After meetings, rallies, and protest marches of opponents of New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell's proposal to move city hall into Municipal Auditorium, the mayor's office today put out a statement that indicated the mayor may be backing away from that idea.
"Over the past several weeks we have increased the engagement process about what should be done with Armstrong Park, City Hall, and the Municipal Auditorium in a holistic, productive way," Mayor Cantrell says in the statement. "Over the past several weeks we have increased the engagement process about what should be done with Armstrong Park, City Hall, and the Municipal Auditorium in a holistic, productive way."
The mayor says that the city must, before the end of this year, obligate $38 million in FEMA money meant to repair Hurricane Katrina damage to the auditorium, or else forfeit that money.
"That first step does not necessarily mean City Hall will relocate to the Auditorium," she said.
"I am committed to continue engaging the community around what should happen with the Auditorium and the surrounding area," said Cantrell. "That engagement will be done honestly and in the open."
The mayor said she would be guided by these objectives: securing FEMA funding for whatever will happen at the auditorium; developing a plan for getting city employees out of the "non-functional" current city hall; engaging Treme residents and others to see if there is a path forward for a city hall move and enhancement of Congo Square and the surrounding area; and making sure the auditorium does not fall victim to neglect.
"We are open to other options for the relocation of City Hall and for the renovation of Municipal Auditorium," Cantrell said. "But they have to be viable options – just saying ‘No’ or opposing what has been proposed simply isn’t good enough."
