The neighborhood association reimburses $150 to any Faubourg St. John neighbor that installs a camera on their house (looking out to the street) that records and is registered with SafeCam NOLA.
For more information and specific requirements, contact Teddy Mccullough at: [email protected]
SafeCam NOLA is a New Orleans Police Department initiative to enlist the help of community members in the fight against crime. The SafeCam online registration service was developed by the New Orleans Police & Justice Foundation at the request of NOPD. Citizen-provided security camera footage is increasingly becoming an invaluable asset to NOPD, helping establish leads and identify perpetrators. By voluntarily registering your contact information with NOPD through this site, detectives will know how to reach you if a crime occurs in the vicinity of your property. Registering your information does not provide NOPD with direct access to your camera. NOPD will only contact you if they believe your camera could contain evidence relevant to a criminal investigation. Evidence provided by your camera could mean the difference between bringing a perpetrator to justice versus leaving a crime unsolved.
An email from Leslie Hardin of the St. Charles Avenue Association requested that the information below be posted on our website. The information has been edited to reduce the length but you will still need a considerable time commitment to take in all the information. The original document can be found by clicking here
If you are determined to make your neighborhood a better place, the information below is great reference material.
***
The citizens of New Orleans are faced with an epidemic of crime that threatens to undermine the future of our city. This rising tide of violence diminishes opportunities for our children.
In many ways, the public safety problems we are faced with today are a result of missed opportunities. With large segments of our community unable to access economic opportunity, quality education, or mental health and drug treatment programs, widespread crime comes as little surprise.
While our police force works to gain capacity, many residents feel as if they have been left on their own to handle an urgent crisis. As community-members, we may not have the resources to solve each of these deep-rooted problems. However, there is much we can do at the local level to make progress.
We can and will rise to the challenge of reducing crime and improving our communities.
Safe on Our Streets (SOS NOLA) was formed by a partnership between the St. Charles Avenue Association and St. Claude Main Street. More than 50 neighborhood associations, all committed to finding solutions to public safety and community improvement, have joined SOS NOLA
These tools for public safety were selected because each requires little or no government assistance. In other words, they can be implemented by the community quickly and at low cost. Each of the sections was authored by a community group that has implemented a program with success right here in New Orleans.
Every community is different—each neighborhood faces slightly different issues and has different resources for addressing public safety problems. The Toolkit was designed to provide a menu of options. A community might like to implement any number of these programs, in any order.
Together, we can build a city where every resident is Safe on Our Streets.
***
BROADMOOR IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
CRIME PREVENTION AND ALLEVIATION STRATEGY
THE BROADMOOR IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
In 2010, Broadmoor community leaders worked with their state representatives to introduce a bill that would designate Broadmoor as a “Neighborhood Improvement District.” The legislation formally established Broadmoor’s boundaries, created an elected governing board, and allowed for a
parcel-fee vote. On November 2, 2010, Broadmoor voters approved funding the improvement district for five years through an annual $100 parcel fee. This was reapproved in 2015 for another five years.
The City of New Orleans collects the fee through property-tax collection and, after taking out a one-percent collection fee, turns the money over to the Broadmoor Improvement Association’s Board
of Commissioners. Through public meetings, residents’ suggestions and other proposals, the board decides how the money will be spent. As opposed to a security district, which uses parcel funding for neighborhood security patrols, BIA’s parcel fee funds programs and services as well as neighborhood improvements that directly impact residents’ quality of life. Services include a community food pantry, primary care, mental health support, educational opportunities,recreational programs and neighborhood social events. Additionally, parcel fee dollars support tree plantings,
strategic crime camera installations, blight clean-ups and small infrastructure improvements.
CRIME CAMERA INITIATIVE
The Broadmoor Improvement Association leverages improvement district and grant dollars to a crime camera initiative. The Broadmoor Improvement Association’s crime committee works with NOPD
and residents to identify crime hot spots and strategically place cameras in neighborhood
entry points in order to capture activity.
Broadmoor Improvement Association’s LEADERSHIP TEAM & PARTNERSHIPS
The Broadmoor Improvement Association employs four full-time employees as well as various other contract workers, interns and volunteers in order to carry out the work of the organization. The Broadmoor Improvement Association maintains strong partnerships with various entities throughout
the community including faith-based partners, Keller Library and Community Center, Wilson School, South Broad Community Health and the business community.
SECURITY & IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS
WHAT IS A SECURITY DISTRICT?
Security Taxing Districts or “Security Districts” are zones in the New Orleans metropolitan area
that employ private security companies or off-duty New Orleans police to supplement the work of the
New Orleans Police Department in providing for public safety.
HOW IS A SECURITY DISTRICT CREATED?
The process of creating a Security District involves multiple steps and can take months or years
to complete. First, the state legislature must pass enabling legislation to establish
the security district as a political subdivision of the state. Second, a referendum is held for
residents of the proposed district to approve or reject the creation of a Security District. If
voters approve, the third step is to establish a board, begin assessing fees and initiate the
proposed services.
ARE THERE OTHER SECURITY DISTRICTS?
New Orleans currently has about 25 security districts, with most of them being in New Orleans East,
Mid City and Uptown.
HOW IS A SECURITY DISTRICT FUNDED?
As political subdivisions of the state, Security Districts have the right to impose property taxes.
Most assess flat per-parcel fees, although some assess a millage-based fee that varies with
property values. These funds are collected annually by the City of New Orleans and distributed to
the appropriate Security District.
HOW DO SECURITY DISTRICTS OPERATE?
A board of community members is established to oversee services, hire patrols, administer the
program and comply with auditing requirements. Many Security Districts employ a paid staff person
to manage the funds and services. Typically, a Security District employs either private security
services (such as N.O.P.P), off-duty NOPD officers, or a combination of the two. The type and
number security officers on patrol, the number hours per day and of days per week is set by each
individual Security District.
HOW MUCH DOES A SECURITY DISTRICT PATROL COST?
The cost of a Security District depends on the number of officers, hours and days. Generally, each
security officer costs about $25 – $35 per hour. Security District annual budgets range from
$75,000 per year to $600,000 per year depending on the scope of services.
WHAT SERVICES DOES A SECURITY DISTRICT PROVIDE?
The scope of services is determined by each Security District. Typical services include regular
patrol cars, bike patrols, foot patrols as well as additional services such as escorting somebody
home from work late at night or meeting a resident as a taxi brings them home or at their car as
they load or unload groceries.
DO SECURITY DISTRICTS IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY?
The office of the New Orleans Inspector General found that the presence of a Security District was
a significant predictor of lower property crime rates, but not a significant predictor of reduction
in violent crime or murder rates. The OIG found that the public’s feeling of safety increased and
fear decreased.
