor shall any person disobey the instructions, signals, warnings or markings of any warning sign, signal, city employee, or barricade so placed on any such street, road, highway or bridge which is flooded or inundated, unless at the time having been expressly so directed by a police officer of the state or city.

(c) Any person may file an affidavit with the Traffic Court of New Orleans complaining of a violation of this section in accordance with City Code Section 154-142 and R.S. 13:2512.

* * * *

Superintendent Serpas would also like to reiterate that residents are allowed to park their vehicles on neutral grounds legally until the City officially announces that it is no longer legal.

The NOPD also asks the public to report malfunctioning traffic lights and high, rising waters by calling: (504)821-2222.

And, as always, in case of an emergency, please call 9-1-1.

Isaac vs Gustav

IF you leave the city, leave your porchlights on.
This will allow those of us who are staying to let you know when the power is back on.
NorthWest Carrollton is on (at least) 2 separate grids so this makes being able to report when the power is "on" in the neighborhood more difficult.  But we did our best to let you know for Gustav (when most of us evacuated) and we'll do the same for Isaac (although more of us are staying.)

2011 PRC Great Neighborhood Sellabration Houses SOLD!!!

Houses SOLD!!!! in NorthWest Carrollton.
Since 2011 Great PRC Sellabration

2821 Dublin  was listed @ $189,995




8211 Apricot was listed @ $240,000


8309 Belfast - was listed @ $79,000 All fixed up and for sale again!


2616 Joliet was listed @ $29,000  (huge property Bank repo)

New Orleans as a UNESCO Site

Great Idea bears repeating.....

"The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has designated 962 World Heritage sites. According to the group, these cultural and natural landmarks around the world were chosen for their "outstanding universal value." They include places like Old Havana, Cuba; Siena, Italy; the Grand Canyon; and the Great Wall of China.

 

New Orleans and its French Quarter haven't yet made the list, but they should and will.

UNESCO has also compiled a list of World Heritage in Danger. It includes places like Coro, Venezuela; the Old City of Jerusalem; and the Florida Everglades. Others like Machu Picchu, Bordeaux, Venice, Angkor Wat and Timbuktu are on the cusp of falling into this category.

Under assault from too many cruise ships, tour buses, T-shirt shops and karaoke bars, they have become victims of their own success. If and when New Orleans finally makes the cut, we should aspire (and plan) to stay on the right list.

My wife and I recently visited Antigua, Guatemala, and Oaxaca, Mexico, two UNESCO World Heritage sites that are definitely getting it right. If New Orleans needs models, we don't have far to look (my personal Mexican favorite on the list: Zacatecas).

Folwell Dunbar, New Orleans"
Click link above for source

10,000 Trees to fight the heat island affect

To celebrate its 30 year anniversary, Parkway Partners will kick off a five-year, 10,000 tree reforestation program by planting at least 150 mature live oaks along St. Claude Avenue.

Jean Fahr, executive director Parkway Partners said:
“We are committed to the reforestation of neighborhoods throughout New Orleans..."

And in NorthWest Carrollton look forward to trees on Earhart.
We want Earhart to have the dignity of Carrollton (or St. Charles or St. Claude.)

As NorthWest Carrollon has said at more than one neighborhood meeting:
"The expansion of the city's urban tree canopy will reduce the "heat island" effect of open concrete and streets, and will capture a variety of pollutants, including heavy metals, gaseous air emissions and particulate matter" and reduces traffic noise on large streets like Earhart.  "The trees also will assist in reducing urban flooding, as each one can capture 350 gallons of storm water during a typical downpour."

"The five-year plan also will include the training of 150 new Tree Troopers, volunteers who will help ensure the survival of the city’s new trees during their first five years. The first training session will be Sept. 10-12 at the New Orleans Healing Center, 2372 St. Claude Avevue."
"The new planting program is an extension of ReLeaf New Orleans, which planted 10,000 trees in the seven years since Hurricane Katrina. The extension is in part a response to the results of The U.S. Department of Agriculture study that found that 10 percent of New Orleans' trees had died between 2005 and 2009, largely as a result of the hurricane, the worst loss of any urban forest in the nation. Over that time, the amount of the city covered by tree canopy fell from 32.9 percent to 23.3 percent. Experts have estimated the city lost more than 100,000 trees.

