2012 Events
Below are the events that the Bayou Boogaloo will host:

3rd Annual Zulu Anniversary Run To Ride 5KOn Saturday, May 19, Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club’s 4th Annual Run To Ride 5K will roll through Mid-City. This year’s race featured post-race festivities with King Zulu and the Bayou Boogaloo Pub Crawlers! The top three finishers in each age group received unique signature Zulu coconut awards. Click here for more details.

2012 Bayou Boogaloo Bicycle Pub Crawl
On Saturday, May 19, the Bayou Boogaloo Bicycle Pub Crawl will take place from 7 AM to 12:15. What better way to start your day before spending the afternoon at the festival?

Bicycle Second Line
On the morning of Sunday May 20th Bike Easy is having a bicycle second line. The Second line will begin and end at the Bayou Boogaloo site. Come out to have some fun and get some exercise before having fun at the festival.

Rubber Duck Derby
On Sunday, May 20, Second Harvest Food Bank will host the 3rd Annual Rubber Duck Derby at the Bayou Boogaloo. Folks adopted rubber ducks and joined the fun as Second Harvest dropped 10,000 rubber ducks into Bayou St. John for a race to the finish line where one “lucky duck” won a fantastic prize!

“Out of the Box” Food Demo by Gary Granata
Saturday and Sunday
12:00 – 12:20pm
1:20 – 1:40pm
2:40 – 3:00pm
4:00 – 4:20pm

Kid’s Stage Schedule
Saturday May 19
*Rhino Contemporary Crafts 11am-5pm
10:00 – 11:00am Family Yoga by Triyoga and City Park Movement and Art
11:30 – 12:15pm Ball Room Dancing with Nathalie Gomes Adams
12:15 – 1:00pm Swing Workshop with Nathalie Gomes Adams
1:00 – 2:00pm Connect the Dots by Kids Play Nola
2:00 – 2:30pm Baba Luther Drum Circle
2:30 – 3:30pm MISS CLAUDIA & THE TERRIFIC TRAVELLING TROUBADOURS
3:30 – 4:30pm Spanish Songs by Morris Jeff Community School

Sunday May 20
10:00 – 11:00am Family Yoga by Triyoga and City Park Movement and Art
11-30 – 12:30pm City Park Movement and Art Dance, Acrobats Performance
12:30 – 1:30pm THEATRE games by Kids Play Nola
1:30 – 2:30pm HIP HOP workshop by Dancing Grounds
2:30 – 3:00pm Drum Circle by Project Rising Sun
3:00 – 4:00pm Miss Claudia presents SING-A-LONG Americana
4:30pm Rubber Duck Derby

The Boogaloo Goes On Rain or Shine…
Founded during the evacuation of Hurricane Katrina, the Mid City Bayou Boogaloo has shown its commitment to New Orleans through rain or shine, and the 2012 festival is no different. The event will occur Friday (evening), Saturday, and Sunday rain or shine. Please show your passion for the Bayou Boogaloo and all the great things New Orleans has to offer.

More at: http://thebayouboogaloo.com/

Join the Magical Mystery Tour every Wednesday at FSJNAdotORG!

Thanks to 8 neighbors that spent an hour and a half last Thursday to divide and plant 48 gallon sized Monkey Grass, yellow lantana and purple duranta (to bring in butterflies), and ardesia crenata (Christmas berry, a shade lover).

photo below by David Armond

photos below by Brenda London
We mulched, amended soil, divided Paper Whites to replant this fall, and trimmed 5 Natchez Crape Mytles that we planted maybe a dozen years ago. $500 went quickly from 5 trips to 3 Home Depots!

Unfortunately 10 bags of soil and 6 bags of mulch disappeared into a white pickup. I had too many loads of stuff to manage in a Subaru and left it out at the park the nite before, gone at 630 am. I vented my disgust by howing weeds vigorously! Neighbors report frequent plant thefts near Broad. We replaced what we really needed, and will wait to augment soil in another phase.

So thanks to people from all over our neighborhood who worked, found their garden Zen, and had a good time:

Steve Mardon (our Desmare liason)
Brenda London (Grand Rte St John)
Deena Bedigan (Delgado-she did a perfect job separating monkey grass)
Danny Akers (worked and treated us to fresh squeezed lemonade) also involved with Café Amelie on Royal, (Crete St)
Helen Ball (rode her bike from St John’s Court)
David Armond- N Lopez
Katy Smith (new young neighbor from Jackson) Bell St

The soaking rain this weekend insures that this project is off to a great start. We have promises from Andy Romero, David Lapene and Danny Akers to keep the new plantings watered thru the summer. We can always use extras…

Future needs include a streetlight (way to dark here),repair some crumbling interior sidewalk, sprinkler system, a creative welcome to FSJ sign, sculpture. These are LONG term dreams. Very open to input and help make the connections. I do better with my hands in the dirt!!

