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Saturday, July 30, 2011

Reporting Street Light Outages

Public Works requests that everyone call Public Works’ Street Call Center to report outages.
The number is 504-658-8080
We've been told that you'll talk to a live person to open a work order.
 

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Pedestrian vs Car.... even when the car is parked.

Quote below taken from Page 32 New Orleans Bicycle & Pedestrian Plans 2005

"The provision of a continuous sidewalk system is a crucial first step in assuring that they can successfully move within the system.

While most streets in New Orleans have sidewalks, there are some conspicuous breakages in the system
that should be addressed."
 
Those conspicuous breakages often take the form of cars parked across the sidewalk. This is why we consistently and continually ASK for Parking Enforcement in NorthWest Carrollton

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Albert out, Montalbano in

After the 2 previous Commanders - Albert was a breath of fresh air in the 2nd District. 

Uptown Messager clip below
After little more than a year directing more than 100 officers in the New Orleans Police Department’s Uptown-based Second District, Commander Darryl Albert was chosen Friday as the interim replacement for a deputy chief who abruptly retired this week, authorities said.


A 20-year veteran of the department who previously led the department’s SWAT team, Albert was assigned to lead the Second District in June 2010, the only district to receive a new captain in Superintendent Ronal Serpas’ first round of departmental reorganizations. In April, he was one of 16 captains promoted to Serpas’ new classification of commander.

Lt. Mike Montalbano, Albert’s second-in-command in the Second District, will serve as the interim commander. Montalbano, who has also served in the department 20 years, has led the Second District’s investigative unit since prior to Albert’s arrival.

In the wake of Deputy Chief Marlon Defillo’s retirement Thursday following charges of neglect of duty in the death of Henry Glover, Serpas said he will continue assessing leadership in the department before making permanent appointments.



Another Times Picayune Notice on this change:
New Orleans police Superintendent Ronal Serpas on Friday named Commander Darryl Albert acting assistant superintendent, filling the department's second-highest position left vacant after the abrupt retirement of former Assistant Superintendent Marlon Defillo.


Defillo retired Thursday amid scrutiny of his failure to investigate allegations that police killed Henry Glover and burned his body in the days after Hurricane Katrina.

Albert, who has been with the department for more than 20 years, was named 2nd District commander last June. Lt. John Montalbano, a 20-year veteran, will oversee the district, which includes Uptown, Gert Town and a portion of Hollygrove, during Albert's time at NOPD headquarters.

Serpas will evaluate assistant superintendent candidates from within the department, an NOPD spokeswoman said. Police provided no definite time frame as to when Serpas will name a permanent replacement.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Infiighting and getting nowhere

And we wonder WHY the solutiuons that have seemed so obvious to so MANY for so LONG go NOWHERE. It's not the Corps in Mississippi who suffers or is affected.... it's US. The only skin the Corps has in the game is budget and power... it's our lives and livelihoods.


Taken from Times Picayune

Corps of Engineers closing Louisiana science office



A fight between the Army Corps of Engineers and the state over who controls the science governing construction of nearly $2 billion in coastal restoration projects has led the corps to order closure of the Louisiana Coastal Area Science & Technology Office by Oct. 1.


The corps is considering using the office’s unspent money to dredge sediment from the Mississippi River or repair levees damaged during this year’s flooding.

Louisiana officials say they refused to sign a cost-share agreement committing the state to pay 35 percent of the science office’s 10-year, $100 million budget, because the agreement did not allow the state to veto the office’s budget or studies the office would conduct. The corps also refused to allow the state to audit the office’s spending.

In an April 26 letter to Garret Graves, director of coastal activities for the state, Major Gen. Michael Walsh also vetoed a request by the state to approve operation of the office on a year-to-year basis.

As commander of the corps’ Mississippi Valley Division headquarters in Vicksburg, Walsh oversees all corps operations along the river, including the agency’s restoration program in Louisiana. He will soon move to the Pentagon as the Army’s deputy commanding general for civil and emergency operations.

