Many waited with anticipation when Mayor LaToya Cantrell said she would address the issues around her appearance in juvenile court, her travels and her obligations as mayor. The city was curious to hear if she would actually take ownership or even apologize for her actions.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t understand why people were so upset.
This is what I heard her say, indirectly:
“You're talking about the Cantrell administration that was elected by the people. You’re talking about inefficiency and lack of leadership. You're talking about the lack of transparency in city government."
"You're talking about water bills that have nothing to do with reality. You're talking about wasting public money. You're talking about my word salad when I address the public and the media. You're talking about the culture bearers when four of them agree with my administration."
"You're talking about me supporting juvenile thugs over victims. You're talking about me trying to roll over a federal judge. You're talking about me facing a recall election. You're talking about my failure to deliver basic services to the citizens in New Orleans."
"I will continue to nurture the legacy of incompetence, inefficiency, ineptitude, and stupidity. I am nurturing this legacy that is embedded in the fabric of this city and it is my responsibility to perfect the characteristics of this city's legacy. I will not back down from my obligation to ignore the desires of the tax-paying citizens of the city of New Orleans!”
Of course I say all this in jest. But really, she just went ahead and embraced all of the issues that we have with her. Albeit indirectly, she was trying to defend her narcissistic, self-consumed behavior and how she views herself as the center of the city’s universe. After that debacle of a press conference, does anybody out there really believe she helped herself?
She tried to explain away her appearance at a court hearing for a juvenile (who committed five carjackings over a two-day period) as a success story. The mayor insists she did not pick a side, yet she was there at the behest of the parents of the perpetrator. I suspect she showed up to influence the court.
She went on to talk about how she has a direct line of supervision over the Juvenile Justice Center with access to information of those arrested, but that she doesn't have access to the information of crime victims.
I don't know what she’s trying to accomplish, but I don't think anybody's buying it. This all goes to the lack of transparency in your administration and the "shuck and jive" routine you put on to deflect and talk around the issues in a more subtly arrogant way than you typically do. What I heard from you is more of the inefficiency, the incompetence, and the stupidity of your administration. You've embraced it and emboldened it. Believe me, the city gets it and accepts it.
Now, the question is, Mayor - what is the next step? Because more and more folks would love to see you take that next cross-Atlantic trip - and never come back.