U.S. Housing Secretary Alphonso Jackson, the is expected to resign. On Sunday night he called a news conference without mentioning the content, however, there has been repeated reports in the media that he will leave the administration amid charges of cronyism.
Jackson played an instrumental role in the block grant money for the Louisiana recovery and for decisions related to New Orleans Housing projects.
Corps
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, is providing local residents with opportunities to share their ideas and inputs on the Greater New Orleans Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System.
The Corps has scheduled the next set of public meetings to discuss preferred alternatives on environmental compliance efforts and construction updates.
“Over the next several months the public meetings will focus on presenting the preferred alternatives of the Corps’ improvement projects to the New Orleans community,” said Gib Owen, chief of the Corps’ Ecological Planning and Restoration Section.
Public meetings are held to inform interested stakeholders about the Corps’ potential actions and to give the public the opportunity to provide input on plans being formulated for the hurricane system as described in Individual Environmental Reports.IERs fully comply with the intent of the nation’s environmental laws and regulations while meeting expedited schedules to meet the Corps’ commitment of reducing risk in New Orleans each day.IERs thoroughly discuss the impacts Corps projects may have on the human and natural environment.
Each of the following meetings begins at 6 p.m. with a Corps-staffed open house. Presentations begin at 7 p.m. and are followed by a discussion period.
Meeting dates are as follows:
April 9, 2008
St. Rose Public Library, 90 East Club Dr., St. Rose, LA
Meeting presentation will discuss the LaBranch Wetlands Levee, West Return Floodwall and Lakefront Levees on the east bank of St. Charles and Jefferson parishes as discussed in IERs 1, 2 and 3 and the potential areas from which borrow materials may be obtained (IERs 22, 23, 25 and 26).
April 17, 2008
LynnOaksSchool, 1 LynnOaks Dr., Braithwaite, LA
Meeting presentation will discuss Bayou Bienvenue and Bayou Dupre Control Structures, Caernarvon Floodwall and Chalmette Loop Levee in St. Bernard Parish as discussed in IERs 8, 9 and 10 as well as the potential areas from which borrow materials may be obtained (IERs 22, 23, 25 and 26).
April 29, 2008
Church at New Orleans, 11700 Chef Menteur Hwy., New Orleans, LA
Meeting presentation will discuss the Citrus Lakefront Levee and New Orleans East Levee in Orleans Parish as discussed in IERs 6 and 7 as well as the potential areas from which borrow materials may be obtained (IERs 22, 23, 25 and 26).
May 7, 2008
St. Dominic’s Elementary School, 6326 Memphis St., New Orleans, LA
Meeting presentation will discuss New Orleans Lakefront Levee west of the IndustrialCanal and Outfall Canal Closure Structures in Orleans Parish as discussed in IERs 4 and 5 as well as the potential areas from which borrow materials may be obtained (IERs 22, 23, 25 and 26).
May 13, 2008
DillardUniversity, Stern Amphitheater, 2601 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA
Meeting presentation will discuss New Orleans Lakefront Levee west of the IndustrialCanal and Outfall Canal Closure Structures in Orleans Parish as discussed in IERs 4 and 5 as well as the potential areas from which borrow materials may be obtained (IERs 22, 23, 25 and 26).
May 15, 2008
Cytec, Tom Call Pavilion, 10800 River Road, Waggaman, LA
Meeting presentation will discuss Lake Cataouatche Levee, Western Terminus Levee and Company Canal Floodwall in Jefferson Parish as discussed in IERs 15, 16 and 17 as well as the potential areas from which borrow materials may be obtained (IERs 22, 23, 25 and 26).
May 22, 2008
Our Lady of Holy Cross College, Moreau Center, 4123 Woodland Dr., New Orleans, LA
Meeting presentation will discuss the Harvey and Algiers Canal Levee and Floodwalls and the HeroCanal in Jefferson, Orleans and Plaquemines parishes as discussed in IERs 12 and 13 as well as the potential areas from which borrow materials may be obtained (IERs 22, 23, 25 and 26).
June 4, 2008
Martin Luther King, Jr. Charter School, 1617 Caffin Ave., New Orleans, LA
Meeting Presentation will discuss the IndustrialCanal in Orleans, and St. Bernard parishes as discussed in IER 11 as well as the potential areas from which borrow materials may be obtained (IERs 22, 23, 25 and 26).
