New Orleans CityBusiness articles from August 2008

New Orleans CityBusiness archives from August 2008

Louisiana panel ends property tax assessment appeal review for Orleans Parish property owners.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Jaime Guillet Property owners in New Orleans who feel their tax assessments were too high may not get the relief they hoped for. After evaluating an estimated 1,000 property tax assessment appeals for Orleans Parish, the Louisiana...

New Orleans City Council's design-build law fast-tracks storm jobs.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Ariella Cohen In hopes of getting Hurricane Katrina-decimated fire and police stations built faster, the New Orleans City Council has amended public contracting laws with a new ordinance encouraging the design-build method of...

New Orleans recreation officials question overhaul of department.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Stephen Maloney Since its creation in 1946, the New Orleans Recreation Department has remained focused on providing the youth of the city with year-round recreational opportunities, but changes may be on the horizon for the...

Commentary: Obama, the quake and our overlooked river.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Mark Singletary Last week there was an earthquake in California, Sen. Barack Obama came home from his Middle East and European junket, and the Mississippi River reopened to shipping after a big oil spill. Amazingly, the Mississippi...

Captain Crunch: Industrywide shortage of qualified mariners to pilot boats.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Ariella Cohen The unnamed person towing the massive fuel barge that collided with a 600-foot tanker July 23, resulting in the spill of 400,000 gallons of fuel oil, did not have the proper license to operate a tugboat. That much has...

CEO of New Orleans-based Touro Infirmary attempts to stop bleeding.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Richard A. Webster Touro Infirmary interim CEO Michael Sniffen handed out business cards at a recent meeting that noticeably did not include the word interim. It wasn't by choice, he said. The board chairman came into my office...

Mettle of honor: Misconceptions about organ donation.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Richard A. Webster Britney Dugas trembed as she lay on a stretcher in the operating room at Ochsner Medical Center. Just a few months earlier, during a routine visit to the doctor for a simple cold, she was told there was a virus...

Aug. 5 - 7.
August 4, 2008... Byline: From CityBusiness Staff Reports Aug. 5 As part of WYES's A Season of Good Tastes, a wine dinner will be held at Ralph's on the Park, 900 City Park Ave., at 7 p.m. The cost is $85 per person and includes tax and tip. The wine...

McGlinchey Stafford in New Orleans moves offices.
August 4, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports McGlinchey Stafford law firm has sold its office building at 643 Magazine St. and parking garage at 618 Magazine St. to New Orleans real estate developer Brian Gibbs and will move to the 28-story...

Port of New Orleans, maritime interests consider lawsuit options.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Jaime Guillet Maritime businesses have lost time and money since the July 23 barge and tanker collision, fuel oil spill and subsequent Mississippi River closure, and recouping those losses could take years, if it is possible at...

Hurdles to heirship: Heirship property prevents many New Orleans residents from receiving grants.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Ariella Cohen Darlene Leavell owned the house she lived in. The mint-green double shotgun had been her mother's, the proud payoff of a life's work. When Leavall's mother died in 2001, leaving the city bus driver the Desire...

New Orleans Construction Briefs: August 4, 2008.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Ariella Cohen Developer adds concrete home to Bywater lineup A developer who has rehabilitated historic buildings across the city is building a thoroughly modern house in the Bywater. Real estate maven Pres Kabacoff of HRI...

Mississippi River oil spill's down river damage not as bad as first feared.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Stephen Maloney Andy Nyman is relieved. The Louisiana State University assistant professor of wetland wildlife and ecology said he expected to see much more shoreline damage at the mouth of the Mississippi River after a July 23 oil...

Off the Clock: Q&A with Bruce Sossaman, commercial leasing veteran for New Orleans area.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Christian Moises Age: 49 Family: wife, Lizette; daughters Torre, 13, and Allain, 16 Education: bachelor's degree in marketing, Loyola University Hometown: New Orleans Working on the 13th floor in the Lakeway Building has...

Washington, D.C. energy industry defends image in wake of Mississippi River oil spill.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Emilie Bahr It was an appearance about as unfortunately timed as they come. Early July 23, the very day the American Petroleum Institute's Denise McCourt was to arrive at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center hoping to drum up...

Crane pains: Regulations for crane usage varies from state to state.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Garry Boulard Michael Breecher, owner and operator of Marrero-based United Crane Service, has all the typical worries of a person running his own business. But one of those worries is not a surprise visit from an inspector to see...