The new program will focus on planting trees with larger canopies wherever possible, including live oaks and the ornamental pistache, whose leaves turn orange-red in the fall. "

FINALLY NorthWest Carrollton has also lobbied for Larger Trees that mirror the effect of our existing treelined streets, like St. Charles and Esplande.

“These trees are important; they represent continuity,” Palmer said. “When we talk about trying to knit the fabric of our community together, we’re talking about what St. Claude does in terms of uniting Marigny and Bywater and St. Roch and the Upper 9 and the New St. Claude and the Lower 9. St. Claude is not a dividing line. It’s a unifying line.”

And the same can be said for Earhart. We want Earhart to stop being a dividing line and start knitting together community.

Quotes taken from
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/08/parkway_partners_will_plant_15.html

Resolution to restore service of the Sunset Limited Amtrak Train to the Gulf Coast Region

NOLA City Council Regular Meeting Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 10 a.m. Agenda Highlights

What: Among the Agenda items scheduled to be heard at tomorrow's Regular City Council meeting: -Presentation by the State Department of Transportation regarding tolls on the Crescent City Connection. -Resolution to restore service of the Sunset Limited Amtrak Train to the Gulf Coast Region. -Recognition of the Parkway Partners organization for 30 years of service to New Orleans. To view the Meeting Agenda click here. When: Thursday, August 23, 2012 10 a.m.

Where: City Council Chamber City Hall, 1300 Perdido St. Click here for map Contact: Evelyn F. Pugh Interim Council Chief of Staff Ph: (504) 658-1082 Email: efpugh@nola.gov

Karen Gadbois wins Ethics Award

http://thelensnola.org/2012/08/16/lens-co-founder-wins-ethics-award-for-report-on-nopd-victim-policy/

We are so proud to have Karen in our neighborhood
and our city.

August 22, 2012 Friends, http://thelensnola.org/2012/08/16/lens-co-founder-wins-ethics-award-for-report-on-nopd-victim-policy/ I thought I'd let you know that our own Ms. Gadbois has won a national ethics award for having the courage to write an incredibly unpopular story that revealed the police record of the Algiers Good Samaritan in January -- but also revealed an uneven NOPD policy on releasing the rap sheets of homicide victims. We take no glee in celebrating an award that stems from a terrible situation, in which a man was killed in front of his children while trying to prevent a neighbor from being victimized. But we are proud of making a difficult ethical decision that brought further attention to this practice of the NOPD. We are able to produce stories like this thanks to your support. Regards, Anne Anne M. Mueller The Lens 1025 S. Jefferson Davis Parkway New Orleans, LA 70125 (504) 258-1624

Buy a House in New Orleans - 3.25% 30 year FIXED mortgages

Go ahead take a look.  http://www.financeauthority.org/
It's for real.  There is *only* a $12 million dollar pot.

The 3.25%, 30 year FIXED mortgages distributed through 4 participating banks;
Gulf Coast Bank & Trust
Iberia Bank
Wells Fargo
Whitney National Bank

But if you are thinking about living in New Orleans....
or buying a home....
or BOTH!!!!
Get while the getting is good! 

The 3.25% rate is ~ 1/2 a point lower than the national average.
You do NOT have to be a 1st time home owner.

New Orleans Bike Map

New Orleans Bike Map and Guide to Safe Cycling: Download the map

Bike Lanes - Dedicated street lanes for bicycles.

Shared Lanes - Vehicles and bicycles share the marked lanes.

Off-Street Trails - completely separate from vehicle traffic.

Bicycle Connector Routes - Useful on-street connections.

Ferry Routes - Bicycles free to ride on these routes.  

Bicycle Friendly Areas - Areas with many cyclist and slower traffic.



