Remarks by Lesli Harris
79 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 3 of 4
“Thank you, Madam Clerk. Kyle, are you here to discuss this item?”
“Great. Any questions about this? I've moved. Council Member McCarran has seconded. Thank you. Thank you.”
“Thank you, Madam Clerk. As you remember, we received a return of money that we allocated for Habitat for Humanity in 2025. That amount was a million dollars. We then reallocated $750,000 of that to the Right to Counsel program, leaving $250,000 in balance. This is a by request that would put that money towards the Department of Code Enforcement and other items. And I know that we have representatives here from the administration if there are any questions about that. Hearing none?”
“Thank you. Any other comments by the council? All right, I've moved. Council Member Willard has seconded.”
“Thank you. This is just merely the expenditure ordinance for item 21. I've moved. Seconded by Council Member Green. Any one more vote?”
“Thank you. This amendment extends the timeline of a previously executed CEA between the City of New Orleans and the World War II Museum to build the Andrew Higgins Boulevard Streetscape Improvement Project from Magazine Street to Convention Center Boulevard. The project includes restoration of sidewalks, installation of pedestrian lighting, limited pavement restoration, and curb modifications that include curb extensions. Features also include tree plantings, bike racks, and benches. Feasibility studies were completed in 2009 and 2015. The World War II Museum is fully funding the design phase…”
“Seconded by council member Murrow. Have an ace. Thank you.”
“I didn't get to go on the tour. He asked me, and we just kept postponing it and postponing it. And you just have to realize that you have to take those chances when you can get them. So to all of you, to Chris, to the family and the friends, I just want to say we lost a giant. But gay history cannot be forgotten history. And unfortunately, I think, with this younger generation, we're forgetting a lot of it. We're forgetting that 10 years ago, you couldn't get married in Louisiana. We're forgetting that 30 years ago, you had to meet in secret, right? And so that's what Frank's legacy is. It's…”
“Thank you, Council President Murrell. We can move on to the budget presentation.”
“That concludes my report. Thank you, Alyssa. I do have a question. We passed a resolution asking your department to consider amnesty. Where are we on that?”
“Okay, if you, to your comms team, if you have a deck or a slide or something that you want us to post, we can do that because... and we can put it in our newsletter so people understand that there is an amnesty program, and hopefully we can get in some money before the end of the year.”
“All right, thank you. Council Member Hughes.”
“Thank you. Any other questions? All right. Thank you all.”
“I will just say that I listen to your radio station every single morning when I get ready, and Susan's voice is very distinctive, and I will miss it. I will also miss her book recommendations and her interviews with the authors. Inspiring, inspiring woman who really delves into why an author creates and really provides tremendous book recommendations. So I will miss her voice, but I will continue listening.”
“Thank you. I am reluctant to vote for this today, but I know that we need to do so in order to collect the proper amount of money for our sanitation fee that we pay in excess as a city. I do want to say that I'm happy that this preserves recycling, and I look forward to working with this administration to expand glass recycling, which is one of the easiest things to do throughout the city. So, again, With the promise of the preservation of our current recycling and expansion of our glass recycling program, I am going to vote for this today. I do want to encourage the administration to have a…”
“All in favor? Aye. Seven yays. We need the vote to add. I'll move to add. Seconded by Councilmember McCarran. All in favor? Aye. Seven yays. You could discuss a vote. All right. Council members, we talked about this in budget. This just approves some additional EMS workers so that we can get off of using Acadian Ambulance and actually staff up our own EMS. This should increase the budget in the general funds. I'll move. Can I get a second? Seconded by Council President Murrell. All in favor? Aye. Seven yays. Thank you.”
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
“Thank you, Eleanor. This motion affirms HDLC's decision of denial and denies the applicant's request to retain unpainted French porch columns and uplighting installed directly below the columns at a contributed rated one-story single-family residential building without a certificate of appropriateness. The guidelines are clear on paint requirements and state that stains should be limited to exterior front doors where appropriate for the style. All other exterior woodwork must be painted with opaque paint. This is required not only to replicate the historic look of the building, but for…”
“Thank you. I have one card from Christina Tate.”
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
“Thank you, Madam Clerk. CPC, will you brief us on your report?”
“Thank you. This motion approves the conditional use application to permit a 79-room full-service hotel. This property is an 89-year-old, beautiful, vacant three-story building that the applicant intends to rehabilitate. I've modified CPC's proviso to exclude short-term rentals from their approved transient lodging use. This proposal receives strong community support, so with that I'll move. Seconded by Council, Vice President Willard. All in favor? Seven yays. Thank you.”
“Thank you. Stephen, will you brief us on your report?”
“Thank you, Stephen. This is a building that's been empty since, as long as I can remember, since at least 2002. It approves a conditional use application to permit an indoor amusement facility. This property is a commercial structure that ranges from one to three stories on the corner of Crandallette and Julia Street. The proposed use will feature virtual reality games. I do have one card from Laura Barth.”
“Thank you. Any questions? Hearing none, I'll move. Can I get a second? Seconded by Council Member McCarran. All in favor? Aye. Seven yays. Thank you.”