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Board meeting minutes 11/5/07
Posted on November 18, 2007 by Jim S
Una Anderson and Cheryl Gray, candidates for the state legislature, made brief presentations concerning their candidacy and platforms.
Enrico Sterling, from Councilwoman Midura’s staff, reported that drainage issues in the neighborhood are being worked on. He also discussed issues with dealing with abandoned cars, and responded to questions.
Treasurer Cindy Morse reported an account balance of $1558.07.
Steve Villavaso, planning consultant, made a presentation about Carrollton-Audubon Renaissance, Inc. (CARI), supplemented with comments from Jerry Speir, who is also President of CARI. “Renaissance Plans” are city-sanctioned, neighborhood-based addenda to the City’s Master Plan. They are an opportunity to provide detailed input from the neighborhood on the official “vision” (in the Master Plan) for the neighborhood. Steve indicated that there will be three phases to the project: (1) data gathering (2) citizen participation and (3) developing methods for implementing the vision. The process will involve many meetings and much collaboration with CRRA and other neighborhood associations in the area including Audubon Park and the universities back to the parish line, and Claiborne Avenue to the river. The group has a website at www.carrollton-audubon.org
Jill Stephens discussed the upcoming New Orleans Po-Boy Festival on Sunday, November 18, from 12-6 on Oak Street. She also made an appeal for volunteers, for all the tasks necessary to operate the festival. Anyone desiring to volunteer should visit the website at www.poboyfest.com and click on “Get Involved” at either the top or bottom of the page. This is expected to be a big event, bringing much attention to Oak Street and the neighborhood. The festival is a project of the Oak Street Association.
Several zoning/land-use issues were discussed:
1) The proposed coffee shop on Carrollton Avenue. Marshall Hevron, Jerry Speir, Betsy Weymann, and Tom Weymann reported on a meeting earlier in the day with Councilman Darnell. He indicated that he is still considering his position, in light of the legal arguments recently presented to him by our association. [Anyone who has not seen a copy of the memo and desires one may contact jerryspeir@hotmail.com ] The group has plans to meet with Councilman Fielkow later in the week. Barry Brantley volunteered to create an electronic survey for feedback from the membership on this issue specifically, but also on broader issues related to their involvement with the association.
2) A proposal to re-zone (i.e., “spot zone”) the corner of Willow and Joliet, to allow the re-construction of the corner grocery that was there before the storm. Several people commented on what a nuisance the store had been. Jerry Speir noted that the owners had exhausted their two years (since the storm) to begin work on the re-building, in order to maintain their “non-conforming use” at the site. Therefore, the property has lost its non-conforming use status and the request for re-zoning is highly irregular. It was moved by Cindy Morse, seconded by Marshall Hevron, that the organization should officially oppose the re-zoning. The motion passed unanimously.
3) A proposal to spot-zone a property on St. Charles Avenue and allow for the demolition and conversion of one of the major homes there, for construction of a large condominium complex. The zoning change would be from the MOST restrictive residential classification (RS-1) to the least restrictive (RM-4, a classification with no height limitations). Marshall Hevron moved, and Evan Wolf seconded, that CRRA should officially oppose this re-zoning, communicate our opposition to the City Council and to the neighborhood associations in the vicinity (also seeking their support for our zoning issues). The motion passed unanimously.
Cindy Morse reported for the Education Committee that plans are being finalized for a “work day” at Johnson school, at which volunteers will assist the school with minor construction, landscaping, and general cleaning efforts. Likely dates are December 1st or 8th. Interested persons should contact Cindy at cmorse7@cox.net Priestley School is developing a tutoring program for its students that would require a commitment of one hour per week by tutors. Interested persons should contact Annette Bak at AnnetteBak@chevron.com
Jennifer Jenkins has volunteered to chair a revitalized Crime/Safety Committee and is seeking other like-minded souls to be a part of that effort. Interested persons should contact Jennifer at jennijenk@bellsouth.net Betty DiMarco reminded us that the Carrollton Area Network is working on both improving the mapping of crimes in the area and on increasing community involvement in crime prevention.
