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... SECTION B DEATHS ● B-5 EDITORIALS ● B-6 WEATHER ● B-8 Saturday, November 24, 2007 Courts adapt to absence of key prosecutor N.O. to hold its first online tax sale FIRED UP Colleagues take lead in murder cases 2,500 properties go on block Monday By Paul Purpura West Bank bureau Roger Jordan, the veteran assistant district attorney who has handled many of Jefferson Parish’s high-profile murder cases, including those of Corey “CMurder” Miller and Vince Marinello, is on a leave of absence, a top prosecutor said Friday, breaking weeks of silence. The reason for Jordan’s absence, which is the subject of wide speculation, is not being released. “He’s on leave,” First Assistant District Attorney Steve Wimberly said. “I can’t comment otherwise.” Jordan, 45, a former Orleans Parish prosecutor, has not returned calls for comment since late October. He has missed three pretrial hearings in the Marinello case, which is set for trial Feb. 25. Marinello is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting of his estranged wife, Liz Marinello, 45, in a Metairie Road parking lot in summer 2006. Marinello’s attorneys, Paul Fleming Jr. and Sam Scillitani, have not been told why Jordan has missed hearings, Fleming said Friday. It was unclear when Jordan’s leave began, but he was last seen in court during the week of Oct. 29, handling cases in 24th Judicial District Judge Joan Benge’s courtroom, where he has been assigned for more than four years. Assistant District Attorney Ken Bordelon, who recently returned to Jefferson Parish after a stint in the Orleans Parish district attorney’s office, has been assigned to Benge’s Division A court in recent weeks. Jordan has been a prosecutor on the Miller case for years, and was preparing to retry the rapper on Feb. 11. Miller is accused of killing Steve Thomas, a 16-year-old fan, at a Harvey nightclub in 2002. The rapper won a retrial last year when the state Supreme Court sided with a judge who found that prosecutors withheld their witnesses’ criminal background from defense attorneys. By Gordon Russell Staff writer STAFF PHOTOS BY TED JACKSON As members of the Bonfire Crew unload trees from a trailer, one of the guys leaps to avoid being tripped by a log. The group was laying out the pieces of their log pyramid on the top of the Lutcher levee. Their pyramid, and others, will be lit on Christmas Eve to light the way for Peré Noel. St. James residents waste no time getting started on bonfires Structures will light up levees on Dec. 24 By Matt Scallan River Parishes bureau For many in the New Orleans area, the day after Thanksgiving means lining up outside a store, in the dark, armed with coupons. But for Dustin Poché and his friends, it is the day to break out their chainsaws to light the way for Peré Noel. On Friday, residents of St. James Parish began building bonfires on Mississippi River levees to be set alight on Christmas Eve. New Orleans officials announced they will hold the city’s first online tax sale Monday at 8 a.m. The sale is scheduled to wrap up Wednesday at 8 p.m. unless the roughly 2,500 properties on the list are sold before that. Tax sales are used as a means for public entities in Louisiana to collect property taxes that are deemed delinquent. To purchase a property at a tax sale, a buyer must pay all delinquent taxes, plus penalties and interest. Officials in Mayor Ray Nagin’s administration said the city is only selling properties that have tax delinquencies dating to 2005 or earlier. In other words, properties that did not have outstanding taxes at the time of Hurricane Katrina will not be sold. Those who wish to participate in the online auction must register first at www.neworleanstaxsale.com. Visitors to that Web site may search the database for tax-delinquent properties immediately. A tax sale resembles an auction, but there is no bidding as such. The first person who indi- See SALE, B-2 Saving cuts into N O P Christmas Downtown dilemma taxes City Council presents Meggan Canale watches from her seat on the railroad tracks as the men muscle a timber from the woods to a waiting trailer. The Bonfire Crew began building its bonfire Friday but scouts throughout the year for the perfect trees to erect its 18-foot-tall pyre. See BONFIRES, B-3 EW RLEANS OLITICS ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... ... ALSO: Just the facts, ma’am; Not a mere delay By Bruce Eggler See LEAVE, B-2 Staff writer When Downtown Development District officials appeared before the New Orleans City Council recently to present the agency’s 2008 spending plans, council members faced a dilemma that left them clearly un- comfortable. The council has declared many times that it opposes any property tax “roll forwards” that would increase the tax bills that property owners must pay because of the recent citywide reassessment. Instead, the council and almost all local government agencies have pledged to “roll back” their 2008 millage rates to a See POLITICS, B-2 Doll and Toy Fund will help out mom By Valerie Faciane Staff writer H IGHER E DUCATION N OTES ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... ... FANTASY LAND Trees felled by Katrina weighed as factor in global warming ALSO: Middle Passage remembered; Pioneering students