BREAKING: A spokesperson with Entergy N.O. says a Mylar balloon is behind tonight's power outage that led to SWBNO losing power and the subsequent boil water advisory that is currently affecting almost all of the city.
@WWLTV
@CmGiarrusso
🚨I reached out to
@EntergyNOLA
concerned about the Mid-City area power outage planned for tomorrow during this cold front.
@EntergyNOLA
has canceled the Mid-City outage and will reschedule it for the future.
Today, like most days, I’m focused on mental health access and support in New Orleans. One in 5 adult Louisianans live with a mental health condition. There is help, there is hope, and there are resources. Free, confidential support is available 24/7 at .
This is not an easy conversation for me. I am deeply grateful to
@CityOfNOLA
,
@nolahealthdept
, and many other stakeholders who willingly jumped in with two feet to address and improve mental health in New Orleans.
Today I was honored to celebrate the retirement of my mother, the Honorable Judge Robin M Giarrusso. She’s spent 35 years serving in Orleans Parish Civil District Court, handling the public’s cases — many of which weren’t easy — with grace and thoughtfulness. (cont)
Queen Trini Lisa restaurant in Mid-City now has the power - metaphorically and literally - to help support itself and neighbors through hurricanes. The eatery installed solar panels & battery systems as part of Feed the Second Line’s Stay Lit initiative. Community at its best.
Re: new property assessments —insurance rates, utilities, & cost of goods have skyrocketed. We shouldn’t roll millages fully forward to further stress already overburdened residents. My last tax plan saved over $60 million & I will work again to do our part.
In light of the power loss from the Mylar confetti cannon, we are asking all krewes not to allow any Mylar materials near power lines this Mardi Gras season.
@JPMorrell
and I will offer this as legislation later on as part of his MG revisions.
I have been sending
@EntergyNOLA
updates on streets without power this morning. Update: if you live in Mid City near N Hennessey or Solomon Place, there is a feeder that is still out of service that is being worked on.
I was honored to receive the local
@NAMICommunicate
Raising Hope award last night for mental health work. It isn’t easy to talk about my loss publicly but every time I do others open up. Hopefully, that helps with destigmatization & more access to care.
Today, the Council sent a letter signed by all 7 Councilmembers asking the other taxing entities not to roll their millage forward in light of the huge increase resulting from the current 2024 quadrennial reassessment. You can read the letter in its entirety below:
This week marks the 10-year anniversary of my dad’s death from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. This Thursday, I'm convening more than a dozen mental health stakeholders to help identify and fill gaps in mental health care access across the city:
We have heard residents loud and clear. They want a STR office with teeth and functional roadwork delivered timely and predictably. Today’s measures are a step in that direction.
Humbled to receive Alliance for Good Government NOLA Legislator of the Year Award again. Special thanks to the New Orleans Delegation,
@NOLACityCouncil
, and Council staff for working shoulder to shoulder on so many issues.
@CmGiarrusso
Hi, Joseph. I sincerely apologize for the issues you're experiencing and would like to help. If you would, please DM your street address and account holder's name. I am happy to look it up for you and help in any way I can. -Chris
The newest regime only works if there is good enforcement, a point the Court correctly makes in its opinion. While we expect this ruling to be appealed, immediate & robust enforcement shouldn’t be delayed. Thank you to the Court for its well-reasoned opinion.
Why is a State takeover needed if the CEO is getting a pay raise? That doesn’t make sense. If management was humming along, no takeover would be needed, right?
I’m so sorry to hear about the passing of Jackie Clarkson. Jackie was one of the most energetic public servants. She understood that being available, accessible, and good natured were valued by New Orleanians. I will miss her.
Today my staff went to
@SWBNewOrleans
to talk to customers willing to pay incorrect bills just to avoid having their water shut off. These are not all bad actors and they should not be punished for a faulty billing system.
I am thrilled to see the Tulane University Police Department’s Uptown substation finally come to fruition after years of planning. This new beacon is just steps from Tulane but will serve University area residents in a new, state-of-the-art hub. Congrats!
Uhh,
@EntergyNOLA
, here is the video of the confetti cannon and then the power loss. We’re going to need a public explanation and planning to avoid this happening again.
One of our most common questions is how the Dept of Public Works handles maintenance requests. Linked below is the new DPW Dashboard, updated daily. This is the direct result of my legislation that required DPW to establish this public-facing dashboard.
The public is rightfully frustrated and angry about the continuing trash collection issue. The Council has called a special meeting tomorrow to ask questions and look for solutions. Please join us in Chambers or stream online at .