NEXT MEETING: Monday, December 3, 7:30 p.m., at Asian Cajun.
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Arrest made on Cambronne
Posted on November 3, 2007 by Jim S
Subject: 2nd District Email Blast
Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2007 13:21:22 -0500
From: kmbouyelas@cityofno.com
Email Blast
NOPD 2nd District
Based on Hot Sheet information, Second District detectives began an investigation on drugs being sold from 1715 Cambronne Street. Based on their investigation, detectives were able to obtain a search warrant for the location. On November 1st at or about 9:45 am, officers executed the search warrant and located marijuana, crack cocaine and a small amount of heroin. The drugs were individually packaged. Also located was a Jennings 9mm handgun, a digital scale and money. Officers arrested Brandon Lavallais (BM, 5/6/88); Charles Lavallais (BM, 7/27/86) and a 15 year old juvenile.
Remember to report any suspicious persons or activities you see in your neighborhood by calling 821-2222. In an emergency, call 911 immediately.
Captain Kirk Bouyelas
Second District Commander
New Orleans Police Department
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Police brutality
Posted on October 23, 2007 by Jim S
Lise McComiskey was arrested at 7:50 PM on the evening of September 20, 2007 at the corner of Conti Street and David, New Orleans, LA 70119, in the very same area where she had given information to police officers just two nights earlier on the make, model and color of a vehicle involved in a drive-by shooting.
On the night of September 20, while parked and waiting for “Boy” a dog she had tracked along with his companion over a 6 square mile territory for over a year (see the story of Rocca and Boy, posted in February 2007 at http://katrinacreaturesandcrittters.blogspot.com/ )she was approached by two officers who then shone a spotlight on her and her vehicle. She was told that someone in the neighborhood reported a “slow-moving” vehicle and she complied with their request for info as she had done many many times prior during the two years of animal rescue in New Orleans having been stopped several times, including two nights earlier when she gave info on the vehicle involved in the shooting.
This time however, she was considered suspicious by the arresting officer and not allowed to get out of her vehicle or remove her hands from sight to produce the documents the police demanded, license, registration, etc. Subsequently, and even though the documents were under the passenger seat the entire time, and following numerous questions about the reason she was there (at which point lost dog posters were produced) she was detained while the officers “ran” her driver’s license number to find that she was driving legally and fully insured. Regardless, and notwithstanding the information the officers received during their computer check of Lise, she was told to exit her vehicle where she was handcuffed for failure to provide proof of everything they asked for, was told she should have had it all in her glove box, and was arrested and transported to Orleans Parish Prison where she was booked on these “criminal” charges.
Over the course of the next several hours, she was detained in a holding cell with prostitutes, crack addicts and an individual who was being held for stabbing her boyfriend, for nearly 5 hours before finally being released, without the necessity to post bail or bond, and without being fingerprinted, without ever having once heard her rights read to her by any officer of the law.However, during her incarceration period, she was knocked to the ground during an altercation between a prison officer and another inmate and she was prevented from attempting to get back on her feet by the officer’s boot firmly planted on her head after and then she was forced to view the officer kick and stomp the other inmate while he screamed profanities at the inmate, all while laying face down on the prison booking area floor, handcuffed from behind her back. Additionally, after being thrown into the holding cell, she was threatened for hours by an inmate in the same holding cell who appeared to be mentally ill and because the guards slammed the iron door shut on the cell so they wouldn’t have to listen to the screaming, any attempts to make good on the threat would have gone unheard. Ironically, two days prior to Lise’s arrest, in Gambit weekly magazine, an article entitled “Traffic Fatality” was published regarding a 58 year old man who was picked up in New Orleans by police for an outstanding and unpaid ticket in Jefferson parish and as a result was beaten to death in his holding cell…..Sheriff Marlin Gusman is quoted within the article as saying that “violent and non-violent offenders are kept separate” a fact now known by Lise to be untrue.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT for Lise and/or the organization which she was working with, Animal Rescue New Orleans, her case is IN-J-07-0178041, Division “D” and it is on the docket for November 6, 2007 before the Honorable Judge Ronald J. Sholes, Traffic Court of New Orleans, 225 Morgan Street, New Orleans, LA 70114 Judge Sholes Fax number is (504) 826-5809. PLEASE, ABOVE ALL ELSE, be respectful to Judge Sholes as Judge Sholes serves the law and is not required to hear Lise’s case in a public forum.
