NorthWest Carrollton

You can’t count on the government to save you from global warming. They’re still inept to this day, and half an American city is gone, and how the hell are we going to deal with this? And what are we doing instead?

link

The Friends of New Orleans had sponsored a 5k Road Race in Old Towne Alexandria. Is trying to encourage a Presidential debate here in New Orleans.

It was an incredibly beautiful day and there were over 1200 runners who were there in support of New Orleans.

Thanks to Vince for bringing the fans to remind people this was an engineering disaster, not a weather event.

After that we broke off into groups and made our way over to The National Mall I have not been to D.C. since I was a child. I had some level of concern for the Katrina Memorial fact that a company based in Pittsburg will be creating the Memorial is just another example of outsourcing. But I digress.

Later in the day we were all invited to the home of James Carville and Mary Matlin for a reception.

This trip was a powerful example of how prepared and knowledgable we all are about the Recovery of our City. It also made us realize that we need to lobby at the State level as well as the City level for more transparency. I think we have a lot of people here in the City watching every move, but we need to demand more attention from the State as we approach the Gubernatorial race. Where are we on Bobby Jindals radar? take a look at his blog, we are nowhere to be seen.

I spoke with Matt McBride about our trip and his suggestion was that we begin to contact each and every candidate for each and every office Local, State and Federal and begin to inform them about our needs. That we, the local advocates are the experts and we start to operate in that fashion.

Here is a link to the Press Release put out by the Chairmans Office

Makes me wonder who was briefing who?

This made me think of New Orleans

The rhetoric coming from the Powell Camp was pretty consistant with what we know the attitude towards New Orleans has been, Chairman Powell told us we had bad schools, poor drainage and we could not expect for those things to be fixed under The Stafford Act he tried to give the impression that the Federal Government was hamstrung by it’s own policies.

At that point the various members of the group began to question

1.Denise Thornton of Beacons of Hope remarked that the current Administration has spent billions of dollars to repair infrastructure in Iraq

2. Vince Pasquantonio of Levees.org challenged the Chairman on the issue of the Levees as a Federal Issue, not a local one, Chairman Powell attempted to silence him by questioning his credentials, and Vince did not flinch.

3. LaToya Cantrell of Broadmoor addresses the issue of Education by pointing out that the Public School system in the United States is in shambles especially in urban areas.

4. Charles Allen of Holy Cross spoke to our broken trust with the Federal Government when we were made promises by our Federal Government.

5. In response to Chairman Powells question “Where have you all been?” Sarah Elise Lewis pointed out how we have been working to repair our City,in spite of a multitude of obstacles placed in our way.

6.Ron McClain of Family Services of New Orleans spoke with tremendous focus abour our needs in the Mental Health arena while also informing Chairman Powell our focus was not just directed at the Federal Government, but at the State and Local Levels as well.

6. And finally Scott Darrah spoke from the gut and told the Chairman the Federal response has been bulls**t.

In fact I think Scott’s comment may have been the one that broke the ice as The Chairman seemed to begin, at that point to understand that we, the Citizens of this City are informed and passionate and determined.

After that we headed to a reception at the Aspen Institute and Dinner made possible by Mary Rowe of the blue moon fund ,the bmf has promoted the work of many small upstart non profits who are gaining strength of purpose as we recover.

I just got back from a 3 day trip to Washington D.C.

The Friends of New Orleans brought together a group of Neighborhood Organizations as well as Non Profits for a series of meetings and briefings on Capitol Hill.

After a day of meetings with Staff Members in the Offices of Senators Obama, Clinton, Landrieu as well as Representatives Jefferson, Pelosi,Jindal and Melancon we all took part in a presentation to various agencies and representatives.

This event was sponsored by The Friends of New Orleans as well as The Aspen Institute

The theme was “New Orleans: A Citizen-Driven Recovery” Moderated by Tony Pipa

It was very inspiring to hear fellow New Orleanians discuss our collective gains as well as the failure of Government at all levels to deal with the disaster and the attendant aftermath.

Our next meeting was with Donald Powell

What started out as a conversation about New Orleans and our efforts to rebuild quickly became a discussion about the sorry state of New Orleans Pre Katrina. It seems that Chairman Powell has not read the latest report from the Public Affairs Research Council. But I must say my fellow Citizens where not going to let the slings and arrows go by unnoticed.

I am pretty sure Chairman Powell will not forget the responses of a table filled with New Orleanians who have fought on all levels for the last 2 years.

Here is an interesting organization dedicated to the removal of illegal street Signs.