Leah Chase was a warm and gracious woman who connected with New Orleanians through one of our shared passions — food. This was at her famous Holy Thursday lunch last year, just one of many traditions she shared with the whole city. My condolences to the entire Chase family.
I can’t think of a better way to spend Saturday than celebrating the life and legacy of one of our city’s native sons. Walter Wolfman Washington Memorial Park’s dedication party is off to a terrific start 🎉
We have been inundated with complaints of missed collection and/or recycling. According to Sanitation, RDI started with 4 Thurs routes and all Friday routes are still still uncollected. Please feel free to email us (Joseph.Giarrusso
@nola
.gov) and we will forward to Sanitation.
Wisner news: The La Sct correctly ruled that the Council has the capacity to bring this lawsuit. The Wisner heirs have needlessly used procedural hoops to slow down this case. It is time for them to pack their bags, go home, and return all the trust assets to the City.👇
There has been an issue at Carrollton Plant. As a precaution, consider it a boil water advisory situation for the East Bank until we learn more from
@SWBNewOrleans
.
It took 17 years but the City today is filling in this unsafe pool on Vicksburg. The neighbors are in the street excited this is being handled. Credit to
@CityOfNOLA
and Code Enforcement for taking care of this and to
@FOX8NOLA
and
@NOLAnews
for their continued coverage.
Happiest of birthdays to Langenstein’s, which celebrates 100 years in business this year. What an incredible accomplishment! Thank you for serving this community since 1922.
For nearly eight years, residents have complained about wildly inaccurate Sewerage & Water Board bills and undue delays having their billing problems promptly and properly resolved. (1/2)
I spent the morning with
@mayorcantrell
at
@UrsulineNOLA
learning about their new water bottle initiative to reduce plastic waste on campus. I’m so inspired by this group of student leaders who saw a problem and found a solution. Keep up the good work!
Whatever we can do with available or upcoming federal dollars to lessen the ratepayer burden and to strengthen the grid is important for immediate relief and to help with future resiliency and hardening of the system.
Councilmembers Moreno & Giarrusso visited D.C. to speak directly with federal leaders and the Louisiana congressional delegation to advocate on behalf of
#NOLA
ratepayers and request federal assistance to help cover
#Ida
power restoration costs
Read more:
I have been in touch
@SWBNewOrleans
. According to them, pumps are on at DPS 7 & 12. They say more than five inches of rain have fallen so far and that was 20 minutes ago.
As promised, below are the results of our ongoing survey about quality-of-life issues. We’ll keep this live until the rescheduled Community Meeting date (May 6).
UPDATE:
@EntergyNOLA
has run into issues restoring power to certain parts of Uptown. They do not have a new ETR. I have asked them to use social media and texting to notify neighbors.
Happiest of birthdays to the District A Councilmember extraordinaire, JIG III! We are thankful for your leadership, kindness, work ethic, and (maybe most importantly) your sense of humor. Love, the entire District A staff 💕
Today I sent a letter to
@CmGiarrusso
requesting that he, as Budget chair, call a meeting to discuss the mismanagement of these funds.
Because taking seven years to complete one fully-funded infrastructure project is ridiculous.
A beautiful gathering of community today
@NOLACityPark
to memorialize David Hynes and Sharree Walls. We must work together to make sure New Orleans is safe for all.
@NOLACityCouncil
I hope there's a bigger conversation about a national search for a new NOPD brass, because we currently have a problem and we want to make sure that we have strong, stable leadership taking over the department.
On Katrina’s 16th anniversary, my texts are lighting up again. Please stay safe where you are. As soon as we can, I will be touring District A to give post-storm updates.
Today, the New Orleans City Council unanimously approved renaming Palmer Park to Marsalis Harmony Park after a robust neighborhood engagement process. Marsalis Harmony honors the legacy of famed musician Ellis Marsalis while “harmonizing” the diversity of Carrollton.
New Orleanians decided to return a councilmember or engineer to the S&WB. While as chair of the Public Works committee the decision falls to me, I believe in an open and public process for the committee to discuss that appointment at our next meeting.
@NOLACityCouncil
As we get a break in the rain and the water starts to recede, now is good time to clear out any leaves, trash, or other debris that may have flowed to your catch basin during this morning’s flood. There’s more wind and rain coming later.
After ongoing talks, plans for supplemental service to begin this upcoming week with RDI and other providers collecting trash and recycling. Thanks to
@lesliharris
&
@freddiekingiii
for pushing and
@CityOfNOLA
for realizing this needed a resolution.