New Orleans CityBusiness News Briefs: August 4, 2008.
August 4, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awards $110.5M in floodwall contracts The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded two contracts totaling nearly $110.5 million to complete the Harvey Canal floodwall project...

Commentary: Solutions needed for safer river.
August 4, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Editorial Environmentalists seized the opportunity to thumb their nose at expanded oil and gas exploration after a July 23 barge-tanker collision spilled an estimated 400,000 gallons of fuel oil into the...

New Orleans Government Briefs: August 4, 2008.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Greg LaRose As it stands now, don't expect John Georges to throw his name into the race for mayor of New Orleans next year, but that does not mean you have seen the last of him in the political realm. The former gubernatorial...

Commentary: Chateau du Lac elevates French bistro experience.(Restaurant review)
August 4, 2008... Byline: Tom Fitzmorris **** Chateau du Lac $$$$$ 2037 Metairie Road Reservations advised: 831-3773 Lunch Tuesday through Friday. Dinner Tuesday through Saturday. www.chateaudulacbistro.com There's no such thing in New Orleans as a...

Commentary: Jindal regains approval after pay raise reversal.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Jeff Crouere Gov. Bobby Jindal's popularity declined significantly while the hoopla over the legislative pay raise was grabbing headlines. Before the controversy, Southern Media and Opinion Research reported Jindal enjoyed positive...

Mississippi River dredging stirs up oil down river.
August 4, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Mississippi River dredging was halted last Monday near the Southwest Pass after a dredge disturbed oil originating from the July 23 spill in New Orleans. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said dredging was...

New Orleans CityBusiness names 50 Innovators of the Year.
August 4, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports CityBusiness has announced its 2008 Innovator of the Year honorees, recognizing 50 companies and individuals who continue to keep the New Orleans area a center for creativity. In its seventh year,...

Metairie-based staffing firm agrees to pay back wages.
August 4, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Metairie-based Artiaga Solutions has agreed to pay $118,183 in back wages after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found 288 current and former janitorial and...

Construction industry feels pressure to properly classify workers.
August 8, 2008... Byline: Garry Boulard In an industry well-known for having a large number of laborers coming and going, construction companies are being increasingly urged to make certain they properly classify everyone who works for them. It's a big...

Slidell to build new City Hall.
August 8, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Construction is expected to begin this fall on a new City Hall building in Slidell. The main City Hall structure is expected to cost about $6 million. The city hopes to get the Federal Emergency Management...

Design-build law fast-tracks storm jobs.
August 8, 2008... Byline: Ariella Cohen In hopes of getting Hurricane Katrina-decimated fire and police stations built faster, the New Orleans City Council has amended public contracting laws with a new ordinance encouraging the design-build method of...

Louisiana's Road Home refuses to budge on deadlines.
August 8, 2008... Byline: Ariella Cohen The Louisiana Recovery Authority has no plans to rescind recently instated Road Home Program deadlines that legal assistance groups say could jeopardize thousands of grants for homeowners who have been trying to...

N.O. first-time unemployment claims break 1,000 mark.
August 8, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports The New Orleans area saw an increase in initial unemployment for the week that ended Saturday to 1,007 from 916. The area, comprised of Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James,...

New Orleans Recreation Dept. officials question overhaul of department.
August 10, 2008... Byline: Stephen Maloney Since its creation in 1946, the New Orleans Recreation Department has remained focused on providing the youth of the city with year-round recreational opportunities. But changes may be on the horizon for the...

Suite gig for entertainer at Ritz-Carlton hotel in New Orleans.
August 11, 2008... Byline: Deon Roberts Jeremy Davenport doesn't have far to travel for work. He grabs his trumpet and closes his Ritz-Carlton hotel room door. He takes the service elevator down to the kitchen, walks past the stainless steel countertops and...

Carpool lanes hit dead end along I-10 in New Orleans area.
August 11, 2008... Byline: Jaime Guillet Editor's note: This story starts a three-part series on how the New Orleans area is addressing transportation issues as part of its infrastructure overhaul. Matt Oubre of Luling has experienced the joys of...

Aug. 14-25.
August 11, 2008... Byline: From CityBusiness Staff Reports Aug. 14 The W New Orleans French Quarter Hotel will feature a screening of In Her Shoes as part of its free summer cinema in The Courtyard. The movie starts at sunset and parking is $6. The New...

