Newell began his program Tuesday morning responding to Mayor Cantrell’s assertion that “she will not be bullied,” apparently referencing a pair of public letters penned by area business leaders imploring her to present a coherent, regional plan to re-open the New Orleans economy as the coronavirus curve continues to show signs of flattening.
“Bullies generally don’t make requests,” Newell said. “It’s more likely communicated as a demand. Bullies also don’t say ‘please,’ which the authors of one of these letters did four times. Both letters articulated well-thought-out considerations in a respectful tone and manner. Considering the disastrous circumstances the authors find themselves in, having laid off employees, reduced wages, told creditors they’re in no position to pay and facing the realization that their businesses may go into bankruptcy… what I read was a call to action.”“Rare is it that I see a bully exhibit care and concern for others,” he continued. “I have seen a bully resisted, though.”Newell was joined by former New Orleans City Councilmember Jay Batt, one of the authors of the open letter published as a full-page newspaper.“Was it your intent to bully the Mayor?” Newell asked.“Absolutely not,” came the answer. “We did six or seven revisions of this letter and thought we hit a respectful tone and attitude. And the letter wasn’t just to the Mayor, it was to our elected local and state officials. I’ve heard from State Senators, the Governor’s office, and several Councilmembers who found it very respectful and very nice. We just want to have a plan, as does everyone in the city. Full disclosure, Denise Thornton and I were the first two white folks to support Cantrell when she ran for the District B seat. We worked hard with her and I have a lot of respect for her, she’s known me for a long time… I was surprised the way she took this and disappointed, quite frankly.”“I was as well,” Newell said. “Everyone agrees that the response needs to be regionally-driven. When you think about the fact that we might create competitive disadvantages among similar businesses because of these arbitrary lines of jurisdictions - those things will create a lot of angst and anxiety in the community.”
“We’re just looking for a plan to move forward and reopen our businesses, slowly, respectfully and safely,” Batt said. “Remember the signs that say ‘no shirt, no shoes, no service?’ Let’s add ‘no mask’ to that. Let’s maintain social distancing like we do at grocery stores, limit restaurant capacity… there are ways to do this like Fauci has talked about at the White House briefings. It can be done, and there has to be an intersection where business, medicine and the people of this country can be on the same page and move forward in one direction.”Later in the program, Newell also heard from Robert Lupo, whose name also appeared in the newspaper ad letter. Lupo explained that he, Batt and the others were spurred to action by the Mayor’s weighing in on canceling Jazz Fest and other fall festivals.
“I guess the new word is ‘triggered,’” Lupo started. “We were triggered when we heard the Mayor propose that there be no big events all the way until January 2021, when we are seeing things going in the right direction and January 2021 is so far off. Why would we want to tell the whole world, don’t make plans to come to New Orleans or invest in anything here until next year? We don’t think that New Orleans’ economy could stand a 9-month period where there’s no real business being carried on in our community. We don’t see how the city could afford to do that and still pay for services.”“That’s a very reasonable approach,” Newell said. “Now look, I just got a news alert - the FDA has just approved an at-home test kit for COVID-19. Didn’t expect that last week, did you?”
“No, and that’s exactly the point we are making,” Lupo said. “There’s good news every day. Why would you jump out so far ahead of that? All the letter was meant to do was suggest that the Mayor bring in some other people and listen to other opinions on this. Sometimes you talk to the people around you and a bubble gets formed where you don't get outside information.”