January 13, 2026 | From City of New Orleans
City of New Orleans Begins "Lights On" Initiative in New Orleans East as Part of Mayor Moreno’s Public Safety Priorities
NEW ORLEANS--On her second day in office, Mayor Helena Moreno joined Deputy Mayor of Public Safety Michael Harrison, Deputy CAO of Infrastructure Stephen Nelson, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams, Councilmember Jason Hughes, and New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick in New Orleans East to mark the first step of her Lights On initiative. The effort is a cornerstone of the mayor’s 100-day priorities and reflects a whole-of-government approach to public safety and infrastructure challenges in underserved communities.
City officials were on site Tuesday, January 13, outside of the Huntington Park Apartments on Crowder and the I-10 Service Road. This stretch of five to ten blocks highlights the recently completed lighting improvements. City leaders discussed the public safety and infrastructure coordination efforts. Repairs took place at nearby Willows Apartments.
“We recognize this is a public safety issue, and we’re taking the first of many steps to address crime in New Orleans East,” said Mayor Helena Moreno. “New Orleans East has been ignored for way too long. Not anymore!” Mayor Moreno shared.
“There’s truth in the fact that where darkness lives, evil lurks,” Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick exclaimed. “This is just the beginning of better things to come. We know how many good people live here, and we’re going to be your partner.”
District Attorney Jason Williams announced, “When lights are broken and infrastructure is broken, it’s easier for criminals to commit crimes. We want to ensure no part of the city feels or is unsafe.”
Improved lighting is a proven tool to help deter crime, increase visibility, and improve the quality of life for residents. City officials worked across departments to identify locations where repairs would have the greatest impact.
“We’ve been chasing issues at this location for years. Data says this area is a priority,” said Deputy Mayor of Public Safety Michael Harrison. “Our public safety team used crime data to pinpoint where lighting repairs would make the biggest difference. Improved lighting offers improved public safety.”
“With the city facing a major budget shortfall, we have to be smart and intentional about every repair we make,” said Deputy CAO of Infrastructure Stephen Nelson. “Through initiatives like the Lights On initiative and the Infrastructure Coordination Council, we’re prioritizing projects that deliver the greatest impact at the lowest cost. This lighting work shows a new level of coordination at City Hall and how we’re improving the way infrastructure gets done.”
Councilmember Jason Hughes advised the crowd gathered outside of the Huntington Park Apartments, “It’s a new day in District E. Mayor Moreno is literally walking the talk. She’s dedicated to New Orleans East and the Lower 9th Ward. It’s not just a lot of talk, but actions. This work is citizen-driven, and it’s up to all of us to execute.”
The city partnered with All Star Electric to complete the lighting repairs. Contractors will continue to play a key role in infrastructure work across New Orleans, particularly as the city rebuilds its internal capacity. Mayor Moreno says the city will work on lifting the hiring freeze to hire electricians to complete the necessary work.
In the first 100 days of Mayor Moreno’s historic administration, the city will focus on stabilizing operations, rebuilding public trust, and accelerating infrastructure delivery. The administration will accomplish this by creating the Infrastructure Coordination Council so that residents experience fewer duplicative street cuts, clearer project timelines, and more coordinated construction. It will set clear public expectations, communicate openly and honestly with residents, and build professional, accountable internal systems.
Within the first 100 days, the Infrastructure Coordination Council will convene its first meetings and develop a framework for reporting, managing, and coordinating projects, information, and construction to avoid conflicts, reduce rework, increase publicly available information, and enhance project delivery.
Building in-house expertise is a priority for Mayor Moreno’s administration, which is actively working to identify and hire electricians to complete more work internally. Increasing this internal capacity will allow the city to deliver repairs more quickly and cost-effectively, while still relying on contractors for larger or specialized projects.
To report a broken or malfunctioning streetlight, please call NOLA311 at (504) 658-2299 or visit the NOLA311 website at nola311.org.