WHAT ABOUT A “COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT”?
An innovative approach may make it possible for us to utilize funds for both security services and
community development needs such as youth programming, park maintenance and other improvements.
WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE?
Please discuss public safety concerns with your neighbors, community leaders, police department and
elected officials. You can read the Office of Inspector General “Review of New Orleans Security
Taxing District” report from September 23, 2013 on the inspector general website at nolaoig.gov.
NEW ORLEANS SECURITY DISTRICTS AS OF 2012
click on the map for a larger view
THE ZION CITY STORY
In 2012, Zion City organized their neighborhood residents to look at how to improve their community. Below are the 6 steps used from start to finish.
STEP 1
The Zion Preservation Association worked with Beacon of Hope to map their community and they found the following:
• Over 50% vacant properties
• 30% blighted properties
Community mapping assesses the number and type of blighted properties, and monitor progress towards improvement.
STEP 2
Zion City residents used data to identify owners and monitor legal progress on blighted properties
including the following:
• New Orleans Assessor’s website to investigate ownership and tax issues nolaassessor.com
• Blight status to monitor enforcement progress Blightstatus.nola.gov
STEP 3
Residents wanted to know why blighted properties in Zion City were so hard to bring back to
commerce. One reason was low property values that made it hard to build houses or businesses in the
area. They found that certain policies and strategies would work better for their real estate
market type.
STEP 4
Zion City looked at policies and tools that could help community members access or purchase
blighted properties cheaply if the owners wouldn’t maintain them.
STEP 5
Zion City residents worked to create an action plan for their community based on the following:
• Vision
• Property research and data
• Policy knowledge
• Property value knowledge
• Partners
• Community Assets
This action plan was specific to their community and was to improve blighted properties and their
quality of life.
Step 6
Zion City worked to acquire 2 lots from cooperative owners/ partners and create a park, in
partnership with Land Trust for Louisiana. Considerations for any project of this kind include the following:
• Liability insurance
• Maintenance costs
• Upfront costs
• Design and features
• Partners
Strong partnerships were established, funds raised, and property owners were found who wanted to
work with the group to execute the project.
More information about the Zion City project can be found at http://www.nolablighttoolkit.com/
REPORTING AND DEALING WITH BLIGHTED PROPERTY
The second section of the blighted property section of this toolkit is the city of New Orleans
process for reporting and dealing with blighted property as found on nola.gov
INTAKE
Call 311 to report blighted property. Begin collecting pictures and documents to illustrate the
blight.
INPUT
A case is created. You can follow the status of the case on http://www.blightstatus.com/
INSPECTION
Code Enforcement Inspectors perform detailed inspections of buildings exteriors and the lot
conditions. The target date is 30 days from the complaint to the inspection.
RESEARCH
The code violations are documented then
extensive field research is done to identify the owners or legal interest. As a citizen you
may look at http://www.nolaassessor.com/ to find owners of properties in New Orleans.
NOTICE
Hearing dates are set and notification sent to all interested parties. It is also posted in the Times Picayune and on the online calendar https://data.nola.gov/
DAY OF HEARING
Owners are commanded by law to appear at the Code Enforcement Hearings. The owner or legal
representative must show work in
progress to bring the property into compliance with city code. Concerned citizens may attend
hearings and provide recent information that indicates the property continues to be a public
nuisance and blight.
JUDGMENT
Three things can happen at this point. The case can be reset as a work in progress. It can be
dismissed as the work has been completed to address the blight or a judgment may be
issued. Notice of Judgment will be issued to the owner and if not appealed, remediated and/or paid in full will be filed with the recorder of mortgages 30 days after the hearing. This filing will constitute a lien on th property and will give the City the authority to remediate the violations and/or seize the
property for Sheriff Sale.
POST JUDGMENT ACTIONS
If a guilty judgment is recorded and a lien i placed on the property, Code Enforcement evaluates
the property through an administrative review process to determine the best approach to remove the
hazardou conditions of public nuisance and blight. The city has 3 paths for abatement.
1. Lot Clearing and Abatement:
In coordination with NORA http://www.noraworks.org/, the City has launched a city-wide lot clearing
program can perform multiple cuts of identified lots with high grass and weeds and other unsafe
conditions. The City cutting the grass will not remove fines against the owner.
2. Sheriff’s Sale: Properties approved for lien foreclosure will have writs filed with Civil District court to be turned over for the Sheriff’s sale. To view upcoming sales, http://www.civilsheriff.com
3. Demolition: Blighted properties may be selected by Code Enforcement for demolition. Once a
building is demolished, if the remaining lot remains in a blighted condition it may be sold at sheriff’s sale and/or could be maintained through the lot clearing program. Individuals interested in abating or acquiring blighted property may do one or more of the following:
MAINTENANCE
The new Lot Maintenance program under Chapter 66 is a strategic, place-based response to
concentrated blight. The Fight the Blight program allows the City to cut overgrowth, remove debris
and perform routine maintenance on a private lot and record costs on the property owner’s tax bill
if:
• The grass/growth is over 18 inches; or
• There is trash, debris or other refuse; or
• There is noxious (poison ivy, etc) growth This program also provides jobs and wrap-around
services such as GED prep, parenting classes, and job training to youth ages 18-24 through our vendor partnership with Covenant House. http://[email protected]
ACQUIRING/BUYING BLIGHTED PROPERTY
You’ll need to do your own research on the property and/or contact the property owner to see if it
is for sale. Email [email protected] and we’ll make note that you are interested in purchasing.
You can also look at the following websites for property information:
•http://www.nolaassessor.com/
•http://nola.gov/onestop/
•http://blightstatus.nola.gov/
•http://www.noraworks.org/
•http://www.civilsheriff.com/RealEstateSales. asp
NEW ORLEANS REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY NORA
The Lot Next Door 3.0 Program provides an opportunity to owners of property that share a common
boundary with a NORA owned property to purchase that property. Go to http://redevelop.nola.gov/ or call 504.658.4422 to complete LND 3.0 expression of interest forms. It is a first come first served process. All Lot Next Door properties are sold for at least fair market value.
PROJECT NOLA
ProjectNOLA enhances public safety by dramatically increasing police efficiency and citizen awareness. Managing the largest HD city-wide networked crime camera system in America, ProjectNOLA’s Incident Monitoring Center receives video from 1400 cameras placed on New Orleans homes and businesses. Routinely providing real-time supplemental information and video footage to officers, ProjectNOLA has assisted with over 500 criminal investigations, including 50 homicides.
A citizen-based crime abatement initiative, ProjectNOLA was created without the benefit of Federal
grant money or city tax dollars.
