New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell's State of the City speech talked up her administration's accomplishments and offered an upbeat look at the city's future.
"Much of the work isn’t flashy, and many of the results are not speedy – but the real work is getting done," Cantrell told residents.
Cantrell touted the recent groundbreaking for the Sewerage & Water Board's new electric power substation, programs to promote culture and tourism, efforts to help the homeless, and the minimum guaranteed income pilot program.
She also talked about efforts to reduce violence by providing counseling to young people and to people released from jail.
"We have to continue to invest. We have to give it time to work," she said "If we give up, we’re giving up on our city."
Cantrell's address comes as a recall effort redoubles its work to get voters' signatures, and an often contentious city council seeks to put more checks and balances into city government.
Cantrell seemed to acknowledge this with some of her comments.
"I’ve talked a lot about fighting. Fighting to get here, fighting to take on the issues and the challenges. But you know what? I’m tired of fighting," she said. "Right now, we’re ready to build. We’re going to build on our progress that we have fought to have happen in our city."