Sponsored by: Bike Easy, UNO Transportation Institute, Regional Planning Commission.

Mother and Daughter Accused of Plotting to Murder Woman in Carrollton Fire

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 08/10/2012

Mother and Daughter Accused of Plotting to Murder Woman in Carrollton Fire NOPD officers have arrested one woman today and have issued an arrest warrant for that woman’s daughter for the roles they played in the burning death of a Carrollton woman. 53-year-old Alice Wright was booked yesterday with Second Degree Murder after allegedly conspiring with her daughter, 23-year-old Tytesha Wright, to burn to death 57-year-old Cynthia Houston in her home last Friday.  Flames broke out in Houston’s house in the 8100-block of Apricot Street early on the morning of August 3rd.  New Orleans firefighters put out the fire, and soon found Houston lying face down on the floor of her second floor bedroom. The autopsy report from the Coroner’s Office shows Houston died of fourth degree burns and smoke inhalation. Detectives soon learned that another person- Tytesha Wright- had been injured in the fire, and that her mother had driven her to Ochsner Hospital.  Tytesha suffered third degree burns on her back, and after a brief stay at Ochsner, was transported to the Burn Center in Baton Rouge.  Detectives went to Baton Rouge days later to interview Tytesha Wright, who was something of a caretaker for Cynthia Houston, as she suffered with some medical problems.   Tytesha told them that on August 2nd- the day before the fire- Houston asked her if she had stolen her debit card and withdrawn all of her money from her bank account.  She said Houston explained that the next day, she had an appointment with bank representatives to review surveillance video of a person who used her card to get cash from an ATM.  Tytesha Wright admitted to detectives that she did steal money from Houston, but she said she did not set her on fire.  Instead, Wright said the morning Houston was killed, Wright was at the house on Apricot Street, and got into an argument with an unknown man from whom she had purchased crack cocaine.  She said she tased the man because she felt threatened, turned to leave the house, and soon felt that her back was on fire.  That’s when Wright says she ran to her mother’s car outside the residence, and her mother started to drive her to the hospital.  The 2 women became lost, and called an ambulance to pick them up from their location. After interviewing Alice Wright today, investigators placed her under arrest, and booked her with Second Degree Murder.  They also advised her that there was a warrant issued for the arrest of her daughter, Tyesha, for the same charge of Second Degree Murder.  At this time Tyesha Wright is still being treated for severe burns at the Baton Rouge Burn Center.  “Investigators worked tirelessly on this case, conducting interviews, collecting evidence, reviewing surveillance tapes, etc. until they were satisfied they had obtained all of the facts and could make a strong case against these suspects”, said Superintendent Ronal Serpas.  “To be able to come to this conclusion in a week’s time, demonstrates just how dedicated our homicide detectives are to the people of New Orleans”, Serpas said. Tytesha Wright has been arrested previously for the following; illegal possession of a Firearm During a Crime, Possession of Cocaine, Distribution of marijuana, Crack Distribution, Drug Paraphernalia, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile, Extortion, Battery, Theft, Possession of Stolen Property.  Her mother Alice Wright has been previously arrested for Driving While Intoxicated in 2001.  Her photo is on the Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff's Office website.                                                             # # # Contact:  Remi Braden rabraden@nola.gov

Community Benefits Agreement CostCo

If you are interested please contact Tonia directly at Tonia Pence <tonia@micahpico.org>

See  introductory email from Tonia below:

Hello,

My name is Tonia Pence, community organizer for the Micah Project.  Micah is beginning to work with a coalition, made up of neighborhood associations, churches, schools, community members, and organizations to create a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA)  with Costco.  A CBA is a legally binding agreement between the developer and a coalition to ensure livable wage jobs, training programs, hire first, education and community enhancement projects are provide to impacted communities.

We want to ensure all members of the communities impacted by Costco have access to the jobs and benefits Costco has verbally promised.  Now is the time to organize and make sure all voices are heard. 