advance; From Botswana to N.O.; Backing development efforts; Good time set for good cause; Easing troubled minds By John Pope Staff writer As if Hurricane Katrina’s wind and water hadn’t inflicted enough damage, a group of researchers led by a Tulane University biologist has found that the monster storm may well have accelerated global warming. When Katrina roared through coastal forests in August 2005, it destroyed thousands of trees. As those trees decompose, the carbon they release will be enough to offset a year’s worth of new tree growth ... in other parts of the United States, said Jeffrey Chambers, an assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology. The team’s report has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Science. Forests are important adversaries of global warming because they remove carbon from the atmosphere during photosynthesis, thereby lowering the production of carbon dioxide. However, an increase in this compound warms the climate, resulting in more intense storms and, eventually, more trees that will decompose, the scientists found. The Tulanians collaborated with researchers from the University of New Hampshire. ●●●●●●● ROOTS AND CULTURE: As part of its annual Kwanzaa celebration, Southern Univer- See NOTES, B-2 STAFF PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER The historic carousel in New Orleans City Park is all aglow for the annual Celebration in the Oaks. Hundreds of people on Friday evening visited the carousel, which recently reopened since Hurricane Katrina. Many locals could be heard describing to their children and grandchildren how they once rode the ride when they were youngsters. Ashley and her 5-year-old daughter are living comfortably in transitional housing, but the 23-year-old single mother knows that it will only last for a year. She said it feels good to have a roof over the their heads while she works and saves to prepare to get a place of her own. The one-bedroom house is comfortable, she said, but there’s not much furniture. THE The housTIMESing agency rePICAYUNE quires that DOLL & Ashley save TOY FUND 30 percent of her salary in order to have enough to eventually move on her own. But she’s only been working for about two months and said saving that much isn’t easy on her salary as a gas station cash- See FUND, B-3 B-2 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2007 THE TIMES-PICAYUNE METRO Fallen trees fuel Whose side will Clarkson be on? ecological worries POLITICS, from B-1 . .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... ... NOTES, from B-1 . .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... ... sity at New Orleans is offering three days of free lectures and discussions on topics such as genealogy and life in post-Katrina New Orleans. The event, which starts Monday, is SUNO’s first Ma’afa Awareness Week. Ma’afa, a Kiswahili term for “terrible occurrence,” is used to refer to the horrors of the Middle Passage, in which shackled African hostages were transported to the United States to become slave laborers. Antoinette Harrell, a genealogist, will discuss family heritage Monday at 9 a.m. at Sophie B. Wright Charter School, 1426 Napoleon Ave., and Deborah Cotton will talk about her new book, “Notes from New Orleans,” Wednesday at 11 a.m. in Building 43 on SUNO’s North Campus at 6801 Press Drive. A panel discussion, “To Be Black: Reflections From African and African-American Perspectives,” will start Tuesday at 11 a.m. in Building 43 of SUNO’s North Campus. The Kwanzaa Festival, featuring performances, a blood drive and food, will start Thursday at 9 a.m. on SUNO’s North Campus. Millie Charles, founder of SUNO’s School of Social Work, will be the keynote speaker. ●●●●●●● PROGRESS REFLECTED: Fourteen students working toward doctoral degrees in audiology at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans have received their white coats, signifying the start of the clinical stage of their education. The program, which is in the School of Allied Health Professions, was established in May 2004 to replace the master’s degree of communication disorders in audiology, spokeswoman Leslie Capo said. It is designed to give students better training in the diagnosis, treatment and management of hearing and balance disorders so these men and women will be able to practice independently when they graduate, she said. Despite the new program, students can still get a master of arts degree in communications disorders in speech language pathology, Capo said. ●●●●●●● FOCUSING ON PHONETICS: Kemmonye “Kems” Manaka of the University of Botswana is to speak Wednesday at 11 a.m. at SUNO on languages in southern Africa. She will deliver her free lecture in Building 16 on the North Campus. Manaka, who earned a doctorate in phonetics at University College, London, specializes in studying the linguistic aspects of languages such as Bantu, Khoesan and English. Her speech is part of the university’s program to broaden students’ horizons, spokesman Eddie Francis said. ●●●●●●● SHARING POST-K IDEAS: Students and local leaders will discuss community-development policies for post-Katrina New Orleans in a two-day conference that will start Friday at Tulane. The meeting is sponsored by the Tulane chapter of the Roosevelt Institution, a network