My first six months proved to be challenging and rewarding. My main goals for these first months were to address immediate quality of life issues for constituents on an individual basis (basically responding to complaints that had been ignored for years), learning the ropes of city government, passing a responsible city budget and passing the inspector general legislation. In addition to continuing to address individual quality of life concerns, my goals for the next year include re-working housing/health/sanitation enforcement ordinances and pressing for increased enforcement, enacting land-use reforms, pressing the administration to effectively, responsibl, and equitable expropriate blighted properties, working to establish incentives for the enhancement of our theater district, encouraging economic development and business growth in District B, and tackling our city’s perpetual litter problem. Above all, however, I will become a more vocal voice in demanding improvements and accountability in our crime-fighting strategies.
Crime:
The City Council, lead by Councilmembers Carter and Midura, are working to implement long-term solutions to our unacceptable crime problem. Until those solutions achieve results, I propose some relatively easy fixes that, if the various criminal justice agencies would buy-in, would largely resolve our problems.
- Hire a “crime czar” for a one year term to coordinate and oversee the long term strategies, focusing on best practices from other cities with similar challenges (New York, Philadelphia, Boston, etc.). This person will be a liaison between the various branches of the criminal justice system and the various levels of government. This person should be granted full access to audit, analyze, reassign, and bring in forward thinkers to suggest reforms at every level. This person should provide the public with a minimum of quarterly reports.
- Immediately install crime surveillance cameras – a minimum of 25 per police district – in locations determined with input from the community and NOPD. Also, within a short time frame, install roving cameras in vehicles for spot surveillance.
- Increase police manpower immediately. First, expand the NOPD reserves. Recruiting efforts should target retired police officers, sheriff’s deputies and federal law enforcement officers. Second, “borrow” officers from the Criminal and Civil Sheriffs, as well as the Harbor Police.
- Increase traffic law enforcement stops on state highways by the State Police and on city streets by the NOPD in an effort to stop drug and weapons trafficking.
- Increase public confidence in the police. First, include community leaders and the clergy in increased street patrols and increased interaction with the community. Second, invite the Department of Justice to work with the New Orleans Police to instill confidence that civil liberties are not violated.
- Request additional assistance from the ATF and DEA to target federal drug and arms violations in the metropolitan area.
- Institute a court watch system immediately.
Any of the above changes will require “buy in” from all levels of the criminal justice system. I propose that we assure this “buy in” by tying funding to a memorandum of understanding signed by each entity.
District B Garbage Collection: Be sure to register for a cart!
Days:
- Uptown – Tuesday/Friday
- Mid-City, Cent. City, Touro, Gard. Dist., Zion City – Monday/Thursday
- Gert Town, Broadmoor – Wednesday/Saturday
- Warehouse/CBD – Every Day
For a cart or more information, citizens may log onto
http://www.cityofno.com/swbcartregistration/
or contact Richard’s Disposal at (504)241-2142 and Metro at (504)520-8331
For problems with garbage pick-up, call the city’s information hotline (311) or (504) 658-2299.
Debris Removal:
Homeowners should take their storm-related debris to one of the citizen drop off-sites for disposal. These locations are: 2829 Elysian Fields between 8 and 5:30pm or Crowder Blvd. at the I-10 Service Road between 6am and 5:30pm.
If you are unable to bring the debris yourself, call 311 to schedule an appointment to have the debris picked up. It should be removed within approximately 21 days.
Stern Tennis Center:
I participated in a conference call with USTA, the Southern Tennis Foundation and the administration. USTA has generously offered to assist in upgrading the facility. In addition, the Bush-Clinton Foundation may make a donation. The delay is with the city’s architects preparation of a comprehensive design plan and obtaining commitment from FEMA for its reimbursement. Councilmember Fielkow and I are pressing for this process to be expedited. Our hope is that construction will start for repairs and then upgrades will start in the next few months.
Planning:
The planning process has gone better than I expected. At the end of January, we will have a recovery-plus plan. In other words, the product being provided to our planning districts will provide us with ideas and ways to make New Orleans better rather than just to recover from Katrina. The plans will identify everything from large recovery infrastructure projects to small neighborhood beautification projects. We will use the plans to create economic development opportunities, decide where schools and community centers should go and to assist in obtaining funding from many sources (both public and private). If you have not been to one of the sessions, I strongly encourage you to do so on January 20. For more information go to: http://www.unifiedneworleansplan.com
Magazine Street Closure at Melpomene:
This is one of the most frustrating problems that I have dealt with in city government. Carla Parker of my office and I have made many attempts to suggest solutions to the problems surrounding the street closure. These include: having all involved parties meet in one room to discuss a solution; having the city housing and health departments enforce the laws against habitation in life threatening situations; and having the city attempt to shore the buildings around the enclosure. We have hit a brick wall. Now, with the full support of my colleagues on the Council, we will call all responsible parties to testify before the Council at our next meeting (January 18, 2007 at 10:00 a.m.) and press them to find a solution. I encourage anyone interested in this issue to attend and voice your concerns.
Illegal Building:
If you notice that building construction is taking place that looks sub-standard or potentially outside of zoning laws, contact 658-7200 to report the problem and demand an investigation.
Illegal Dumping:
If you see anyone dumping illegally, please get as much information as you can, such as license plate numbers, and contact the Sanitation Department at 658-3800.
Litter/Street Trash:
My office plans to initiate and support an effort to increase education campaigns and enforcement of litter-laws to make New Orleans a cleaner city. I will provide more information as the efforts develop.
Street Lights:
On Sunday, Entergy resumed nighttime street light patrols. The District B patrol was to take place last night. By next week, if you notice any street lights out, please call 1-800-Entergy and report them. If repairs do not occur within a few days, let my office know.
Traffic Signals:
The director of Public Works reported that of the 250 traffic signals damaged by Hurricane Katrina, all but 38 have been completely restored. The final restorations should be completed within 2-3 months. These do not include the traffic signals that have been damaged by vehicles along St. Charles. The parts for these signals have been ordered and work is expected to be completed in 2-3 months.
Street Signs:
Street signs damaged or destroyed during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are now being replaced. The Department of Public Works is now completing signs in Planning Districts 2 and 3. The bidding process has begun for the replacements necessary in Planning Districts 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13. Finally, in Planning District 1 (French Quarter and CBD), an inventory is still being conducted to determine what signs must be replaced.
Good Neighbor Plan:
Many of you have been inquiring with my office as to the status of this program and particular properties that were reported. I have asked the Director of Neighborhood One and the Director of Planning and Development to come before the Housing and Human Needs Committee to discuss the status of the program. This meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, January 22, 2007 in the Council Chambers.
Property Condition Task Force:
Several constituents have generously offered their time to help to expose irresponsible property owners and encourage them to either repair their properties or sell them. The first meeting of this group will take place this week. If you know of a property that fits into this category, please locate the owner by accessing http://www.opboa.org and e-mailing pertinent information to Carla Parker: cparker@cityofno.com.
Pot Hole Repairs:
Yhe city now has a “pot hole killer,” which will be officially unveiled at the end of this month. This truck will be able to repair more pot holes for a fraction of the cost and will be functioning 6 days per week. You can report pot holes by calling 658-2299. Please have the address of the location or the intersection where the pot holes can be located.
Join a neighborhood association!
I have really enjoyed working with all the District B neighborhood associations and groups. Neighborhood associations provide not only a means to have your voices heard more easily by city government but also provide a way for me to communicate with areas effectively. If you need help locating a group to join – or if you want to start your own, please contact Carla Parker of my office: cparker@cityofno.com.