Neighborhood-wide meetings: first Monday of every month, 6:30 PM at Grace Church, 3700 Canal. More events.
The former home of Christian’s Restaurant, located on Iberville at the corner of South Scott, will again become a church! The sale took place last week, and a non-denominational church has already begun renovations with a large number of volunteers.
I’m sorry to see Christian’s go, but very happy to know that this beautiful icon of Mid-City will be restored to a use that will benefit the community.
News Release
Mid City Neighborhood Organization
P.O. Box 791023
New Orleans, LA 70170
www.mcno.org
Contact:
Jennifer Weishaupt, 504-729-0888
MID-CITY NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD FOR LOCAL GREENWAYS ACHIEVEMENT
[New Orleans, LA ( May 7, 2008)]—The Mid-City Neighborhood Organization (MCNO) has received a national honor accompanied by a grant from the Kodak American Greenways Awards Program. The $1000 grant will help in the implementation of the Carrollton Avenue to Jefferson Davis Parkway portion of the Lafitte Corridor Greenway. In addition to receiving the grant award, MCNO will be showcased as a national model for its innovative efforts to develop a greenway in post-Katrina New Orleans.
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Mid-City Neighborhood Organization is pleased to report that we’ve won a Neighborhood Phoenix award from Neighborhoods Partnership Network.
The MCNO Board of Directors held its first meeting of 2008 last night. We welcomed 11 returning board members, and 6 new board members. Our first order of business was to elect Officers, the results are as follows:
President - Jennifer Weishaupt
Chair - To Be Determined
Vice President - Virginia Blanque
Treasurer - Becker Rutledge
Secretary - Angela Brenneke
Membership Coordinator - Lauri Hengl
Congratulations to the new Officers, and thanks to each of you for accepting this challenge!
In addition, we worked to assign board members to Committee & Liaison Roles. Many of our new board members are still determining where their skills and interests are best suited, so more updates to come. The full list of assignments can be viewed here.
In order for MCNO to continue its success in rebuilding the Mid-City neighborhood, I ask you to do two things:
1. Become a member of MCNO (or plan to renew your current membership) by clicking this link.
Our successes in City Hall, in receiving grants, and in partnering with other organizations relies on the strength of our membership. In addition, the funds from membership are needed to accomplish our mission. Your board members are VOLUNTEERS, but implementing our rebuilding plan has COSTS.
2. Pick an area that interests you, contact that board member and VOLUNTEER. Be specific - there are many ways to help THAT DON’T INVOLVE GOING TO MEETINGS!
Thank you for considering my request. I look forward to a successful year.
Please note that due to Mardi Gras, the February meeting will be on the 11th (the second Monday). Mark this on your calendar.
Mark your calendar, this event is scheduled for January 12:
The New Orleans Redevelopment Authority is facing political and procedural challenges. There are many organizations working to address these challenges. The New Orleans Redevelopment Authority Unconference will create an environment where these organizations can collaborate. They can share their experiences with and concerns about the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority and its mission.
Details at Think NOLA.
On Friday Dec 28th, three representatives of MCNO were joined by the President of Faubourg St John Neighborhood Ass’n and a representative of Friends of Lafitte Corridor, in a meeting with Richard Cortizas and Bill Hines - lawyers with Jones Walker representing Victory.
At that time we were informed that Victory has no redevelopment plans for Lindy Boggs site for the near future (2-3 years). This was attributed to the downturn in the housing, retail and credit markets over the past year. Development sooner than that time would only happen if there are changes in the economy.
The following details of the demolition plans were presented:
Following the meeting, the MCNO, FSJNA and FOLC representatives discussed options. At that time we agreed that continuing to take an adversarial position was not beneficial. This is mainly due to the fact that the HCDRC was very likely (>95%) to approve the demolition regardless of the position we took.
In an act of good faith on the part of our groups, we instead took a neutral position at today’s HCDRC hearing. The statement I made included the following:
The items outlined above are being worked into a Letter of Committment which will be signed by Victory and MCNO. It should be in place in the next 2 weeks.
