By Danae Columbus, opinion columnist Those readers who know me personally understand that I am very involved in the Greek Festival, which is returning Memorial Day weekend after a two-year hiatus. During a visit to the Greek church earlier this week, the festival’s long-time operations director, who comes in from Texas, said, “I see you Read More…
opinion
Viewpoint: Clerk Chelsey Richard Napoleon believes she was called to serve
By Danae Columbus, opinion columnist After a Covid-related delay, Chelsey Richard Napoleon will take the oath of office for her second term as Clerk of Civil District Court and ex-officio recorder on Saturday, (May 14) at Southern University at New Orleans. The investiture ceremony will be followed by a free crawfish boil at SUNO’s Quad. Read More…
Viewpoint: Don’t let the latest Covid variant ruin your Jazz Fest
By Danae Columbus, opinion columnist The thousands of tourists and locals who will attend the long-awaited New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival will surely cause an increase in cases of Covid-19 and it newest sub-variant, BA.2. A friend coming in for the festival wants to wear his mask at the Fair Grounds. While a good Read More…
Viewpoint: Early childhood education, on the April 30 ballot, can prevent crime
By Danae Columbus, opinion columnist In what is predicted to be an extremely low-turnout election on Saturday, April 30, Orleans Parish voters will have the opportunity to support a unique property tax dedicated to early childhood education. If approved, the legislation could generate about $21 million annually — creating 1,500 early childhood education seats in Read More…
Viewpoint: It’s time to consolidate the city’s law enforcement under an elected commissioner
By Danae Columbus, opinion columnist Thirteen year-old Byron “Little B” Kelly Jr. was just a normal kid who enjoyed haircuts and football. Kelly’s decision to walk to the corner store Tuesday evening (March 15) inextricably placed him in harm’s way. Unfortunately, Kelly’s life — like those of many other victims of senseless acts of violence Read More…
The Sidewalk Side: A cluster of Arts and Crafts houses on Iberville Street
By R. Stephanie Bruno, Mid-City Messenger It was a perfectly beautiful Sunday for a StreetWalk … or a StreetScene … or for taking a walk on The Sidewalk Side. All of these have been the names of this column for the past 14 or 15 years, when I first started taking walks and bringing readers Read More…
Viewpoint: Progressive prosecutors like DA Jason Williams are often on the hot seat
By Danae Columbus, opinion columnist District Attorney Jason Williams, who pledged to redesign the city’s justice system so that it “equitably serves all people,” is among the busiest public officials in town. With criminal trials having resumed this week after a long Covid-19 hiatus, Williams is personally arguing a murder case. He is also keeping Read More…
Viewpoint: Striving for peace during a Lenten season like no other
By Danae Columbus, opinion columnist In the pre-dawn hours of Mardi Gras Day, Chief Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes and his North Side Skull & Bones Gang reminded onlookers of their mortality and the need to appreciate life and the people around them. For more than 200 years, culture bearers with African and Caribbean roots have beat Read More…
Viewpoint: As new variant threatens the city, maskless officials send a dangerous message
By Danae Columbus, opinion columnist When New Orleans elected officials don’t feel the urgency to consistently wear masks at Carnival festivities, how can they expect citizens and visitors to take the rules seriously? Social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter and Nextdoor have been blowing up with posts this week regarding the reckless behavior of Mayor Read More…
Viewpoint: What’s your plan to stay safe during Carnival season?
By Danae Columbus, opinion columnist With several hundred thousand people about to descend on the streets of New Orleans, each of us should make a personal commitment to avoid becoming a statistic during Carnival season. After all, Covid-19 and crime are the overarching themes of this year’s Mardi Gras. Although parade goers might not see Read More…