Judge Sholes no doubt has not even looked at his docket sheet for November 6, and there is no doubt that he has no clue who Lise McComiskey is so please be respectful of him in any letters of support. Lise’s official charges that evening were failure to provide proof of insurance, registration and license.
Thank you so much for your help, your support and your friendship.
The above was posted today by Karen Gadbois on the Carollton Avenue Yahoo group board. A poorly trained, arrogant and insensitive police force is yet another insult to all citizens of this city and region that Naginism has fostered. What planet is this???
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Slice of the criminal life
Posted on October 23, 2007 by Jim S
Email Blast
NOPD 2nd District
On October 20th at or about 2:45 am, the victim and his girlfriend were driving home after purchasing a hot dog at a Discount Zone. According to the victim, as he turned onto Joilet from Leake Avenue, he observed a subject he believed to be his friend, flagging him down. He pulled along side the subject and noticed it was not his friend. The subject asked the victim if he had $2. The victim replied “no”. The victim alleges that without any further provocation the subject pulled out a handgun and shot the victim in the arm.
Note: The victim’s girlfriend gave a very different story. According to her, the victim attempted to purchase crack cocaine from the suspect. He then became involved in an altercation with the suspect. As a result of that altercation, the suspect shot at the victim, hitting him once in the arm. Her boyfriend told her to lie about the incident, because he did not want to get in trouble for attempting to purchase drugs.
If you have any information on this case, please contact Sgt. Chris Cambiotti or Det. Brian Baye at 658-6022 or 658-6020. You may also call Crimestoppersanonymously at 822-1111.
Remember to report any suspicious persons or activities you see in your neighborhood by calling 821-2222. In an emergency, call 911 immediately.
Captain Kirk Bouyelas
Second District Commander
New Orleans Police Department
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Board meeting minutes 10/08/07
Posted on October 23, 2007 by Jim S
Attending–Board: Annette Bak, Marilyn Barbera, Gordon Cagnolatti, Betty DiMarco, Rudolph Garrison, Marshall Hevron, Cindy Morse, Amanda Smithson, John Schackai, Llewelyn Soniat, Jerry Speir, Jim Stratton, Evan Wolf
Residents: Pax Bobrow, Colby Johnson
Guests: Wanda Brooks (principal of Johnson Elementary), Una Anderson (school board member, legislative candidate), Walker Hines (legislative candidate).
————————————————————————————————————-
Una Anderson and Walker Hines, candidates for the state legislature, made brief presentations concerning their candidacy and platforms. Board member Evan Wolf, a candidate for the same seat, declined to address the board, saying that he had previously spoken to other board members individually.
Treasurer Cindy Morse reported an account balance of $1679.77.
Wanda Brooks, Principal of Johnson Elementary School, introduced herself and noted that CRRA Board members Cindy Morse and Kevin Brown have been invited to be on the school’s Leadership Team. She reported that she is working on a grant proposal for a program to create more parental involvement at the school and is especially interested in identifying programs to involve the older boys at the school at times when school is not in session. She appealed for the neighborhood’s assistance with getting the “moat” filled around the new playground equipment, and getting shelves built for storage. She is especially interested in having neighbors visit the school. The school could also use a washer and dryer.
Pax Bobrow reported that the boxes for collecting General Mills coupons (worth 10 cents each) for school assistance are in place or will shortly be in place at the school as well as at Saltwater Grill, the Oak Street Café, and Castellon Pharmacy. More information on this program to follow.
