Did you know that you can be reimbursed for erroneous (wrong) charges?
Did you know that there is a sliding scale for payments for people having a hard time paying their bills? Did you know that you can go to the Keller Library on upcoming Wednesdays to get these and other issues handled with the help of Justice and Beyond advocates? These advocates will help you meet with people from the Sewerage and Water Board who can take care of your problem.
Justice and Beyond is a coalition of leaders, organizations, and individuals formed 6 years ago with a mission to empower its members and to advocate for justice and righteousness for all peoples. In the past few months we have confronted Entergy about its proposed gas plant, supported St. James Parish residents in their fight against the Formosa chemical plant, and provided education on other pressing issues.
Additionally, we held forums on Sewerage and Water Board problems, meeting with Sewerage and Water Board executive director Ghassan Korban to make demands and prioritize solutions. We attended monthly S&WB board meetings. We did planning with Richard Rainey, Director of Communication for Sewerage and Water Board on how to implement some solutions. One result is a temporary customer service center in the Broadmoor neighborhood, so that you don’t have to go downtown and park, and so that you can have an advocate with you to help you decide what questions to ask and what relief to expect.
Justice and Beyond won an important policy victory: S&WB can no longer hire workers from out out of parish. This keeps jobs for our folks in Orleans Parish.
Mr. Rainey states in an email: “In our continued effort to meet our customers where they are, the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans has partnered with Justice and Beyond to create a temporary Customer Service Center in the Broadmoor neighborhood at the Rosa F. Keller Library. Customer Service representatives will be on hand during these times to assist anyone with issues or questions about their SWBNO bills. Customers can check on outstanding disputes, enter payment arrangements or get answers to general billing questions.” A caveat: the representatives can only address billing issues and not damage claims or water leaks. Customers with those concerns should contact 504 52 WATER (2837) or email customerservice@swbno.org.
WHO: SWBNO Billing Customer Service Department, with thanks to Justice and Beyond and the Rosa F. Keller Library
WHAT TO BRING: Your bill in question, or your ID with billing address
WHEN: Wednesdays on January 9, 16, 23, 30 from 10 a.m. To 2 p. m.
WHERE: Rosa F. Keller Library and Community Center, 4300 S. Broad St.
WHY: SWBNO is launching a greater effort in 2019 to reach its customers at times and places convenient for them.
HOW to contact the library: 504 596 2660. How to contact the SWBNO 504 52 WATER. How to contact Richard Rainey 504 585 2254 (office) 504 418 2848 (cell) or rrainey@swbno.org.
The Justice and Beyond advocates will have a printed list of questions for people to ask the Billing Customer Service Department at the Keller Library. For more information contact JusticeandBeyondnola@gmail.com.
Fight back on this and many other important issues with Justice and Beyond. While we see this customer service outreach as a step in the right direction, we think that it is the Sewerage and Water Board’s responsibility to resolve the problems it created on a system-wide basis, without individuals having to appear and fight. Not all of our citizens are able to do that.
Justice and Beyond meets each Monday, except holidays at 4:45-7 p.m. at Cafe Istanbul in the Healing Center, St. Claude at St. Roch. We serve a delicious dinner and have a fun place for your little ones to play.
Signed by The Justice and Beyond Pillars – the steering committee of Justice and Beyond.
Jeff Thomas
Publisher • Opinion Columnist • Licensed General Contractor • Real Estate Appraiser • New Orleans
Jeff Thomas is the publisher of Black Source Media and one of New Orleans’ most direct voices on civic affairs, economic justice, and Louisiana politics. He writes from the intersection of experience and accountability — as a licensed general contractor,a tech company founder and executive with over 30 years experience, and a businessman who has worked across the city’s civic, media, and construction ecosystems for decades.
His Sunday column covers Louisiana legislative politics, insurance discrimination, housing policy, and the forces shaping Black community life in New Orleans and across the state. Thomas writes in the tradition of Black journalists who hold power accountable without apology — building arguments from data, delivering verdicts from evidence, and speaking to Black New Orleans with the directness the moment demands.
He is also the principal of Executive Appraisers Louisiana, an MBE-certified real estate appraisal firm, and EA Inspection Services, LLC, a government inspection services company. Black Source Media is his platform for the civic conversation New Orleans has needed and too rarely had.
Selected Articles by Jeff Thomas
Black Neighborhoods Pay the Highest Insurance Rates in Louisiana. Here’s What They Don’t Want You to Know.
They Didn’t Yell the N-Word. They Went to Law School, Bided Their Time, and Rewrote the Constitution Instead.
Vappie vs. Morrell: Why Does Justice Look Different in New Orleans?
The State Has the Money. New Orleans East Just Needs Them to Use It.
The Failure of Mitch Landrieu
Publisher — Black Source Media
Jeff Thomas
Publisher • Opinion Columnist • Licensed General Contractor • Real Estate Appraiser • New Orleans
Jeff Thomas is the publisher of Black Source Media and one of New Orleans’ most direct voices on civic affairs, economic justice, and Louisiana politics. He writes from the intersection of experience and accountability — as a licensed general contractor,a tech company founder and executive with over 30 years experience, and a businessman who has worked across the city’s civic, media, and construction ecosystems for decades.
His Sunday column covers Louisiana legislative politics, insurance discrimination, housing policy, and the forces shaping Black community life in New Orleans and across the state. Thomas writes in the tradition of Black journalists who hold power accountable without apology — building arguments from data, delivering verdicts from evidence, and speaking to Black New Orleans with the directness the moment demands.
He is also the principal of Executive Appraisers Louisiana, an MBE-certified real estate appraisal firm, and EA Inspection Services, LLC, a government inspection services company. Black Source Media is his platform for the civic conversation New Orleans has needed and too rarely had.
Selected Articles by Jeff Thomas
Black Neighborhoods Pay the Highest Insurance Rates in Louisiana. Here’s What They Don’t Want You to Know.
They Didn’t Yell the N-Word. They Went to Law School, Bided Their Time, and Rewrote the Constitution Instead.
Vappie vs. Morrell: Why Does Justice Look Different in New Orleans?
The State Has the Money. New Orleans East Just Needs Them to Use It.
The Failure of Mitch Landrieu
Just recently began reading this newsletter(?). Initially dismissed as another nuisance email….but oops it’s quite the opposite. Just wanted to applaud whoever initiated. Its very informative & enlightening on issues that matter. S&WB article….just an example. Keep up great work and God bless you all. 🙏🏾💜💯