I will be asking Parks and Parkways to remove a phoenix palm growing at the base of an oak.

Love this neighborhood!
Bobby

Bobby Wozniak
1322 North Lopez Street
New Orleans, LA 70119
Cell: 504.452.0386

If you think the City of New Orleans is going to clean the catch basin in front of your home please rethink that plan. If you don’t clean the catch basin in front of your home it is you who will suffer the consequences. Please consider cleaning the catch basins in and around your home NOW!

Click here for EPA recommendations for catch basin cleaning.

A catch basin, which is also known as a storm drain inlet or curb inlet, is an opening to the storm drain system that typically includes a grate or curb inlet at street level where storm water enters the catch basin and a sump captures sediment, debris and associated pollutants. Catch basins are able to prevent trash and other floatable materials from entering the drainage system by capturing such debris by way of a hooded outlet. The outlet pipes for catch basins on combined sewers (sanitary waste and storm water in a single pipe) are also outfitted with a flapper (trap) device to prevent the backflow of any unpleasant odors from pipes. Catch basins act as pretreatment for other treatment practices by allowing larger sediments to settle in the basin sump areas.

Click here to see catch basin guidelines from Connecticut.

It is important to maintain catch basins to prevent storm sewer blockages and minimize the amount of pollutants entering storm sewers which may eventually discharge into local streams and waterways such as Lake Ponchartrain. Clogged catch basins can also result in the ponding of water along streets and parking lots causing a nuisance to motorists, pedestrians and businesses.

How you can help: When you are clearing your sidewalk or driveway, dispose of waste in trash receptacles instead of sweeping it into the gutters or catch basins.

If leaves or other debris are blocking a catch basin near your house or business, remove and dispose of the debris properly.

Article from:
http://www.bwsc.org/PROJECTS/Maintenance/catchbasin.asp

Faubourg St. John has been asking its residents to “clean their drain” for several years. The City of New Orleans is following our lead and will be instituting a “Catch the Basin” campaign city-wide over the next few days. Below are links to Faubourg St. John’s reminders just in 2011…
Feb 28, 2011: http://fsjna.org/2011/02/use-your-brain-clean-your-drain/
Sep 1, 2011:http://fsjna.org/2011/09/do-you-enjoy-flood-water-in-your-home/
Dec 22 2011: http://fsjna.org/2011/12/santa-says-clean-your-drain/

HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP:

1) Clean litter and debris from the catch basins near your house. Also, clean the surrounding curb area, because any litter, leaves, or grass on the street or sidewalk can end up in the catch basin. Do not lift the drain cover or attempt to disassemble the catch basin; just clean what you can see. All you need is a pair of work gloves, a shovel or small rake, and a trash bag. Remember: If your neighbor is elderly or disabled, please help clean their catch basin too.

2) Dispose of trash and lawn clippings in trash cans. Do not sweep or blow yard waste into the gutters and catch basins. Remember: Trash in our streets ends up as trash in our lake!

3) Construction sites or sites with hazardous materials must take special precautions to properly dispose of their paint and chemicals. They should not sweep, blow or hose waste into the catch basins. Report any improper actions to the City of New Orleans by calling 311.

TODAY, the doors of Maistre Hall for the Performing Arts will be open to the public for the first time for a public tour and presentation!

From 10am-12pm, the Bayou Treme Center for Arts and Education (BTC) and Lagniappe Academies, the anchor tenant of the Education Incubator, will co-host an open house at the former St. Rose of Lima church at 2541 Bayou Road. Additionally, BTC will be joined by several other organizations that will provide information and answer questions about a variety of resources in the neighborhood and city.

Schedule of Events
10:00 AM – Bayou Treme Center Presentation: What is the Bayou Treme Center and what programs will be available on campus?
10:30 AM – Lagniappe Academies Presentation: The 3rd year open-enrollment public charter school will discuss its program and how families can enroll.
11:00 AM – Breakout sessions with representatives from the following organizations
NewCorp Business Development Center • Lagniappe Academies • Bayou Treme Center Revolving Rehab Loan Fund • Crescent City Community Land Trust • Delgado Community College Adult Education Program (GED Classes) • Tulane Community Health Center @ Broad/Orleans • Providence Community Housing • Neighborworks • House of Healing

Refreshments will be served!

About the Bayou Treme Center
The Bayou Treme Center for Arts and Education is an innovative redevelopment project of the former St. Rose of Lima church and schoolhouse campus on historic Bayou Road. Three non-profit organizations have joined together to form the Bayou Treme Center, which will invest $10 million to restore these beautiful properties and develop a variety of incubator programs designed to nurture the educational, cultural, and economic vitality of the surrounding neighborhoods and City of New Orleans.