I am personally disappointed in the outcome, but honestly believe that this was the best strategic position to take. Thank you to the neighbors who took the time to attend today’s HCDRC Hearing (it was a LONG one).
I will plan to discuss this in more detail at the January 7th meeting (6:30pm, Grace Episcopal Church, yes, we know it is the BCS game, so will keep it brief).
The demolition request for Lindy Boggs hospital is on the Dec 31st agenda for the Housing Conservation District Review Committee. If you are able to attend the Dec 31 meeting, your presence would be appreciated. The hearing is at 10am. It is usually held in City Hall Room 7E07.
It has now been 8 days since the last HCDRC hearing on this matter, and 22 days since the original HCDRC hearing on this matter, and we have heard NOTHING from Victory.
I will keep everyone posted if we hear something, but for the time being please mark your calendar and show your support for Mid-City.
Thanks to Dr. Giovani H. Graziosi and students at UNO, we now have site plans for locating six neighborhood signs throughout Mid-City.
You can download these maps here as a 5.7 MB PDF.
Your comments are welcome.
The Communications Committee will meet tonight for the final time under my tenure as Communications Director for Mid-City Neighborhood Organization. That’s tonight (Monday Dec. 17) 6:30 PM at Bayou Coffeehouse. Our main agenda item will be to discuss this document. Please join us.
Neighbors,
Following the e-mail I posted here on Dec 11, to Victory & City Council, the truthfulness of my statement with regard to what happened in the HCDRC hearing was questioned.
The integrity of Mid-City Neighborhood Organization, and my personal integrity, as we move through the rebuilding process is of the upmost importance. Therefore, we have posted a video to YouTube showing the entire 6 minutes and 57 seconds of the portion of the HCDRC hearing Monday, which pertained to Victory. This video is also being sent to the Victory reps, City Council members, and Dr. Blakely, so they can see for themselves what took place.
Some key points (the audio is a bit rough due to the number of people in the room )
I hope you can take 7 minutes to view the video and see for yourself what took place.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Weishaupt
Last night the following people were elected to 2-year terms on the MCNO Board:
Congratulations!!! Thanks to all who ran and all who participated in the MCNO election.
Come and join us on Monday, December 3rd at Grace Episcopal Church at 6:30 p.m. for MCNO’s annual holiday party and board elections. This party will be a pot luck event. So bring your favorite dish, while enjoying someone else’s favorite dish. This would be a great opportunity to mingle with your neighbors, in addition to voting on and meeting the new 2008 board of MCNO.
Mid-City has many challenges ahead and we need as many people involved in the process as possible. If you are not already a member of MCNO, we would encourage you to become a member. This will allow you to cast your vote for board members. It is also not too late to nominate yourself to the board. If you are not a member yet or have let your membership lapse, you can sign up at the party.
Warren Easton Senior High will hold an Open House for prospective students on Tuesday, December 4, 5-7 pm at Warren Easton in the Auditorium (2nd Floor) at 3019 Canal St. For more information, contact Easton at (504) 304-4129 or go to their website.
14 of our 21 board positions will be vacant at year-end.
Would you like to be involved in activities like:
If so, consider joining the MCNO board OR nominating someone you believe would make a good Board member!!
YOU’D PROBABLY MAKE A GOOD BOARD MEMBER IF YOU CAN:
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO RUN?
Candidates must be a member of MCNO at the time of the election and must reside within the organization’s boundaries (see map).
WHAT IS REQUIRED OF BOARD MEMBERS?
Board members are expected to attend monthly meetings and MCNO events and to chair a committee or perform another equally important assignment (examples: publishing the newsletter, acting as a liaison to other civic organizations, serving as an officer of MCNO). Board members are not compensated for their service.
For complete requirements and more details, see the bylaws.
HOW DO I NOMINATE SOMEONE ?
Nominations are made at the November Board meeting or at the December general membership meeting (details below). Nominating yourself is perfectly acceptable! Before you nominate someone else, check with them to be sure they’re are willing to serve if elected.
HOW DO MCNO MEMBERS LEARN ABOUT THE NOMINEES?
