As chair a 20-organization coalition, I had the privilege of participating in conversations about sound and music across New Orleans. They showed that no matter what neighborhood you’re from, whether resident, musician, or business owner, we have more that unites than divides us.
At some point, the general public became greatly confused in a negative campaign of disinformation and personal attacks. If the volume of the rhetoric had been turned down a bit, we could have heard each other more, and made progress for the entire city. It’s my understanding that the City Council is going to take a breath and focus first on solutions for the French Quarter. As a resident of the French Quarter trying to help the entire city, I’m agreeable to that. Showing positive results that enhance the residential and music experience can create a model for all of New Orleans.
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The City Council has worked for five years to improve the city's sound ordinances. The lack of enforcement over time and of enforceable laws negatively impacts the quality of life in neighborhoods citywide and the health of musicians and employees, and also stymies development. At times, new businesses hoping to open music venues are subjected to onerous requirements through provisos or other means in order to assuage neighbors' reasonable fears that government will not enforce nuisance laws should those new businesses operate in a harmful manner.
In the fall of 2011, Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer engaged acoustician David Woolworth to conduct a thoughtful and comprehensive study of New Orleans sound ordinances and to work with many interest groups to propose rational changes in the City's laws. This resulted in a comprehensive report, which was released to the public in August 2013. It is now time to take the action step of turning this work into law. In December 2013, Councilmember Head drafted and the Council introduced a narrow amendment to the city's sound ordinance to focus on a subset of noise issues (brick and mortar structures), place the measurement location at the property line of emanation, and provide sound level allowances depending on area zoning classification. We'd like to thank the neighborhood groups, musicians, and citizens who helped us get to this point. There has been much public consternation over the perceived intent and impact of the ordinance, and fear that the hard work and recommendations of the many constituency groups with Mr. Woolworth were not followed. In order to allay those fears, Mr. Woolworth has suggested, and we agree, that an even more limited focus on VCE only is appropriate. Mr. Woolworth and Councilmember Gisleson Palmer in particular, have worked closely with the French Quarter Management District to craft recommendations tailored to the VCE district. The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA), the only Association comprised of NBA, ABA, Harlem Globetrotters and WNBA alumni, today announced details for its public events and activities during NBA All-Star 2014 in New Orleans, February 13-16. The NBRPA’s very full agenda of community service and community engagement is highlighted by multiple youth basketball and life skills clinics, as well as a public Legends of Basketball Gala at Harrah’s New Orleans on February 15. All-access passes to the Legends All-Star Weekend can be purchased at: LegendsofBasketball.com/allaccess or by calling the NBRPA office at 312-913-9400.
“The NBRPA and its members are proud and honored to be an integral part of NBA All-Star 2014 in New Orleans February 13-16,” said Arnie D. Fielkow, President & Chief Executive Officer for the NBRPA. “Working in conjunction with the NBA and partners such as Harrah’s New Orleans, we have planned a number of star-studded, fun community and philanthropic events for our members and the public alike. As the former Executive Vice President of the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans City Council President, I am personally thrilled to return to my adopted hometown for All-Star Weekend.” The NBRPA will once again stage a marquee event for All-Star Weekend, in conjunction with the NBA, on Sunday, Feb. 16, when the NBRPA hosts the 15th Annual Legends Brunch featuring TNT’s Ernie Johnson as master of ceremonies at the New Orleans Convention Center. The Legends Brunch will be broadcast on NBA-TV and seen in more than 50 million households. The weekend’s social schedule for the NBRPA’s Legends of Basketball includes several exclusive, ticketed events (see full schedule below). The open-to-the-public (ticket purchase required) gala at Harrah’s New Orleans promises to deliver plenty of excitement to fans with a theater full of former basketball stars, mixed in with great food and iconic New Orleans music and entertainment. The Alliance for Good Government, the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the Forum for Equality and the Orleans Parish Republican Executive Committee added their endorsement to the re-election campaign for Councilwoman-at-Large Stacy Head.
