Joe Giarrusso is in his second term as the Councilmember for District A. During his time in office, he has stressed two basic principles: government should make residents' lives easier and the best policy decisions are where efficiency intersects with equity. He also believes residents want to know their representatives are responsive and care about their needs.
During his 6 years as a councilmember, Joe is most proud of helping residents. Through two major reassessment cycles, his tax plans kept millage rates stable, saving taxpayers around $200 million over eight years without reducing funding to City services. He dedicated $32 million to gap financing programs, resulting in creation of nearly 1,200 long-term, affordable housing units. As Chair of the Budget Committee, he shepherded two significant City Charter amendments to enhance transparency, process, and better results: (1) beginning in 2024, the public and Council will have two months instead of one month to publicly review the City budget; and (2) the establishment of a single Code Enforcement department, with a single director and dedicated funding. And, he championed an Early Childhood Education millage to fund more than 1,000 seats at early learning centers for low-income families.
Joe's extensive infrastructure work resulted in the City's most important and most needed project - the Sewerage and Water Board West Power Complex. This complex features a dedicated substation that will provide newer, cleaner, and more reliable power source for the City's drainage system. As former Chair of the Public Works Committee, Joe ensured the Council and public received quarterly reports from SWBNO, publicized summaries of its Board meetings, and worked on solutions for infrastructure.
Personally and from a policy perspective, Joe's dedication to improving and expanding access to mental health programs lead to the creation of the New Orleans Mental Health Collaborative. This citywide initiative he founded in 2023 with the United Way works to identify and fill gaps in mental health care in the city, with an overarching goal of coordinated care.
His legislative record shows the urgency and importance of responding to resident concerns. He required the Department of Public Works to publish data on street light repairs, potholes, road striping, and other quality of life issues. The Roadwork office must now list direct contacts - including the contractor - for all street repair work. And, Joe changed the law to require school zone lights to be functional to issue traffic tickets.
Also, Joe repeatedly emphasizes the importance of consistent communication with residents. He assured meaningful public engagement by requiring virtual, telephonic, or in-person informational meetings for major land use issues. He ensured residents could receive updates on permits near their homes. He passed legislation lowering the application fees for certain types of housing. He implemented an overlay, developed with neighbors and stakeholders across District A, to stem the tide of "Doubles to Dorms" in the University area. Joe continues to work with state and local leaders to revitalize West End. Finally, Joe publishes data from our constituent services database to illustrate what issues most impact certain neighborhoods. Please see the Engagements Dashboard below.
Joe grew up in District A, graduating from Jesuit High School, the University of Texas at Austin, and the Louisiana State University Law School. He is married to fellow attorney, Cassie Giarrusso, and together they have two daughters.
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Latest News
February 4, 2025
NEW ORLEANS - Community members are invited to attend upcoming public meetings to provide valuable input on the future of West End and the surrounding areas. There will be two meetings on February 18 and February 19 - one in Jefferson Parish, and one in Orleans Parish. See below for additional details.
September 18, 2024
NEW ORLEANS - The Sewerage and Water Board West Power complex needs $34 million
to fully automate the substation when it becomes operational in June 2025. The New
Orleans City Council, in collaboration with the New Orleans legislative delegation, has
worked to fund the City’s match of $17 million as the final portion of funds needed to
fully automate the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans’s West Power Complex.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry’s office is also working on a $17 million match. Mayor
Cantrell and her Administration have now agreed to the funding, realizing the
importance of this project notwithstanding other City concerns.
June 13, 2024
NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans City Council, after collaborating with Mayor
Cantrell and the Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO), announces
the release of a Request for Proposal (RFP) to hire an independent accounting firm
to oversee and handle SWBNO’s billing process and billing complaints for the next 12
to 18 months.
View all news from Joseph I. Giarrusso III
Newsletters
- October 08, 2024
October 2024 Newsletter - October 07, 2024
2025 Community Budget Meetings - September 18, 2024
Council Funds $17m for Full Automation of SWBNO West Power Complex - May 28, 2024
Cost of Living Survey Results - May 13, 2024
2024 Quality of Life Survey results - April 12, 2024
District A Community Meeting - March 15, 2024
March 2024 Newsletter - October 19, 2023
October 2023 Newsletter - September 12, 2023
2023 City Charter Amendments - August 28, 2023
August 2023 Newsletter - July 24, 2023
Quadrennial Reassessment - Letter from City Council - May 08, 2023
May 2023 Newsletter - January 25, 2023
Crime - January 2023 Update - January 23, 2023
Sanitation Updates - January 2023 - January 19, 2023
Mental Health Collaborative - Grant Release - December 15, 2022
December 2022 Newsletter - October 17, 2022
District A "Wins" - October 2022 - September 19, 2022
Sanitation & DPW Updates - September 09, 2022
Code Enforcement Updates - September 06, 2022
September 2022: Crime Updates & Accomplishments - July 13, 2022
July 2022 Newsletter & Updates - April 12, 2022
2022 Budget Amendments Presentation - March 29, 2022
March 2022 Newsletter - December 31, 2021
End of Year 2021 Newsletter - August 30, 2021
July/August 2021 Newsletter - June 01, 2021
June 2021 Newsletter - April 01, 2021
April 2021 Newsletter - March 01, 2021
March 2021 Updates - November 01, 2020
November 2020 Updates - October 01, 2020
October 2020 Updates - June 18, 2020
Street and S&WB Updates from Councilmember Joe Giarrusso - June 02, 2020
Message from Councilmemeber Joe Giarrusso III - May 02, 2020
Message from Councilmemeber Joe Giarrusso III - May COVID-19 Second Newsletter - May 01, 2020
Message from Councilmemeber Joe Giarrusso III - May COVID-19 Newsletter - March 18, 2020
Message from Councilmember Joe Giarrusso on Response to COVID-19 - April 01, 2019
Message from Councilmember Joseph I. Giarrusso III - February 01, 2019
Message from Councilmember Joseph I. Giarrusso III - January 01, 2019
Message from Councilmember Joseph I. Giarrusso III - October 01, 2018
Message from Councilmember Joseph I. Giarrusso III - August 01, 2018
Message from Councilmember Joseph I. Giarrusso III - June 01, 2018
Message from Councilmember Joseph I. Giarrusso III
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