New Orleans, LA – July 12, 2010 – This morning, District “B” Councilmember Stacy Head cut the ribbon at the Grand Opening of the new Seattle’s Best Coffee Cafe at 506 St. Andrew Street, welcoming a new business to the River Garden neighborhood.

A positive sign of economic development, the new coffee cafe, developed by HRI Properties, offers a variety of hot and cold beverages and will be open to serve customers Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 6 a.m. – 4 p.m.

“This is a great sign of progress in the River Garden neighborhood,” said Councilmember Head. “Retail operations like Seattle’s Best Coffee complement the residential development in River Garden to make a livable, sustainable community here,” she added

“We are delighted to open HRI’s second Seattle’s Best Coffee cafe,” said Darlene Marcello, HRI vice president of food and beverage services. “Our first location in the restored King Edward building in Jackson, MS has become a favorite meeting spot for all of downtown Jackson, and we look for the same success here at River Garden,” said Marcello.

This morning’s opening featured complimentary pastries, fruit, coffee and the full menu of hot and cold beverages offered at Seattle’s Best Coffee. Musical entertainment was provided by the duo Groovy 7 and patrons had the opportunity to register for a number of prizes, including free coffee for a year at the Seattle’s Best Coffee location.

Seattle’s Best Coffee
Founded in 1970, Seattle’s Best Coffee, LLC has more than 550 specialty coffee cafes and kiosks in the U.S. and Canada including an expanding franchising program. Its packaged coffee is available in supermarkets across the U.S. and Canada and its recently introduced ready-to drink iced lattes are available in the Western U.S. Seattle’s Best Coffee is also brewed at more than 15,000 locations, such as college campuses, restaurants, hotels, airlines and cruise lines. Seattle’s Best Coffee’s smooth roasting delivers a rich and balanced Uncommonly Smooth™ taste. Seattle’s Best Coffee is a featured brand within Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX). For more information, please visit Seattle’s Best Coffee online at www.seattlesbest.com.

HRI Properties
Based in New Orleans with offices in St. Louis, Missouri, HRI Properties (HRI) is a full-service real estate development company and a national leader in the adaptive reuse of historic structures. HRI’s mission is revitalizing cities by creating diverse, vibrant, sustainable communities. For more information, go to www.hriproperties.com.

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.

Again, I am so honored to have been reelected to represent District B.  Thank you again.  GEAUX NOLA!  Stacy

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WHAT: Election Night Party and Super Bowl Eve Celebration

WHEN: Saturday, February 6th at 8:00PM

WHERE: Le Citron, 601 Orange Street, New Orleans, LA 70130-4516 (on the corner of Tchoupitoulas)

HOW: The event is free and open to the public

WHY: Join us for an Election Night Party and Super Bowl Eve celebration in appreciation of Stacy Head’s supporters

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.