Ms. Head has also been endorsed by the Orleans Parish Democratic Executive Committee, Greater New Orleans Republicans, Regular Democratic Organization (RDO), Black Organization for Leadership Development (BOLD), Cab Drivers for Justice/Local 234, and neighborhood civic groups IDEA, SOUL and LAVA. Early voting for the Feb. 1 primary starts this Saturday at City Hall and satellite locations in Lakeview, east New Orleans and Algiers. For more information, contact the Stacy Head Headquarters at (504) 345-9183. Advocates for Academic Excellence in Education, Inc. (AAEE) which oversees Benjamin Franklin High School (BFHS), unanimously approved a 1-yr extension of Principal/CEO, Dr. Timothy Rusnak’s employment contract at its December board meeting held Thursday, December 19, 2013. This is the third extension of his contract which will now run through June, 2016.
“We’re pleased to have Dr. Rusnak continue his leadership and direction of the school,” said Mr. Duris Holmes ’80, AAEE Board President. Dr. Rusnak has been with Franklin since July 2008. In his tenure, he has seen the school through a 70% percent enrollment increase, enhancement of Franklin’s academic programs, increased partnerships with the University of New Orleans and securing a solid financial base for the school. “I want to thank the Board and our entire Franklin community for the trust and confidence expressed with this extended contract,” said Dr. Timothy Rusnak. “It is truly a privilege to be part of a legendary institution with a commitment to excellence.” “I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.” Kris Cangelosi is a free spirit with a concrete purpose to connect students with arts education. A graduate of both the Baton Rouge Area Chamber Leadership Program and the Barton Leadership Program, Kris increased her awareness about Baton Rouge’s community needs and concerns. She discovered that the Baton Rouge public education system was suffering and required attention. As a business owner and a civic leader involved with the Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Krewe Mystique, Playmakers, a local professional theatre group in Baton Rouge, and Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana, Kris finds joy in service. As an artist, Kris has traveled throughout the community providing free dance lectures and demonstrations at libraries, elementary schools, afterschool programs, and festival events. She saw children thrilled about the arts who could not afford lessons. This need compelled her to say yes to serving on the boards of two elementary schools in North Baton Rouge. The Orleans Parish School Board will hold a groundbreaking for the new Lake Forest Elementary Charter School in eastern New Orleans on Thursday, January 16 at 10 a.m. The new school will be located at 11110 Lake Forest Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70128. Lake Forest is now a public charter school authorized by the Orleans Parish School Board in January 2006.
“This is a great day for all the citizens of New Orleans East,” said Ira Thomas Sr., OPSB President. We are breaking ground on the highest quality school ever built in this area,” Thomas continued. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided the funding for this $34,075,000 project. The new school will be LEED Silver Certified. The architect is Imre Hegedus. The McDonnel Group is the contractor. This project has 35% DBE participation during the construction phase. “FEMA is pleased to help the families of New Orleans East receive a first class elementary school that will be an outstanding community asset,” said Thomas “Mike” Womack, Director of FEMA’s Louisiana Recovery Unit. “This is a school that parents, teachers and the community will always be proud of as FEMA continues its commitment to the recovery of the New Orleans area,” Womack continued. New Orleans, LA—January 15, 2014 – Benjamin Franklin High School (BFHS) received a $20,000 grant from the Rex Organization’s Pro Bono Publico Foundation on Saturday.
The grant will help support Franklin’s partnership with the Khan Academy to offer Advanced Placement Courses in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Courses (STEM). “We are honored that such an organization with a rich history of service believes in the work we are doing at Franklin,” says Dr. Timothy Rusnak, Franklin’s Principal/CEO. Duris Holmes ’80, President of Ben Franklin’s Board of Directors and Francoise McHugh, BFHS’s Development Associate/Librarian, accepted the grant check at a reception at the Rex Den on January 11, 2014. Louisiana Connections Academy, a fully accredited provider of high-quality, highly accountable virtual K-12 schooling, will host online information sessions in January where families and prospective families will get the chance to learn more information about the curriculum and thoroughly explore the program.
They can also interact with Connections Academy representatives and parents. There are 1,200 students enrolled in Louisiana Connections Academy for the 2013-2014 academic year. Enrollment for the 2013–14 school year will close January 27, 2014 for grades K–12. Parents can enroll their child online at: http://www.connectionsacademy.com/louisiana-school/enrollment/home.aspx Parents and others seeking more information about Louisiana Connections Academy can call the school at 225-372-8389 or can attend one of the following online sessions: |
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