New Orleans mayor-elect Helena Moreno takes office in nine days from now, on Monday, January 12. While the new administration says it will work swiftly to get the city's affairs back on track, administration officials acknowledge it won't be an easy process.
"We are going to make mistakes," incoming chief administrative officer Joe Giarrusso, adding that his staff will work hard, fast, and with urgency and purpose. "This is not going to be perfection, but it's about how you address those mistakes, own those mistakes, and don't repeat them again."
Giarrusso says residents will see the city government balance three different priorities.
"Restore the financial footing of the city, make sure basic quality of life needs are being addressed, and also improving morale both internally and outside as well," Giarrusso said. "It is the known things that the mayor-elect campaigned on and residents talked about. So don't think there will be any major surprises."
Giarrusso told WWL's Tommy Tucker that Mayor-elect Moreno will soon lay out her plans for her first few weeks in office.
"It's about working with more urgency and being able to see things and identify what those things are and talking about them and producing on them."