By Drew Broach | Deputy metro editor WHO'S AT FAULT? With New Orleans officials poised to crack down on road-work contractors for the half-finished projects clogging streets, industry representatives are pointing an accusatory finger back at City Hall. The regional manager for the Louisiana Associated General Contractors said foot-dragging from bureaucrats - not industry incompetence - leaves projects stalled. BEHIND SCHEDULE: Remember after Hurricane Ida, when garbage piled up uncollected on New Orleans curbs, and Mayor LaToya Cantrell promised to reinvent the sanitation system. That effort is now months behind schedule, with a key bid solicitation aimed at replacing the garbage hauler for half of the city's residents delayed yet again. RECALL TARGET: Louisiana state Rep. Joe Stagni of Kenner upheld Gov. John Bel Edwards’ veto of a bill targeting transgender children. And opposed letting people carry concealed handguns without a permit or training. And refused to sign a petition at the height of the coronavirus pandemic to curb Edwards’ public health emergency powers. Those breaks with the Republican Party have now made Stagni the target of a recall drive, which has 180 days to collect enough signatures to force a referendum on his service. Four days to Mardi Gras! Catch all the fun - and the non-Carnival news - at NOLA.com. D.B. |