The Louisiana Coastal Area Ecosystem Restoration Plan, approved by Congress in 2007, authorizes construction of 15 major projects, including diversions of sediment and water from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers to build wetlands, and the rebuilding of several barrier islands and shorelines.

“Currently, the lack of an agreement is delaying resolution of many complicated issues for both ongoing and future projects,” Walsh said, including the ability of the state’s two rivers to provide enough sediment in the right locations to rebuild wetlands.

In a July 11 letter to Graves, Walsh said that the state’s failure to respond to the April letter left him with no choice but to order an “orderly shutdown” of the office.

“Because many proposed LCA wetland restoration projects require scientific support to demonstrate technical sufficiency, such technical efforts will now need to be funded through individual projects,” he said.

But in an interview, Graves said the state remains convinced that it has the right to control the use of science in building projects within its borders, and that the corps office has been too slow in generating reports needed to advance construction of a number of major projects, including diversions.

“They refuse to provide any type of milestones (for completion of reports), scope of services, goals to be achieved, or what the dollars would be used for,” Graves said. “And our attorney general’s office questioned whether it was even constitutional for us, as we have to show that all state money is used for the public good.”

The state also objects to the office being based in the corps’ division office in Vicksburg and its reliance on corps scientists.

“The money was all going to be spent by the corps in Mississippi,” Graves said. “We wanted Louisiana academia, which the corps was required (by the congressional authorization legislation) to consider the use of, and there’s no question that the top expertise on coastal Louisiana are our own academia at LSU, Tulane, University of New Orleans, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and to ignore that was very flawed.”

Graves said the state viewed the science program as an opportunity to build on the expertise of state scientists in coastal restoration issues that could then be used by governments around the world, “instead of paying other people to learn what our scientists already know.”

The state is working with the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Greater New Orleans Inc. and the state Department of Economic Development to create a water institute that would serve the same role as the corps office, Graves said.

“We will have an independent entity that is developing science, rather than a federal agency that is looking in the mirror and saying how great they are all the time,” he said.

The state also has created its own science office in the Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration.

Corps science office director Barbara Kleiss, who worked for the corps division office in Vicksburg when she took the job, said she asked at the time not to be relocated to Louisiana.

“That was discussed with the state and the state gave their permission for the position to be located in Vicksburg prior to my accepting it,” Kleiss said.

“There were discussions early on about it being in Louisiana, even discussions about it being on a specific college campus,” she said. “But early on in the process, many of the other universities objected to that, felt that was a bit of home cooking.”

The out-of-state location and use of both state and non-state scientists help keep the science objective, she said.

Meanwhile, a member of a board of nationally-recognized scientists advising the science office, expressed concern about the shut-down. “It’s not clear to me what this means for the LCA Program, but the Science Board members were disappointed and concerned to learn the news of an ‘orderly shutdown,” said John Wells, director of the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences.

“This is the failure of a brilliant concept of having a science office that would support critically-needed science and make sure it served decision-makers and provide program accountability,” said Donald Boesch, a former member of the science board who is president of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.

But Boesch said it’s been clear for some time that the friction between the corps and the state could lead to the office’s demise.

“It’s like the Spruce Goose that never flew,” he said, referring to Howard Hughes’ failed flying boat transport plane after World War II. “As soon as the Jindal administration was in place, it started to develop its own science capabilities. We knew the science office was becoming irrelevant and would not do much, because the state had decided to go its own way.”

Mark Schleifstein can be reached at mschleifstein@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3327.





Sunday, July 17, 2011

Recovery School District Johnson & Priestley School MEEETING

SHORT NOTICE:


The Recovery School District and Orleans Parish School Board held a public meeting July 9 to explain a proposal to amend the current School Facility Master Plan. The current plan calls for renovating the closed Priestley site on Leonidas and moving Johnson School onto that site with a cost estimate of $23 m. The more recent proposal for the Master Plan presented July 9 is to renovate the existing Johnson site for $16 m. ($2 m. has already been spent on this site.)