Beginning now, anyone interested in running for a Board seat should supply me with a brief profile of themselves which MCNO will publish on its Yahoo discussion group and on its website. (Look at the “Board Nominees” page.) Please include the following in your profile:
Name
Home Address
Brief bio highlighting your service to MCNO and/or to other non-profit or civic causes
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE MCNO BOARD ELECTION?
All members in good standing ( dues paid up) are eligible to vote. You will be able to join MCNO or renew your membership at our election meeting prior to the start of voting.
WHEN AND WHERE WILL THE ELECTION BE HELD?
Elections for the Mid City Neighborhood Organization’s 2008 Board of Directors are coming up December 3rd, 6:30PM at Grace Episcopal Church (3700 Canal St. ).
WHAT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS?
Please address questions and send profiles to Janet Ward Pease, MCNO Secretary:
Email (preferred): mailto:janet@wardpease.com
Phone (evening): 504-304-3733
Postal Mail: 321 N. Bernadotte St.; New Orleans, LA 70119
In advance of the Mid-City Neighborhood meeting November 5th which focused on education, we asked State Superintendent of Education Paul Vallas and Superintendent of the Recovery School District Paul Vallas and their staff to answer the following 10 questions. The following answers were put together by the “Two Pauls” and their staff. Overall I would say that the answers they provided show us that we have a long way to go for our community to have a strong voice in decision making regarding our neighborhood’s schools. But I do thank Paul Vallas for attending the meeting (Paul Pastorek couldn’t make it due to an earlier surgery), and I do thank them for their answers even if they aren’t all satisfactory.
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At our next community meeting we will focus on public education in Mid-City. Joining us will be State Superintendent of Education, Paul Pastorek, and Superintendent of the Recovery School District, Paul Vallas. We will also be joined by representatives of the various public schools in Mid-City: Dibert, Warren Easton, Esperanza (formerly Crossman), Langston Hughes Academy, and Pierre A. Capdau-UNO Early College High School (both at Thurgood Marshall).
Monday, November 5, 2007, 6:30 PM at Grace Episcopal Church, 3700 Canal Street
A treat — not a trick!
Our Mid-City branch library’s hours will be extended beginning this coming Monday, Nov. 5.
New hours will be:
Mon., Tues., and Thurs.: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Wed.: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sat.: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
(closed Fridays and Sundays)
Voodoo Fest has provided a hotline number for neighbors to call to report nuisance issues associated with the Voodoo Fest this weekend. The number will be manned 24 hours for the 3 days of the Festival (starting today).
The number to call is 504.658.8100
This should be used to report illegal parking, blocked driveways, and other nuisance activities (noise, litter).
As always, if there is an emergency crime issue, call 911.
Additionally, the festival organizers have agreed to expand their trash pickup to include City Park Avenue and the bayou, and will have crews that will be dedicated to those areas.
Come out and enjoy some neighborhood fun next Friday night! This is sent on behalf of The Bayou Boogaloo festival organizers:
The Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo Festival is a free music festival, held each Spring on the banks of Bayou St. John. In order to keep the festival FREE, a fundraiser will be held on Friday November 2nd @ 7pm, at Studio 3 ( 3610 Toulouse St behind the American Can).
The fundraiser is themed around the Mexican festival “Día de los Muertos” (Day of the Dead), and will celebrate with Mexican food and drinks, live music and a festival atmosphere. Current food donors include Juan’s Flying Burrito, and Tacqueria Guerrero. Admission is $40 per person, $75 per couple, and $300 to reserve a table for ten.
Online ticket purchase should be available in the next couple of days. For now, mark your calendars, line up your babysitters, tell your friends!
Neighborhoods Partnership Network is sponsoring a forum which will try to answer the question “How Can We Participate Effectively in Our Neighborhood Schools?” The forum will take place at Warren Easton High School, 3019 Canal Street, on Wednesday October 24th from 6-8PM. Participating education advocates include: Karran Royal (Oak Park Civic Improvement Association), Hal Brown (Board Chairman of NO College Prep), Shakoor Aljuwani (St. Luke’s Homecoming Center), as well as MCNO. For any questions, call NPN at (504) 940-2207.