[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6740724,"mediaKeyId","2172879-640cc6e6e815880a89ccd908a715c621","parentId",2172879,"title","Municipal and Traffic Court asks council to fund IT director, caseworkers as online case resolution moves forward","audioSeconds",634,"startMs",21000,"endMs",655000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2172879-640cc6e6e815880a89ccd908a715c621&start=21&end=655","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2172879-640cc6e6e815880a89ccd908a715c621/thumbnail_21000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6740724/New-Orleans-City/Orleans-Parish/Louisiana/Municipal-and-Traffic-Court-asks-council-to-fund-IT-director-caseworkers-as-online-case-resolution-moves-forward","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6740724-b0a1c8c98cf65290187ea59126efd563/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436871&Signature=Bc6j5Acyyp-BYUSAuy5q95nqC-i~-UUPOC6alxJIuvSyBH1mo29ScCRzoGZOikzOKLY1SxWo-zy1gVLVQ465D0JVZ7xUSJS1PJXryK4uyxvDK8bZ4J1fuOoj-t~9qbYeDHdFlJo9k9dodiZ2QVl8zepRAowxMKBODp5XJ30mJCSfY4yOYfGsdb9XtO3xDZKxAJb8nahxL4L~1AwB6BcgEA2njjAr~cjndPafDHpSsMpSul5QZT5OvPMNScTD1eLxWQa4p3pZQgEbiVM1T8QHeTe-LXR5X6PAygOY3lRozORRuIjaKS6GMNEoSxGmniUQrxJf496S-JBetS-qeTpD6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Orleans","date","2025-01-01T05:52:13.473Z","article","Judge Bobby Jones, presiding judge of the Municipal and Traffic Court, told the City Council the court is seeking a 10% increase in its personnel budget to hire an IT director and additional case managers as it prepares to return to its Broad Street courthouse and launch online case resolution.

The court has been operating in temporary space at the former VA hospital since Hurricane Ida displaced it; Jones said the facility suffered chronic plumbing and electrical failures and that operations were shuttered for nine weeks this year. \"2024 represents the third year of our displacement by Hurricane Ida,\" Jones said, noting the court expects to return to Broad Street within months.

Why it matters: Municipal court leaders argued staffing and technology investments will let the court manage a growing caseload and expand restorative approaches. Jones described the court's community court model as an alternative to traditional fines and incarceration; participants receive individualized plans developed with judges, social workers and community providers.

Judge Mark Shea said the court is close to selecting a vendor for an online case resolution (OCR) product: \"We're almost three quarters of the way there,\" Shea said, describing a shortlist of vendors and a planned mini-RFP. He said the OCR would integrate with the court's case-management system after procurement work and a vendor demonstration.

Court leaders said existing community-court operations have enrolled more than 300 participants, but staffing is insufficient: Jones said the ideal case-manager-to-client ratio is 30-to-1; the court currently has one case manager. \"We have enrolled over 300 participants, but I only have 1 case manager,\" Jones said. The court leader asked council members to authorize recruitment for an IT director and more case managers to support both community court work and the incoming technological upgrades.

Clarity on caseloads and revenues was requested by council members. Councilors asked for printed revenue and caseload figures to accompany verbal remarks. One councilor also asked whether the court and its staff are city employees; court representatives said the judges are state employees while court and clerk office staff are city employees paid through a combination of city and state funds.

What happens next: The court's request is part of the city's budget process; council members said they would work with the administration on recruitment approvals and funding alignment. The court also asked the council to help reconcile a variance between its requested 10% personnel increase and the mayor's proposed 10% reduction to the same line.

Ending: Court leaders said they want a state-of-the-art facility and staff in place when the court returns to Broad Street and requested council assistance to secure the IT and case-management hires that would support OCR and broader modernization efforts.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025 Proposed Budget Hearings - Day 8","oneSentenceSummary","Judge Bobby Jones, presiding judge of the Municipal and Traffic Court, told the City Council the court is seeking a 10% increase in its personnel budget to hire an IT director and additional case managers as it prepares to return to its Broad Street courthouse and launch online case resolution.","taxTitle","New Orleans City, Orleans Parish, Louisiana","taxId",3651,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6740714,"French Market Corp. outlines building renovations, festival plan and a potential 24/7 restroom pilot",666,3707000,4373000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2172879-640cc6e6e815880a89ccd908a715c621&start=3707&end=4373","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2172879-640cc6e6e815880a89ccd908a715c621/thumbnail_3707000.jpg","/articles/6740714/New-Orleans-City/Orleans-Parish/Louisiana/French-Market-Corp-outlines-building-renovations-festival-plan-and-a-potential-247-restroom-pilot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6740714-79a9a6c075603b9a02c5858555a344f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436871&Signature=KKQWTZCxcMVroaE-kLC9gqRReqxW4hyqzJAo0JF3siBDSscIOdtNXolpB-fxX6Yb8dHxtzRd7DkkKzbycFC6G8gui872pay-WCrYTNBX4XJJNNhFRp4FO7pdF~dNP1d-uz29RNp6opPlFsJ7Wu7jEVGhOgPpC~LPT~7uDG~eEtolBS4YTfkofGr2pKWpCHh7waePVxo~aUJ8~OMsUtzVAYP8oJe-Fo7BCxvqwPkj8HkpvBNcji3JvRrPG9ZLJ4Al-HdUSMlw~58o2mvLsMPseY0qRWgb4Nf~Garhn7xRnsFsXYeZRnv3K1tvyG2GC8S3PaVn98~9CtL8GPZzYUnANw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Casey Guidry, executive director of the French Market Corporation, told council members the agency is finishing Building E renovations (original contract ~$660,000; change orders increased cost to roughly $670,000), progressing on a flea-market restroom upgrade funded by bond proceeds, and preparing for Upper Pontalba environmental abatement and renovation work.

