THUMBS UP
Recycle Dat!,
the city’s Carnival-time recycling program, collected more than 10 tons of material during the last two weeks of parades. Along with roving volunteers and staff, Recycle Dat! stations along the Uptown parade route collected more than 12,700 pounds of beads and throws, more than 4,200 pounds of glass and more than 4,500 pounds of aluminum cans. This was the second year for Recycle Dat!, an initiative between the city, New Orleans & Co., Grounds Krewe, Glass Half Full and other organizations.
THUMBS UP
St. Claude Starbucks workers
won their election to unionize earlier this month. The crew at the shop on the corner of St. Claude and Elysian Fields avenues is the third Starbucks location to unionize in New Orleans, following the lead of workers at Starbucks locations on Poydras Street and Maple Street.
THUMBS DOWN
Alfred Russell,
an NOPD officer who shoved a member of the L.B. Landry High School marching band during the Muses parade, has a history of misconduct complaints and is also under investigation for alleged payroll fraud, The Times-Picayune reported. Videos caught Russell pushing Brandon Mitchell, a Landry senior and mellophone player, knocking him into another student. The shove triggered an immediate backlash on social media. Russell was removed from parade duty, and the NOPD’s Public Integrity Bureau is investigating.
