New Orleans · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in New Orleans public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Data center regulations citywide
The city is working out how to define and regulate data centers — whether they should be allowed outright or only conditionally, and with what standards for density, noise and safety. The Commission deferred the docket to keep studying it.
State-city Relations
New Orleans is in a fight with the state government over funding and local control, and critics say those moves are undercutting the city’s main economic engine. If you live in the city, the practical risk is that state decisions could hit the public services you rely on.
City Governance Performance Ranking
New Orleans landed on a national worst-run cities list, which is basically a red flag about how efficiently City Hall is using your tax dollars. The ranking doesn’t fix anything by itself, but it puts pressure on officials to explain what’s broken and what they’ll tackle first.
Sea Level Rise Relocation Study
New Orleans could be headed toward a 'point of no return' on sea level rise, according to a new study, and it says relocation planning should start now. That means hard choices are coming about infrastructure, neighborhoods, and where it’s actually safe to live.
State Legislative Session Advocacy
Louisiana's 2026 legislative session is coming, and a columnist says New Orleans has a lot riding on it — expect real fights over the stuff that funds your city services and hits your wallet. Nothing specific is nailed down yet, but the stakes are local and they're yours.
State Challenge to Sanctuary City Policy
Louisiana’s attorney general is picking a fight with New Orleans over its sanctuary-city stance and how murder sentences are handled—a state-vs-city showdown that could reshape how NOPD deals with immigration. If the state wins, local police could be forced to cooperate more with federal immigration enforcement.