Pax also reported that Johnson School will get 20 tickets for its students to attend the upcoming appearance by J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, and that the school is seeking guest readers for the Harry Potter stories as part of preparing for the author’s visit. Interested members should contact Pax directly at paxbobrow@yahoo.com The school is also in need of extra copies of the first of the Potter books, which they are using in third grade reading.
Annette Bak reported that Priestley School has applied for FEMA funding to renovate the Leonidas building but that not much is expected. Una Anderson elaborated that the decision about the FEMA funds should be made soon and that, barring those funds, the school board might lease the property to the school. Carrollton United was reported to be working on the possibility of raising funds to renovate the gymnasium at the school.
Evan Wolf led a discussion about the possibility of CRRA taking over the neighborhood patrol initiated by Chad Gilman. Concerns were expressed about such issues as the limited hours and area that the patrol had been able to cover, the difficulty of collecting dues, the long hours that policemen are already working, and the consensus of the group was to table the idea unless and until and individual could be identified who would take on its administration.
Marshall Hevron reported for the Zoning Committee that the matter of the coffee shop at Carrollton and Cohn has been deferred until the City Council meeting of October 18. He also reported on a proposal to create parking along part of Leake Avenue, between the street and the railroad tracks. It was unanimously decided that CRRA’s position should be that “there should be no short or long term leasing of public property for parking without the knowledge and approval of the neighborhood associations most affected by it and until a comprehensive study for the Levee Park and Leake Ave area is completed.” John Schackai recommended that the position should also state that parking there, given the new “park” zoning for that area appears to be outside the allowable uses of the Zoning Ordinance. That amendment was approved unanimously.
Marilyn Barbera raised the issue of whether CRRA should join with the Palmer Park Association in its Halloween activities. After some discussion, the consensus of the group was not to do so.
Amanda Smithson reported that the Events Committee has organized three small-scale trash pick-ups on Sunday mornings and working on planning a larger clean-up for a bit later in the fall. She also reported that the Young Leadership Council, of which she is a member, is offering free assistance with college applications, etc. to high school seniors in the Recovery School District and is especially interested in assisting students who are the first in their families going to college. Anyone who can direct qualified students to the project should contact Amanda directly at amandafsmithson@gmail.com
NEXT MEETING: Monday, November 5, 7:30 p.m., at Asian Cajun.
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Greenlight New Orleans
Posted on September 27, 2007 by Jim S
Greenlight New Orleans is a non-profit with the mission to help reduce global warming by helping local residents replace their traditional incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). If enough people around the globe do this it will be a little speedbump on the road to more intense global warming. You can be a part of this movement–for free. And you’ll see some reduction in your Entergy bill.
The founder and moving force of Greenlight, Andi Hoffmann, lives in our neighborhood. He also leads a roots-rockband call the B-goes.
Monday is the kick-off for “Change a Light Week” and the first event is right here in zip code 70118.
If you’d like to know more go on over to the Greenlight website. You can sign up there to have your bulbs changed and/or to be a volunteer in the effort.
Filed under: announcements, quality of life | 1 Comment »
Copper Theft Ordinance Update
Posted on September 27, 2007 by Jim S
According to Captain Ricky Laviolette of the 7th District, the Scrap Metal Ordinance will be revisited on Thursday, October 4, 2007 at 10:00 am, at the City Council Chambers. This is the ordinance that we referenced about two weeks ago.
It was presented by Councilperson Willard-Lewis and would restrict who could sell scrap copper to licensed electricians, plumbers and gasfitters. If passed, we believe that the ordinance would be a tremendous
aid in abating copper theft and burglaries in the district.
Any who are interested in the ordinance may wish to attend.
Thanks,
Captain Kirk Bouyelas
Second District Commander
New Orleans Police Department
—————————————
I believe the scrap dealers showed up in force the last time this was
introduced. –Jerry Speir
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Arrest made in recent armed robbery
Posted on September 25, 2007 by Jim S
NOPD 2nd District
On September 21st at or about 8:30 pm, the female victim was walking in
the 1200 block of Cambronne Street towards her vehicle. She was
approached by a young black male, armed with an unknown type handgun.
