The contentious Democratic mayor of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell, has promised to pay back the city for the $30,000 it gave her to pay for first class flights while she lived rent-free in an apartment three miles from her home.
After a municipal counsel was called in, he found that Cantrell, as a public employee, was required by regulation to seek the lowest prices or repay the city for luxurious charges. This led to the mayor being compelled to pay for the flights.
Cantrell squandered a similar amount on a first-class flight back to France earlier this year while her assistants took coach. She also spent almost $10,000 on her own flat bed seat.
The under fire mayor has previously drawn criticism for confessing to renting out a city-owned property in New Orleans’ French Quarter, which is barely three miles from her Broadmoor house, without paying rent.
Cantrell had previously stirred controversy when she used government money to fly in first class to France and Switzerland, defending her actions by claiming that black women were not “safe” in economy class and that she had committed no crimes.
However, she said, “Based on the policy evaluation, I will have to compensate.” She said, “So I’m going ahead to accomplish that,” without saying when.
After confessing to living rent-free in a city-owned flat in the city’s French Quarter, the under fire mayor is already in deep water.
Despite a city-wide restriction on luxury air travel, she first refused to pay back the cost of a premium American Airlines trip she took for herself from Washington Dulles Airport to Switzerland in July.
At a news conference on last Thursday, Cantrell said, “My travel accommodations are a question of safety, not of luxury.”
As as women are aware, we are often forced to fend for ourselves while having our health and safety ignored.
“As the mother of a small kid for whom I live, I will defend myself by whatever means necessary to guarantee that I am there to see her development into the strong lady I am training her to be.
Anyone who questions how I defend myself just doesn’t comprehend the environment in which black women live.
Cantrell squandered a similar amount on a first-class flight back to France earlier this year while her assistants took coach. She also spent almost $10,000 on her own flat bed seat.
Council members, however, did not believe her and threatened to deduct money from her compensation in the 2023 budget in order to make up the lost money.
Council President Helena Moreno stated, “I’m delighted that we can put this behind us.
We have a lot more pressing matters to address. obvious concern for public safety. The budget is coming up, so that’s really where we’d want to be concentrating.
The city’s ordinance was enforced to require Cantrell to pay back the cost of her first-class flights after she responded very angrily to questions from reporters on Thursday.
Speaking outside the Nix Library, Mayor Cantrell declared, “All costs paid conducting business on behalf of the city of New Orleans will not be refunded to the city of New Orleans.”
“One thing is certain: I do my job, and I will keep doing it with honor and honesty at all times. So that’s all for what I have to say about it!
In the meanwhile, Cantrell’s usage of the apartment in the city’s Upper Pontalba building on Jackson Square was questioned in a report the city’s Metropolitan Crime Commission submitted to the city council last Thursday.
The French Market Corp., a city-affiliated organization that manages it, owns it and charges a market rent of $2,991 per month.
According to the rules of the city’s agreement with French Market Corp., everything is legal, according to a Cantrell spokesman and the city council member who serves on the FMC board.
However, the MCC report included pictures showing Cantrell entering and exiting the flat over a period of months, as well as claims made by witnesses that she had been spending the night there often.
Before approving a probe, Moreno is requesting more time to consider the results.
Democratic board member of French Market Corp. Eugene Green’s office said that “Councilmember Green is not aware of any rules or processes that may have been broken.”
Between September 1, 2021, and July 31, 2022, no rent was paid for the unit, according to FMC data that WWL-TV was able to get.
A municipal worker allegedly served as the apartment’s de facto building supervisor in order to solve issues.
According to the complaint, Cantrell told Byron Cornelison of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy when would be a good time to address a leak in the restroom.
She had previously written to him about calling Cox Cable representatives to repair the apartment’s WiFi.
The mayor has been enjoying extra tax-free benefits, which according to MCC President Rafael Goyeneche, makes this agreement unlawful. She shouldn’t be utilizing it or live there. And I believe that she is abusing and misusing her power. However, I’m awaiting the stance of the municipal council.
Goyeneche wants the council to look into the matter.
Gregory Joseph, Cantrell’s director of communications, said, “The mayor’s use of the city-owned residence at the Pontalba is consistent with the use of prior mayors.”
Because the mayor is using the flat in the same way as prior mayors have, according to the FMC, she is not required to pay rent on it. This is because there are no restrictions on how the property should be used under the 2013 franchise agreement.