OJCA is an organization of homeowners and others who care about our friends, neighbors, business partners and the area where we live and thrive. These are our 2026 accomplishments!
In 2026, OJCA membership continued to steadily grow and the OJCA board continued to build positive relationships with elected parish officials, as well as state representatives. OJCA formed working relationships with Jefferson Parish offices such as Parish Council, the Planning Advisory Board, Code Compliance & Enforcement, JP Planning Department, JP Library System and JP Parks & Recreation. OJCA also formed relationships with local and state organizations such as JEDCO, LaDOTD, Urban Trees and the Louisiana Regional Planning Commission.
Last year, OJCA implemented a quarterly meeting with representatives of Ochsner Health Systems to communicate to them the questions/comments/concerns members have and to receive feedback. In 2026, OJCA implemented quarterly meetings with Councilman Deano Bonano as well as Councilpersons-At-Large Scott Walker and Jennifer VanVrancken. OJCA found that presenting questions and concerns of our members to Ochsner and our councilpersons and then relaying that information back to our members at quarterly meetings fostered both a professional dialogue and further promoted the needs and concerns of our organization. Mid 2026, OJCA began to provide blank note cards at each membership meeting for members to submit their comments/questions/concerns for Ochsner Health Systems and elected Jefferson Parish officials. OJCA is in talks with State Representative Laurie Schlegel’s office to begin regular meetings with her office in 2027.
In addition to these items and our quarterly membership meetings, we have also been active in other endeavors to improve our community.
1. We have been able to confirm through both the LaDOTD and Jefferson Parish Council that due to current lack of funding, the proposed Jeff HWY/ railroad crossing overpass is not expected to move forward in the foreseeable future. As a solution to the railroad crossing traffic issues on Jeff Hwy., the Parish Council is expanding the free Move Metairie App for rail crossing information to include Jefferson Highway. The App is being renamed Move Jefferson. Go to Move Metairie | Jefferson Parish, LA for more information.
2. After repeated requests for the removal of “No Parking” signs on our residential streets, the Parish has addressed the issue by replacing the signs with “Authorized Parking Only” signs. The affected streets are: Coolidge, Harding, South Rio Vista, Spruce, Betz, Osterley, and Laura. For clarification, members may view Jefferson Parish parking ordinances on the website Code of Ordinances | Jefferson Parish, LA | Municode Library, Chapter 3/Traffic and Motor Vehicles. There one may find information regarding blocking of driveways, parking near fire hydrants, etc.
3. We are continuing to work with Ochsner Health Systems to address the parking lot sound and lighting concerns of our neighbors. OJCA reports to members the progress of Ochsner’s building expansion at each membership meeting. For more information, you may visit Ochsner's website at Latest Updates to Neighbors of Ochsner Medical Center | Ochsner Health effective 9/30/26. The email address is community@ochsner.org.
5. During our attendance at an LaDOTD meeting we learned of various projects in the works to add access between Airline Hwy, Earhart Hwy and Jefferson Hwy as well as efforts to create a flyover lane from Causeway towards River Rd. These possible projects all increase the possibility of additional traffic on our residential streets. OJCA is monitoring these projects. For more information regarding existing and future projects, go to La DOTD - Projects to sign up for updates.
6. The OJCA Board has attended Code Enforcement Hearings to assist in efforts to hold businesses to the code standards of the Parish for landscaping and garbage. We have also applied for our area to be included in Councilwoman Jennifer VanVrancken’s initiative to keep Jefferson Parish Beautiful. Councilwoman Van Vrancken recently secured a grant for 100 FREE road signs from Keep Louisiana Beautiful. Each sign promotes the “Litter Hotline”, with either a “No Littering” or “No Dumping” message, plus the hotline number 855-LA-LITTER (855-525-4883). One such sign has been installed within our boundaries, near Causeway Blvd. Go to Keep Louisiana Beautiful for more information.
7. During the course of the year, OJCA learned of the potential dangers to our community from various chemical-related business located along the Mississippi River. We conducted research to determine what these companies actually do and how air and water quality are affected. Upon learning the environmental and health impacts we chose to act. Our first effort was to contact other community and neighborhood associations along the river and to determine whether they were interested in discussing these issues & were able to form a coalition of several other like-minded civic associations, including OJCA. As it turned out, several of these communities had been involved in fighting for clean air and water already. Our meeting with the interested associations led to attendance at a Westwego council meeting regarding a concrete crushing facility and a LDEQ - River Birch Landfill hearing. By reaching out, we have begun to learn more about other organizations which share our concerns and we hope to be able to share more information with our members as we move forward. One of the organizations is “Join4CleanAir”, and they share the idea that since cancer causing particles are emitted on the West Bank, (only a mile away) they affect everyone along the river. For more information about this important environmental activism group, contact join4cleanair@gmail.com.. You may also visit their facebook page at (20+) Facebook.
8. When OJCA learned that JEDCO was creating a Design District in Old Jefferson and trying to promote local businesses in our neighborhood, we decided to move forward with our plan to invite businesses as members of our civic association. Our outreach and marketing board has identified over 70 businesses within OJCA borders and has begun to visit these businesses in 2026 to offer a business membership to them. OJCA has created a business membership page on our website, and those businesses that have joined our neighborhood association to date are showcased there.
9. OJCA has attended and spoken at various Planning Dept. and Council meetings in 2025-26 to remain informed regarding issues involving our neighborhood and to keep our visibility and our voices heard. As a result, we have learned of various funding opportunities for our association within the Jefferson Parish guidelines.
11. OJCA has requested and received a promise from Councilman Deano Bonano and Councilperson-At-Large Jennifer VanVrancken to request CVUNOLA to paint two relay boxes within our boundaries. It is our intent that the relay boxes can welcome traffic along Jefferson Hwy to not only our parish, but our civic association. For more information, see Community Visions Unlimited | neighborhood nonprofit art beautification gardens | New Orleans, LA 70184, USA.
12. During 2026 OJCA members and their families were invited to our second annual King Cake party. Due to inclement weather, the party was held at Grounded Coffee Café, for which our organization was grateful. Photos from that event are on our page.
13. OJCA was represented at The Senior Needs Assessment results presentation and learned of funding and communication issues and how these issues are being addressed with Jefferson Parish. For more information regarding this on-going project, go to Jefferson-Parish-Senior-Needs-Assessment-Findings-plus-Analysis.
14. Representatives from OJCA met with a representative from State Representative Laurie Schlegel’s office regarding various on-going concerns issues with the Causeway Blvd. - Jefferson Highway corridor After speaking to Ms. Schlegel's office, the matter has been referred to LaDOTD and Councilman Bonano's office. Concerns are:
● Increased risk to pedestrian safety
● Potential for fatal vehicle accidents
● Ongoing maintenance and repair costs
● Safety concern and poor lighting
● Excessive speeding
This project will be one of OJCA’s main goals for 2027.
15. OJCA hosted a meeting with Central Carrollton Association to discuss topics relevant to both organizations and to attempt promote alliances between both parishes.
16. 2026’s 2nd annual Night Out Against Crime observance was held October 6th. Representatives from the JP Sheriff's Office as well as Councilperson-At-Large Jennifer VanVrancken's office were in attendance.
17. OJCA attended the latest LaDOTD Highway Priority Program 2027-2028 budget planning meeting. For more information, go to Highway Priority Program.
Check back throughout the NEW YEAR of 2027 for more exciting projects and updates from Old Jefferson Community Association!