While store-bought camera systems are often affordable, the quality of the image and the
connectivity of the system may be less than more expensive professional camera systems. Project
NOLA understands that the expense of professional camera systems could be a barrier to entry, and
so now features LOANER crime cameras, which allow the camera host to view both live AND recorded
video in HD, from their PC, smart phone/ device, etc. Now, crime camera hosts may very easily
review their own video, for any reason and at any time.
For those wishing to get more than one or two ProjectNOLA crime cameras—free of charge—Project NOLA may help design a professional grade HD camera system for homes and businesses, point out where the system may be purchased from a reputable merchant for a great price, and suggest a local installation company that will install it for a special discounted price.
Already the most successful and cost efficient crime fighting program in New Orleans, Project NOLA is about to take another huge leap forward as UNO is providing a wing on campus. Select Graduate students will soon begin live monitoring our street- facing crime cameras, which will allow the
opportunity to proactively look for felony crimes in progress.
For additional information, contact: Bryan Lagarde Executive Director, Project NOLA 1308 Dealers Ave, Harahan, LA 70123 (504) 298-9117
FRERET IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
Business and homeowners along the Freret corridor found that they could affordably install crime cameras on their own. By purchasing “DIY” systems through a wholesale company or online, many property owners have been able to quickly establish a monitoring system. The more properties with cameras, the larger the area that could be monitored. When the property owner purchases and installs the camera system, they have 24/7 access to footage no matter what the severity of the incident is, and no proof of police reports needed. Plus, they can easily connect their system to NOPD’s SafeCam program.
One place to find wholesale systems is at: http://www.shoppingcctv.com/
Freret Corridor’s Suggested systems:
Two Camera System: Professional 4 Channel HDCVI
DVR Security Camera System with 4 x ½.8” 2.0 Mega pixels HDCVI
SONY CMOS CCTV Security Camera,
3.6mm/ M12 Fixed Lens, 24PCS Infrared LED, 49 feet IR distance. 1080p real time preview, 720P
realtime recording. iPhone, Android Viewing. Network live, backup, playback, USB2.0 Backup, PTZ
Control
Four Camera System:
Professional 4 Channel HD-CVI DVR with 2 x ½.8” 2.0 Mega pixels HDCVI
SONY CMOS CCTV Security Camera, 3.6mm Lens, 24 LEDs, 49 feet IR distance. All channel with 1080p
realtime live view. iPhone, Android Viewing. Network live, backup, playback, USB2.0 Backup
The following are “DIY” installers for these systems:
Louisiana Security, LLC 78016 Highway 437
Covington, LA 70433
866-413-0936
Link Security & Smart Home
1616 L & A Road, Suite 103
Metairie, LA 70001
866-529-3545
Advanced Custom Electronics 4808 Cleveland Place
Metairie, LA 70003
866-523-2338
NEW ORLEANS TRASH MOB
LITTER PICKUP ACTIVITY FOR NEIGHBORHOODS
Neighborhoods often feel helpless in the face of crime issues, but there are activities that promote social cohesion and sense of community. Picking up litter improves the appearance of the neighborhood and is an activity where neighbors connect with one another in a positive context. This is an activity that helps diminish the environmental factors that contribute to crime.
HOW TO HOST A CLEAN-UP:
1. Identify an area in your neighborhood that needs to be cleaned up.
2. Find a few community members who you can count on to help clean the area up.
3. Figure out what equipment or resources you need to be successful.
4. Schedule the event & invite other neighbors to participate.
5. Host the clean-up event. Prioritize safety of participants!
6. Document the event & share your success!
7. Plan your next clean-up event.
The most important thing to remember is that many hands make light work. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish with just a few people in a short amount of time. With the right participants
and equipment, you can host neighborhood clean ups with some regularity and they will become an
activity members of the community look forward to.
IDENTIFY AN AREA TO CLEAN-UP
Find an intersection or a park that has a litter problem and focus on just one area for each event.
Picking an easy to remember location makes it very easy to tell people what is going on. The more
neighbors remember what is going on, the more neighbors are likely to participate. Higher profile
locations ensure the community can see clean ups taking place and can easily see the result and impact of the clean up.
Things to think about when it comes to location:
• Don’t go on private land without permission.
• There’s plenty of litter to pick up in the public right-of-way between the sidewalk and the road
or in the neutral ground.
• If someone’s house has a lot of trash, report them to 311, don’t go into their yard!
• Roads mean traffic.
• Lowest traffic is on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and that makes clean-ups safer.
• Highest traffic is after work on weekdays, making clean-ups more risky.
• Most volunteers will drive to the clean-up. Think about where they’ll need to park.
• Pick locations where it is easy to pick up trash. Harder locations require special tools.
• Is there high grass & weeds? Litter is harder to pick up in overgrown areas.
• Is there water in an area, like from a busted pipe or recent rain? Wet trash is the worst trash,
is harder to pick up, and may require special tools.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS YOU CAN COUNT ON
Anyone can pick up trash on their block and improve their community, but this is about building
community through shared activities. When you’re organizing a clean-up, find some dedicated
community members who you know are going to participate and encourage others to join in.
• Get a core group of neighbors who are physically able to do this work. Who will show up and clean up even if everyone else forgets? These people are your core group.
• Partner with existing community groups and organizations. They already have a bunch of people who
are willing to do activities together, give them an activity!
• Churches
• Schools & Alumni Groups
• Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts
• Nearby neighborhood organizations (you help us, we help you)
• Nearby community groups that aren’t neighborhood specific
• Let the City know! Through the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Engagement or through your City
Councilmember, they may know other groups nearby trying to plan clean-ups too.
EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES
Clean-ups don’t require a lot of equipment and resources, but better equipment sure does make the
job easier! Basic Clean-Ups don’t require a lot of equipment, and you can generally get by with
just a few things.
• Closed-toed shoes
• Gardening gloves
• Trash bags – medium size yard & garden bags work the best. If you plan to separate plastic and
aluminum for recycling, get some regular white kitchen bags.
If you’re doing a little more than that, ask participants to bring some of the following household
items:
• Outdoor broom & dustpan
• Rakes
• Flat faced shovels
If you’re planning on doing this regularly, consider:
• Trash grabbers – not many folks have these on-hand, but it may be a good idea to buy some at a
local hardware store if your neighborhood group has any sort of budget.
• Orange vests – for working near a street
A few things are always good to have on hand:
• Hand sanitizer
• First-Aid Kit
• Sunscreen
• Water!
Equipment to Avoid:
• Flip flops
• Latex gloves
SCHEDULE EVENT & INVITE NEIGHBORS TO PARTICIPATE
Once you’ve got a location, have some people who are interested in showing up, and know what
equipment you need, it is time to schedule your event. You know the folks in your community, so
pick out the best time for the most people. Weekend mornings, especially Saturdays, seem to be a great time for a lot of people.
