Neighborhood Happenings:
Apply to be on your District's Police - Community Advisory Board!
PCABs are creating the framework for a public participation plan
with the NOPD to engage in a collaborative problem-solving process that
supports both the community and the NOPD’s desire to enhance public safety.
There is one seven-member PCAB per NOPD District (8 total). Membership
is open to all New Orleans residents who are eighteen years or older and may be
interested in serving as a volunteer leader in their respective police
district.
Applications are due by Saturday, September 8th 2018.
For more information on PCAB, click the link below:
http://nola.gov/neo/pcab
August Community Office Hours
For the entire month of August, we will be located in your communities at NORD recreation centers from 10:30am-2:30pm. The new locations are listed below (by city council district).
Community Office Hours enables City Hall to be accessible and helpful to more residents within neighborhoods. This effort creates a two-way street of effective communication and information flow for addressing neighborhood level issues.
We look forward to seeing you!
 Spreading the word on School Zone Safety
During the month of August,
students across New Orleans head back to school, meaning school zones will
become active again. The City reminds all drivers to slow down, stay alert, and
put away their phones while driving.
School zones are a safety focus for the
city: drivers can expect to see more traffic camera enforcement of 20 MPH
school zone speed limits, freshly painted crosswalks for students, and an
increasing number of NOPD-trained community crossing guards. These
improvements, and more to come, are coordinated by the New Orleans Health
Department’s Safe Routes to Schools program.
If you know of a school which
would benefit from assistance in making their school zone safer, please
encourage the school staff to contact the Health Department immediately- school
zone safety starts with you!
For additional information: https://www.nola.gov/health-department/safe-routes/
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'Tis the Season of Mosquito Prevention
Over the past few weeks, mosquitoes in New Orleans have been testing positive for West Nile Virus. People can get West Nile Virus if they are bitten by an infected mosquito.
Most people with West Nile Virus will not experience any symptoms. Those with symptoms are likely to experience fever, headache, diarrhea or a rash. In rare cases, people who are over 50 and those with lowered immune systems may also experience a serious form of the disease can that can lead to swelling or infection of the brain and spinal cord.
The New Orleans Health Department recommends that everyone use EPA-approved insect repellant and limit their time outdoors during dawn and dusk. People are also encouraged to remove any standing water from around their homes were mosquitoes can grow.
If you experience any of the symptoms of West Nile you should visit your doctor for testing. If you have questions about West Nile Virus please email healthdepartment@nola.gov or report mosquito concerns to New Orleans Mosquito and Termite Control Board by calling 311.
Big Easy Streets
Come out and participate in New Orleans very first Big Easy Streets! The event will promote healthy eating and physical activity in the community through the conduit of 2 miles of public streets starting at Basin Street and looping through Canal Street. The programs included range from PlayBuild Imagination stations for children, free yoga, health screenings and so much more!
Date: September 15, 2018 at 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
City Hall Spotlight: John Pourciau
John Pourciau, a graduate of the Beasley College of Law at Temple University, served as Director of Voter Outreach for the Louisiana Secretary of State Office and as a legislative analyst with the Louisiana State House of Representatives, before serving as Chief of Staff for District B Councilmember LaToya Cantrell.
John has long felt a special connection to the bayous and back roads of his native Louisiana. The distinct culture and people endowed Pourciau with what he termed “a tremendous sense of place,” one that he carried with him throughout his travels and, ultimately, drew him back to his home state. Not only did this bond lead him back to the vibrant city of New Orleans, but his deep relationship to the state of his youth has no doubt drawn him into the career of public service that he’s embarked on since graduating Amherst.
Give us the elevator pitch of your job!
I advise the mayor, I manage our communications, I handle intergovernmental relations and executive teams, and simply help the Mayor's Office run smoothly.
What aspect of your work do you enjoy the most?
Engaging with our staff. We have fantastic people who work at City Hall.
What is one major accomplishment at work that you’re proudest of?
Helping the Mayor get the Smoke-Free Ordinance passed while Mayor Cantrell was the Councilwoman of District B.
What neighborhood do you live in and what do you like most about it?
I live Uptown. I like being able to walk to restaurants without having to drive.
Any random fact about yourself you'd like to share?
I am a terrible bartender, according to everyone.
Neighborhood Spotlight: Ann Legaux
How long have you been a resident of New Orleans East?
I moved into Villa Sites in 1972 fresh out of college, newly married, and planning to have a family. We bought a house at 7310 Weaver Avenue.
What do you love about your neighborhood?
I love living in a house that has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms as opposed to the single shot gun with only one bedroom and a kitchen in the back. My house in Villa Sites, for the first time in my life, allowed me to have some spacious living.
What success have you had with your neighborhood association?
When I first moved to Villa Sites, there was this vacant lot next to me that had high grass and weeds. I mean, like 6 foot corn roves. The chairwoman of Villa Sites was Barbara Woodford at the time. She taught me how to go down to City Hall and find out who the owner is, and continue to follow through until I could live more comfortably without rodents coming from my shared property. Now the owner comes to cut the grass every two weeks.
Let me tell you how I became president of Villa Sites after Barbara finished training me: I had a house next door to me on the other side that had been gutted after Katrina. I moved to the next address in 1981. Fast forward to 2005, I am doing fine and love my neighbors. There had been a house that been gutted but no one came back for 5 or 10; there was grass and trees that were so tall that cats were sleeping on the roof. Every evening I was looking at cats on the roof from my bedroom upstairs. I then had to go back to City Hall and use what Barbara had taught me. We finally got the owner to sell the property and now I have a neighbor who is very friendly and very neat; I love it.
Shortly after becoming president of Villa Sites, I attended the Mayor’s Civic Leadership Academy. It was an eight week class at City Hall where they had various department heads come in and share their purpose and describe the various ways they connected and worked with us. That eight week class gave me confidence that I had partners to help us improve our quality of life. There were five other commissioners from ENONAC there as well, and I can now see them in various meetings. I can see the positive effect of that leadership class and I see it continuing.
So do you have any upcoming projects?
We are excited to be celebrating the New Orleans Tricentennial. I was encouraged by NEO to apply for a Tricentennial neighborhood grant. Our focus was on cleaning up the neighborhood, and we ended up receiving $1000. I got neighbors to help clean our streets. We made a sign that said “Villa Sites: Proud and Litter Free. All of our neighborhood association members have a sign in their yard! If you have the sign it means that you have committed every week to make sure all the litter on your street was picked up. Secondly, we had three events where we informed all of our neighbors as well as ENONAC commissioners about different events that were going on. We also participated in the Mayor’s kickoff at the Sanger Theatre. My neighbors and I love celebrating our City.
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