Commentary

from Gambit: October 4, 2022

Arts & Entertainment

Sometimes,Mayor Cantrell, you have to take theL

IT’SWELLPASTTIME FOR MAYORLATOYA CANTRELL TO REIMBURSE CITY TAX-

PAYERS the nearly $30,000 (and counting) she owes the city treasury for booking first-class travel accommodations to sign purely symbolic “sister city” agreements in glitzy overseas destinations. While she’s at it, Cantrell should also publicly commit to pay for future upgrades herself, as required by law, and thereby put an end to one of the sorriest chapters of her now-checkered tenure. As of press time, Heronner showed no signs of grasping what’s obvious to everyone else.

The City Code plainly and unequivocally requires all city employees to book the cheapest accommodations available when traveling at taxpayers’ expense — and to reimburse the city for any and all upgrades. When made aware of this requirement, Team Cantrell took the childishly absurd (and insulting) position that the mayor, as an elected official, is not a city employee.

Anyone with a grade-school grasp of the English language knows better, of course. That point was driven home last week when two of Cantrell’s most trusted employees — City Attorney Donesia Turner and Chief Administrative Officer Gilbert Montano — publicly acknowledged that Cantrell must reimburse the city. Turner issued a memo citing city and state law, as well as the Louisiana Constitution, to back up her legal opinion. Montano said he will enforce the law.

If we were talking about any other mayor, that would be the end of it. Instead, as of this writing, Cantrell has doubled down on her specious claim that flying first class is medically necessary for her “safety” — even though her security team and staffers regularly fly coach.

Sadly, she didn’t stop there. Addressing a proposal by Council President Helena Moreno and Vice President JP Morrell to reimburse the city by reducing the mayor’s salary, Cantrell issued a Putin-like warning that such a move would be “dangerous.” A day later, she reportedly was spotted flying first class to a speaking engagement in Atlanta. If true, that was an imperious “up yours” not just to her critics but to all New Orleanians.

We can’t be the only ones who see a pattern here: When confronted with news she doesn’t like, the mayor acts as if she can change an immutable reality by mere fiat — or by simply ignoring it. Consider her refusal to accept that her odious plan to build a new City Hall on Congo Square was doomed. Then, as now, she doubled and tripled down on an indefensible position in the face of broad public opposition — until the City Council literally made it impossible for her to continue.

Apparently, the council will have to intervene again to put a halt to Cantrell’s equally indefensible practice of fleecing taxpayers to pay for her extravagant travel preferences. So be it. The mayor’s misplaced sense of entitlement is her problem, not taxpayers’. Hopefully, by the time you read this in print she will have accepted the loss and done the right thing. Otherwise, she’ll have to learn — again — that mayors are public servants, not royal personages.

PHOTO BY BRE TT DUKE / THE TIME S-PICAYUNE Mayor LaToyaCantrell