With renovations beginning in mid-summer 2012, the campus will open in phases throughout 2012 and 2013, and will feature the following components:
• A mid-sized performance venue with dynamic space for theater groups, musicians, dancers, and area for exhibitions, seminars and meetings
• Modern classroom space for an open enrollment public charter school
• Business incubator offices and suites for small businesses and non-profit organizations
• Affordable studio space for local artists
The project will create approximately 91 new jobs, 61 temporary construction jobs, and create an additional $850,000 in the local tax base.

To learn more, visit www.bayoutremecenter.org

The Bayou Treme Center will renovate the former church as a mid-sized concert venue, performance hall, and exhibition space.
Click here to learn more about Maistre Hall.

A Place to Do Business
With 55 office suites anchored by NewCorp Business Development Center, the Business Incubator at Bayou Treme Center will provide all the amenities of a traditional office building alongside a variety of auxiliary resources, such as technical and financial support, tax-credit specialists, and small business consulting.

In the coming weeks, the Bayou Treme Center, in partnership with the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, will be finalizing its application for 501c3 non-profit designation.

Center Recognized by City of New Orleans as Digital Node
With state-of-the-art studios and modern digital technologies as part of the Business Incubator, the Bayou Treme Center was recently classified by the New Orleans Business Alliance as a Digital Node, a designation that will allow local businesses and organizations to seek digital support and resources from the Bayou Treme Center Business Incubator. With an emphasis on film and digital media, the Bayou Treme Center can help position projects to take full advantage of a variety of local and state tax credits. To learn more about what the Bayou Treme Center incubator model will offer, click here.

A Place to Learn
The Bayou Treme Center will renovate the former elementary school building with modern classroom and playground space designed for start-up public charter schools seeking to develop and grow their programs. Click here to learn more about the Education Incubator.

A Place to Create
The Bayou Treme Center will offer affordable studio space and a business incubator for local artists to support the development of their business capacity. Click here to learn about the Arts Incubator.

photo courtesy bayoutremecenter.org

For more information, please visit http://bayoutremecenter.org/about/the-site/

I decided to take the streetcar home after today’s BlightStat meeting and spotted bead dogs on a truck. I grabbed the photo above with my iPhone

AN INVITATION TO ARTISTS & CRAFTERS

*You are invited to apply for vendor space *

*at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation’s Sixth Annual *

*Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival**,*

* Friday afternoon – Sunday, October 12 – 14, 2012, *

*at Lafayette Square Park. *

* **An application form follows in this message**.***

* **There is no fee for applying. The fee for a booth will be **$250.00.*

*All applications will be reviewed by a Selection Committee. *

*A** completed application does not guarantee a spot at a festival. ***

*The deadline for submitting applications is** **MAY 25, 2012**.***

*Applications with at least six HIGH-RESOLUTION **(200-300 dpi)**digital
images*

* of items representative of your work,*

*plus a booth shot if available, **attached should be sent by **e-mail** to*

*Market Coordinator Sally Schur at crafts@jazzandheritage.org. ***

*DO NOT send printed applications or photos or small images of your work.**

*Art Market Vendor booth spaces will be the standard 10’ x 10’.***

*Vendors will be responsible for providing their own set-ups: tents,
tables, chairs, **lighting**, etc.***

*No electricity will be available to booths.*

*For additional information, please contact Sally at
crafts@jazzandheritage.org or (504) 261-2270.***

*Thanks for your interest in participating in this event. ***

* We hope to see your application soon!***

*TO SUBMIT THIS APPLICATION, JUST CLICK ON “REPLY,” FILL IN THE FORM,*

*ATTACH YOUR IMAGES, THEN CLICK ON “SEND.” EASY!*

*New Orleans** Jazz & Heritage Foundation*

*2012 Blues & BBQ Festival*

*Art Market Vendor Application*

*Application Deadline: May 25, 2012

*THIS APPLICATION IS FOR THE *

* **Crescent** City** Blues & BBQ Festival, October 12-14, 2012*

*Artist/Vendor Name:

*Business Name:*

*Address:*

*City / State / Zip:*

*Mobile Phone:*

*Business Phone:*

*Email:

*Website:*

*Juried Crafts Guild membership, Festival, Art Market/Show, Gallery
Experience (please be specific):*

*Only artists who sell their own creations are eligible to participate in
this Festival. ** **Please list & describe the items that you plan to sell
and their price ranges (a separate sheet is acceptable). *

*Booth Fees are payable with signed contract after selection as a vendor.*

*DO NOT SEND MONEY WITH THIS APPLICATION!*

*Name: Date:*

*Please attach at least** **six high-resolution (200-300 dpi) digital**
images** **of items representative of your artwork/merchandise, plus a
booth shot if available,** **to this application and return** **all to
crafts@jazzandheritage.org. THANKS!*

Sally Schur
Community Festivals Crafts Coordinator
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation
*
1205 N. Rampart Street
New Orleans, LA 70116
crafts@jazzandheritage.org
504-261-2270

Faubourg St. John neighbor Jimmy Fahrenholtz sent in this dramatic photo of a house fire near the intersection of Cleveland and Jeff Davis.