All in the family: Succession planning for small businesses.
August 11, 2008... Byline: Maria Barrios When it comes to the topic of a small business' future, things can get a bit sticky. In some instances, it can flat out cause a family feud, said Jennifer Bordes, a CPA, director of tax services and certified...

New Orleans Legal Briefs: August 11, 2008.
August 11, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Despite a drop in sexual harassment claims filed during the past 10 years, the number of men filing claims has increased nearly 5 percent since 1997. Men accounted for 16 percent, or 2,001, of the sexual...

Off the Clock: Q&A with president of Louisiana State Bar Association.
August 11, 2008... Byline: Christian Moises Age: 55 Family: husband, Ross; and sons, Paul, 23, and David, 20 Education: bachelor's degree in English literature, Louisiana State University; master's degree in English, Duke University; juris doctor, LSU Paul...

Commentary: Let's remove the bull's-eye from 'big oil'.
August 11, 2008... Byline: Mark Singletary Take most things to a ridiculous conclusion and things get... ridiculous. But, nonetheless I feel compelled to dive into this metaphoric pool. We are going to have a new national energy policy, and have it quite...

Shuttle shuffle at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
August 11, 2008... Byline: Jaime Guillet A 10-year contract for shuttle services at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport -- awarded without a competitive bidding process -- is not a good deal for the airport or New Orleans citizens, said...

New Orleans makes second plea for funds to fight crime.
August 11, 2008... Byline: Richard A. Webster On June 30 President Bush signed a $162 billion war funding bill that included a 13-week extension of unemployment benefits and $2.7 billion for emergency flood relief for the Midwest. Left on the cutting room...

Entergy N.O. plan would raise gas bills.
August 11, 2008... Byline: Emilie Bahr Entergy New Orleans has applied to the city council for authorization to lower its rates on electric service while increasing rates for natural gas customers. If approved by the council as proposed, the average...

Metro New Orleans tops in 4Q weekly wages.
August 11, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports The highest paying jobs in Louisiana at the end of 2007 were in the New Orleans area, according to a Louisiana Department of Labor survey. The $880 average weekly wage in metropolitan area was the state's...

Chef Tom Wolfe closes New Orleans-based Peristyle for retooling, new name.
August 11, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Chef Tom Wolfe said his decision to close French Quarter restaurant Peristyle and reopen a new, yet-to-be-named restaurant in its place was based on a desire to offer food with no boundaries and to put his...

Louisiana Restaurant Association names Besh 'Restaurateur of the Year'.
August 11, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports The Louisiana Restaurant Association named John Besh 2008 Restaurateur of the Year Aug. 3 during its annual reception and awards banquet at the Marriott New Orleans. The award is the most prestigious the...

New Orleans-based EPL reverses 2Q earnings trend.
August 11, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Energy Partners Ltd. Reported net income of $4 million, or 12 cents a share, for the second quarter of 2008. It is a 167 percent increased compared with the company's net loss of $6.3 million in the second...

Healthy New Orleans office market bucks national trend.
August 11, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Even as a gloomy economy empties offices around the country, the market remains strong for commercial space in downtown New Orleans, Metairie and the Jefferson Parish West Bank. The latest quarterly...

Shipyards join forces to deepen labor pool.
August 11, 2008... Byline: Greg LaRose Sterling Dolese remembers the heyday of shipyard and offshore fabrication in the 1970s when there was no need to recruit skilled labor. Across from my office there was a tree that grew welders. I could pick one off...

Commentary: Andrew Jaeger puts forth best effort on North Shore.
August 11, 2008... Byline: Tom Fitzmorris *** Andrew Jaeger's $$$$ 4250 Highway 22, Suite B, Mandeville (985) 624-2300 Lunch: Monday through Friday. Dinner: Monday through Saturday. www.andrewjaegers.com Andrew Jaeger doesn't want you to forget his...

Commentary: Elections mark city's 'tipping point'.
August 11, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Editorial You often hear the term tipping point used to describe the stage at which post-Katrina New Orleans is rife with construction and a thriving city economy as its ripple effect. Mayor C. Ray Nagin even...

Commentary: Patients left to unravel system's bureaucratic knots.
August 11, 2008... Byline: Autumn C. Giusti No one should have to endure as much Musak as I have this year. I've spent the past 10 months disputing a charge of more than $600 from my health insurance for a procedure my daughter, now 1, had a few weeks after...

