Crescent City Pulse

  What’s Next for the New Orleans City Council? Big changes are coming to the New Orleans City Council, and several seats are opening up in the upcoming election. Here’s a look at the important races and what they mean for the future of the city. At-Large Seat Helena Moreno , the current Council Vice President, will not run for re-election to the city council. Instead, she is running for mayor of New Orleans in 2025. Moreno has been a key figure on the Council, known for fighting for affordable healthcare, fair wages for workers, and stronger climate action. She also worked on criminal justice reforms, including limiting certain police practices like no-knock warrants (which allow police to enter homes without warning) and promoting better police accountability. As Moreno’s at-large seat opens, several candidates are stepping up to run for it. An at-large seat means the person elected represents the entire city, not just one district. Some of the candidates looking to fill ...

A recent disagreement between the New Orleans City Council and Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration has sparked confusion and concern about who will be responsible for trash collection in the French Quarter this August. Beyond the legal back-and-forth, the situation raises broader questions about how city contracts are handled and how decisions made at City Hall affect everyday residents and businesses. What’s Happening? On April 16, 2024, Mayor Cantrell announced that the City would end its emergency sanitation contract with IV Waste on July 30. In its place, Henry Consulting, LLC, is slated to take over sanitation services for the French Quarter and Downtown Development District beginning August 1. However, the City Council has publicly stated that Henry Consulting does  not  currently hold a valid contract to take over those services. Here’s why: According to Section 70-10 of the New Orleans City Code, any city contract over $1 million requires approval from the City...

Why Lincoln Beach Matters Before it closed in the 1960s, Lincoln Beach was an important place for the Black community in New Orleans. At a time when most public beaches were off-limits due to segregation, Lincoln Beach offered a rare space to enjoy the water, music, and time with family. Big names like Fats Domino, Irma Thomas, and Nat King Cole performed there, and it became a place full of life, joy, and pride. For many, it wasn’t just a beach, it was a safe place. Reopening Lincoln Beach is about more than just building new things; it’s about honoring that history and giving it the care it deserves. Photograph by Michael P. Smith, The Historic New Orleans Collection, Acc. No. 2007.0103.1.149 Public Spaces and Why They Matter Lincoln Beach is also part of a bigger conversation: who gets access to public spaces, and why that matters. For Black communities in New Orleans and across the country, access to public space has long been shaped by segregation, disinvestment, and exclusion...

  Councilmember Harris Leads Efforts to Address DNA Backlog and Sexual Assault Awareness Councilmember Lesli Harris convened a Quality-of-Life Committee meeting on April 8, 2025, to address the progress in reducing New Orleans’ DNA backlog and to recognize Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The meeting featured presentations from local agencies and sparked a discussion about the city's efforts to support survivors and provide justice for victims. Tackling the DNA Backlog One of the key topics of the meeting was the ongoing DNA Outsourcing Project, which aims to reduce the backlog of untested DNA kits in the city. Since late 2023, the backlog has been reduced from 4,600 cases to 2,098. Councilmember Harris emphasized the importance of this progress, stating, “Clearing this backlog has been one of my top priorities because every untested kit represents a delayed opportunity for justice.” Thanks to $3 million in funding that Harris helped secure, along with support from the New Orleans P...

What is Hogs for the Cause? Hogs for the Cause is a nonprofit organization in New Orleans that helps families whose children are fighting brain cancer. The charity raises money to assist with medical bills, travel costs, and other important needs during the child’s treatment. Each year, the organization hosts a big BBQ festival to raise money for this cause. The BBQ Festival Hogs for the Cause is more than just a BBQ festival; it's a celebration of food, music, and community. BBQ teams gather to compete in different categories, such as whole hog, ribs, and creative side dishes. The event also features live music, local vendors, and an exciting atmosphere that brings people together. A Successful 2025 Event The 2025 Hogs for the Cause event was a huge success! Over 100 BBQ teams participated and showed off their creativity with unique dishes. Some teams served up sweet treats like peanut butter, chocolate, and bacon hand pies, bacon praline cheesecake, and mayo-shortbread cooki...

 New Orleans Faces Financial Struggles: What You Need to Know New Orleans, a city known for its unique charm, is facing serious financial trouble. In 2023, the city had a   $2.1 billion  shortfall, meaning the city owes more money than it has to cover its bills. If the city were to pay off this debt by taxing its residents, each taxpayer would face an   $18,300  burden. This has earned New Orleans a "D" grade for its finances and has put it on the "Sinkhole City" list in Truth in Accounting's latest report. What Is Taxpayer Burden? The  Taxpayer Burden  shows how much each taxpayer would need to contribute if the city had to pay off all of its debts today. So, while residents don’t have to pay this amount directly, it reflects the city’s overall financial situation. In New Orleans' case, that burden is  $18,300  per taxpayer. According to Truth in Accounting’s grading system, cities with a Taxpayer Burden between  $5,000  and  ...