Jimmy said he took this photo at 3:45 pm today – Thursday, May 10, 2012.

***

A vacant house long on the radar of the Mid-City Neighborhood Association burned Thursday afternoon. Fire damaged nearly 85 percent of the boarded double, acting Deputy Chief David Castle said.

No one was injured by the flames, but one of the 38 firefighters who responded to the fire reported he was injured in a way that did not involve a burn, according to preliminary reports. Castle declined to elaborate on the firefighter’s injury.

The blaze at 3323-3321 Cleveland Ave. was called in about 3:40 p.m. Firefighters arrived at the scene three minutes later and it was under control at 4:22 p.m., Castle said.

The fire was starting to spread to an adjacent home at 3319-3317 Cleveland. Firefighters, though, were able to contain it — but not before it melted the home’s siding. There was no apparent damage to the interior of that home, Castle said.

Tyajai Williams, who lives across the street, said she ran to warn the tenants in 3319-3317 Cleveland while her father called the police.

She said she saw two men wearing hard hats on a side of the building but did not see their tools. After they left, she said, she thought she saw smoke, but wasn’t sure. When she saw flames, she acted.

Lili LeGardeur — who has served on the governing board of the neighborhood association and who lives around the corner from the burned house — said she called the owner of the house, Wilma Spiers, in 2008 to complain about the structure being wide open, moldy and blighted.

The house had not been remediated since Hurricane Katrina, she said.

The neighborhood association in 2010 reported the problems to the city’s Code Enforcement division, she said.

Gladys Galindo Silvas, manager of the home with the melted siding and two other homes in the 3300 block of Cleveland Avenue, said she complained about the then “wide-open” house to City Hall “about a year ago” and reported that it was leaning toward the double she manages. She said she was given a number to follow up on her complaint but no one answered that number.

Ultimately, boards were screwed over the building’s openings.

In January 2012, Miles Trapolin, LeGardeur’s husband, sent an email to Code Enforcement stating the property’s windows and doors are boarded. “However, it has only a partial roof,” which makes the structure blighted.

Pura S. Bascos, director of Code Enforcement, replied via email on January 20 that “an inspection was performed on 1/18 and we await a hearing date.”

Then came the fire.

Its cause is under investigation, Castle said.

As firefighters left the scene Thursday, LeGardeur spoke of being “disappointed, frustrated.”

People work hard to care for their homes in Mid-City, she said.

“People who don’t care, pose a real danger to us,” she continued. “Code enforcement is not a luxury; it’s a necessity.”

http://www.nola.com/traffic/index.ssf/2012/05/house_with_history_of_complain.html

Seniors have been enjoying coffee before their exams from Fair Grinds Coffee Shop. The Fair Grinds coffee cart is stationed in the breezeway near the cafeteria each morning and not only provides a pre-exam perk, but helps promote fair trade – an important element of Catholic Social Teaching.

Fair trade products ensure that the farmer/artisan receives a just wage; concepts like micro-finance, sustainable farming practices and community (co-op) organizing are also supported by the fair trade movement. Fair Grinds Coffee Shop is a 100% fair trade coffee shop.

By partnering with them, Cabrini helps to support fair trade as well as our local community. Please be sure to abide by the usual handbook rules: no beverages outside of the cafeteria area, no littering, etc. The Fair Grinds coffee cart will return next week for all students to enjoy each morning before their upcoming exams! Hot and iced coffee is available for $2 per cup.

For more information, please go to:
http://civilsheriff.com/RealEstateSales.asp

Ownership of property, either real estate or movables, can be jeopardized by a money judgment or by a delinquent payment on a loan.

When the interests of a borrower and/or other defendants in a property are foreclosed, the property is sold to satisfy the debt at a sale called a public auction. The Office of the Sheriff Civil Division is the official auctioneer for Civil Court ordered sales in Orleans Parish.

The City’s SERVENOLA office will soon be providing a list of volunteer opportunities where you can make a significant difference toward winning the fight against blight. These aren’t cleanup days or media opportunities but real jobs where volunteers can make a difference. Why volunteers? Because the city literally does not have the money to hire more people without raising your taxes.

Click on the graphics below for a larger view

If you live next to a blighted building or an overgrown lot in New Orleans your perception of the fight against blight may not be positive.

But, when you consider that the City of New Orleans’ BlightStat program has received acclaim both nationally and internationally, that may mitigate your frustration a bit.

And, when you consider that Chicago and Philadelphia with tax bases and therefore resources exponentially larger than New Orleans have the same problems curbing blight that may help your mood as well. Chicago, Philadelphia and other cities both large and small are looking to the City of New Orleans in the fight against blight. The City of New Orleans’ perspicacity and initiatives have positioned our city as the clear leader in the fight against blight.

