The New Orleans City Council today will vote to override Mayor LaToya Cantrell's veto of an ordinance to give up the city's Pontalba apartment and it put up for lease.
The council voted months ago to prohibit overnight stays in the apartment, after reports the mayor had been using it as a personal residence. Then after the mayor was seen arriving at the apartment after midnight one night during Essence Fest weekend, and leaving hours later after sunrise, the council voted 4-2 to follow the recommendation of the Office of Inspector General and put the apartment on the rental market.
The success or failure of the override attempt may come down to one councilmember's vote.
"To be honest with you I haven't given it much thought," said Councilmember Freddie King.
King missed the 4-2 vote two weeks ago to take the apartment that mayors of New Orleans have used and rent it out.
The two "no" votes argue the apartment is important for ceremonial uses, but other members of the council say this mayor is abusing the privilege, and it is best just to return it to the public.
Council member Joe Giarrusso told WWL's Tommy tucker that the mayor's attorneys' argument of "well, you get there at midnight and leave at ten o'clock in the morning, is that really spending the night?" shows that they are reaching for an argument.
"Obviously, the common sense way that it was meant was to prohibit that activity," said Giarrusso.
It will take at least five votes to override the veto. Assuming no one else on the council has changed their mind, King's absence from the meeting two weeks ago puts him in the spotlight.
King says he hasn't dwelled on the issue much, but he says he has been hearing from his constituents about it -- and they have opinions:
"The majority of constituents ask that it goes to the public, or it goes up for rent," King said.
Debate in the council seems to hinge on whether the apartment is an asset useful for entertaining dignitaries, or whether that function is better served with a non-residential building like Gallier Hall.