What others say.
August 11, 2008... Byline: From CityBusiness Staff Reports 'Out of FEMA park, clinging to fraying lifeline,' New York Times, Aug. 4 Two months ago, as he left the trailer park he called home after Hurricane Katrina, Alton Love, 41, just knew he was on the...

Foreclosures.com. Report: Louisiana pre-foreclosure filings set record.
August 11, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Louisiana was at the bottom of a list of 14 states with a record number of pre-foreclosure filings in July, according to figures released today by Foreclosures.com. Nationwide, pre-foreclosure filings also set a...

Commentary: Let's remove the bull's-eye from 'big oil'.
August 11, 2008... Byline: Mark Singletary Take most things to a ridiculous conclusion and things get... ridiculous. But, nonetheless I feel compelled to dive into this metaphoric pool. We are going to have a new national energy policy, and have it quite...

CityBusiness Question of the Week results: Speculation drives gas prices higher.
August 11, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Speculation in the oil markets has caused gas prices to skyrocket, according to most voters to CityBusiness' Question of the Week. The online poll garnered 224 votes to the question "What is the biggest factor in...

Maritime industry faces pinch for qualified personnel.
August 11, 2008... Byline: Ariella Cohen The unnamed person towing the massive fuel barge that collided with a 600-foot tanker July 23, resulting in the spill of 400,000 gallons of fuel oil, did not have the proper license to operate a tugboat. That much has...

Jefferson Transit to up weekday service.
August 11, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Jefferson Transit will add service on the Avondale (W1), Lapalco (W3) and Huey P. Long (W10) routes starting Sunday, in a move to increase weekday service. Also, the Westbank Expressway (W2) and Terrytown (W8)...

Commentary: Patients left to unravel system's bureaucratic knots.
August 11, 2008... Byline: Autumn C. Giusti No one should have to endure as much Musak as I have this year. I've spent the past 10 months disputing a charge of more than $600 from my health insurance for a procedure my daughter, now 1, had a few weeks after...

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of La. board accepts resignation of CEO.
August 11, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff The board of directors of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana today said it has accepted the resignation of President and CEO Gery Barry, who has accepted a position as chief strategy officer for Aetna Inc....

Landis Construction moving back to N.O.
August 11, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff After moving from New Orleans to Jefferson Parish in 1973, Landis Construction Co. said it is moving back to Orleans Parish. The company is renovating 8300 Earhart Blvd. as its new headquarters. Its original...

CVB opening offices in St. Louis, Atlanta.
August 11, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau today said it is opening offices in St. Louis and Atlanta and expanding its convention sales team in New Orleans and Washington, D.C. In March 2008, the CVB opened...

Jefferson Parish suspends search for fire services director.
August 11, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard today said that he has temporarily suspended the search for a new director of fire services. "With various issues between fire department personnel and Jefferson Parish...

Passenger counts up at N.O. airport.
August 11, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Passenger traffic at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport was up in June over the same month last year. According to figures released by the airport Monday, the total number of departing passengers...

Kid Rock: New Orleans 'one of the cleanest' cities.
August 12, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report First, it was Lenny Kravitz. Now, it's Kid Rock. SDT's latest commercial features Rock walking around New Orleans, digging into a pile of crawfish and picking up trash with SDT owner Sidney Torres IV. "I...

Free seminars at University of New Orleans on making roofs hurricane-proof.
August 12, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The University of New Orleans will host free, one-hour seminars on Storm-Resistant Roofing Techniques" from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The seminars will be held at the...

$38M BioInnovation Center construction to begin next week.
August 12, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Construction is set to begin Aug. 20 on the long-awaited $38 million New Orleans BioInnovation Center. The facility - a 65,000-square-foot business incubator featuring wet-lab space and other lab and...

City of New Orleans agrees to 10-year deal for ground transportation without aviation board OK.
August 12, 2008... Byline: Jaime Guillet A 10-year contract for shuttle services at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport -- awarded without a competitive bidding process -- is not a good deal for the airport or New Orleans citizens, said...

New Orleans' Canal Street Ferry reopens.
August 12, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Canal Street Ferry reopened today after being closed since the July 23 oil spill on the Mississippi River. The Coast Guard ordered the ferry to be shut down so it would not interfere with the spill's...