However, if your neighborhood is still suffering from the effects of Hurricane Katrina with blighted housing and overgrown lots in abundance, all those accolades are meaningless. You just want the problem to go away.

I’ve been to all 34 BlightStat meetings since November, 2010 and I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that the people at the table in these BlightStat meetings are passionate and purposeful in their desire to have New Orleans continue to grow, prosper and be blight-free.

So, what’s the hold up then? Here’s what I have observed:
There does not appear to be any problem getting properties inspected. In fact, the inspectors have all been assigned to specific districts within the city and are even more efficient than before. Inspections are not the problem.

Cases are being adjudicated as fast as they come in but resets and guilty with conditions have slowed the process somewhat. The City is moving toward more straight out guilty judgments which is reasonable considering owners of blighted property have had 7 years to get their act together. The adjudication process is part of the problem because case management has struggled to keep up with the volume of material coming in from inspectors, and older inspections get stale (hence the reinspections).

Miles Granderson and Tyler Gray are highly competent, motivated and passionate lawyers that are dedicated to finding heirs to dead owners and previous owners that won’t pay taxes or do anything with their property. That takes time. You would be amazed at just how much time that takes.

THERE ARE ONLY 2, yes I said 2 lawyers to do the actual research in order to file writs on thousands of cases.

The goal of these 2 dedicated lawyers is to get 65 cases completely researched and ready for adjudication each month. I dare say a highly staffed private firm would have trouble doing the same considering the amount of research and fact checking that is required to produce a writ.

So, what’s the answer you ask? You, my friend are the answer. If you can help enter information or are a paralegal that can volunteer a few hours each week your service would go a long way toward moving our city forward. At 65 cases each month, we’ll all be dead and gone before the thousands of properties that need it get adjudicated.

So, what’s it going to be? Are you going to be that bitter resident that sits around and grumbles that nothing is happening with blight in your neighborhood? Or, are you going to be that person that gets off the sofa and does something about it? I suggest the latter option will make you a much happier citizen.

The City’s SERVENOLA office will soon be providing a list of volunteer opportunities where you can make a significant difference toward winning the fight against blight. These aren’t cleanup days or media opportunities but real jobs where volunteers can make a difference. Why volunteers? Because the city literally does not have the money to hire more people without raising your taxes.

“But, that’s what I pay taxes for”, you say. That’s right. But, the problem is we have a city built for 600,000 people but only have a population of 343,000. Of that 343,000 only a comparatively small percentage pay property taxes. That is the real problem. There just isn’t enough money to make the things you want to happen… happen. I strongly urge you to consider helping the city help you. Call the city’s law department at 658-9800 to find out how you can help the city help you.

Click here to view a PDF of the full presentation of the 34th BlightStat meeting held on May 10, 2012

This was the 34th BlightStat meeting to which the public was invited.

It is clear that enforcement of laws related to blighted properties will be more aggressive in 2012. The Mayor’s directive to have 10,000 blighted properties eradicated in three years remains on track.

BlightStat 35 will be held on June 14, 2012. The meetings are on the 8th floor of City Hall in the Homeland Security Conference Room.

Below are notes from the May 10, 2011 BlightStat meeting:

Mr. Oliver Wise, Director of the Office of Performance and Accountability, began the meeting with introductions.

Mr. Justin Kray was first up with a review of “a look across 2011-2012”. A better mix of judgments, hearings and inspections than before the BlightStat process started. Mr. Kray also works in the Office of Performance & Accountability and is the man who has a lot of technical expertise. One of his duties is to prepare the BlightStat presentation which you can click on below.

Ms. Pura Bascos, Director of Code Enforcement/Safety & Permits, reviewed the “Inspections by Type and Result” slide. Of 377 inspections 66 complied.

Ms. Bascos indicated that more owners are bringing their properties into compliance.

Rules for recording the judgment is the result of the Mennonite case.
You can see a summary of the Mennonite case further along in this post.

Mr. Kray indicated the average time between when an inspection is requested and it is completed is 15 days.

Mr. Wise indicated the “Posting of Judgments” was the most important. Currently the average time is 50 days.

Mr. Andy Kopplin, CAO, indicated that once the backlog is eliminated the numbers will become more positive.

Mr. Kopplin indicated that the graphs show steady work but could be misleading to those that believe faster is better. There are conditions and requirements that have time limitations. Departments are currently working at maximum capacity.

Accela continues to be a thorn in the side of progress. The City is currently working to change the computer system to one that better serves its purpose.

Ms. Bascos indicated that inspection sweeps are becoming unnecessary because inspectors have been assigned to specific districts.

Mr. Hillarie Carrere noted that large apartment complexes may have 300 units but the complex is counted as one.

Ms. Bascos indicated that inspections have been done in every neighborhood in New Orleans.

