Newman Headmaster TJ Locke will be VIP Guest Lunch Server
 

WHO: Freret Street PoBoy

WHAT: Celebrity guest hosts serve up the best lunch in the city
A portion of Friday’s proceeds will be donated to charity

WHEN: Friday, April 23, 2010
11:00AM-1:00PM
WHERE:Freret Street PoBoy
4701 Freret Street
New Orleans, LA 70115

HOW: This is event is open to the public.

WHY: Freret Street PoBoy’s will be welcoming TJ Locke, Headmaster of Isidore Newman School, to serve as a guest host on Friday, April 23 from 11AM to 1PM. 5% of Friday’s proceeds will be donated to a local nonprofit organization.

The restaurant has gathered a local following for its flavorful Creole cuisine. Some favorites from the menu include Red Beans & Rice, Gumbo and Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce.

For more information on Freret Street PoBoys please call 504-899-5641.

New Orleans natives Troy Rhodies and his wife Myra Bercy Rhodies started Freret Street PoBoys in April of 2009. The restaurant features classic Creole cuisine and fresh made donuts. The restaurant offers an intimate, casual dining experience and exceptional New Orleans cooking.

New Orleans natives Troy Rhodies and his wife Myra Bercy Rhodies started Freret Street PoBoys in April of 2009. The restaurant features classic Creole cuisine and fresh made donuts. The restaurant offers an intimate, casual dining experience and exceptional New Orleans cooking.

 Louisiana Public Bid Law (R.S. 38:2211-2296), applies to all public subdivisions, such as the City of New Orleans and allows for the subdivision to contract with “responsible bidders.”  “Responsible bidder,” defined in R.S. 38:2216 (2)(a), “means a contractor or subcontractor who has an established business and who has demonstrated the capability to provide goods and services in accordance with the terms of the contract, plan, and specifications without excessive delays, extensions, cost overruns . . ..”  It is elementary that a contractor with a felony conviction related to stealing public funds or bribery is not a “responsible bidder.” 

The Louisiana Attorney General and the Louisiana Supreme Court have further illustrated what “responsible bidder” means.  The Attorney General states that “responsibility refers to the character or quality of the bidder – whether it is an entity with which you are safe doing business.” See, “Understanding the Public Bid Law” presented by Michael J. Vallan, Assistant Attorney General, February 20, 2008.  The Supreme Court has consistently provided that the term “lowest responsible bidder” does not require the public authority to merely accept the lowest monetary bid.  Instead, the public entity has “wide discretion to determine bidder responsibility.”  Louisiana Associated General Contractors v. Calcasieu Parish School Board, 586 So. 2d 1354, 1362-63 (La. 1991), citing Haughton Elevator Div. v. State Division of Administration, 367 So.2d 1161 (La. 1979). In determining bidder responsibility, the public entity may look to “financial ability, skill, integrity, business judgment, experience, reputation, quality of previous work on contracts, and other similar factors bearing on the bidder’s ability to successfully perform the contract.” Id.

In sum, the well settled interpretation of “responsible bidder” coupled with the fact that the City regularly places restrictions or requirements on public-bid contracts, such as DBE or tax payment requirements, proves that Councilmember Head’s legislation is both legal and good for our City.

Holly Wiseman, Deputy Independent Police Monitor (IPM), will discuss the purpose and structure of the IPM Office and will report on the Office’s activities during its first quarter of operations.  The Deputy IPM will solicit information and feedback from the public regarding police operations in their district and their concerns with the IPM. “The purpose is more for the IPM to listen than to inform,” said Ms. Wiseman.

Residents are encouraged to attend to hear about how the new Independent Police Monitor will work to ensure public safety and police integrity.

The Independent Police Monitor, part of the Office of the Inspector General:

• Monitors the process by which the NOPD investigates allegations of misconduct by its staff.  It does not itself investigate individual allegations of misconduct by NOPD but reviews completed NOPD investigations in order to report publicly on their fairness, thoroughness and timeliness.
• It collects and analyzes data about complaints and police operations in order to identify problem areas and their root causes.  It provides these reports to the NOPD and to the pubic.

“New Orleans has the greatest people in the country who do great things to make a great city,” Head said. “Our city needs leadership that works hard to bring integrity and trust to City Hall. We need to make our neighborhoods strong and healthy so that our families are safe. We need to support a charter school system that has become a national model for success and that is key to creating hope and opportunity for our children.”

Head stated, “I’ve worked hard to focus attention on every neighborhood in District B, and I’ve forged bonds of trust across all groups. Our neighborhoods are a unique treasure. They form the backbone of our city’s culture. On the City Council, I’ll keep working to fix the potholes, reduce blight, and take police away from behind their desks and put them on the streets to improve safety. Above all, I will make sure that the taxpayers of our city get a dollar of value for every dollar spent. Citizens are entitled to responsible and accountable government. That’s what I stand for.”

Head was elected to her first term in 2006, and prides herself on being a hard worker and “grassroots” leader who stays in touch with her constituents. According to Head, “I believe that our greatest successes come from visiting with individual citizens and neighborhood groups so that their ideas are heard and acted upon.

