In just a few months, St. Roch residents will have a revamped park six blocks away from their new spot to make groceries. Sampson Playground, located at the corner of N. Roman and St. Roch, sustained significant damages from Katrina. However, the park is slated to reopen by 2013 with a fresh face and new facilities including a baseball field, a resurfaced basketball court, and possibly even a pool.

With all the work to spruce up the streets for the Super Bowl, some residents believe Mayor Mitch and other city officials have neglected vehicles of the two-wheeled variety. The city is reconsidering the layout of Decatur Street, and the current plans only include bike lanes on three blocks of the busy stretch. Local nonprofit Bike Easy took on the cause, and they’re holding a rally tomorrow to send a message to the Administration.

by M.D. Dupuy

The crabby cabbies were at it again at City Hall today, speaking against the new resolution that requires all airport taxi drivers to abide by the recently expanded regulations. Airport drivers must outfit their vehicles with security cameras, GPS devices, air conditioning, and credit card machines. Despite some very vocal opposition, City Council passed the resolution unanimously.

Though they weren't ready to throw their hat in with the Fauboug Marigny Improvement Assocation, the New Orleans City Council decided that Size Matters when it came to a controversial development project today.

Da’ Mayor is getting the people’s input on the 2013 budget priorities, hosting his third in a series of community meetings this evening. Landrieu has already heard from District E and District B, and tonight’s event calls on District C residents to speak up for their communities. The district encompasses many parts of downtown, Algiers, and Treme neighborhoods.

by Mary-Devon Dupuy

ST. ROCH -- City officials and the St. Roch neighborhood broke ground today on their neighborhood’s $3.7 million dollar project to restore the St. Roch Market back to its former glory. While there were no golden shovels or hard hats, the gathered officials released more details about the project, and touted the renovation is the first of many steps to reduce crime in the area and restore the St. Roch neighborhood into an economically viable community.

by Mary-Devon Dupuy

Next week, residents of the St. Roch community will see some of the first physical evidence of the long-awaited revival of a neighborhood icon. Monday, July 23, marks the groundbreaking of the St. Roch Project’s restoration of the historic St. Roch Market. A project slated to last nine months is in motion to return the 19th century building, which has been vacant since Katrina, to its position as a market providing produce and seafood, and neighborhood center.

Classic rock has to take two giant steps back from Bourbon Street, according to a City Council ordinance passed yesterday. Rue Bourbon bars (as well as those in the rest of the Quarter and CBD) now have to put speakers in their buildings, and point them away from doors and windows, and keep them 10 ft. back from doors. Fines start at $500. City Councilwoman Kristin Gisleson Palmer, who represents the French Quarter, called the law a first step in "updating" noise regulations. What better place to start than Journey covers?

In 2011, a lot of the old maxims about New Orleans' resistance to change got thrown out the window. From Freret Street to Mayor Mitch's office to the Krewe of Chewbacchus, the City showed us that changing with the times, if not desired, is at the very least inevitable and therefore necessary. Waters around us have grown and all that. To be sure, many of the old vanguards of the city will live on past this period. But there are a few who came later that didn't live up to the hype. That doesn't mean they won't be back around again. As EWE taught us, you can always come back and marry someone who makes you look good. So, without further rambling, here's a list of who's in and who's out in 2011, and what to look out for in 2012.

by Shay Sokol

Louis Armstrong Park reopened in full today after renovations that began, as Mayor Mitch said today in the opening ceremony, during the Nagin Administration. As he readily pointed out, the construction work was completed on his watch. Landrieu arrived a few minutes late to the ceremony, but the Treme Brass Band was there to play in the ceremony. Once he arrived, Landrieu began, “It’s about time. Better late than never.” He meant the opening of the park, not his late arrival.