The purpose of each IER is to analyze the impacts of a range of alternatives, analyze the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of each and identify a preferred alternative for the hurricane system.
The Corps’ alternative arrangements have been coordinated with, and reflect the input of, numerous key federal agencies including the Council on Environmental Quality, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency.Additional input into this process was provided by the State of Louisiana resource agencies and citizens from impacted area.
Visit www.nolaenvironmental.gov for additional information on the NEPA process and Individual Environmental Reports in the greater New Orleans area.
French Quarter Fest
One of the very best New Orleans festivals is approaching--The French Quarter Festival.It is situated in the Vieux Carre with three days of free entertainment including more than 150 performances on 15 stages. Held annually in mid-April, great food, second-lines, impromptu performances, special events, and some of Louisiana’s greatest jazz and blues musicians make this one of Louisiana’s top festivals.
With a true dedication to supporting the local music community, the French Quarter Festival only schedules local musicians. Over the years, performers have included young fiddle sensation Amada Shaw; jazz trumpeter Kermit Ruffins; renowned bluesmen Coco Robicheaux, Little Freddie King and Walter “Wolfman” Washington; and Latin singing sensation Fredy Omar.
Founded in the ‘80s, the French Quarter Fest has grown to be the largest free outdoor festival in Louisiana and attracts upwards of 400,000 visitors every year. The festival takes place in Jackson Square, WoldenbergPark, the U.S. Mint and numerous places throughout the French Quarter. Statistics from FQFI.org:
2004 Economic Impact: $75.5 Million Attendance: 65,634 non-locals
2005 Economic Impact: $ 105.5 Million Attendance: 65,270 non-locals
2006 Economic Impact: $32 million Attendance: 10,500 non-locals
For more information or a schedule of events, call (504) 522-5730 or visit www.fqfi.org.
From LRA:
The Red Cross is extending the enrollment deadline for its Emotional Support Program until May 31, 2008. The program assists survivors of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma to receive outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment. More than 21,000 people have signed up for the program.
Enroll in the Emotional Support Program online at http://www.a2care.org or by calling toll-free 1-866-794-HOPE. The Emotional Support Program focuses on reducing financial barriers to mental health and substance abuse services. Once enrolled, survivors have until November 14, 2008 to receiv! e services.
"Forever New Orleans TV" to Air on Travel Channel
"Forever New Orleans TV," a television program created by the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), will air on the Travel Channel in April. The show, hosted by Emmy award-winning reporter Karen Carlson, showcases the city's culture, restaurants, attractions, accommodations and spirit and resilience of New Orleanians.
"Forever New Orleans TV" was first seen in 119 million homes in 51 countries through Europe, the Middle East and North Africa in 2007. The first four episodes will be featured on Sunday, April 6, 13, 20 and 27, 2008. All airings will be at 7:30 a.m. Central.
PAR
The Public Affairs Research Council will hold its 2008 Annual Conference and Luncheon on Friday, April 25, at the Holiday Inn-Select in Baton Rouge.
Chief Washington Correspondent for CNBC and Political Writer for The New York Times John Harwood will be the luncheon keynote speaker, presenting “What Makes the 2008 Election so Different?”
The morning session of the conference will feature a panel discussion on the major issues emerging in the 2008 legislative session. The panel will feature: House Speaker Pro Tem Karen Carter Peterson (invited); Louisiana Department of Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret; Capitol Bureau Chief for The Times-Picayune Robert Travis Scott; Capitol Bureau Chief for The Advocate Mark Ballard; and PAR President Jim Brandt. Robyn Ekings, managing editor and producer of “Louisiana: The State We’re In” on Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB), will moderate the morning’s panel session.
The half-day conference is open to the public, and the cost is $85 per person ($75 for PAR members). The luncheon is included in the price. Reserved sponsorship tables for 10 are also available at a cost of $1,000 for gold level or $750 for silver level. PAR’s membership and Board of Directors will meet at 9:30 a.m., and the conference will begin at 10 a.m..
For more information or to register, write PAR at P.O. Box 14776, Baton Rouge, LA70898-4776, call (225) 926-8414, FAX (225) 926-8417 or visit PAR’s Web site at www.la-par.org
