General Updates

• I continue to work closely with Code Enforcement and the Health Department to determine eligible properties for Sheriff Sale to combat blight in District B. There have been three successfully sales thus far for properties in the Irish Channel. My staff and I have worked tirelessly to implement the necessary legislation to facilitate this process and to overcome all administrative road blocks along the way. The process is beginning to run smoothly and many additional properties located throughout District B will soon be sold at auction.
• I have begun conducting my own sweeps of blight in District B, to assist in faster adjudications of blighted homes. To date, I have personally driven around the Napoleon/Freret area, portions of Gert Town, Mid-City, and Central City and have reported approximately 100 violations to Code Enforcement. Upcoming sweeps are in the works for additional neighborhoods in District B.
• I have been working closely with neighborhood organization to keep abreast of problem properties in the community and to keep them apprised of upcoming blight hearings. I also consult neighborhoods for their input in every zoning application that comes across my desk. I strongly encourage involvement in your neighborhood organization to keep fully appraised of happenings in your neighborhood. To determine what neighborhood you belong to, and the contact information for your correlating neighborhood group, please contact Theresa Becher of my office.
• I authored Resolution 09-47, which passed unanimously, requesting that all seven District Assessors evaluate nonprofit property tax exemptions to ensure that all nonprofits meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the Constitution, which will alleviate the tax burden on homeowners and businesses in New Orleans.
• I have introduced Resolution 09-125 relative to Restoration Tax Abatements. This resolution clarifies the evaluation standards in attempts to eliminate disparaging application of tax abatements and to encourage fair, universal application.
• To further support business owners in the Central Business District, I authored and introduced legislation to permit detachable, freestanding, portable signs on portions of the sidewalks in the CBD.
• To further aide small business owners in the fishing and shrimp industry, I successfully repealed the ban of the selling of fresh seafood in public in New Orleans.
• Continue to support underprivileged children in District B by dedicating all Harrah’s grant money to this cause.

Upcoming Legislation:

• I have several pieces of legislation in the works. Specifically, I hope to introduce measures to prohibit city contracts from being awarded to felons who have previously defrauded the City. Further, I hope to enact restriction for the purchasing of cigarettes in the vicinity of schools and churches.

Gert Town:

• Since the start of the year, I have participated in three well-attended Gert Town community meetings to discuss, generally, environmental issues in Gert Town. Currently, Gert Town is experiencing industrial uses in their community which inhibit neighborhood development and growth. I am working limit industrial uses in their neighborhood and improve the residents’ quality of life. These meeting occurred on 2/28/09, 3/13/09, and 5/9/09.
• On March 19, 2009, I submitted Motion M-09-124, to begin facilitating change in Gert Town. This motion passed unanimously and will prohibit any new industrial uses from establishing in the neighborhood, bounded by: Carrollton Avenue, Walmsley Ave., S. Jefferson Davis, and the Pontchartrain Expressway.
• I participated in a Gert Town clean-up along with community members and parishioners of Greater King Solomon Baptist Church. An additional clean-up is scheduled for 5/23/09. Please contact Catrina Simmons of my office if you are interested in volunteering.
• I have been working closely with City Departments such as Health, Code Enforcement, and Safety & Permits to clean-up the blight, Norwood Thompson Park, and to ensure that the industry in Gert Town is in full compliance with the code of New Orleans.

Central City:

• On February 19, 2009, the Central City Mixed Use Interim Zoning District passed unanimously, which down-zoned the industrial areas in Central City bounded by S. Rampart, Erato, Carondelet, and the Pontchartrain Expressway to permit only residential and commercial use. This further facilitates positive growth and change in Central City.
• To help seniors celebrate Easter, on April 8, 2009, I sponsored and participated in District B’s first annual “Hens and Ham” giveaway at the Central City Senior’s Center. Approximately 150 seniors received both a hen and a ham to help them celebrate Easter with their families.
• On April 4, 2009, I participated in another Central City Clean-up. This clean-up is one in a series of clean-ups beginning in 2007 to aide the on going efforts to facilitate a healthy, clean environment in Central City.
• I have been working closely with City Departments such as Health, Code Enforcement, and Safety & Permits in attempts to clean-up the blight and nuisance businesses in Central City.
• Continue to publicize grant opportunities and green food initiatives to promote health living, green food, and quality groceries in Central City, including providing District B grant money to further this initiative.
• Work closely with Central City groups to foster redevelopment of Oretha Castle-Haley Boulevard.
• Participate in regular telephone conferences with Central City groups to foster further development and growth in the community.

Lower Garden District:

• On April 9, 2009, I sponsored an Easter Basket Give Away for approximately 85 seniors at Mercy Endeavors.
• I have worked closely with law enforcement to shut-down nuisance businesses that refuse to comply with the law. Most recently, we were successful in assisting the ABO prosecutor in suspending operation of the Crickett Club after a murder was committed at that location.

Mid-City:

• I requested a public meeting from State and Federal officials relative to their efforts to open a V.A. and teaching hospital in Mid-City, so members of the community could voice their concerns and opinions. To date, my request has gone unanswered.
• Participated in a community meeting on April 6, 2008 to discuss the Master Plan to ensure a complete understanding of this community’s land-use desires.
• Worked closely with Mid-City Neighborhood Organization (MCNO) and Code Enforcement to ramp-up blight efforts in this area and send blighted homes to Sheriff Sale.