Mr. Kopplin inquired about files that don’t meet the standards for noticing etc., the files then go back and go through the process again.
This is being done.

Ms. Kristin Illarmo indicated that one month a lot of research is done then the next month a bunch of hearings are done. So the graph will go way up and down. To get a better flow, work has been reassigned so that steady improvement is the result.

Mr. Wise inquired about a large spike on the graph. Ms. Illarmo indicated that was when a huge backlog was eliminated but that it was not a number that could be sustained because of the amount of research required on each property.

One team will do research while the other does hearings to keep the workflow consistent. Ms. Illarmo indicated that they are required to go to the notarial archives to research properties as part of the process. This takes time. Real Estate records are on the 5th floor of City Hall.

Ms. Denise Ross indicated that the real estate records need to be digitized. Currently the records are only available to the public and city employees for two hours each day. Mr. Kopplin indicated that it is a priority that city employees be allowed to research properties more than two hours each day.

Ms. Illarmo indicated the inspectors and case managers are working together and getting better results.

Mr. Kopplin congratulated the inspectors for getting re-inspections done more timely.

Mr. Wise indicated that due to a problem with Accela, inspections were done but were not necessarily entered into the workflow process. The Accela system will be replaced eventually.

Mr. Kopplin indicated that if lack of resources is a barrier to progress then Ms. Illarmo and he should discuss. Apparently that is a problem along with Accela not showing cases in the system properly. Ms. Illarmo indicated she currently has two vacancies in her department. Mr. Kopplin indicated, “let’s get it done”.

Mr. Kray gave praise to Ms. Illarmo for her diligent work. She provides a lot of data to the Office of Performance and Accountability which makes the tracking of data and the production of graphs possible.

Mr. Carrere indicated that strategic demolitions will be down due to noticing and other issues. Ms. Bascos indicated many of the strategic demos are being pushed to Sheriff Sale.

Ms. Kopplin indicated that lack of a clear owner obstructs the process in many cases and can add as much as 6 months to the life of the case. If no one buys it once it gets to the Sheriff Sale then it goes to a Sheriff Sale again. Each property going to Sheriff Sale costs the city 1,500 dollars.

Post-judgment Supervisor Review is the part of the process where it is determined whether a property will be demolished or go to Sheriff Sale as is.

Ms. Brenda Breaux indicated that a data sharing agreement is in the works which will help move things along.

Mr. Kopplin indicated that a request to FEMA has been made to get more Katrina-damaged properties into the demolition pipeline.

FEMA rep – funding ends for the demo program ends June 30th. An extension has been applied for.
INAP contracts expired in mid-March. Ms. Bascos indicated that other resources are being investigated. Paperwork for new contracts to get lots cut have been submitted. Ms. Bascos indicated that she is requesting a pool of contractors to eliminate the problem of one contractor having broken equipment and being unable to complete the project.

Mr. Kopplin stressed the importance of getting the lots cut in the 9th Ward. Ms. Bascos indicated she is the one responsible. Mr. Kopplin indicated he would like to continue the process of getting local people to cut the lots.

Mike of NORA indicated demolishing multi-family units is a problem.
The city has identified 300 slabs from the land trust that will be removed said Mike….

Mr. Miles Granderson reviewed the foreclosure proceedings slide. He indicated that Accela is also a barrier to progress for the foreclosure process. The Accela system will eventually be replaced.

Mr. Granderson indicated that “noticing issues” prevented 8 cases from moving forward. The original goal was 1,000 cases per year but has been reduced to 750 because Mr. Granderson and Mr. Gray are the only two lawyers researching properties and “noticing” owners.

Civilsherrif.com has the Sheriff Sales listed.

Mr. Granderson indicated that proceeds from sales were down because there were no large sale days in April.

Mr. David Lessinger of NORA discussed property inventory disposition. NORA is taking on a bigger role in getting properties transferred.

Mr. Brian Lawlor, Director of the Office of Community Development, indicted the Supernova process is up and running. Rent-to-own program has training for potential home owners. Banks have been responsive to the process.

A few interesting points from BlightStat 33 are below:

Ms. Pura Bascos and Ms. Kristin Illarmo both noted that the city is allowing fewer conditional guilty judgements at the blight adjudication hearings. This is a clear message to blighted property owners that the city has given them plenty of time to get their act together. After 7 years, the city like its residents, is tired of the excuses. Fix your property or sell your property. Don’t like those options? Then the city will take action to protect their interests.

The Law Department appears to be efficient and diligent in their fight against blight. But, with only 2 lawyers to get cases ready for blight court, the situation could be compared to 2 knights swinging swords at the bottom of a well. They may eventually get to the top but it’s going to take a long long time.

