Mayor LaToya Cantrell held her annual 'State of the City' speech on Wednesday and WWL's Newell Normand had some thoughts on her address. And his review of her words wasn't positive.
With 1,000 days left in her term, Cantrell touted the city's work repairing its infrastructure, saying $55 million was spent to modernize the city's electric grid and more dollars were spent on roadwork. Before her term, she said, less than one percent of the money earmarked for roadwork were spent. Now, over 50 percent of the projects are completed with 49 more lined up.
"If nothing else, I want you all to know that the future of the city of New Orleans is bright. And if we continue to invest in one another, if we continue to lift up the good in one another, if we push away any barriers that those may want to throw in our way, we have to keep going," Cantrell said.
Reflecting on Cantrell's speech, Normand said he was struck that the mayor, while she has gotten some projects done, will continue on a road of 'my way or the highway' and keep picking unnecessary fights.
"Is she acting like the best? Is she talking like the best? I don't think so," Normand said.
The real problem in her administration, he said, is the fact she gets defensive when flaws are revealed, doesn't like to be held accountable or answer serious questions, and maintains loyal to problematic staffers -- like former 911 director Tyrell Morris, who allegedly crashed an agency vehicle and then changed a policy to make it look like he wasn’t required to submit a drug and alcohol screen.
"We truly have a failure to communicate," Normand said.
He did credit Cantrell with clear-eyed leadership during the pandemic, but noted it's beyond time for garbage collection to be fixed, sidewalks to be repaired and cleaned, chaos in the City Council to be solved and crime in the French Quarter to be alleviated. It's time to cut to the chase and get things done, he said.
"You lead by example... You have a strong voice, you're a strong woman. You have a lot of authority. If you began to exhibit credible leadership, these things would go away," Normand said. "Maybe it wouldn't feel like everybody's always fighting."
