Neighborhood-wide meetings: second monday of every month at Warren Easton Charter School: 3019 Canal Street at 6:30PM.
Blog/News

I Love Mid-City, Sign Me Up!

By Bonnie on November 4, 2011

MCNO is reorganizing to make it easier to get involved, and we want your help!

MCNO is looking at revising the way it advocates for Mid-City. Ideas include more committees to allow people to get involved in the stuff they care about; a less centralized decision-making structure, and a stronger mission statement.

The best ideas come from the best neighborhood in the city – YOU! If you’ve got ideas about how to help MCNO be a better community organization, send us a line. All comments will be reviewed by  current MCNO officers and will influence proposals to be presented to membership at an upcoming community meeting.

No idea is too small or specific for this effort. Please send what you have.

MCNO Involvment

We would love to hear from you! Please fill out this form and we will get in touch with you shortly.
  • Street number and name
  • Where should MCNO focus its energy? How can MCNO encourage more involvement?
    If you are interested in getting involved or just want more information check any of the categories below.
  • Would you like to nominate yourself or someone you know for the 2012 MCNO Board? Please enter the Name and contact information of your nominee below.

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Letter from Stacy Head Regarding District B Appointment

By Bonnie on May 21, 2012

Dear residents of District B,

I wanted to express my pleasure in serving and representing you and your needs for the last six years.  When I decided to run for the vacant At-Large seat, I assumed that if I won, there would be a seamless transition with the appointment of an interim District B Councilmember until the November election.   I presumed that you would never be without District B representation for an extended period of time.  Unfortunately, this is not the case.

I nominated Errol George for the interim position because of his intellect, work ethic and integrity, as well as his background in urban planning and his prior government experience.  If his nomination by the majority of the Council is ratified, he will be an excellent representative for District B.   I am a “hands-on” Councilmember.  Therefore, my main focus in choosing a nomination was to assure that District B constituents would continue to receive proactive, energetic and consistent representation, ensuring that your needs from local government are met.  Errol is willing and able to fulfill this commitment.

To provide my colleagues comfort with my recommendation, Errol met with all of the Councilmembers in order to introduce himself and answer any questions they may have regarding his nomination.  Concerns relative to his residency in District B were promptly answered by documentation evidencing leases with HRI Properties for the last six years in District B.  After meeting with every sitting Councilmember, he and I were both given the impression that he was supported by at least five of the six Councilmembers.

I am dismayed that two of our colleagues on the Council are blocking Errol from serving District B.   It they are dissatisfied with my nomination, it is appropriate to attend Council meetings and vote as such on the matter. Instead, there has been a failure to attend Council meetings, depriving the Council of a quorum, which in turn halts City business.  Their actions could allow the mayor to ultimately appoint the District B representative.

We have all been on the losing side of votes.  In those instances, we attend meetings, articulate why we are voting against the majority, vote, move on, and continue to conduct City business.  At no time in the history of the Council have members decided to boycott meetings and voluntarily halt Council responsibilities.

Although direct District B representation is currently lacking, I assure you that as the At-Large Councilmembers, Councilmember Clarkson and I are looking after District B with special attention until an interim is named.  In addition, Eric Strachan, who served as my Chief of Staff is in the District B office, is fielding all constituent requests and needs.  I look forward to putting this situation behind us and continuing to work for you and all citizens as an At-Large Councilmember.  New Orleans is poised to shine brighter than ever, and I look forward to the opportunities ahead of us.

Sincerely,
Stacy S. Head
Councilmember At Large

Please send an email to zonej@mcno.org and MCNO will pass on your notes to City Council OR contact City Council members individually. MCNO has sent a request from the neighborhood to fill this vacant position immediately before the appointment opportunity is lost and forwarded to the Mayor’s office. MCNO has not taken a position on Mr. George, but feels it is very important for District B to have equal representation on the Council as soon as possible.