Council members are demanding swift action from Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration to resolve Richard’s Disposal’s ongoing failure to haul off residential waste.
“There can be no excuses,” said District A’s Giarrusso.
Excited to welcome back the Lakeview Reginelli’s Pizzeria after a May fire caused the restaurant to shut its doors. Grab a slice (and maybe a pitcher, too) 🍕
I’m excited about the continued partnership between
@XULA1925
and
@OchsnerHealth
- this time to build a master’s degree program to educate and train Physician Assistants. Thank you both for your commitment to building a better health care system in New Orleans.
#DistrictA
@JPMorrell
and I at the lighting of the largest Menorah at Riverwalk, then to my Mom’s for first night dinner, and one last lighting at home. Happy Chanukah, y’all!
Update from
@EntergyNOLA
on West Riverside area: There is are a couple of bad switches coming out of the feeder from the substation. They are going to work a plan to bypass those switches today. Once that is done, the Henry Clay and West Riverside areas should come back up.
Today, City Council unanimously passed R-21-149 endorsing the redevelopment of West End. Restoring West End has been one of my top economic development goals over the last several years, & I'm thrilled to see this project moving full steam ahead.
We were honored to welcome incoming
@Loyola_NOLA
President Tania Tetlow to the
@NOLACityCouncil
today. Professor Tetlow’s lifelong commitment to the Jesuit mission and values will be an asset to Loyola University and to the city. Congratulations!
Need a hot meal? Come by McDonogh 35 (4000 Cadillac Street) for fresh fruit and a hot biscuit. We’ll be out here until 7pm with
@VoteOlin
and
@JPMorrell
Yesterday, after 2 years of work, New Orleans Restoration Properties broke ground on 32 new & restored affordable housing units in Hollygrove. At my request, developers worked w neighbors & community on a Planned Development which requires greenspace, design review & engagement.
Power is out again Uptown.
@EntergyNOLA
reports that there are issues with poles and switches around St. Charles. It is being worked and should be restored in a few hours…
I just separately reported the Navarre, City Park/Mid City, and Uptown areas to ENO because of volume of complaints a few minutes ago. Aware and reporting other streets, too.
@EntergyNOLA
@HelenaMorenoLA
@Nola_Hilf
@Aimee4nola
It’s been a busy day! I’ve been preparing for the
@NOLACityCouncil
meeting tomorrow, reviewing
@roadworknola
plans to fix a particularly bad block of Louisville Street, and talking to constituents about their
#str
concerns.
#DistrictA
Barrow’s Catfish is back! Everyone come out to 8300 Earhart and support this family-run institution. I’m ready for some catfish, potato salad, and lemonade!
Good news for our Mid-City residents! Given new Mardi Gras regulations, the
@NewOrleansRTA
will run streetcar service up to four hours before parades. This will hopefully help cut down on tents, ladders & tents along parade routes 🚃
In preparation for next week’s Community Meeting, we’ve prepared a quick survey about the biggest issues facing NOLA, so we can hear directly from you:
@EntergyNOLA
We understand it will be imperfect. But when there is a feeder or other issue, you need to tell the public there is a hiccup and give a timeline for restoration. The outage map itself has outages.
@HelenaMorenoLA
@Nola_Hilf
@Aimee4nola
Another bizarre evolution of this story. Cantrell arguing that releasing documents to WGNO is "complying" with the council's "inquiry." It is not, however, an official response to the council's subpoenas, meaning they can omit whatever they want with no legal ramifications.
In Wisner news,
@NOLACityCouncil
amended our petition against the defendants to assert a new claim — they must pay back Wisner $$$ they shouldn’t have received.👇
With the Mayor’s approval, the Council will fund about $3.4 million to an outside accounting firm to work with SWBNO’s meter-reading strike team, categorize bills correctly, ensure bills are properly sent, and fix bills timely if there is a problem. (2/2)
It has been two years since we were sworn into office. Thank you to the District A residents I am honored to serve and work hard for every day, whether it is on regular quality of life issues or during a crisis.
We served roughly 370 people during today’s District A food bank (walk-ups and cars). Thank you SO MUCH to all our wonderful volunteers, and thank you to the Seminary for being gracious hosts.
I am humbled by how many people reached out in the last few days to share their stories with me since elevating this mental health discussion. As
@nolahealthdept
said yesterday, now it is time to turn words into actions.
I’m proud to partner with and support the work of
@NAMICommunicate
, who provide place-based mental health services across New Orleans and beyond. Their new Canal St location offers plenty of space for counseling and services, plus a client clubhouse. Congrats on the new space!