A group of Carrollton people have met informally on occasion to discuss the future of the closed Priestley site and the Johnson School. This morning the group met again and agreed to the attached petition. A School District E
meeting is scheduled for Monday night - July 18th, at 6:00 P.M,
at McMain School cafeteria, corner of Claiborne and Nashville.
This is a critical meeting for our neighborhood schools.

We are asking Carrollton United people to do two things:

* Please attend the meeting Monday evening July18th. They need to hear our voices and know how much the community cares about our children’s education, starting with a safe and visible site with accessibility.



* If you are asked to sign this petition, we hope you do so.
Carrollton Neighborhood, in an effort to improve the quality of education and neighborhood viability, is  proposing and supporting the move of Johnson Elementary  School from the Monroe Street site to the Leonidas St. Priestley site, The move will provide greater safety, visibility, and accessibility for the children and families of the greater Carrollton area. This move will maintain the historical significance of the community framework.

Thanks so much,
Jean Fischer (861-1807)

StreetCar Shelter coming......???

There is a Streetcar Shelter proposed for the neutral ground at the very end of the line (Carrollton @ Claiborne), between the bank and the park. John Klingman of the Tulane Arch. School. created the design which was recently reviewed (this June) by the RTA Board. The RTA Board approved RTA staff to solict for a construction contractor.


John Klingman jklingm@tulane.edu
 John P. Klingman
Koch Professor of Architecture
Tulane University

Fred A. Basha  frederick.basha@veoliatransdev.com
Veolia/RTA
Director of Infrastructure
2817 Canal St.
New Orleans, LA 70119
Phone - 504-827-8310
Cell - 504-400-6308

Saturday, July 16, 2011

MAYOR LANDRIEU’S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO HOST BUSINESS INFORMATION SESSIONS

Mayor Mitch Landrieu announced that the City’s Office of Economic Development will host a series of Business Information Sessions featuring information, resources and opportunities helpful for business owners and entrepreneurs, with a meeting to be held in each City Council district.


“The success of our local small businesses is key to the strengthening of our economy and our city’s recovery,” said Mayor Mitch Landrieu. “The goal of these information sessions is to connect entrepreneurs and small business owners to technical assistance providers and financial resources that will enable them to start or grow their businesses.”


Several City departments and external partners will participate in the sessions including
- The NOLA Business Alliance, who will speak to overall economic development efforts including luring large and retail businesses to the City. T
- The Office of Supplier Diversity will address the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program.
-The Office of Cultural Economy will answer questions about permitting and incentives offered within cultural districts.
- Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program will explain their educational program, which recently graduated its first class of 30 small business owners.
- The Small Business Administration will provide information on the resources and support they can provide.
JOB1 Business and Career Solutions, who will answer questions regarding training opportunities and incentive programs they offer.
- The New Orleans Fresh Food Retailer Initiative will discuss their efforts to increase access to fresh foods in traditionally underserved neighborhoods in the City in addition to providing quality employment opportunities and serving as a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization.
- The World Trade Center will answer questions regarding importing and exporting.


District A Meeting will be held
5:00 – 6:30 p.m. and is open to the public
Thursday, July 28, 2011
JOB1, 3400 Tulane Avenue  (Tulane @ Jeff Davis)

Residents or businesses seeking additional information should contact Margaret Frazier, Office of Economic Development at 504-658-4237 or mmfrazier@nola.gov

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Tell the people what you WANT!

Use this link to get to Neighborland and tell the people what you WANT in New Orleans.

I discovered this by reading the article below published TODAY in the Times Picayune's New Orleans Picayune

Self-help books (and industrious friends) always say the best way to reach a goal is to write it down. To-do lists and wish lists help bring dreams to life.


Now there’s an interactive website to serve that purpose for your neighborhood in New Orleans — and everyone can join in and see other people’s ideas.

Bike racks, like this one installed last year by the Young Leadership Council, are high on neighborhood wish lists.

Neighborland.org was founded by artist Candy Chang, along with brothers Dan Parham and Tee Parham, with help from Tulane University’s social entrepreneurship program.

It’s pretty simple, really. Go to the site and answer the question, “What do you want in your neighborhood?”

