Louisiana RealEstateRama

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announces its participation in the national advocacy and educational event, Infrastructure Week, which will take place from May 16-23. Across the country, businesses, labor organizations, elected officials and more will join together to tell citizens and policymakers alike how #InfrastructureMatters to their communities, businesses and jobs, health and safety, and daily lives – and the need for increased and continued investment from all levels of government and the private sector.

The board of directors of the Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) held a special meeting April 27 to elect Lloyd "Buddy" Spillers as its new chairman of the board and appoint E. Keith Cunningham, Jr. as Interim Executive Director and General Counsel

U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) announced the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (WRDA) passed with bipartisan support through the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW). Vitter successfully included a number of provisions that will improve flood control and coastal hurricane protection for Louisiana communities.

A Louisiana resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of mail fraud, U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton for the Western District of Pennsylvania announced today.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has granted a 60-day extension on filing the Proof of Loss form for National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholders who were affected by storms across the state in March. The program normally requires policyholders to file that form within 60 days of suffering flood damage.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon is asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to extend its deadline for Louisiana homeowners impacted by flooding. A federal disaster declaration issued March 13 has been expanded to cover 36 Louisiana parishes. FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requires homeowners to file a Proof of Loss form to claim damages within 60 days of a flood.

The Department of Environmental Affairs has received a sub-grant from the University of New Orleans Technology Foundation, Inc. to help educate construction contractors on methods to reduce storm water pollution from construction site activities. The prime-grant was awarded to UNO from the United States EPA Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program.

Congressman Ralph Abraham, M.D., R-Alto, continued advocating to the President and the United States Department of Agriculture for additional flood relief and assistance in the wake of historic flooding in Louisiana.

Association’s Louisiana Chapter Petitions Fifth Circuit to Challenge OSHA’s Crystalline Silica Rule, Citing Fact Rule Is Not Feasible Given Limitations of Current Dust Removal Technology

The New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORDC) will continue the 2016 spring season of Movies in the Park this weekend with a double feature. On Friday, April 1 with “Jurassic World” will be featured at Hardin Playground, 2500 New Orleans St. and on Saturday, April 2, "Maleficent" will be featured at Comiskey Playground, 600 S. Jefferson Davis Pkwy

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released final Flood Insurance Rate Maps for New Orleans that remove many properties from Special Flood Hazard Areas. “The release of the finalized Flood Insurance Rate Maps for New Orleans ensures that required flood elevations are correctly mapped for our residents for the first time in years,” Mayor Mitch Landrieu said. “The City fought hard to guarantee the accuracy of these Flood Maps so that the actual risk was appropriately calculated. As a result of significant improvements in drainage and flood protection, flood insurance will be more affordable for many area residents.

At Tuesday night’s Finance Meeting, President Natalie Robottom requested and received Council approval to move forward with several action items for facility and infrastructure improvements for citizens of all ages

the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) Board of Commissioners approved $4.4 million of transit service enhancements. These changes include earlier start times and 24-hour service on many routes used by commuters to access downtown employment centers, education facilities and medical care. These improvements will be implemented beginning Sunday, April 17, 2016

U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-La.) continues to press Gina McCarthy, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to answer questions about her Agency’s gross negligence in the Flint, Michigan water crisis. Vitter’s statements are made ahead of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (OGR) hearing today during which EPA Administrator McCarthy and Rick Snyder, Governor of the State of Michigan, will testify on the government’s response to the water crisis in Flint, Michigan

Mayor Landrieu announced a series of events that will take place throughout 2016 as part of the Welcome Table New Orleans external link, a multi-year citywide initiative focused on race, reconciliation and community building. This year, eight citizen-led circles will reveal their various reconciliation projects to the community through workshops, business models, public art installations and more.