The suspect robbed the victim of $300, which she had in her purse. He
then fled on foot down Cambronne toward Claiborne Avenue.
Officer who responded to the call located a 15 year old juvenile on Gen.
Ogden Street. He was detained and later identified as the perpetrator by
the victim. He was subsequently arrested and charged with armed robbery.
His involvement in other criminal activity in that area is being
investigated by detectives.
If you have any information relative to this case, please contact Sgt.
Chris Cambiotti or Det. Jerry Baldwin at 658-6022 or 658-6020. You may
also call Crimestoppers anonymously at 822-1111.
Remember to report any suspicious persons or activities you see in your
neighborhood by calling 821-2222. In an emergency, call 911 immediately.
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A bit of news from your neighborhood association
Posted on September 24, 2007 by Jim S
CRRA President Jerry Speir writes (on 9/22),
Friends and neighbors:
OAK STREET As many of you know, there have been plans to re-do Oak Street for years. Its finally about to happen. This will be a total renovation: water lines, sewer lines, storm drains, and then a new street and sidewalks. We expect the work to start in the first half of 2008, some time after Mardi Gras. Obviously, this will be a major disruption to traffic and immediate neighbors, but most importantly to the merchants on the street.
Details will be discussed at a meeting next Thursday, September 27, 6:30 9:00, at St. Joan of Arc Catholic School Auditorium, corner of Cambronne and Freret. A panel discussion is scheduled to start at 7:00, featuring Councilwoman Midura, the director of Public Works, representatives of the Mayors office and the project director. This is your opportunity to get information and provide your input to the project. The meeting is being organized by the Oak Street Association. You can submit questions in advance for the panel at oakstreetnola@bellsouth.net (all questions will be screened to expedite the meeting).
For more information, see the OSA website at www.onlyonoak.com We hope to minimize impacts on residents and businesses alike to the extent possible. Total construction time is expected to be 9-12 months. Some of the overhead wires will be eliminated, but not all. [Full disclosure: I am a board member of the Oak Street Association Jerry]
CRIME: I continue to hear unsettling reports of crime in the neighborhood. Just today, Ive heard two disturbing reports: Rev. Garrison tells me that a woman was robbed at gunpoint last night (Friday) in the 1200 block of Cambronne, by a medium-height and -build black male of light complexion riding a bicycle. Annette Bak reports an armed robbery by a young kid (pedestrian) of a woman as she was leaving the Ninja restaurant in the 1100 block of Joliet on Thursday evening. Both of these are said to have happened in the 8-9 p.m. time frame. Ive not yet had any communication from the police about these.
Last week, about 10:30 p.m., in the1100 block of Cambronne, a woman had a young man follow her into her driveway as she was coming home for the evening. As she got out of the car, he struck her and demanded her keys. She resisted, a scuffle ensued, neighbors showed up, and the man ran away. A few evenings ago, a woman was robbed of a gym bag on Oak Street about 6 p.m. by a young man who approached her from behind and claimed to have a gun. There have been numerous reports of gunfire in the neighborhood.
Our new police captain in the Second District sends e-mail blasts, as he calls them, to neighborhood association presidents when there are persons crimes (as opposed to property crimes) in the neighborhood. We post these on our website https://crra.wordpress.com Crime data can also be accessed on the nopd.com website. Were still working to improve the timeliness of that data. There will be another meeting of our inter-neighborhood group on crime issues on Thursday, October 4, 7:00p.m. at St. Matthews Church on Carrollton. These are not general neighborhood informational meetings but working/planning meetings. But anyone who is interested in being involved is welcome to attend. If you or a neighbor are the victim of a crime, please report it to the police, so that we (and they) have a complete picture of crime in the neighborhood. Also, if you would, report it to me. Id like to be able to check our data against the official data and see if there are any discrepancies.
LOST AND FOUND Cindy Morse reports that she has wound up with 3 big beautiful umbrellas that were left at our August 18 picnic: one is black with “All the Kings Men” in red, one is green and white with “Property of Wayzata Country Club” on it, the third blue and white. If you recognize any of these as yours, you can reach Cindy at cmorse7@cox.net or 866-2410.