Important tips:
• Decide how many hours you plan to schedule the clean-up for. Some groups have success getting
neighbors together for 1 or 2 hours, large groups with dedicated volunteers can take more time. If
you’ve never done this, start off with short, 1 hour clean-ups.
• Seasons are important. It is easier to start at 10am in the Fall and Winter, but in Spring and
Summer you may consider starting much earlier to beat the heat.
USE A VARIETY OF WAYS TO INVITE PARTICIPANTS
• Tell them in person at community meetings, church services, or other gatherings.
• A clean-up may give you a reason to go door to door and hand out fliers about your neighborhood
organization and get to know neighbors.
•Set up the Event through social media such as email, Facebook, or Nextdoor. Pro-tip: create Facebook event and use the link as your main event invitation across other formats.
HOSTING A CLEAN-UP
Safety First! Picking up trash isn’t any more dangerous than working in your yard, but you still
have to make sure participants know what to expect. It is all basic, common sense stuff, but you
never realize it until you do it.
• There’s easy litter (quick to clean up) and hard garbage (mattresses, tires, busted furniture).
Go after the easy stuff and call the city 311 to report the big stuff.
• Some garbage is sharp and will cut through the skin. This is the biggest thing to watch out for.
• Garbage usually collects in piles. Don’t reach into a pile with your hands, even with gloves,
unless you know there’s nothing sharp.
• If you want to clean up broken glass (there’s always broken glass), use a broom & dustpan.
Picking it up with your hands (even with gloves) can cause cuts through the skin.
• If you’ve put anything sharp in a trash bag you’re walking with, hold it away from your leg
& don’t sling it over your shoulder. Sharp stuff can cut through the skin even inside a bag!
• Use tools like a rake, broom, trash grabber, dust pan, shovel, etc. Your back will thank you!
• If you pick up bottles or cans that may have liquid in them, point them away from your face as
you pick them up. This prevents gross liquid from splashing.
• If you find a bottle with an apple-juice colored liquid in it, it probably isn’t apple juice.
• Watch out for rusty nails.
• Have hand sanitizer at the ready.
• Don’t go too hard, especially when it is hot. You can get heatstroke very, very easily and you
won’t notice till you’re sick later on.
• Drink lots of water.
• Watch out for ant beds, stinging insects, or other bugs underneath some trash.
• Don’t eat or drink anything found on the ground at a litter clean-up
START ON TIME & END ON TIME
Collect all the full trash bags in one place at the end of the event. Make sure they’re in the
public right of way and not in someone’s yard. Near an intersection is good, but somewhere near the
street so Sanitation can schedule to pick it up. Report to 311 or Sanitation that your neighborhood hosted a clean-up, and tell them where the pile of bags is located.
If you separate recycling (plastic bottles and aluminum cans) into white garbage bags, the city
will not collect them. You’ll have to take them to someone’s house and put them in a recycle bin
there.
The city does not recycle glass. Glass goes in the trash bags with the other trash.
Rain delays are inevitable. New Orleans is one of the rainiest cities in the USA. It isn’t bad to
pick up trash in a light rain, but it is awful if it is a cold rain or a hard rain. Stop the clean
up immediately if you see lightning or hear thunder nearby!
Always stay in the public right of way and don’t go onto private property. What you consider trash
may be someone else’s treasure.
You can clean debris from the grates of catch basins, but don’t open them. Don’t reach your hands
or arms into the storm drains. The lids are very heavy & require special tools to open safely.
DOCUMENT & SHARE YOUR SUCCESS!
The big payoff is that you’ll be surprised how much you get done in a short amount of time, how
much better the neighborhood looks. Take before and after pictures, they are great to share on
social media and with other people in the neighborhood.
You can also email them to the City Office of Neighborhood Engagement, the Department of
Sanitation, and your City Councilmember.
PLAN YOUR NEXT EVENT!
Build off your success and get the neighbors together for this activity again and again.
STAY IN TOUCH
Community Links:
Safe on Our Streets (SOS)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ SOSNOLA/
Keep New Orleans Beautiful Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keepnolabeautiful/
NOLA TrashMOB Facebook: https://www. facebook.com/NolaTrashMob/
Government Links:
New Orleans Office of Sanitation: http://www. nola.gov/sanitation/
New Orleans Office of Neighborhood Engagement: http://www.nola. gov/neighborhood-engagement/
STREETLIGHTS
Here are some steps to simplify the process of gettting streetlights repaired:
1. Find and record the broken light or lights. On each light pole there is a number. Write down
the number and exact location.
2. Work with your neighborhood association and speak with one, unified voice if there are many
streetlights that are broken or missing.
3. Call and/or email the Department of Public Works (311 or [email protected]) and report the
problem. Give the DPW the exact location and number of the broken light or lights. Keep a log of
the time and date of your call and subsequent call or emails.
4. Contact your City Council Representative if the DPW does not repair the streetlights within a
few weeks. Email your Councilmember and keep a copy of your email in your file or journal. If you
do not hear from your representative within a reasonable time, make a personal appointment with the
Council Member.
5. When visiting your Council Member, be organized. Bring photos of missing or broken
streetlights, a record of phone calls and emails you have sent to the DPW and Council. Be
respectful of your Council Member’s time. Remind your Council Member that this is a public safety issue as well as an aesthetic issue.
6. If lights are not repaired in a reasonable length of time, get active. The St. Charles Avenue
Association printed and distributed 250 yard signs and 500 bumper stickers with the slogan, “Real
Lights, Real Fast.” They were distributed over a period of weeks, beginning with one Sunday
afternoon event in the parking lot of a prominent business on the Avenue.
7. Contact the Media. The St. Charles Avenue Association was featured on television, radio, print
and social media. When meeting with the media, bring a journal of meetings your association has
had with DPW, Council and any other city agencies. Also bring yard signs and bumper stickers.
Include any website or social media interactions.
8. Have your facts. The board members of the St. Charles Avenue Association divided the Avenue
into 10-block segments and recorded the number of streetlights in each segment that did not work. Example, from Carrollton to Broadway, more than 70% of the lights did not work. From Broadway to Napoleon, 80% did not work…and so it went. The numbers were astounding up and down
the Avenue.
9. Once the streetlights are repaired, make sure you contact the DPW, your Council Member and all
the media who covered the story and thank them. Gratitude is important at all levels.
FROM VACANT TO VIBRANT
In so many New Orleans communities, what would otherwise be tight-knit residential neighborhoods or
bustling commercial corridors are dotted with vacant and blighted lots. At best, these empty lots
sit as undeveloped spaces; at worst these unattended places become blighted, unsightly lots that
are a nuisance for neighbors.
