New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, who has survived condemnation for inappropriately billing taxpayers for her desire to fly first-class, has billed taxpayers in the city for over $34,000 in airline ticket travel to a meeting in South Korea.
A report from WDSU-TV shows that Mayor Cantrell traveled with her communications director and an NOPD officer as her security detail to Busan, South Korea - and all three appear to have flown first-class at the expense of New Orleans taxpayers. Cantrell - again - used the excuse that she needs to fly first-class to feel safe as she conducts business as the mayor of our city. What’s missing is any evidence that the mayor's safety would be compromised in any way by flying coach.
For the record - I have NO problem with Mayor Cantrell flying first-class. My problem lies in the fact that she appears to feel entitled to make us pay for it because she is the mayor. This is another example of how the mayor projects herself as royalty - rather than a servant of the people.
In the past - Cantrell's own city attorneys said she was wrong to fly first-class because city rules require employees to travel on the least expensive ticket. Let’s say that again - city rules require city employees using city funds to conduct city business to travel on the least expensive ticket. If you want to upgrade to first class, that’s your right - but you have to pay the difference! In that instance, the mayor did repay the taxpayers but it is hard to believe that she would try again to misuse her office to gain privilege.
Let's hope the mayor repays the good citizens of New Orleans this time - but for now it looks like she is enjoying the advantage of an interest-free loan.