It seems like several lifetimes…

Dear District A Resident:

I am aware that the new, higher assessments have alarmed many residents of District A. For the record, while I fully support more fair and equitable assessments, I am committed to ensuring that the byproduct of this is not an unnecessary increase in taxes across the board.

Because of that, I would like to provide you with some additional information about the process so that you are aware that a higher property assessment does not necessarily lead to a higher and/or proportionally higher tax bill.

Most importantly, you can appeal your assessment. If you believe that your assessment is too high (i.e. not the fair market value of the property), you should appeal to your assessor in person, between August 1 and 15, 2007. The phone numbers of the assessors are listed below, but you can appeal in person at their offices on the 4th floor of City Hall. If you do not receive a satisfactory answer from your assessor, you may appeal again by completing a form at the Assessor’s office. The hearings for this level of appeal are heard by the Board of Review in September. After that, appeal is available to the Louisiana Tax Commission.

Secondly, State law requires the City Council to roll back (or reduce) the millage to the level that would keep 2008 revenue equal to 2007. It can only roll forward (or increase) the millage to take advantage of the additional revenue based on a higher total assessed value of the City with a 2/3 vote. Furthermore, once the millage is set in 2008, it cannot be rolled forward until the next assessment year – 2012.

Once the budget is approved (the budget must be approved on or before December 1), based on the millage required to cover debt service which is recommended by the Board of Liquidation, and the revenue the City must generate to cover the budget, the City Council adopts a millage in December. That millage rate is used to compute your tax bill, which is sent to you in January. The City Council does not vote on millages set by the Board of Liquidation, Levee Board, School Board, and the Orleans Law Enforcement District.

Finally, I think most of us living in New Orleans are aware of the unfair assessment system we have suffered with over the years in which similar properties in similar areas are assessed unequally, and many properties have not been accurately assessed for years. As the City works toward the goal of fair and accurate assessments, I remain committed to ensuring that the City budget remains affordable to its citizens so that the millage can actually be lowered because EVERYONE is carrying the tax burden equitably.

Sincerely,

Shelley Midura

Orleans Parish Board of Assessors Offices are located in City Hall, Fourth Floor, East

Office hours: M-F 9am-4pm

1st Municipal District – Darren G. Mire - 658-1310

2nd Municipal District – Claude T. Mauberret - 658-1320

3rd Municipal District – Erroll G. Williams – 658-1330

4th Municipal District – Betty Jefferson – 658-1340

5th Municipal District – Tom Arnold – 658-1350 - Algiers Courthouse Office 368-7642

6th Municipal District – Nancy Marshall – 658-1360

7th Municipal District – Henry Heaton – 658-1370

Start Tour: 2:00 PM Sunday June 3, 07

Gather on top of the Levee at St. Charles and Carrollton before we proceed to the starting point.

Gather again at the Carrollton Monument located behind the fountain across from Cooter Browns.

2:05 PM: Bike downriver on St. Charles , one block to Short St .,

At Short, turn Right into the “Black Pearl” neighborhood.

From Short, turn Left on Pearl for two blocks.

From Pearl , left onto Burdette,

On Burdette, cross St. Charles and go two blocks to Maple.

Left on Maple for 3 blocks,

On Maple, cross Carrollton Ave. Go one block to Dublin ,

On Maple go west one block to Dante, turn right on Dante for one block.

From Dante and Burthe turn left, go one block,

Right onto Cambronne, view St Joan of Arc School

Continue north on Cambronne to Oak St. , turn left on Oak.

From Oak, right onto Eagle, view portions of Pigeon Town .

From Eagle, right on Willow , view the Street Car Barn at Willow and Dublin .

Continue on Willow , cross Carrollton , turn left on Carrollton .

From Carrollton , turn right onto Birch.

Left onto Adams from Birch

Left onto Hickory from Adams, continue on Hickory and cross Carrollton Ave

Continue on Hickory to Leonidas.

Right on Leonidas to Claiborne (cross Claiborne)

Right turn onto Apple from Leonidas

Right turn onto Carrollton from Apple

PUBLIC NOTICE

RECOVERY COMMITTEE MEETING

1:00 P.M., WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 2007

THE NEW ORLEANS CITY COUNCIL RECOVERY COMMITTEE WILL CONVENE A MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CITY HALL 1300 PERDIDO STREET, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70112 AT 1:00 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 2007 TO DISCUSS AND POSSIBLY TAKE ACTION ON THE FOLLOWING:

Agenda Items

1. Roles and responsibilities of the Recovery Committee

· Co-Chairs: Councilmembers Willard-Lewis and Carter

2. Recovery Demolition Status Report

· Representatives from the City of New Orleans

· Representatives from the US Army Corps of Engineers

· Representatives from FEMA

3. Presentation of the City’s Evacuation Plan

· Lt. Col. Jerry Sneed, Director ~ Office of Emergency Preparedness

4. Status Report on various Recovery Plans

· Neighborhoods Rebuilding Plan

· UNOP

· Broadmoor

· ACORN

· City of New Orleans’ Office of Recovery Management

5. Schedule dates and locations of hearings on recovery/citywide plans

6. Public Comments

Sale Price: $280,000
Gross Land Area: 5,400 SF

Max J Derbes Realty has this land listed under it’s commercial division. This property is Zoned RD 2.