At the same time, these vacant spaces have an unrealized potential for vibrancy. Along the St.
Claude Corridor, the community worked together to take three different vacant lots and turn them
into sources of revitalization. With a little creativity and a lot of community support, these
empty lots were turned into parks, markets and community hubs. We believe that each of these
projects can be a model for utilizing vacant lots in communities across New Orleans. Here’s what they
did and some ideas for how your community might turn vacant into vibrant.
SHORT TERM PROJECTS
While it is ideal to develop vacant lots for the long term, with houses or commercial buildings,
there are many ways to utilize the lot in the short term. The following projects require only
minimal commitment from the property owner, and can quickly build the momentum of revitalization in the area.
FOOD TRUCK PARK
For this project, we tried to solve two problems at one time. There are a number of food truck
businesses that are looking for a location to set up shop. At the same time, there are a number of
vacant lots that are ripe for commercial development. We paired the food truck operators with the owner of a vacant lot to create a Food Truck Park over four weeks. Each day, the food trucks would pull in and the park would open for customers, complete with picnic seating, family events and a music tent. The empty space because a place for the community to congregate and for small business entrepreneurs to connect with customers.
NIGHT MARKET
Similar to the Food Truck Park, the Night Market was a way to revitalize a vacant lot quickly,
without long-term infrastructure needs. With a twist on the Art Market or Farmer’s Market, we
decided to hold our “Night Market” in the evening, after the summer sun went down. Bringing in food
vendors, artisans, furniture makers, jewelers and vintage wares, the Night Market was a way to
bring vibrancy to the corridor at night time, leveraging the patrons of bars and restaurants and
providing a test case for retail businesses to open along the corridor.
SOME TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL SHORT – TERM PROJECTS
• Identify a group of businesses that might want to locate together, like a farmer’s market
• Organize with the property owner, vendors and neighbors to develop an operating plan
• Identify any infrastructure needs, such as electricity, water, restrooms, accessibility
• Secure the necessary permits for vendors, entertainment, etc
• Market the event to the neighborhood and beyond, asking your vendors to help spread the word
LONG TERM PROJECTS
Developing long term projects for vacant lots takes extra time and planning, but it helps to build
more sustainable communities. Part of any truly livable community is a neighborhood with public
green spaces. Here is what we did along St. Claude to bring parks to more people.
POCKET PARK
The project is known as a “Pocket Park” because it fits into the block on a small, vacant lot
between other buildings. For this project, we had permission of the property owner to turn his
vacant lot into a small public park. We worked with an architecture firm to engage the community
and learn how to design a space to meet their needs. After multiple community meetings and design sessions, we settled on a design that provided green space, seating, bike parking and improved the sidewalks for neighborhood use. The owner committed to keeping the grass cut, and the community committed to keeping it clean and using it for community events. What was one a grass field covered in litter is now a modern park that beautifies the area and brings amenities to the neighborhood.
SOME TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL LONG TERM PROJECTS:
• Identify a property that might help meet a long term need for community green space or gardens
• Meet with the property owner to see if they would be willing to support a long term investment
• Ask the community how they would use the lot. As a park, a garden, a community meeting space?
• Raise money to improve the lot with amenities such as trees, benches, planters and bike parking
• Work with the community to develop a design that they will enjoy and actually utilize
• Develop an agreement between the community group responsible for the lot and the property owner
• Engage the community in the improvement of the lot, such as helping to plant trees or install
benches. The community should stay engaged in continued maintenance through clean up events.
Use the new green space as a place for public events and community celebrations.
For more ideas and information, visit www.stclaude.org as well as http://www.communityprogress.net/
OPERATION CLEAN SWEEP
Before Operation Clean Sweep: education & development was form, if you had a graffiti problem in the city of New Orleans, you would call city hall. Since city hall did not have a department for graffiti, the city transferred you to N.O.P.D. they would have to take the call, and send a unit out to the location. Since police would have to catch vandals in the act, nothing was done, except to fill out the paper work. And, the graffiti stayed on. But most important, it took law enforcement away from priority crimes, to go fill out paper work.
Since Operation Clean Sweep was created, it has saved the New Orleans Police Department from over 9,000 phone calls and eliminated over 25,000 graffiti tags.
Operation Clean Sweep is the only non-profit agency that eliminates graffiti for a municipality.
Operation Clean Sweep was the official graffiti remover for 2013 Super Bowl & Mardi Gras.
*honored by president Bill Clinton
*honored by Gov. Foster and Gov. Jindal
*honored by Mayor Morial, Mayor Nagan
*supported by the New Orleans Police Department, New Orleans F.B.I. gang taskforce, Orleans
Parish Sheriff’s Dept., and the LA. State Police.
*nationals awards, “Keep America Beautiful”, People Magazine, and more. Contact the graffiti hotline at 504-486-9694 or visit www.operationcleansweepnola.com
NUISANCE PROPERTIES
Common to all of the nuisance abatement strategies is the need to (1) gather information, (2) contact the correct officials, (3) follow up and be persistent. While it can be difficult to live beside a
nuisance, the most important element is patience.
The Public Law Center has been asked by the Uptown Triangle Neighborhood Association to draft a
summary of legal actions that neighborhood organizations may take in response to criminal activity
occurring around alcoholic beverage outlets. Neighborhood groups have complained that many of these businesses are centers of criminal activity, loitering, noise violations, and littering in their
neighborhoods, and they would like to know what legal actions and remedies are available to them.
Four legal issues will be addressed in this memo: (1) Whether neighborhood organizations have a
cause of action for public nuisance under Louisiana state law; (2) Whether neighborhood
organizations have a cause of action for public nuisance under New Orleans’ Noise Control law; (3)
Whether neighborhood organizations have a cause of action under Louisiana state Alcoholic Beverage
Control law; and (4) Whether neighborhood organizations have a cause of action under New Orleans’
Code for Alcoholic Beverages.
Burden of Proof
If a neighborhood organization files a case against a business, the organization carries the burden
of proving by a preponderance of the evidence how the named business created a public nuisance or
permitted a disturbance of the peace. In order to avoid a dismissal for no cause of action, the
neighborhood organization, through its petition, needs to prove how the facility contributed,
conspired, attempted, or abetted anyone to engage in acts adversely affecting the public health or safety. One way to prove the facility contributed to the criminal activity is to show that the owners, agents, or employees of the facility were involved in the criminal activity or had sufficient knowledge of the activity to conclude they were permitting the prohibited activity to occur on the premises. The petitioner must also prove that persons involved in criminal activity outside the location were patrons of that location. In order to avoid dismissal for vagueness, the petition should include specific details of specific incidents with police reports and signed affidavits by all witnesses.