Former Kenner councilwoman fills Jefferson Parish School Board vacancy.
August 12, 2008... Byline: Stephen Maloney The Jefferson Parish School Board added a former Kenner City Councilwoman as an interim board member at a special board meeting Monday night. Kenner resident Wilma Irvin, 68, will fill the District 5 seat once held...

HB Rentals names president.
August 12, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Offshore and onshore housing provider HB Rentals has promoted Deidre Toups to president. Toups has been with the company, a subsidiary of Harvey-based Superior Energy Services, since 1997 and was more...

Group: Louisiana Recovery Authority blocking Road Home appeals.
August 12, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Louisiana Recovery Authority is ignoring state law that requires a Road Home appeals process for homeowners who unsuccessfully tried to get fair settlements of their disputes, the Citizens' Road Home...

New Orleans construction to affect Michoud Boulevard traffic until 2009.
August 13, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Starting today, northbound and southbound traffic on Michoud Boulevard will be rerouted to a new southbound road to allow workers to replace the northbound Michoud Bridge road. The change will be in...

Housekeeper will work for gas.
August 13, 2008... Byline: Emilie Bahr There was a time not long ago when Shirley Sessum had to turn away would-be clients interested in her housekeeping service. The Metairie resident gave up her job in home health care about a year and a half ago to start...

Robert L. Freeman sworn in as Orleans DA.
August 13, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report First Assistant District Attorney Robert L. Freeman Jr. has been sworn in as district attorney for Orleans Parish. He succeeds Keva Landrum-Johnson, who ran unopposed for a criminal court judgeship. I am...

Metairie man pleads guilty to federal wire fraud charges.
August 13, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report A 31-year-old Metairie man has pleaded guilty to four counts of federal wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Jim Letten said. Each count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Paul Hunter pleaded guilty...

2 weeks left to submit Women of the Year nominations to New Orleans CityBusiness.
August 13, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report New Orleans CityBusiness is looking to honor 50 women whose success in business and contributions to the community set the pace in our region. The 10th annual Women of the Year event will recognize...

Louisiana, Navy finalize Federal City deal.
August 13, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Navy and state have finalized an agreement on 140 acres of federal land needed to convert the Naval Support Activity base in New Orleans into the long-awaited Federal City Project. The agreement comes...

New Orleans Affordable Homeownership Corp. contractors say they lost money.
August 13, 2008... Byline: Ariella Cohen Lakeview contractor Tyler Malejko had crews prepared to gut homes for elderly homeowners through the New Orleans Affordable Homeownership Corp. After filling out paperwork necessary to do work for the city-chartered...

Infrastructure funds suffer as Americans curb driving.
August 14, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Since November, Americans have driven 53.2 billion fewer miles less than they did over the same period a year earlier, the U.S. Department of Transportation said Wednesday. In June, Americans drove 4.7...

N.O. carpool lanes hit dead end along I-10.
August 14, 2008... Byline: Jaime Guillet Editor's note: This story starts a three-part series on how the New Orleans area is addressing transportation issues as part of its infrastructure overhaul. Matt Oubre of Luling has experienced the joys of...

Mayor Nagin's administration calls city's finances 'strong'.
August 14, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Despite increased expenses this year, the city's finances are doing well, thanks in part to increased sale tax collections from record attendance at events, Mayor C. Ray Nagin's administration says. The...

Louisiana exports soar 64 percent in first half of 2008.
August 14, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Louisiana's worldwide merchandise exports spiked to $22 billion in the first six months of this year, based on record oil and gas prices, according to a report released today by the World Trade Center of...

LSU offering Spanish lessons for businesses.
August 14, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports To help businesses communicate with Spanish-speaking workers and employees, LSU Continuing Education is offering a course focusing on basic communication skills. The first "Spanish in the Workplace"...

Louisiana Mineral Board collects $93.8M in lease sale.
August 14, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports The Louisiana Mineral Board posted its second-highest mineral lease sale on record this month, thanks in large part to interest generated by a natural gas discovery in the northwest portion of the state....

Report: Orleans Parish foreclosure filings surpass national figures.
August 14, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Orleans Parish foreclosure filings far outpaced those of the rest of the nation in July, according to a report released today by Irvine, Calif.-based RealtyTrac. Nationally, foreclosure filings were...

N.O. gas prices sink to $3.72.
August 14, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports City gas prices eased overnight to an average $3.727 per gallon of regular grade, down from Wednesday's average price of $3.743, according to AAA. A month ago, the average price stood at $3.998. A year...