Bonnie Garrigan

Vice President, MCNO

 

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BioDistrict Meeting on Wednesday Requires Mid-Citizen Attendance

By Bonnie on May 21, 2012

Over the past couple of years, through local efforts, the BioDistrict has been largely stymied from going forward with it’s masterplan that includes the historic residential areas of Mid-City and Gert Town – and the industrial side of Zion City.

The BioDistrict was created in the summer of 2005 and is a political subdivision of the State of Louisiana.  It has the power to tax and expropriate. This should concern all Louisianians as commissioners have bandied about the idea of creating more districts around the city and state.

Lately, the BioDistrict is on life support. Most recently, BioDistrict is recommending a tax on new construction in the BioDistrict boundaries to fund their continued operating budget. MCNO believes that a tax of this nature could disincentivize development of our neighborhood and decrease investment in Mid-City. While we can all agree that economic development in Mid-City is welcome, MCNO has taken a formal position against the efforts of the BioDistrict as long as the residential fabric of the neighborhood is threatened including residential demolition, zoning changes, and levied taxes. If there was ever a good time to force a change of boundaries and ask for no new taxes – now is the time! It’s hard to determine if the BioDistrict will be able to find operational money to go forward with their economic development plans, but if it goes into remission once again, we need to make sure that if it comes back, it comes back with the residential areas of MidCity and Gert Town removed.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Email Commissioner Paul Rainwater (Paul.Rainwater@la.gov) and LED Secretary Stephen Moret (Stephen.Moret@la.gov) and ask that before any operational money is allocated to BioDistrict New Orleans, the boundaries must be changed to exclude our historic homes.

Please attend the May 23rd “special” meeting to show opposition to the BioDistrict going forward in it’s current form.

See the details in the message from Jim McNamara – President of the BioDistrict – below.

At this moment, it appears unlikely we will receive the operational funding from the State of Louisiana, we requested. We believe we have made the case in favor of continuing the mission of the District, which is employing a holistic approach towards the development of biosciences industry as part of the knowledge-based economy in the New Orleans region. Biosciences currently employs 13.5% of the workforce.

I would like to request two actions of group members:

1) Email Commissioner Paul Rainwater (Paul.Rainwater@la.gov) and LED Secretary Stephen Moret (Stephen.Moret@la.gov) Subject Line: Please fund the BioDistrict $1.5 million Operating Request. Make sure you have a signature line with your name and address;

2) Attend the BioDistrict Board Of Commissioners Meeting. On the agenda for consideration is a 1.5% Construction Impact Fee on new commercial construction in the designated commercial area of the district. The fee amounts to $2.70 charge on new construction, which funds will provide for the continued development of this industry. Dr. James Richardson points out this is a progressive and focused means of financing our own development activities.

Please plan to attend the meeting to voice your support.

Where: 1515 Poydras St., Ste 540
Date: Wednesday May 23, 2012
Time: 12:00 noon – 1:30pm

Read MCNO’s formal position and let us know what you think.

Motion: That MCNO will push for the following changes regarding the BioDistrict and will guide the efforts of the BioDistrict Committee:
  1. OPT OUT: Since there is a mechanism to get into the Biodistrict, there should be a way for a neighborhood to get out of the Biodistrict – without restrictions.  The board would like the bill amended to include an opt-out provision;
  2. Master Plan: We would like the bill amended to include that all planning and development undertaken by the Biodistrict must adhere and follow the New Orleans Master Plan  (Master Plan for the 21stCentury);
  3. Representation on the Board: Add two members to the Board of Commissioners for BioDistrict New Orleans who live inside the footprint of the BioDistrict as defined in the bill and are appointed by MCNO.

Read about MCNO efforts at the last legislative session.

 

 

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NOAIDS Taskforce Community Health Center Survey

By Bonnie on May 21, 2012

The NoAids Taskforce is conducting a needs assessment for residents of the French Quarter, Treme/7th Ward, Marigny, Bywater and Midcity neighborhoods in New Orleans. The purpose of this project is to find out about the health and wellness concerns of the people living in these neighborhoods. Their goal is to create a community health center that is a safe and healthy medical home for you and your neighbors. Your participation will help them to find out how best to expand their health care services to the community and to become the neighborhoods’ provider of choice. In appreciation for your participation there will be a raffle of two iPad 2’s. Please participate in the survey to voice your concerns about healthcare in Mid-City.