Please join us  Monday, August 13 from 12:00 - 1:30pm at Brooks Shaw Temple Church, 8818 Pear Street,

If you have any questions or want to speak with me on this, please give me a call 504-496-2119.

See you Monday,

--

Tonia Pence

Community Organizer

The Micah Project

A Federation of the PICO Network

504-528-9996

cell 504-496-2119

www.micahpico.org

"

New Orleans - Fastest Growing City

See details in the full Forbes article

"Results from data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau prove that New Orleans is now the fastest growing city in America, but it doesn’t just represent a repopulation of a city that lost nearly sixty percent of its residents. After being completely evacuated almost seven years ago, New Orleans has recovered most of its population – a remarkable accomplishment for a city that was witnessing a significant out migration in the years before disaster struck."


"The influx of professionals and experts into the city also caught the attention of some major companies looking to relocate. In the past few years, New Orleans has welcomed Gameloft, Globalstar, Blade Dynamics, and General Electric, collectively bringing in over 1,500 new jobs into the city."

"The high quality of life and low cost of living have been alluring to new entrepreneurs and residents flocking to the city. Living costs are more affordable as compared to the national average, while still providing its residents with the opportunity to enjoy a high quality lifestyle."

Fire & Homicide

Early on the morning of August 3rd
New Orleans Fire Department responded to a One-Alarm fire 8141 Apricot.
59 year old Cynthia D. Houston was pronouced dead on the scene.
Others escaped with minor injuries.
An autopsy to determine the cause of death will be performed.
NOPD & NOFD are investigating possible arson because of the "suspicious nature".

Grant Writing Workshop August 8-10

Professional Grant Development Workshop The Grant Training Center is holding a three-day

grant proposal workshop at Tulane University 

Workshop:
August 8-10, 2012
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Tulane University

The Grant Training Center's mission is to train educators, researchers, non-profit professionals, and public sector administrators to advance their knowledge of federal, foundation, corporate and individual giving, and to submit winning proposals.

This intensive workshop has been developed for those who wish to strengthen their grant writing skills, and for beginners who wish to acquire and master the techniques of preparing, writing, and winning proposals from various funding agencies.

The main focus will cover how to effectively write proposals for today’s stiff competition and limited resources. There have been many new regulations and new approaches to grant writing, for researchers in the sciences and social sciences as well as education and non-profit professionals.

Learn how to:1. Navigate the world of grant procurement
2. Research and identify potential funding sources
3. Address the guidelines of federal and foundation applications
4. Focus foundation and corporate giving for the State of Louisiana
5. Understand the new federal guidelines for writing winning grants
6. Know the review process and how to address key points for reviewers
7. Write winning grants that stand out against scores of competing submissions
8. Develop focused and realistic budgets
9. Demonstrate that one's proposal merits excellence and innovation
10. Package professional grant submissions

The program’s goal is for each participant to prepare a product specific to their interests that includes the grant design, abstract and budget.

There is a fee for this workshop.

For more information visit: http://www.granttrainingcenter.com/

Or call: (866)-704-7268 or (571) 257-8864

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Application Deadline is August 24

The Business Resource & Entrepreneurship Center of the Urban League of Greater New Orleans is holding a workshop for small business owners.

Workshop:

August 6, 2012
6:00pm - 7:30pm
3400 Tulane Ave, Room 182 Training Room A

For more information or questions about the workshop:

call Lynnette Colin (504) 620-9647;

Or email: lcolin@urbanleagueneworleans.org

The Workshop will feature information about

the Goldman Sachs

"10,000 Small Businesses" New Orleans initiative.

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses initiative is a practical business management education program that helps business owners develop the skills needed to grow your company. This program is designed to help local small business owners create jobs and economic opportunity by providing greater access to business education, financial capital, and business support services.

Eligible small businesses: will have been in business for 2 or more years; sustain annual revenue between $150,000 and $4 million; and employ at least 4 full or part-time employees. Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Application Deadline is August 24

For more information on the

“10,000 Small Businesses" New Orleans initiative visit:

www.dcc.edu/divisions/workforce/10ksb