Summary of the Law
I. Louisiana Public Nuisance Law:
LA Revised Statutes: 13:4711; 13:4712; 13: 4713; 13:4714; 13: 4715 See website of the Louisiana
Legislature, “Louisiana Laws” link: www.legis.state.la.us.
1. Who may file a petition?
The attorney general, the district attorney, the sheriff, or any 10 residents of the election
precinct where the nuisance occurs may petition for an injunction or order of abatement. La. R.S.
13:4712.
2. What is the court procedure once a petition is filed?
a. Once a petition for an injunction has been filed, the owner is given notice of the alleged
violation and of a preliminary hearing to be held within 24 hours. La. R.S. 13:4713(B).
b. An irrebuttable pattern of prohibited activity is established if the petition provides details
and evidence of two or more instances of criminal activity on or around the premises within a
three-year period. La. R.S. 13:4711(A)(5).
c. A rebuttable presumption of prohibited activity is established if a petition provides details
and evidence of two or more instances of drug-related criminal activity or criminal activity
involving violence or weapons on or around the premises within the preceding five-year period.
L.R.S. §4713(A).
d. If the petition provides evidence that the owner received a notice of violation from the
attorney general, the district attorney, the sheriff, or the city attorney, that establishes a
rebuttable presumption that the owner of the business knowingly permitted the maintenance of a
nuisance at the location. La. R.S. 13:4713(A).
e. If the maintenance of a nuisance is found and the owner knew of its existence, an order of
abatement may be entered, ordering the closing of the premises for a period of five years unless
sooner released. La. R.S. 13:4715.
Neighborhood Nuisance Action Plan
(1) Neighbors report to their neighborhood association instances of prohibited activity on the
premises.
(2) Neighborhood association gets police to the scene to investigate allegations of prohibited
activity and make arrests or issue citations, as appropriate.
(3) Municipal authorities prosecute alleged violations and secure convictions.
(4) City Attorney sends notice of a violation to bar owners and operators regarding any confirmed
instance of prohibited activity, which notice creates a presumption of “knowingly and willfully”
maintaining a nuisance.
(5) Further conviction of prohibited activity on the premises establishes a knowing and willful
pattern of prohibited activity, which may be enjoined by suit brought against the bar owners and
operators–either by City Attorney, D.A., or 10 citizens.
To file a complaint with the City Attorney’s Office, call, write, or visit:
City Attorney’s Office: phone: 658-9800; address: 1300 Perdido Street, Room 5E03, NO, LA 70112
To file a complaint with the District Attorney’s Office, call, write, or visit:
Orleans Parish District Attorney: Investigation Unit Attorney:
phone: (504) 822-2414 or 827-7253 address: 619 S. White Street, NO, LA 70119
II. New Orleans Noise Control Program & Littering Ordinance:
City Code §66-136 to §66-208; §66-282; §66-285; §66-287 See MuniCode.com website for link:
http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=10040&sid=18
1. Who has the power to prosecute violations of the noise ordinance?
The Director of the Department of Health and the Superintendent of Police administer the noise
control program. They have the power to prosecute or enjoin violators of the noise control
ordinance. City Code §66-137.
2. What is the court procedure once a business violates the noise ordinance?
a. The operation or maintenance of any business in violation of the noise ordinance is a
misdemeanor and the owner may be fined, imprisoned up to 90 days, subject to abatement by a
restraining order or issuance of an injunction. Each day a violation is committed or is permitted
to continue, it is considered a separate offense. City Code §66-140; City Code §66-141.
b. If a business violates the sound level limits, it will be given 6 months to comply with the
ordinance if insulation or other modifications are necessary for compliance. City Code
§66-203(4)(a).
3. What are the sound level limits for businesses in residential areas?
If a business is within or adjacent to a residential area, the sound level limit may not exceed 75
Lmax (maximum A-weighted sound level allowed) dBA between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. From 10:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. the sound level limit may not exceed 65 Lmax dBA. The measurement may be taken at a minimum distance of 25 feet from the source being measured within a minimum clearance of 3 feet from any reflecting surface. City Code §66-136; City Code §66-202: Table 1.
4. What type of instrument must be used to measure noise?
Noise measurements must be made with a properly calibrated sound level meter Type 2 or better using
the A-weighted network in accordance with the noise measurement standards, based on the reference
sound pressure, promulgated by the American National Standards Institute and Testing Procedures.
City Code §66- 201.
5. What is considered a violation of the litter and dumping ordinance?
a. The litter ordinance is violated by dumping, leaving, throwing, discarding, or otherwise
permitting the intentional or accidental dumping, leaving, throwing, discarding, ejection,
emission, or escape of any glass or metallic objects, trash, refuse, garbage or other solid waste
on any private property within the city. City Code §66-282(a).
b. The dumping ordinance is violated by dumping, leaving, throwing, discarding, or otherwise
permitting the intentional or accidental dumping, leaving, throwing, discarding, ejection, emission, or escape of any vehicle parts, construction debris, furniture, used oil, or other hazardous wastes in any yard, lot, space, building, gutter, drain, or canal.
City Code §66-282(b); §66-285.
6. How is a citation for a violation of the litter ordinance issued?
a. A violation may be based upon a sworn affidavit of any citizen over 18 years of age. The
affidavit should include a description of the violation, the offender, and any vehicle involved.
City Code §66-282(k).
b. A peace officer or sanitation ranger may issue a summons for littering or dumping requiring
that person to appear and answer the charge. City Code
§66-282(k).
c. The city attorney may prosecute the violation as civil or criminal in nature. City Code
§66-282(k).
7. What the responsibilities of a business owner in regards to litter on premises and sidewalks?
The owner is responsible for sweeping up garbage, trash, litter, and all other waste material from
the premises, sidewalks, and abutting property, including the space between the property line and
the curbline in front, extending 1 ½ feet from the curbline into the street or roadway and in the
rear and alongside the premises. . City Code §66-287.
Neighborhood Action Plan for Noise Violations
(1) Citizens report noise problems to their neighborhood association.
(2) Neighborhood association gets police “quality of life” officer or health department
investigator to investigate and take noise readings; police or health issue notice of violation, if
warranted.
(3) City Attorney’s Office prosecutes for noise violations and imposes fine, imprisonment, or both;
may also apply for injunction against offending business.
(4) Legislative Opportunity: Should the City Code be amended to provide a right of action for
neighborhood associations or a group of 10 aggrieved citizens?