This survey will take approximately 10­ to 15 minutes to complete.

http://www.noaidstaskforce.org/chc-survey

 

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MCNO requests District B Interim Council Member Be Appointed

By Bonnie on May 16, 2012

The following request will be sent to all New Orleans City Council Members:

A large portion of the area represented by the Mid-City Neighborhood Organization (“MCNO”) is situated within the boundaries of District “B.” The citizens of District “B” have been without a Council Representative since Ms. Head was sworn into the at-large council position on May 3, 2012.

On behalf of our members, MCNO urges you to preserve the Council’s voice in the selection of an interim District “B” representative by making an interim appointment before the expiration of the 30-day deadline. Respectfully, we believe that it is more appropriate for the Council to make this appointment than the Mayor’s office. Council members have consistently shown their responsiveness to citizen concerns, and several members are intimately familiar with the specific and complicated projects and challenges that confront our neighborhood.

It is essential to the welfare of our neighborhood that the District “B” interim council member be chosen by the Council, a body that recognizes the need for that appointee to be responsive, first and foremost, to the citizens he or she will represent.

We entreat you to respect the voice of the community by moving to appoint an interim District “B” council member with all deliberate haste.

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Volunteer Opportunities at Bayou Boogaloo

By Bonnie on May 16, 2012

The Mid-City Neighborhood Organization is in need of volunteers to staff our booth Saturday & Sunday. Join us for great Music, Food, and Fun on the Bayou at Orleans Ave. What does it mean to volunteer at the booth?

1. You get to sit in the SHADE, a rare occurrence out there on the bayou

2. You get to meet your neighbors and talk about how awesome Mid-City is!

3.  You get to sell MCNO gear to outfit the whole festival with Mid-City Merchandise

4. You participate in a tag team to go get food and beverages, or hold down the fort while other people get food and beverages.

5. You get to bask in the glory that IS MID-CITY (did I mention it is in the SHADE?)

The Mid-City Neighborhood Organization is in need of volunteers to staff our booth Saturday & Sunday.

Open Volunteer Slots Saturday & Sunday include:

10-12 (includes setup)

12:00-2:00

2:00-4:00

4:00-6:00

6:00-8:00 (includes breakdown)

If you can help out, please fill out the form Bayou Boogaloo Sign Up Sheet – May 19-20: (If you have trouble opening the spreadsheet, please email your availability to events@mcno.org)

Please check only those times you are COMMITTED to working. You can always drop by and lend a hand at the other times. If you are feeling non-committal, just stop by for a spell. We’ll be there from 10am–8pm, Saturday and Sunday (we will not have the booth open Friday evening).

Thanks for your support of Mid-City and see you at the Boogaloo!

See you there!

 

 

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Bayou Boogaloo THIS WEEKEND

By Bonnie on May 16, 2012

 

It is with great pleasure and heartfelt gratitude that the MotherShip Foundation announces the 7th Annual Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo Festival that will be held May 18-20, 2012 on the banks of historic and beautiful Bayou St. John. Over the last six years, Bayou Boogaloo has experienced tremendous growth. 2011 was a milestone year for what has quickly become one of South Louisiana’s signature cultural celebrations. Last year as New Orleans celebrated the annual Festival over 25,000 locals and visitors reveled in music from three stages, dined on delicious food, sampled unique local culture and enjoyed the Boogaloo Art Market.

In 2011, the Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo continued its sustainability efforts with help from a handful of dedicated neighbors, LSU AG Center, and funded by a Coypu Foundation grant. Volunteers planted one thousand (1000) plugs of the marsh grass Spartina Alternaflora and twelve hundred (1200) irises along the bayou’s western bank. As always the Festival is a family-friendly event with a kid’s stage, along with games and activities for children. Attendees can partake in delicious food, spirits and libations, listen to great local music, and enjoy the very best art that New Orleans has to offer.

The Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo Festival is hosted by the MotherShip Foundation, a non-profit (501c3) organization dedicated to encouraging social change by bringing forth a higher quality of life for all Louisiana and New Orleans residents through the promotion of arts, culture, and recreation.

MCNO will have a booth at the festival so come by and see us! If anyone is interested in working the booth for an hour here or there, email jenfarwell@gmail.com or just stop by and take a seat in the shade!

See you there!

 

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Street Work in Zone F is Progressing

By Bonnie on May 11, 2012

What residents thought was just a bit of work to patch some pot holes in Zone F bounded by Canal, Carrollton, Tulane, and Jefferson Davis has turned into a complete street repair. Boh Brothers first posted no parking signs a few weeks ago to repair some of the street including S. Pierce, S. Cortez, S. Scott and S. Telemachus, but recent progress has shown that the City had a bigger plan in mind. Sidewalk corners have been taken out and reframed for what residents expect to be ADA accessible curb cuts. Areas of D’Hemecourt and Baudin between Carrollton and Jefferson Davis Parkway have been marked for new sidewalks where none existed before.

Some residents are annoyed by the no parking status which changes every day and is hard to keep track of, but many are relieved to see the City take some initiative on our neighborhood infrastructure. MCNO made a few calls to the City to get the full scope of the project in our neighborhood, but have not heard back. Oh well, for now we will just count our blessings!

Curb cut construction at the corner of S. Pierce and Baudin

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Morris Jeff Community School Feria de Primavera

By Bonnie on May 10, 2012

The 2nd annual Morris Jeff Community School Feria de Primavera kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 12 and will offer up an array of family-friendly activities while raising funds to help support the local public elementary school. The event will feature games and activities for children of all ages including bounce houses, a cakewalk, arts & crafts plus performances by MJCS students and a student art auction.

Feria de Primavera is Saturday, May 12th from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. at First Grace United Methodist Church 3401 Canal Street (at the corner of Jeff Davis Parkway and Canal Street).

Entry to the event is free and punch cards for activities and games will be available at a cost of $5 per 10 activity punches.

Feria de Primavera is organized each year by the Morris Jeff Family Partnership and is a fundraiser to raise money for play yard improvements and support physical education at the school.

About Morris Jeff Community School:

MJCS is open-access public charter school located in Mid-City that uses a whole-child approach to create an education experience that is a source of freedom and possibility for our 260 students in grades PK-3. Over the next five years the school will expand to serve more than 700 students in grades PK-8 and will move into a new permanent home in lower Mid-City at the Fisk-Howard campus in 2014.

The school was founded through a community process in which parents, educators, and other community leaders dreamed of a school that is excellent, is open to all types of children and families, and is as diverse as the community we serve. At MJCS students’ learning experiences are infused with daily exposure to art, music, foreign language and meaningful play.

For more information the Morris Jeff website at www.morrisjeffschool.org

 

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Community Meeting for Streetscape Project near Tulane and Jeff Davis

By Bonnie on May 7, 2012

There will be a community meeting regarding the Streetscape Project in the Tulane and Jeff Davis Parkway Area on this Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at 6pm at Goodwill Industries 3400 Tulane Avenue, Meeting Room #183.

The proposed scope of work includes widening the sidewalk around Comiskey Park along Baudin Street, S. Clark and D’Hemecourt Streets. Tree pruning, benches and trees will also be replaced outside the park’s fence.

Come out and let the City know what we want to see happen in this area.

See you there!

 

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Proposed Sale of Mid-City Fire Station

By Bonnie on May 7, 2012

The former fire house and former NORD facility at 200 N. Alexander in Mid-City will soon be up for auction. The structure, which was never repaired after it was flooded in 2005 has been a blight on the nearby neighborhood. With the new Winn-Dixie development at Carrollton and Bienville, and growing momentum for the Lafitte Corridor, the sale of this property is coming a good time for investment in Mid-City.

For more information, read the TIMES PICAYUNE ARTICLE.

Let us know what you would like to see come of the old fire house.

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