New Orleans seeks to renew contract with Ubuntu Village NOLA

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - At Morris FX Jeff Park in Algiers families gathered together to get close with those who serve and protect them at this year’s National Night Out Against Crime.

First responders from NOPD, NOFD, EMS, OPSO and other agencies were all present and eager to meet and greet the families who came out to celebrate the evening.

The crowd also took time to celebrate the progress the city has made in it’s crime reduction efforts, with the NOPD reporting a 70% drop in crime since 2022 and the lowest overall crime rates since the 1970s.

“That can only be accounted for due to the level of partnerships on the law enforcement side and the level of investment we are making on prevention,” New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said.

Moreno not only credited the first responders and lawyers who arrest and convict criminals in the city but also Ubuntu Village NOLA. The nonprofit works to prevent crime before it happens by staffers, who specialize in conflict resolution, to mediate conflicts in neighborhoods.

The goal is to de-escalate crimes like retaliatory shootings.

“We looked at them as public safety partners,” Moreno said.

And as the city considers budget cuts for the NOPD and other city agencies, the New Orleans City Council Criminal Justice Committee recently approved a contract with Ubuntu Village through 2027 for up to $2.8 million.

“We’ve kept them whole so they remain in the budget,” she said.

The new contract still has to get full council approval but Moreno calls it a sign the city is committed to tackling crime from all angles.

“We are in the top 10 cities in the countries that invest in crime prevention,” she said.

And as city agencies adjust to possible workload shifts under potential budget cuts, they encourage the public to continue what they’re doing to tackle violence.

“But you know why we are being so successful? It’s because of you. You play a significant role in being our partners with us to drive this crime down,” NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said.

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