“The best days of New Orleans lie ahead of us. With the right leadership, we’ll greet those days with new hope and opportunity.”

For more information about Council Member Stacy Head, or to become involved in her campaign, visit her website, www.stacyhead.com.

Bhola Dhume, Deputy Director bdhume@cityofno.com

Johnny Odom, Chief Building Inspector johnodom@cityofno.com

Larry Chan, Building Official lchan@cityofno.com

Edward Horan, Zoning Administrator ejhoran@cityofno.com

Rudy Hardouin<, Chief Mechanical Insp. rehardouin@cityofno.com

Charles Collins, Chief Electrical Insp. ccollins@cityofno.com

• 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.

• Working to pass through the Council and then through city-wide vote a Master Plan ordinance;
• Working to expose wasteful spending in various departments such as Housing (NOAH), Office of Technology (crime cameras), Property Management (police station air conditioners), and Sanitation;
• Assisting the Downtown Development District in obtaining approval to start its own code enforcement initiatives;
• Changing state law to allow 7 residents to sue a nuisance property;
• Holding the first ever Sheriff’s sale to put property with outstanding health code liens back into commerce, thereby raising funds for the city and reducing blight.

In the next year, I hope to continue with a few large-scale reforms that have not yet been achieved including:

• Supporting a complete overhaul of our economic development model to a professional, non-political entity that fosters regionalization;
• Lobbying for state legislation to depoliticize the Sewerage and Water Board membership and require relevant professional experience (many people don’t realize that the S&WB is governed by state law. So real changes with the Board management is the duty of your state legislator. I encourage you to contact your state legislator to demand change, information below);
• Pressing the Administration to put more money into infrastructure improvements. The city receives significant federal money that historically has not gone to streets—and it should;
• Support complete overhaul of our city’s youth recreation programs (NORD) to provide quality programs to New Orleans kids.

In addition, I will continue to hold regular hearings to demand improvement of the various city departments, attend (or have staff attend) as many neighborhood and NONPAC meetings as possible, contact District B businesses to assess needs and provide resources and information, and focus resources, including NOPD, on particular problem areas to deter and solve crime. 

District B News

Crime: Crime continues to be our greatest problem. I have done what I can to assure that the NOPD is very well-funded, that relevant laws are clear, and to point out deficiencies and offer constructive solutions within the NOPD, which have not been well-received. Substantive change from this point must come from the Administration. As to the judiciary and the District Attorney’s office, I have high hopes. Our new D.A., most of our remaining judges and our newly elected judges appear eager to bring real improvement. I am committed to funding them as needed. Finally, I have worked creatively with neighborhoods and individual NOPD majors to identify particularly problematic properties and areas.

Another crime solution action that my office has taken is to follow particularly vexing crimes through the system. Information about an arrested person’s status can be found at http://www.opcso.org/, with the “inmate query” and “docketmaster” links. I highly recommend that your neighborhood become involved in tracking to conclusion crimes in your area. Contact the investigating detective/officer to obtain basic information, contact the District Attorney’s office to notify you before any magistrate hearings for bond setting, go to hearings, and let the D.A.s and judges know that you are watching this crime.

With regard to juveniles, please know that if he or she is arrested for committing a “crime of violence,” the information is public.

Grant funding: I am pleased that through the Harrah’s Community Support Grants that I have been able to focus the District B grants on children in need in underserved neighborhoods. Some of the recipients of the District B grants include: enrichment programs at two central city schools, the Taylor Park swimming pool, tutoring at Wilson School, after school and Saturday tutoring at a neighborhood center, Karate scholarships for 20 children at Green School, Art programs at another central city school.

Infrastructure: FEMA “patch” repairs have just begun. This work should greatly improve the streets in many of the areas in the city that flooded.

The Irish Channel streets project is almost complete and the Jefferson Avenue/Riverside project started recently.

Peniston Street reconstruction from Freret Street to Carondelet has been awarded to Fleming Construction ($4.1M for construction). This project started on July 7th and is estimated to be completed in May, 2009.

Recent Finances: I continue to work to assure that our funds are spent wisely. As I stated in my letter to the editor of the Times Picayune, part of government’s obligation is to provide services to the neediest of citizens. If we squander our funds, these citizens are hurt first and most as they are not able to privately fund things such as infrastructure, security, education and recreation for their children.

Housing:

• The demolitions of B.W. Cooper and C.J. Peete are complete. Many of the demolitions were done by local firms with local employees. These projects will be redeveloped into mixed-income, mixed-use communities. The building work should begin for both in early 2009.
• Most FEMA trailers have been removed from District B. If you are aware of a trailer that remains, please contact Greg Malveaux of my office and 888-294-2822. Please note that no FEMA trailer extensions are being offered through the office of Safety and Permits in District B.
• If you have a problem with a nuisance rental property, send the address and details to me and I will write to the owner – and have your neighborhood association do the same. Please send me specific information. If this property is Section 8 or owned by HANO/HUD, please indicate that. To locate a property owner’s information, see below.