(5) Legislative Opportunity: Section 66-177 (“Variances”) provides at subsection (c) that “Any
person seeking a variance shall do so by filing a petition for variance with the director [of
Health], who shall investigate the petition and make a determination as to the disposition thereof
within ten working days following receipt of the request by the director.” This provision is
woefully deficient in terms of “transparency,” since it allows a presumed violator of noise
standards (one who’s seeking a variance from compliance) to apply privately to the director of
health and get action within 10 days, all without any notice to affected neighbors. The provision
should be amended to require that notice of the application for variance be given to the
neighborhood association, perhaps to the district Councilmember, and to all property owners within
100 or 200 feet (?) of the business applying for a variance. Those parties should have a reasonable
opportunity to file objections to the granting of a variance and to be heard by the director, who
should be able to extend the 10-day period (for up to 30 days?) in order to hear and consider
comments from all concerned. Perhaps the decision to grant a variance should be made appealable to
the Board of Zoning Adjustments or to Civil District Court.
(6) Neighborhood associations might also consider the option of contracting with a private service
to take noise readings.
Neighborhood Action Plan for Litter and Dumping Violations
(1) Citizens report litter or dumping violations to their neighborhood association.
(2) Neighborhood association gets police to investigate or file affidavits; police issue a summons,
if warranted.
(3) City Attorney’s Office prosecutes for litter or dumping violations and imposes fines.
Filing a Complaint with the NOPD
To file a complaint call, fax, write, or visit your district*:
1st District:
phone: 658-6010; address: 501 N. Rampart St., NO, LA 70112
2nd District:
phone: 658-6020; address: 4317 Magazine St., NO, LA 70115
3rd District:
phone: 658-6030; address: 1700 Moss St., NO, LA 70119
4th District:
phone: 658-6040; address: 1348 Richland Dr., NO, LA 70114
5th District:
phone: 658-6050; address: 3900 N. Claiborne Ave., NO, LA 70117
6th District:
phone: 658-6060; address: 1930 Martin L. King Blvd., NO, LA 70113
7th District:
phone: 658-6070; address: 10101 Dwyer Blvd., NO, LA 70127
8th District: Capt.
phone: 658-6080; address: 334 Royal St., NO, LA 70130
Filing a Complaint with the Health Department
To file a complaint call, write, or visit
New Orleans Health Department: Director:
phone: (504) 658-2500; address: 1300 Perdido Street, Room 8E18, NO, LA
III. Louisiana Alcoholic Beverage Control Law:
LA Revised Statutes: 26:90; 26:91; 26:92; 26:93; 26:286; 26:287; 26:288; 26:289;
26:290 . See “Louisiana Laws” link: www.legis.state.la.us
1. What actions by anyone holding a retail dealer’s permit or any of their employees will place an
ABO license at risk?
a. Failing to keep the premises clean and sanitary. La. R.S. 26:90A(9).
b. Illegally selling, offering for sale, possessing, or permitting the consumption on or about
the licensed premises of any narcotics or habit forming drugs. La. R.S. 26:90A(11) and La. R.S.
26:286(A)(11).
c. Permitting any disturbance of the peace or obscenity or any lewd, immoral, or improper
entertainment, conduct, or practices on the premises. La. R.S. 26:90A(13) and La. R.S.
26:286(A)(13).
d. Playing live or recorded music that is so unreasonably intrusive or offensive as to interfere
with the comfortable enjoyment of the property of a person residing within 200 feet of the
premises. (The licensed premises may have a reasonable time either to modify the premises or cease
to play the music.) La. R.S. 26:90A(14)(a).
2. What may happen if a permit holder violates any of the above-mentioned provisions?
a. A violation of these provisions is cause to suspend or revoke a permit. La. R.S. 26:90(I) and
La. R.S. 26:286(I).
b. If the live or recorded music provision is violated, nearby residents within two hundred feet
may have a cause of action for damages and may obtain injunctive relief. La. R.S. 26:90A(14)(b) and
La. R.S.26:286(A)(14)(b).
3. How may a citizen file a petition?
a. Any person may file a complaint with the Commissioner of the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco
Control, the local Office of Alcohol & Tobacco Control, and the local ABC Board a sworn petition
requesting that a permit be suspended or revoked. La. R.S. 26: 93(C).
b. Any citizen who has resided in the parish where the premises are located for at least six
months prior to filing may file a petition with the Commissioner of the Office of Alcohol and
Tobacco Control, the local Office of Alcohol & Tobacco Control, and the local ABC Board. La. R.S.
26: 290(B).
c. A petitioner must swear in an affidavit that the petitioner, together with any witnesses, will
appear at the hearing to establish the allegations of the petition. The petition must also describe
the facts calling for the suspension or revocation of a permit, or else the Commissioner will not
consider it. La. R.S. 26: 93(D) and La. R.S. 26:290(D).
4. What is the procedure for suspension or revocation of permits?
a. The commissioner conducts periodic examinations of the business of all persons holding permits
under this Chapter. La. R.S. 26: 290(A) and La. R.S. 26: 93(A).
b. The Secretary of the Department of Revenue, municipal authorities, and sheriffs also conduct
periodic investigations of the business of all permittees within their jurisdiction. La. R.S. 26:
290(A).
c. After a petition is filed, it is then transmitted to the commissioner, who will call a hearing
on the petition. La. R.S. 26: 290(B) and La. R.S. 26: 93(C).
d. If a violation occurs, the permittee may be given a warning. La. R.S. 26: 93(A).
e. If the permittee has been previously warned or if the violation is serious, the commissioner
may prepare and file a petition for suspension or revocation of the permit, describing the facts
and circumstances of the violation and summoning the permittee to appear and show cause why the
permit should not be suspended or revoked. La. R.S. 26: 93(A).
Neighborhood State Alcoholic Beverage Control Plan
(1) Neighbors report instances of any violation of the State Alcoholic Beverage Control Law on the
premises to the police and to the neighborhood association.
(2) Neighborhood association gets police to the scene to investigate allegations of violations and
issue citations, as appropriate.
(3) Neighborhood association notifies the commissioner of alcohol and tobacco control in the
Department of Revenue, who will conduct an investigation into the violations.
(4) Upon further conviction of prohibited activity on the premises, any citizen of the parish where
the premises are located may file with the Commissioner of the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco
Control, the local Office of Alcohol & Tobacco Control, and the local ABC Board, a sworn petition
brought against the bar owners and operators to revoke or suspend the business’ permit.