Guidry said Building E is advancing toward a move-in timeline and the flea-market restroom project is expected to be complete by January. \"Building E is well underway... overall on schedule and relatively on budget,\" Guidry said. The Upper Pontalba tenant-notification and bid timeline runs into early 2025 and construction later in the year.

The French Market is exploring a pilot to provide extended or 24/7 public restroom access to serve unhoused residents and overnight visitors. That service would require additional overnight supervisors, laborers and security; Guidry said the estimate for adding overnight shifts could increase personnel costs materially and the corporation hopes to secure grant funding to offset the expense rather than require a tax increase.

Why it matters: The French Market is a high-visibility public asset with a mixture of retail, cultural programming, and visitor services. Investments in restrooms, accessibility and activation are presented as ways to increase local engagement and support small businesses and vendors.

Ending: Guidry said the French Market will continue free cultural programming and partner with other city entities on safety and operations; the board will return cost estimates and further details if the council seeks action on a 24/7 restroom pilot.","Casey Guidry, executive director of the French Market Corporation, told council members the agency is advancing Building E renovations, a flea-market restroom upgrade and tenant work on the Upper Pontalba project, and is evaluating a potential 24/7 restroom pilot that would require added overnight staffing.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6740717,"Inspector General outlines $20M in prevented losses, embeds staff in Safety & Permits to review processes",302,1033000,1335000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2172879-640cc6e6e815880a89ccd908a715c621&start=1033&end=1335","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2172879-640cc6e6e815880a89ccd908a715c621/thumbnail_1033000.jpg","/articles/6740717/New-Orleans-City/Orleans-Parish/Louisiana/Inspector-General-outlines-20M-in-prevented-losses-embeds-staff-in-Safety-Permits-to-review-processes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6740717-214b5c87dcb28165f9045d7156db2df7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436871&Signature=Xzes3V~eY~EOpw41PWmCpz1H2YMgIeO8ejpdXd7gJ-rq5y6RzH0fwEx~TKKH7m54rdB0dulT2DAOOUn7gohRVlcoju4dvpjVsjrLU9vr2CNxf7-NNe8ggbR2jGCQH1xRpHzH5FvyxJ4LTXzKQuvZUhLRsE4i9tNyLSzSu9-mL0T25iSCWALx463J-YnnLU4zQI-QLkc9piow5XflCucWDOuVUSJ70Rw8535vh9u9blpWxCG6emF84fnxdYtP5LANQlqgt3uZOA~ONnRv~MD2uHoslsMXZoM7~GLmRnEqb0nvitvA5WoRc5jzA0NcU~DeqegdYzcuuEowlePKzomWiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ed Michel, Inspector General for the City of New Orleans, told the council the Office of Inspector General (OIG) produced 14 reports in 2024, identified more than $20 million in potential economic loss prevented, and recovered funds for the city including a $1,063,000 reimbursement from a nonprofit.

\"For 2024, we have produced and disseminated 14 reports, letters, and or investigations... We have identified unprecedented levels of potential economic loss prevented to the tune of more than $20,000,000 this year alone,\" Michel said.

The OIG described high-profile work on homestead-exemption review, which the office said identified nearly 300 improper homestead exemptions that may yield additional revenue under the Homestead Exemption Fraud Act (House Bill 546). The office also reported multiple administrative and criminal investigations in Safety & Permits that resulted in resignations, firings or indictments; the OIG has assigned personnel to embed at Safety & Permits to review processes and reduce corruption risks.

Councilors asked the OIG to explain what embedding personnel means; the IG said one to two full-time OIG staff are currently placed in Safety & Permits to review processes, procedures and standards (not to do daily operational work) and to coordinate with consultants such as Matrix to avoid duplication. The OIG expects a final report with recommendations in roughly six months, and said initial interviews and cooperation from Safety & Permits have proceeded faster than expected.

The OIG also described ongoing criminal investigations, support for stronger procurement rules and efforts to recover funds tied to past transactions. Michel highlighted a returned $1,063,000 check from a nonprofit and mentioned recovery related to \"Wissner funds,\" sewage and water billing, and OPSO overtime and off-duty pay issues.

Why it matters: The OIG's work can reshape procurement, permitting and operating practices across city government. Embedded reviews and cross-agency data-sharing initiatives are intended to reduce fraud, waste and abuse and to provide more real-time information for decision makers.

Ending: The OIG asked the council to maintain support for the office's staffing and analytic capacity, and promised to deliver a detailed report with recommendations once the embed review and combined audits are complete.","Inspector General Ed Michel told the council OIG reports in 2024 identified more than $20 million in prevented economic loss, recovered funds and led to personnel accountability at city agencies. The OIG has embedded staff at the Safety & Permits department to review permitting processes and will produce a report with recommendations in several","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Municipal and Traffic Court asks council to fund IT director, caseworkers as online case resolution moves forward

French Market Corp. outlines building renovations, festival plan and a potential 24/7 restroom pilot

Inspector General outlines $20M in prevented losses, embeds staff in Safety & Permits to review processes