Carrollton-Riverbend Neighborhood Association (CRNA)

Meeting Aug 10, 2023 – thanks to Emily Dux

Comments from Councilperson Joe Giarrusso 

• Discussion of appraisals, taxes and millage
• Roadwork.Nola.gov
• Public works dashboard is in the works to show the status of 311 request
• Interesting recent posts
  • Millage 
  • May 2023 newsletter

Overview of the process of a NOPS vacated building like Johnson from Don LeDuff

• Swing space (what Johnson building is right now) – used for overflow, available for schools damaged in storms, fires, etc.
• Surplus – to be used for non-education purposes
• Sale (Carlos is working to avoid this)
• City property swap – swapped with City for property of equal value
• **It was noted that legislation was recently passed to allow funds to be used for non-teaching uses of a facility – more info needed from czervigon@opsb.us

Questions and comments (please add anything additional)

• Capital projects were necessary on the building – HVAC needs an upgrade
  • This is why Lycee left the building (noted that Lycee was not TOTALLY against coming back to the building in addition to their other new space)
  • Other organization that would want to use the building would come to a legal agreement with the NOPS re: Capital Project
• Johnson building was last renovated in the 1970’s
  • This building is NOT an attractive building for another school when there are other newer, nicer facilities + lower enrollment numbers
  • Community has sentimental and historical attachment to the school (building?)
• Short-term concerns
  • Gaps in fence
  • Maintenance issues – grass/brush, fence, security of the facility
  • Attractive Nuisance for nefarious activity
  • Jarring appearance for barbed wire and harsh lighting
  • No cameras or detection devices
  • Only bi-monthly inspections at the facility (Every 2 months OR 2x a month?)

Ideas for use of property:

• Solar farm
• Expand the community garden
• Roots of music
• STEM Nola
• Preschool/ early education
• Workforce development center
• Wrap-around services for unhoused and/or low income
• Pool, park, or other NORD facility
• Renovate and fix HVAC so Lycee wants to come back

NEXT STEPS: a follow-up planning meeting will be held.

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https://www.rewiringamerica.org/IRAguide

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Please join us for a community meeting. A major topic will be the use of the former Lycee School property.

Date: Thursday, August 10, 6PM.

Location: Community Commitment Education Center, 8540 Spruce @ Leonidas

Guests: Councilman Joe Giarrusso, New Orleans Public Schools Board Member Carlos Zervigon and a New Orleans Public Schools facilities representative will attend.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 6;30 pm BY ZOOM.

CRNA invites you to meet with Joe Giarusso about the City Budget’s process which begins November 1. This is an important time to understand the mayor and council’s priorities – as well as the parameters the Council has put into place.

The presentation will be 15-20 minutes followed by about 40 minutes of questions.

Join Zoom Meeting on November 10, 6:30pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85754651184

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CM Giarrusso’s office sent this out: “We know many residents have questions regarding street construction work, street light repairs, catch basin cleaning, etc. so CM Giarrusso has asked the Department of Public Works to join us for a District A meeting so that your questions can be answered. The meeting will be in a meet & greet style (different tables for each project) so you can join anytime between 6pm – 8pm and walk up to the table(s) where you want to ask questions.”

Where: 4621 Canal Blvd (Thurgood Marshall School cafeteria, enter on St Patrick St.)

When: Mon 17 Oct, 6-8 pm

Link to the only RoadworkNOLA map I can find for our nhood (we are Hollygrove/Leonidas): https://roadwork.nola.gov/roadwork/media/Documents/Maps/CombinedNeighborhood/117.pdf

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The last two years, we’ve done some fairly impressive actions; thank you to everyone for being so responsive. We truly do get more done when neighborhoods work together. Increasingly, we are seeing proposals that affect us city-wide, too.

Effective 30 September, I am stepping aside as CRNA president. I will continue on the Board (my term ends Dec 30, I decided in January not to renew it, so this is only ending a few months early). It’s time for me to attend more closely to personal matters, like my health (mental and physical!).

As of Oct 1, I will no longer be the point-person or primary contact who assesses and distributes emails, organizes meetings, sets up and distributes agendas, and etc. BUT, I WILL continue to focus on zoning, land use, CPC, and S&P, which are my primary interests.

Other Board members will take responsibility for the areas of their own interests. The Board should hammer this out at our next meeting.

Starting on 1 October, I will forward the emails that I get as follows:

• SWB: Ariane Livaudais
• Juvenile justice, affordable housing, education: Betty Dimarco
• Entergy, renewable energy, tree planting, Community Lighthouse: Julianna Padgett
• Land use, zoning, CPC, S&P: Elaine Leyda

Cheers, and thanks for all the good work we’ve done!

EL

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I’m writing to invite you to a TNO Citizen Seminar with Maxwell Ciardullo and Monique Blossom (from Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center) about the Healthy Homes ordinance, which is going for a vote at City Council next week.

The session will be over Zoom on Tuesday, September 26th at 4:30pm. It will last one hour.

To register, visit togethernola.org/sept27 https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEtceuorjMuGdFq-qjQqvypAyT6ygaayWWg

The Healthy Homes would:

• establish a basic standard of health and safety for all rental units in New Orleans
• create an avenue for renters and neighbors to report substandard conditions at rental properties
• protect tenants from being evicted for seeking repairs (yes, that’s currently allowed)

More info about the proposal here: https://healthyhomesnola.org/healthy-homes-policy

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Tuesday, 27 Sept 2022 at 5:30 til 7:00, come talk with Royce Duplessis and Mandy Landry. Both are running for the seat vacated by Karen Carter Peterson.

St. Rita’s School gym, 65 Fountainbleau Dr. Parking lot & event entrance is across from Broad Place.

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Mon, Tues, Wed at the Nix, 10:30 til 5:00. You can go in person OR do a virtual meeting. Must register for both: 504-658-4985 or at www/nola.gov/COH

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Sat, 24 Sept, is a “Neighborhood Leaders Roundtable” from 9:00 to 11:00 am. The topic is “infrastructure.” SWB and DPW will be there. Registration ends Friday, September 16th at 5PM–cheeky.

Location: Lakeview Christian Center, 5885 Fleur de Lis Drive, New Orleans, LA 70124

Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/neighborhood-leaders-roundtable-infrastructure-tickets-406212862607

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