Ms. Breaux mentioned that there are only 2 lawyers working on filing writs for code lien foreclosure process (Mr. Tyler Gray & Mr. Miles Granderson).The New Orleans Bar Association has been contacted for lawyers willing to perform pro bono work. Big law firms have been contacted to see if they would be willing to provide a paralegal to help. The Board of Ethics approved the city’s request to ask the public for help. Ms. Brenda Breaux plainly stated that the 2 lawyers working on research are simply overloaded with cases to work on.

Mr. David Lessinger with NORA indicated that a steady consistent stream of information is the goal.

Mr. Jeff Hebert, Director of NORA, indicated that “noticing” issues are the biggest problem nationwide. “Noticing” means notifying the owners or heir of owners that the city is about to take action on their property.

Mr. Wise noted that when the lawyers refer to the “mennonite case” they are referring to Mennonite Board of Missions vs. Adams. A summary of that case is below:
***
Summary of Mennonite Board of Missions v. Adams,
462 U.S. 791 (1983).
Facts

Alfred Jean Moore had executed a mortgage in favor of the Mennonite Board of Missions (P) to secure an obligation. Moore had purchased land from the Mennonite Board of Missions and was responsible for paying taxes. The Board was not aware that Moore had failed to pay taxes. The county moved to sell the property for lack of tax payment.

The county provided proper service according to state law. Notice was posted in the courthouse, the state published an announcement, and sent Moore a certified letter. The Board was not otherwise informed of the county’s efforts to sell the property. The land was later sold to Adams (D). Neither Moore nor the Board attended the sale. Moore continued to pay her obligation to the Board which remained unaware that the land had been sold.

Procedural History
Adams filed for quiet title and summary judgment. The Board contended that it still held title to the land because the tax sale was invalid due to inadequate service of process. The trial court found in favor of Adams and upheld the tax sale statute against the service challenge. Judgment in favor of Adams was affirmed on appeal to the court of appeals and the Supreme Court granted certiorari.
Issue

Is notice by publication and posting sufficient to provide a mortgagee of real property with adequate notice of a proceeding to sell the mortgaged property for nonpayment of taxes?

Holding and Rule (Marshall)

No. A mortgagee whose mortgage would be divested by a tax sale is entitled to personal service of notice of sale by virtue of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The constitution demands that a party receive notice through mail or other means that will ensure actual notice of a proceeding which will adversely affect the interests of any party, provided it is reasonably possible to ascertain the party’s name and address.

The Supreme Court in Mullane v. Central Hanover Bank & Trust Co. held that due process demands that notice must be reasonably calculated to inform interested parties of the pendency of the action and afford an opportunity to present their objections. A mortgagee has a protected property interest and is entitled to notice that is reasonably calculated to apprise of a pending tax sale.

Unless a mortgagee is not reasonably identifiable constructive notice alone is not sufficient. Constructive notice is primarily designed to attract prospective buyers and is unlikely to reach those who do not make special efforts to seek tax sales. Notice to a the property owner who is not in privity with creditors and who has failed to retain the property cannot be surmised provide actual notice to the mortgagee. The use of less reliable forms of notice is not sufficient when an inexpensive and efficient means such as mail is available.
Disposition

Judgment reversed.
Dissent (O’Connor)

Process needs to be tailored to a given situation and circumstances. With the majority holding in this case, the court has set a low-bar standard for process. Notice by mail or other means to establish certain notice is a now a minimum constitutional requirement for any legally protected property interest.

The majority is rejecting earlier cases in which this Court acknowledged the impossibility of establishing a rigid formula as to the kind of notice that must be given, and that “notice will vary with the circumstances and conditions”. Policy considerations of the state override those of process. Due process does not require that the State save a party from its own lack of care when it has acted unreasonably in failing to protect its interests.
***

Mr. Kopplin noted that Chicago and Philadelphia also have significant blight problems. They are much bigger cities but are looking to New Orleans for clues on how to fight blight.

Mr. Lessinger further stated that the largest number of properties are disposed of through the lot-next-door program. The Louisiana Land Trust is working with the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority to get properties closed out.

Mr. Brian Lawlor (Office of Community Development) said that an announcement will be made soon about the availability of 7 or 8 million dollars for rehabilitation and renewal of rental properties. The soft-second program is very successful. Mr. Lawler said to look for an announcement about the “SUPERNOVA” program soon.

Mr. Kopplin said the overall goal is to get people to do what they are supposed to do.

Mr. Hebert answered my question about Federal Government involvement (other that FEMA). He indicated that the Federal department of Housing and Urban Development has helped fund the blight eradication process and that the Justice Department is here helping because blight contributes to crime.