GROCERY STORE: There has been much concern that the promised grocery store (Roberts Market) at Carrollton and Claiborne has not been started. There was a bit of a scare last week when we learned that the Gulf Opportunity Zone (GO Zone) funding that is critical to the project might not be approved. We have now learned that the project has, in fact, cleared a major hurdle (a committee approval) this week and only has one more hurdle (relatively minor, we hope) at the state level and the governors signature in its path before construction can begin. It is expected that these last impediments will be cleared up within the next 2-3 weeks. Mr. Robert promises to start driving pilings within a week of final approval. Councilwoman Midura is credited with helping to move the process past these recent hurdles.
SCHOOLS: We had another scare last week when it was reported that the School Board had put the Priestley School building on Leonidas on the surplus property list and that it might be sold. There are plans, of course, to renovate that building (assuming funding can be found)as a major revitalization project for that part of the neighborhood–for the new Priestley Charter School of Architecture and Construction. The school is presently housed temporarily at St. Henrys near Magazine and Napoleon (and doing quite well, with more than double the students it had last year), but it hopes to be able to move into at least temporary buildings at the Leonidas site within a year. School Board member Una Anderson is credited with forstalling the listing of the property for sale. In other schools news, two of our board members, Kevin Brown and Cindy Morse, have been invited to be part of the Leadership Team at Johnson School. We are still seeking funding, through Kevins excellent work, to help improve parental involvement and neighborhood involvement at the school.
ZONING: Our board has dealt with two zoning related issues recently. First, the board voted to condone a beer and wine license for the Jazmine Café in the 600 block of S. Carrollton, on condition that the Café owners enter into a contractual agreement with us limiting alcohol service to dining customers, limiting operating hours, prohibiting video poker, and the like. Second, the board voted to oppose a change in the non-conforming use of the property at S. Carrollton and Cohn, where a coffee shop was proposed. The board agreed with the staff report of the City Planning Commission that the coffee shop would be a more intensive use of the property, increasing parking and other impacts on the immediate neighborhood.
COUNCIL FORUM: There will be a forum for all candidates for the vacant council-at-large seat on Thursday evening, October 4, at 7:00 in Nunemaker Hall at Loyola. CRRA is one of many associations sponsoring the event. Nunemaker is a bit hard to find. Its a third floor auditorium in Monroe Hall, the most modern-looking of the buildings on the Loyola campus; one side of Monroe is on Calhoun St, behind the Roussel Hall complex at the corner of St. Charles and Calhoun.
VOLUNTEERS: There are lots of ways you can help out with the associations work. We need individuals to help out with distributing flyers occasionally so that we can reach out to the full neighborhood, not just to those for whom I have e-mail addresses. Seriously, can you help? We need a volunteer to attend the monthly meetings with the police department and bring back the news. And we are always looking for more people to be involved in our basic committee work: Zoning/Planning/Land Use, Quality of Life (with an Education sub-committee), Crime/Security, and Events. Id be happy to put you in touch with the committee of your choice.
DUESThere, Ive said it again. Our board has decided that we want to be as inclusive as possible and has, therefore, made dues voluntary. That said, the organization cant operate without funding. We have established recommended dues as follows:
$10 individual
$25 family/household
$50 supporting
$100 sustaining
THANKS to those whove contributed since the last letter. Dues can be sent to our Treasurer, Cindy Morse, at 8601 Zimpel, NOLA 70118.
NEXT BOARD MEETING: Our next Board meeting will be Monday, October 8, at 7:30, in the back dining room of Asian Cajun on Oak Street. Our meetings are open. We hope to have the principal of Johnson School join us. And there is always lots of interesting stuff to talk about.
OUR WEBSITE: https://crra.wordpress.com
Best,
Jerry Speir, President
Carrollton Riverbend Residents Association
jerryspeir@hotmail.com
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Carrollton-Riverbend Neighborhood Association (CRNA) 