Recent District B Happenings

Mid-City Town Hall Meeting:

We held a Mid-City town hall meeting on Saturday, October 25th at which the department of Public Works and ORDA presented information.

Gert Town Meeting:

We held a meeting on November 15th to discuss concerns and issues in this community, at which Officer Eddington of the NOPD attended, the Department of Public Works, and ORDA presented information.

Clean-ups:

My office staff and I participated in a clean-up around Guste Central City Academy. Our next clean-up is scheduled for Gert Town in December. Please contact Ruth Idakula of my office to volunteer.

Job Fair: My office has sponsored several job fairs that have assisted over 400 participants. We had 25 vendors and over 150 people gained employment from our efforts. Please contact Barbara Lacen-Keller of my office if you are an employer who would like to participate in upcoming job fair efforts.

Central City Come-Back Committee:

My office has worked with this Committee on several events including:

• Thanksgiving dinner
• Santa and the 6th toy & bike give away and Christmas dinner
• Community Health Fair and family day
• Night Out Against Crime

Katrina Memorial Dedication:

On August 29th, I participated in the Katrina Memorial Dedication and internment of Katrina victims. In addition, I helped dedicate the Pet Memorial, which is displayed in the lobby of Council Chambers.

Gert Town Community Center:

With our office’s help, this community center at 3117 Broadway was opened and dedicated on July 22nd

Youth March:

Our office co-sponsored the Central City Youth Against Violence march on June 21st to commemorate the death of Officer Nicola Cotton.

Helpful Information

• State Legislators:
   
  • Representatives
     
    • Neil C. Abramson
      District 98
      365 Canal Street, Suite 2740
      New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
      Office: 504-275-8051
      Fax: 504-568-3342
      Email: abramson@legis.state.la.us
       
    • Walter Leger, III
      District 91
      600 Carondelet Street, 9th Floor
      New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
      Office: 504-556-9970
      Fax: 504-556-9972
      Email: legerw@legis.state.la.us
       
    • Karen Carter Peterson
      District 93
      1215 Prytania Street, Suite 364
      New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
      Office: 504-568-8346
      Fax: 504-568-8405
      Email: larep093@legis.state.la.us

•  
  • Senators:
     
    • Edwin R. Murray
      District 4
      1540 North Broad Street
      New Orleans, Louisiana 70119
      Office: 504-945-0042
      Email: murraye@legis.state.la.us
       
    • Cheryl A. Gray
      District 5
      1100 Poydras Street
      New Orleans, Louisiana 70163
      504-568-2098
      Email: grayc@legis.state.la.us
       

• For most city problems, call 311
   
• Grass cutting and maintenance for Road Home properties: Contact Jack Iverstine for maintenance of these properties at 225-395-0777.
   
• District B office information:
  City Council, District B
  1300 Perdido Street, Suite 2W10
  New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
  Office: 504-658-1020
  Fax 504-658-1025
   
• Staff:
   
• Jason Abate – Chief of Staff
  Direct Line: 658-1021
  Email: jabate@cityofno.com
   
• Barbara Lacen-Keller – Director of Constituent Services
  Direct Line: 658-1022
  Email: blacenkeller@cityofno.com
   
• Ruth Idakula – Executive Assistant
  Direct Line: 658-1023
  Email: ridakula@cityofno.com
   
• Anne Redd – Senior Policy Advisor
  Direct Line: 658-1026
  Email: aredd@cityofno.com
   
• Theresa Becher – Legislative Aide
  Direct Line: 658-1028
  Email: trbecher@cityofno.com

Re-Entry Placards: Before new hurricane season, businesses may request a Re-Entry Placard via the City’s website at http://www.cityofno.com/.

Property information:

• Obtain property owner information on:
  http://www.OPBOA.org/
   
• Find property blight or expropriation status at: http://www.noraworks.org/

Thank you for allowing me to serve you and our city. I hope that I am a part of making this a great place for all New Orleanians, old and new, and that this will be a great place for future generations to live and work.

1^st District Darren G. Mire
1300 Perdido St.
New Orleans, La. 70112
Rm. 4EO1
Ph# 504-658-1310
dgmire@orleansassessors.com
Assessor Mire will take appeals or correction challenges at his office, via e-mail or by phone call to his office. 

4^th District Betty Jefferson
1300 Perdido St.
New Orleans, La. 70112
Rm. 4EO1
Ph# 504-658-1340

6^th District Nancy J. Marshall
1300 Perdido St.
New Orleans, La. 70112
Rm. 4EO1
Ph# 658-1360
nmarshall@dkslaw.com
Assessor Marshall will take appeals or correction challenges at her office, via e-mail or by phone call to her office.  Also, she will hold additional office hours on Saturday Aug. 4^th and Saturday Aug. 11^th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.   

7^th District Henry F. Heaton
1300 Perdido St.
New Orleans, La. 70112
Rm. 4EO1
Ph# 658-1370