Facing criticism about her recent travels to France and Switzerland as part of a cultural exchange under the “sister city” agreement, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell says now, she will not go to Singapore.
Cantrell was scheduled this weekend to join other city leaders from around the world to discuss climate change at the World Cities Summit in Singapore.
However, given the struggles the New Orleans Police Department faces with officer retention and morale, Cantrell says she is staying here to help.
“But because of wanting to ensure our police officers are loved, and respected, and hear directly from me, I felt it was best I was boots on the ground for this,” said Cantrell. “I wanted to stay here and get before the men and women of the police department who felt very degraded this week. I'm not in Singapore because I'm here tending to the men and women of the police department."
She says yesterday she was alarmed to hear of what she called "more separations that we have gotten within our force" as more NOPD officers leave the department.
Cantrell says she is the "greatest ambassador" for New Orleans and will still go wherever she can to advance the city and economic development.
The mayor said she is "absolutely not" going to stop traveling.
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Her recent travels drew criticism and prompted Council President Helena Moreno and Councilman J.P. Morrell to draft a proposed ordinance restricting mayoral travel spending.
The new rule would allow just $1,000 of city money to be used on trips for non-essential travel.