Louisiana Office of Alcohol & Tobacco Control Contact & Complaint Information
Legal Division Commissioner & Hearing Officer for ATC Administrative Hearings: phone: (225) 925-4041; address: 8549 United Plaza Blvd., Ste. 220, Baton Rouge, LA 70809*
Enforcement Region 2 (Orleans Parish) Supervisor:
phone: (504) 568-5336; fax: (504) 568-6902; address: 1515 Poydras Street, NO, LA*
To file a complaint with the Office of Alcohol & Tobacco Control Enforcement Division e-mail:
[email protected]; or call: (225) 925-4041
Louisiana Alcohol & Tobacco Control Web page: http://www.atc.rev.state.la.us/
Louisiana Alcohol & Tobacco Control Law: Title 26 of the Revised Statutes link:
http://www.atc.rev.state.la.us/docs/legal/law.pdf
Louisiana Office of Alcohol & Tobacco Control Enforcement Web page:
http://www.atc.rev.state.la.us/divs/enf.html
IV. New Orleans Code for Alcoholic Beverages:
City Code §10-5 to §10-160 . See New Orleans City Code Sections at MuniCode.com website:
http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=10040&sid=18
1. In order to renew an alcoholic beverages permit, an applicant must comply with the litter
abatement program, requiring that:
a. All trash receptacles, excluding dumpsters, be located inside of a structure. City Code
§10-136(1)(a).
b. All litter be cleared from the site of the ABO, the adjacent public right-of-way, and any
accessory parking lot on a daily basis. City Code §10-136(1)(b).
c. The permitee sweep the public right-of-way adjacent to the petitioned site and any accessory
parking lot daily and periodically clear it with a watering hose, as needed. City Code
§10-136(1)(c).
d. A particular individual be assigned as the contact person to notify if a violation of the
litter abatement program occurs. City Code §10-136(1)(d).
e. The permitee screen any dumpster with a six-foot opaque fence with gates, and a dumpster not
be placed within the public right-of-way. City Code §10-136(2).
2. What health codes, building codes, and zoning requirements must a permit holder meet?
a. A retail outlet where alcoholic beverage is sold to paying customers on the premises for
consumption on or off the premises must meet all state and city health and zoning requirements.
City Code §10-53(1)(a).
b. The Department of Safety and Permits conducts investigations that may be required to certify
if the business complies with local building codes and zoning ordinances. City Code §10-110(a).
c. The Department of Finance will not issue an alcoholic beverage permit if it finds that the
location does not substantially comply with the local health requirements of the city and state.
City Code §10-111(1) and (2).
3. A city retail alcoholic beverage permit may be suspended or revoked, or remedial sanctions may
be imposed, for any of the following reasons:
a. Permitting any disturbance of the peace or obscene, lewd, sexually indecent, immoral, or
improper conduct on the licensed premises. Improper conduct consists of actions that violate any
penal ordinances of the city. City Code §10- 157(a)(5).
b. Violation of any municipal health or sanitation ordinances or the state sanitary code. City
Code §10-157(a)(12)
c. Violation at the premises of any provision of the municipal building code. City Code
§10-157(a)(14).
d. Finding the existence of a public nuisance, as defined in titles 13, 14 and 40 of Louisiana
Revised Statutes or any other applicable law, by a court of competent jurisdiction. City Code
§10-157(a)(19).
e. Maintaining or creating a nuisance within the meaning of Article 667 of the Louisiana Civil
Code1. City Code §10-157(a)(22).
f. Written complaints (individually or in petition form) from 70% of the owners of real
property2 situated within 300 feet of the premises asserting that the outlet constitutes a nuisance
as to noise, litter, or loitering of clientele in the immediate neighborhood. City Code
§10-157(a)(23).
g. Three or more violations of the litter ordinance within a period of one year. City Code
§10-157(a)(25).
4. Who may file a petition?
The Mayor, the Superintendent of Police, the Director of the Department of Finance, or the City
Attorney may file a petition fully explaining the causes for suspension, revocation, or other
sanctions. City Code §10-78(a).
5. What is the administrative procedure once a petition is filed?
The Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board will conduct a hearing to determine whether the permit
of the person charged should be suspended or revoked. City Code §10-78(a).
6. What is the procedure for suspension or revocation of Permits?
a. The Police Department conducts periodic investigations of businesses holding city alcoholic
beverage permits and licenses. City Code §10-5(e).
b. When a violation of any provision occurs, the Police Department must file an affidavit with
the Mayor and the ABC Board describing the facts and circumstances of the violation. City Code
§10-5(e).
A landowner may do with his estate whatever he pleases, yet he cannot work on it to the extent by
which it may deprive his neighbor of the liberty of enjoying his own property or cause any damage
to him. La. C.C. Art. 667.
In calculating 70% of the real property owners as required in this subdivision, each individual
owning immovable property, whether one or more parcels or parts, will have one vote. Joint ownership by more than one person will be considered as one unit of ownership and the consent of a majority in
number of the co- owners will be required to cast the unit vote. Ownership of one or more parcels
by identical co-owners will also be considered as one unit of ownership irrespective of varying
proportions of ownership between such identical co-owners. City Code §10-315.
c. A hearing must then be held by the ABC Board to determine whether the alcoholic beverage
permit will be suspended or revoked. City Code §10-5(e).
d. When a permit is revoked, no new permit may be issued to the same licensee until one year
after the date of revocation. City Code §10-5(e).
Neighborhood Local Alcoholic Beverage Control Plan
(1) Neighbors report instances of any violation of the municipal Alcoholic Beverage Control Law
on the premises to the Department of Safety and Permits or the Department of Finance.
(2) Neighborhood association gets police officer to the scene to investigate alleged of violations
and issue citations, as appropriate.
(3) Neighborhood association files written complaints from 70% of the adjacent neighbors that the
premises constitute a nuisance.
(4) The Finance Department and the City Attorney’s Office (Nolan Lambert) prosecute alleged
violations, secure convictions, and file affidavits with the Mayor and the Alcoholic Beverage
Control Board.
(5) A hearing will then be held by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to determine whether the
permit will be suspended or revoked.
(6) Conviction of a violation of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law on the premises provides the
basis for a proceeding to revoke or suspend the business’ permit by a sworn petition brought
against the bar owners and operators by any citizen of the parish where the premises are located,
the Mayor, the Superintendent of Police, the Director of the Department of Finance, or the City
Attorney.
(7) The Alcoholic Beverage Control Board will conduct a hearing on the alleged violations to
determine if the permit should be suspended or revoked.
Filing a Complaint
To file a complaint with any of the following offices, call, fax, write, or visit:
Office of Safety & Permits: phone: 658-7130; fax: 565-6143; address: 1300 Perdido Street, Room
7E07, NO, LA 70112
Office of the Mayor: phone: 658-4900; address:1300 Perdido Room, 2E04, NO,LA 70112
Superintendent of Police: phone: 826-1410; address: 715 South Broad St., NO,
LA 70119
(To file a complaint with your local district please see “Filing a complaint with the NOPD” above.)
Director of Finance: phone 658-1500 or 658-1679; fax: 565-6603; address: 1300
Perdido St., Room 2E04, NO, LA 70112
City Attorney’s Office: phone: 658-9800; address: 1300 Perdido Street, Room 5E03, NO, LA 70112
