NEW ORLEANS - Today, the City Council officially placed the full renewal of the library millage on the November ballot. This 4 mill tax renewal continues the expiring ad valorem tax that supports the operations of the New Orleans Public Library, which was authorized by voters on November 4, 1986, through December 31, 2021. 

If approved by voters, this would authorize the City to levy a special tax of up to 4 mills on all taxable property for a period of twenty years (beginning on January 1, 2022, and expiring on December 31, 2041) with an estimated collection totaling $17,498,020 to support the critical services of New Orleans’ public libraries. 

NEW ORLEANS - Today, the New Orleans City Council unanimously supported legislation requiring public engagement and Council approval for the relocation of City Hall. Despite decades of discussion over relocating City Hall, there has never been an official process developed to do so. This is now a permanent solution ensuring accountability and that all voices are heard.

NEW ORLEANS - Council President Moreno’s cannabis decriminalization legislation passed through the Council’s Criminal Justice Committee unanimously today, June 29. The legislation automatically pardons all future municipal minor possession summonses, pardons more than 10,000 previously charged summonses or convictions, and prohibits public smoking of cannabis to maintain public health standards.

NEW ORLEANS - Today, Council President Helena Moreno and Vice President Donna Glapion announced they have pre-filed legislation announcing their intention to require any relocation of City Hall to go through a "conditional use" process with mandatory Council approval.

The At-Large Members would require such a process through a text amendment to the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (CZO), making any relocation of City Hall subject to the same inclusive, community-centric approach required of other land-use decisions. A motion spelling out these changes was pre-filed for the June 15, 2021, Council Meeting.

NEW ORLEANS - The approval process to end the criminalization of simple possession of marijuana will begin in the Council’s Criminal Justice Committee today, June 29 at 2 p.m.

Council President Helena Moreno introduced ordinances to fully decriminalize municipal simple possession of marijuana last month after a recent analysis showed an alarming number of summons written for the charge; 2400 in 2019 with 86% issued to Black people. The NOPD manpower hours associated with these summonses are also problematic. Police are currently required to write reports, have a supervisor review the report and log evidence associated with the summons, which averages about an hour per summons issued. Council President Moreno believes that police manpower can be better utilized focusing on more serious matters than writing pot tickets.