of student think tanks, said Eric Couper, the conference coordinator. A panel discussion of education, affordable housing and sustainable development will start next Saturday at 1:15 p.m. in the Kendall Cram Room of Tulane’s Lavin-Bernick Center. It will be free and open to the public. The meeting is designed to provide education, contacts and motivation for students interested in crafting public policy, Couper said, adding that the Roosevelt Institution exists not only to help those students but also to provide their papers to people who can act on them. The conference schedule is a v a i l a b l e a t tulane.rooseveltinstitution.org/ collaborativeconference. ●●●●●●● A PITCH FOR SCHOLARSHIPS: To raise money to match a $150,000 gift from the Tom Joyner Foundation, SUNO will hold an allmale fashion show Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. at The Theatre at Harrah’s casino. Tickets are $50 apiece. Proceeds from the evening, along with the Joyner foundation grant, will provide scholarships, spokesman Eddie Francis said. Joyner is the host of a nationally syndicated daily radio program. ●●●●●●● CARING COUPLE WINS KUDOS: In recognition of their mentalhealth work after Hurricane Katrina, Drs. Howard and Joy Osofsky of LSU Health Sciences Center have received honors from two organizations. They were given the Sarah Haley Award for Clinical Excellence by the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, and the St. Bernard Parish School Board praised their “outstanding and continuing service in our greatest hours of need.” Howard Osofsky is chairman of the psychiatry department, and Joy Osofsky is a professor of pediatrics, psychiatry and public health. ●●●●●●● HONORS: I Rosanne Adderley, a Tulane history professor, has received the Wesley-Logan Book Prize in African Diaspora History from the American Historical Association for her book “New Negroes from Africa: Slave Trade Abolition and Free African Settlement in the Nineteenth-Century Caribbean.” I Xavier University’s Office of University & Media Relations has won seven awards in the annual competition sponsored by the Public Relations Society of America’s New Orleans chapter. The office received seven awards last year as well. ●●●●●●● LEAVE, from B-1 Jordan was not prosecuting Miller and Marinello alone. David Wolff and Tommy Block, both seasoned prosecutors, also have been assigned to those cases, respectively, and now are taking the lead positions. Jordan and Block also are prosecuting a case in St. Francisville, where five inmates at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola are accused of killing a corrections officer during an uprising in 1999. The Jefferson Parish district attorney’s office was assigned to the case in 2004 after the West Feliciana district attorney recused himself. ●●●●●●● NO FOOLISH CONSISTENCY FOR HIM: Criminal Sheriff Marlin Gusman did quite an about-face when he appeared before the council last week to present his 2008 budget. Gusman’s budget proposal, as in previous years, was a single page requesting $27 million in city money, with no details on how the money would be spent. Pressed by Councilwoman Shelley Midura for more information, Gusman said he is required to submit only a single number to the city. Back in the days when Gusman was the city’s chief administrative officer under Mayor Marc Morial, he made exactly the same complaint about the bare-bones budget requests submitted by then-Sheriff Charles Foti as Midura did this month about Gusman’s request. Gusman’s latest flip-flop resembles a similar reversal he performed a few years ago. In July 2002, after Gusman was elected to the council, he and other members were ac- cused by a top aide to recently inaugurated Mayor Ray Nagin of trying to encroach on the administration’s prerogatives and making demands that previous mayors had not had to face to get raises approved for top appointees. Gusman said he was just following mandates laid out in the City Charter. But asked by a reporter why he had not taken the same position during his six years as chief administrative officer, Gusman said he was concerned then with getting things done, not with legal niceties. ●●●●●●● MORE THAN JUST A DEFERRAL: On the surface, it seemed like a routine deferral, something the City Council does almost every meeting with half or more of the measures on its agenda. But the council’s decision at its Nov. 15 meeting to defer a decision on one issue could have considerable significance. The issue was a request to approve a change in nonconforming use for a small store at 1900 S. Carrollton Ave. owned by Criminal District Judge Frank Marullo Jr. In an unprecedented move for the council membership that took office last year, the council voted 4-2 on Oct. 18 to disregard the recommendation of a district member, in this case Midura, on a land-use issue. She made a motion to reject the request by Marullo and his son, Frank III, to allow a change in use from a pesticide company’s office to a coffee shop that the younger Marullo would operate. But after defeating Midura’s SALE, from B-1 . .