You can review reports on all of the previous BlightStat Meetings in the links below:
Blight Sweep in 9th Ward: http://fsjna.org/2010/11/blighted-beginnings/
BLIGHTSTAT ONE: http://fsjna.org/2010/11/bi-weekly-blight-business/
BLIGHTSTAT TWO:http://fsjna.org/2010/11/keeping-our-eyes-on-the-prize/
BLIGHTSTAT THREE: http://fsjna.org/2010/12/what-gets-measured-gets-managed/
BLIGHTSTAT FOUR: http://fsjna.org/2010/12/blight-busting/
2010 Year End Update: http://fsjna.org/2010/12/year-end-update-from-the-landrieu-administration/
BLIGHTSTAT FIVE: http://fsjna.org/2011/01/the-5th-dimension-of-blight/
BLIGHTSTAT SIX: http://fsjna.org/2011/01/a-sixth-sense-for-blight/
BLIGHTSTAT SEVEN: http://fsjna.org/2011/02/the-7-heavens-of-blight/
BLIGHTSTAT EIGHT: http://fsjna.org/2011/02/8-by-ya-mommas/
BLIGHTSTAT NINE: http://fsjna.org/2011/03/blightstat-9/
BLIGHTSTAT TEN: http://fsjna.org/2011/03/blightstat-10/
BLIGHTSTAT ELEVEN: http://fsjna.org/2011/04/blightstat-11/
BLIGHTSTAT TWELVE: http://fsjna.org/2011/04/blightstat-12/
Mayor’s State of the City Address: http://fsjna.org/2011/04/one-city-that-shares-one-fate/
BLIGHTSTAT THIRTEEN: http://fsjna.org/2011/05/blightstat-13/
BLIGHTSTAT FOURTEEN: http://fsjna.org/2011/05/blightstat-14/
BLIGHTSTAT FIFTEEN: http://fsjna.org/2011/06/blightstat-15/
CITY GETS REPORT CARD: http://fsjna.org/2011/06/city-gets-report-card/
BLIGHTSTAT SIXTEEN: http://fsjna.org/2011/06/blightstat-16/
BLIGHTSTAT SEVENTEEN: http://fsjna.org/2011/06/blightstat-17/
BLIGHTSTAT EIGHTEEN: http://fsjna.org/2011/07/blightstat-18
BLIGHTSTAT NINETEEN: http://fsjna.org/2011/07/blightstat-19/
BLIGHTSTAT TWENTY: http://fsjna.org/2011/08/blightstat-20/
BLIGHTSTAT TWENTY-ONE: http://fsjna.org/2011/08/blightstat-turns-21/
BLIGHTSTAT TWENTY-TWO: http://fsjna.org/2011/09/blightstat-22/
BLIGHTSTAT TWENTY-THREE: http://fsjna.org/2011/09/blightstat-23/
FIGHT BLIGHT RIGHT: http://fsjna.org/2011/09/fight-blight-right/
BLIGHTSTAT TWENTY-FOUR: http://fsjna.org/2011/10/blightstat-24/
CITIZENS PARTICIPATE: http://fsjna.org/2011/10/citizens-participate-in-new-orleans/
BLIGHTSTAT TWENTY-FIVE: http://fsjna.org/2011/10/blightstat-25/
BLIGHTSTAT TWENTY-SIX: http://fsjna.org/2011/11/blightstat-turns-one
BLIGHTSTAT TWENTY-SEVEN: http://fsjna.org/2011/11/27-meetings-about-blight/
BLIGHTSTAT TWENTY-EIGHT: http://fsjna.org/2011/12/blightstat-28/
BLIGHTSTAT TWENTY-NINE: http://fsjna.org/2011/12/blightstat-moving-to-monthly-meetings/
BLIGHTSTAT THIRTY: http://fsjna.org/2012/01/armageddon-has-arrived-for-blighted-property-owners/
BLIGHTSTAT 31:http://fsjna.org/2012/02/31-flavors-of-blight/
BLIGHTSTAT 32:http://fsjna.org/2012/03/blightstat-32-for-you/
BLIGHTSTAT 33:http://fsjna.org/2012/04/blightstat-33/
BLIGHTSTAT 34:http://fsjna.org/2012/05/blightstat-34/

Hi everyone,
Please consider helping us this Thursday at 2600 Esplanade to:

- Divide Paper White bulbs

- divide and plant 48 gallon sized Mondo grass(MONKEY GRASS)

- Mulch existing trees

- Water (we really need nearby neighbors to water weekly)

- Meet neighbors | THIS Thursday, May 10th | 5:30 pm | 2600 Esplanade | Be There!

The cold front should provide an excellent opportunity to be outdoors.

Bring shovel/pick.

If you can’t help but would like to give a donation, We can give 6 Narcissus bulbs (paper whites) for every $10 donation to cover extra costs (locally grown at Fortier Park).

$500 was provided by a Home Depot Love your block grant.
Thanks Home Depot!

This is an attempt to get this space more active.

Bobby Wozniak
1322 North Lopez Street
New Orleans, LA 70119
Cell: 504.452.0386

A bag of po-boy bread awaits retrieval.

Join the Magical Mystery Tour every Wednesday at FSJNAdotORG as we bring you photos of the great things in and around Faubourg St. John.