Here’s a sample of what New Orleanians say they want:
- A Vietnamese restaurant in Lakeview.
- A swimming pool in Faubourg Marigny.
- Canoe racks and a boathouse on Bayou St. John.
- A single-screen movie house in Mid-City.
- More bike racks everywhere.

The ideas range from the whimsical (a clocktower on Bayou St. John?) to the wonky (low-interest equity financing for home rehabilitation in St. Claude). Three people claim they would like a mall Uptown.

Website users can go to a discussion area where, for instance, they can chat about the specifics of opening a small business.

Organizers hope the notions posted at Neighborland.org will inspire entrepreneurs to, say, open a florist shop in St. Roch, or the city to improve sidewalks in the Irish Channel.

Now that the site has been up and running a while, the group wants to focus on bringing a popular idea or two closer to reality. You still have time to add your voice.

OK, as long as we’re dreaming: I want the libraries open seven days a week and late at night. I want rail transit to the suburbs so I don’t have to fight traffic on Interstate 10 or any famously long bridges. And I want kids’ splash pads with fountains, sprays and water jets in all our parks.

What do you want?

Go to Neighborland.org and chime in.

••••••••
Annette Sisco is community news editor. She can be reached at asisco@timespicayune.com or at 504.826.3310.


THANK YOU ANNETTE!!!!!!!!!!!


Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Criminals & Pregnant Women

Based on the Gambit's Scuttlebutt, it seems our governor put them in same boat.

"We already make sure criminals know thier rights. Before the people arrest someone they information them of all their rights under the law, so it is only common sense that we would do the same for women before they get an abortion. Women deserve to know their legal rights and the protections already afforded them under the law, and we are confident that the more they know, the more the they will choose life."
Gov. Bobby Jindal on July 6, as he signed into law HB636. Among its provision: clinics that perform abortions will  need new signage throughout outlining "pregnancy resources"; women seeking appointments will be directed first to the state Department of Health & Hospitals "abortions alternatives" website; and any outpatient abortion facility that has a nonphysicin performing abortions can have its license revoked by the state.

Monday, July 11, 2011

The Budget Breakdown....this week on Canal Streeet

Your City, Your Money – Who Decides?

GET INVOLVED IN THE CITY’S NEW BUDGETING PROCESS

“The Budget Breakdown”
Citizen Training On The City’s New Budget Process
Wednesday, July 13th, 6-8pm
Grace Episcopal Church
3700 Canal St.
Conducted by Bob Rhoden, former Commissioner of Criminal Justice and Finance Department staffer
Presented by the New Orleans Coalition on Open Governance
Free and Open to the Public
Pre-register by calling (504) 940-2207 or emailing nolacpp@gmail.com
The City of New Orleans’ new budget process calls for public input on how your tax dollars are going to be spent across six priority areas: Public Safety, Children & Families, Economic Development, Sustainable Communities, Open & Effective Government, and Innovation.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Tell them what you think about COX

Cable Franchise Survey Will Be Closing Soon


“The City Council Cable, Telecommunications, and Technology Committee, is overseeing the renewal process for the current Orleans Parish Cable Television Franchise which is up for renewal this year. Citizens are encouraged to participate in a survey prepared to help the City Council evaluate the performance of Cox Communications, the current cable television provider for Orleans Parish.

We want to hear from citizens. Our public engagement process will include an online survey and public hearings. I am asking all my constituents to take a moment to answer the online survey. Please note that this survey will be closing on Tuesday July 12.

You can participate in public hearings by attending the Cable and Telecommunications Committee meetings to be held in the Council Chambers at 10am on the following Mondays: August 22, and September 26.

Cox has a non-exclusive franchise to operate in Orleans Parish. The non-exclusive franchise was initially granted in the mid-1980s and renewed in 1995. Federal law governs cable television franchises and designates citizen input as a step in the local renewal process. The public input gathered will be used in the renewal evaluation process. Federal law does not allow the City Council to set subscriber rates; therefore the Council has no influence over a Cox subscriber's monthly bill.

For additional information, visit http://www.nolacitycouncil.com/."

Thank you for your cooperation,
Susan G. Guidry