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... ... ●●●●●●● Paul Purpura can be reached at [email protected] or (504) 826-3791. WE REMOVE CONCRETE SLABS COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL TEAR DOWN YOUR HOUSE FREE USING ICC FUNDS 504.309.6865 ●●●●●●● Bruce Eggler can be reached at [email protected] or (504) 826-3320. cates they’ll pay the taxes, penalties and interest on a particular property is the winning bidder. However, buyers do not actually own the properties they purchase — not immediately, anyway. In most cases, the taxdelinquent owner has three years to “redeem” the property by repaying the purchaser the taxes, penalties and interest, plus a 5 percent penalty and 1 percent interest for each month that has passed since the tax sale. If the property has been legally determined to be blighted, the three-year redemption period is shortened to 18 months. If the property is not re- Clocks, knives deemed by the deadline, the buyer must file legal paperwork to claim title to the property. Those who register for the sale can “flag” properties they’re interested in buying before the sale begins, according to the Web site. The site has answers to many other questions about tax sales, such as an explanation of the responsibilities of those who purchase property at tax sales. A second tax sale will be held Dec. 12, officials in the Nagin administration said. Properties that do not sell during the two tax sales will be adjudicated to the city. ●●●●●●● Gordon Russell may be reached at [email protected] or (504) 826-3347. logo PUBLIC FORUM NOTICE During a status conference this week, prosecutors told the judge presiding over the Angola case that Jordan is on leave, leading to hearings that were set for next week to be pushed back to April. Jordan’s absence should have no effect on the Marinello and Miller cases, provided the prosecutors “are reasonably competent,” said Dane Ciolino, a Loyola Law School professor and defense attorney. “These are not tremendously complicated cases,” Ciolino said. motion, the council did not then vote to approve the Marullos’ request. Instead, it deferred a decision until the Nov. 15 meeting in hopes that Fielkow and fellow at-large member Michael Darnell could work out an agreement that would satisfy the owners and neighborhood critics. Midura then incensed some of her colleagues by suggesting that they had caved in to pressure from a powerful political figure — a comment that led to an angry confrontation at a council retreat a few days later. Fielkow accused Midura of being “totally disrespectful of your colleagues,” and after further fireworks, Midura walked out of the session. With that as background, it was somewhat surprising that the council last week agreed to Midura’s request to again defer a decision on the land-use issue — a deferral that pushed the vote past the end of Darnell’s interim term and into the start of what will be new at-large member Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson’s term in office. Based on her record during her previous two council terms of supporting both neighborhood organizations and City Planning Commission recommendations, Clarkson appears to be a good bet to back Midura’s position, should the issue again come to a head. It seems likely, however, that efforts will be made to avoid another head-to-head parliamentary showdown. Owners will have 3 years to redeem John Pope can be reached at [email protected] or at (504) 826-3317. Angola hearings pushed to April . .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... ... level that will bring in only as much revenue as the agencies received this year, despite the sharp increase in the total value of assessed property from the reassessment. The only agency that has not fallen into line is the DDD, whose board voted to collect enough extra millage to bring in the $225,000 the agency says it needs to support an approximately $4 million bond issue to pay for repairing and rebuilding sidewalks in the Central Business District and Warehouse District. DDD officials justify the move on the grounds that the increase is very slight (about 0.5 mills), that it applies only in a small part of the city, that it would be used for capital improvements and not operations, that the agency still would be collecting only about 70 percent of the millage it is authorized by law to levy, and that its constituents want improved sidewalks and are willing to pay for them. Indeed, when the DDD board met last month to vote on its 2008 budget and tax plans, not a single taxpayer showed up to criticize the millage request. All of which left council members in a quandary: wanting to maintain their support for a total rollback of millages but reluctant to tell DDD property owners they can’t tax themselves if they want to. Councilwoman Stacy Head, whose district includes most of the DDD, and Council President Arnie Fielkow said they had re- ceived lots of e-mails and other messages in support of the DDD’s plans but no opposition. DDD President Kurt Weigle said he had heard from only a handful of unhappy constituents. Fielkow said the council would approve the DDD’s millage increase only if there is no opposition to it. If the plan has any opponents, he said almost pleadingly into the TV cameras, “Let us hear from you” before the council votes Friday on the DDD’s budget. The public is invited to attend an open forum on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at 6:30 PM with the Board of