I spoke with the listing agent today and advised him that we were an active organization and would not support the conversion of residential to commercial.

In December we had our First Fundraiser. A Home Tour. We raised enought to buy our local Firehouse this gas grill.

Today when Debi and I stopped by to look at it they said they have gone thru a tank of propane already.

Thanks to everyone who participated.

E mail from Helen…

I starting calling all pet hospitals and clinic. I gotten as far as the A’s, when I called the Animal Clinic, where he has annual checkups. They said a person called about finding a pug in the Claiborne/Carrollton area. He was brought to the SPCA for scan, (he has no chip). The person left her personal contact information, and Craiglist.org. I contacted this person, and her name is Fredericka Turner. She is new to our neighborhood since November, lives on Spruce in a ranch style house, between Dublin and Carrollton. across the street from Florine Blouin.

Is Fredericka amazing! She told me that Galileo was in the middle of Claiborne Street, sitting as cars past by. She wanted to call him, but was afraid he may be hit. Another car stopped to block traffic while she ran to pick him up. Fredericka said that Galileo was a perfect house guest.

This brings up an important issue for a dog alert system. I will propose in the next meeting.

I ,and Galileo, my daughters, Monique and Helena truly thank Erin Dufour, Anne Fuselier, Erin Ribka, Karen Gadbois, Kim Carver, Nagendra, and our neighbors and neighborhoods for your efforts, and sincere concerns.

And we all as neighbors want to thank you Mrs. Fredericka Turner and saving Galileo, and your family for inviting him in.

Helen

MISSING: Black pug with a white patch on his chest. He
weighs about 27 pounds and answers to the name
Galileo.

Helen’s daughter’s dog escaped in the 2300 block of
Dublin. If you’ve seen him, please let me know and
I’ll pass the message on to Helen.

Well if you missed it let me assure you that you missed nothing.

Our President made no mention of the Hell we live in here in New Orleans

He did send a greeting tho

What kind of president can see one of the nation’s greatest, most historic cities ruined and not make its rebirth his highest priority? What kind of president gives a State of the Union and doesn’t even mention New Orleans? Eugene Robinson

There was a murder in the early hours of Monday morning. Many of us here in Northwest Carrollton have been doing what the City has asked us to do, once again with little results. We have been to our Nonpac meeting monthly. We communicate with the Police in regards to the squatters who lived in this house. We have taken photos and presented them to our Police Department. We reported it to Anthony Faciane at City Hall.

We found out who owns the property and he was unaware that it was occupied by Squatters. Mr. Barecca owns many properties and now resides on Canal St. He told me that it was a valuable property. His perspective seemed odd as he lives miles away and unaware of the state of the property.

I visited the home late yesterday afternoon and saw a trail of blood and an open door.

This is a story that seems to be playing out all over town.

Please join the rest of the City for a Crime March ,Thursday Noon at City Hall.

My Santa Wish List.

1. Levees

2. StreetLights

3. Sidewalks

4. Fix Pot Holes

5. No more Demolitions in Historic Districts

6. Lower Entergy Rates

7. Lower Insurance Rates

8. No more Garbage in the Streets

9. A Mayor

10. People..come home

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PRELIMINARY NOTICE AND AGENDA
STATE BOND COMMISSION
MEETING OF DECEMBER 21, 2006
10:00 A.M. - SENATE COMMITTEE ROOM A
STATE CAPITOL BUILDING
TAB - INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD - PRELIMINARY APPROVAL - GO
ZONE BONDS
40. L06-567 - Industrial Development Board of the City of New Orleans, Louisiana, Inc.
(Carrollton Revitalization, LLC Project) - Not exceeding $8,000,000
Revenue Bonds, to
finance the cost of restoring to commercial use the corner of Carrollton
and Claiborne
Avenues in the City of New Orleans, Louisiana by building a Walgreens
retail store in its
place.

If you are wondering what happened to this home here is a link to my post about it