Directors of the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA) and the Office of Recovery Management (ORM) at the New Orleans City Council Chambers, 1300 Perdido Street to gain information and give input about the Orleans Parish Redevelopment and Disposition Plan for Louisiana Land Trust properties. Following this forum, this plan will be submitted to the Mayor and the New Orleans City Council before it is forwarded to the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA). Beginning next spring and continuing over the next 12-18 months, as many as seven thousand (7,000) properties will be transferred from the Louisiana Land Trust (LLT) to NORA. These properties comprise those sold back to the state as part of the Louisiana Road Home program. As the exclusive recipient and administrator of these properties, NORA will seek input on the principles for transfer and management of these properties in a manner consistent with the long-term goals and objectives of the (Plan adopted by the City Council) and the Unified New Orleans Plan (UNOP), which concentrates redevelopment around 17 designated areas. The open forum on November 28th is part of NORA’s broader process for public participation. NORA plans to schedule a series of public meetings as information on specific parcels and sale closings become available. The strategies for redevelopment are being managed through collaboration among the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority, the Office of Recovery Management, the Mayor’s Office and the Louisiana Office of Community Development. This group has worked in consultation with the Louisiana Recovery Authority and the Louisiana Land Trust. Copies of the draft of NORA’s application to the LRA are available at: The New Orleans Public Library, and on-line at www.cityofno.com and at www.noraworks.org. ● Many local residents have been known to complete all their holiday shopping with one trip to Alpine Clocks & Jewelers at 1901 Veterans near Bonnabel in Metairie. Longtime owner Albert Brignac says Friday’s sales were brisk, thanks to loyal shoppers who know that some of the best bargains on the huge inventory are always available the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. Visit today for a chance to browse “the country’s largest selection of grandfather clocks and specialty knives under one roof.” Currently, there are hundreds of rare standup grandfather clocks priced from $1,129 to $9,875. The prices include free local delivery, delivery available within 100 miles of the store, free set-up and other perks. Brignac says the knives here include a choice of everything from pocket knives and a full selection of kitchen knives to collectible sabers and swords. The shop is also filled with mantel clocks, watches, jewelry, collectible figurines, decorative items and much more. Hours: 9 to 7 Mondays through Saturdays “and also the last Sundays before Christmas,” says Brignac. More info: 833-8332. ● Cameras Buy, give Bowen Jewelers at 2408 David Drive in Metairie is donating proceeds from the sale of replicas of the New Canal Lighthouse (on the point at Lake Pontchartrain’s West End) to two organizations. Beacon of Hope will receive a donation from Bowen from the sale of pewter ornaments of the lighthouse (currently being rebuilt) to Beacon of Hope. The local nonprofit was formed after Katrina to help residents of Lakeview, Gentilly, the 9th Ward and other hard-hit neighborhoods return to their homes. The collection of jewelry that shows the new lighthouse design (from $39.99) is being sold to benefit the Save the Lighthouse fund of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation. Included: pins, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, money clips and other pieces. Jewelers Mark and Donalyn Bowen say they sold thousands of pieces of fleur de lis jewelry in 2006, from which proceeds were donated to several local nonprofits. “We do this every year,” says Mark Bowen, and the pieces are always a big hit with customers.” Hours: 10 to 5:30 weekdays, 10 to 4 Saturdays. Specifics: 835-1665. ● The two-day after-Thanksgiving sale at Lakeside Camera Photoworks concludes today at both locations — 3508 21st at Severn in Metairie and 2121 N. Causeway Blvd. in Mandeville. Several models of the superpopular Nikon Coolpix digital camera are available, with prices starting at $99.95 during the sale. Lakeside offers one of the area’s most complete selections of Nikon cameras, lenses and accessories, along with a complete digital photo print department, custom print division and much more. Lakeside Camera is also one of the best places to find accessories for photography and camera buffs — from travel bags and tripods to photo frames and photography software. More: 885-8660, 620-4084. Dance The New Orleans Ballet Association will present the Complexions Contemporary Ballet company led by former Alvin Ailey stars Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson as choreographers. When and where: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, at Tulane University’s Dixon Hall. “Intense speed, daredevil physicality” and diverse musical choices are the hallmark of Complexions’ repertory. Tickets: $30 to $80 at 522-0996 or nobadance.com. Ad Reporter: (504) 826-3128, [email protected].