Yesterday, after the show, I went to one of the public signings of the petition to recall New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. There is video from the signing posted on Scoot On The Air Instagram, SOTA Facebook, WWL Radio Facebook, and there is a picture with a poll on SOTA IG.
When you watch the video of see the picture of the signing - I want you to know that I signed the recall petition on behalf of all of you who cannot sign it because you are not registered voters in New Orleans. I know so many of you would love to sign it - but can’t - I signed it for you. And just to clarify, I don't mean I signed anyone else's name.
A new poll shows that 64.5% of registered voters in New Orleans believe the city is heading in the wrong direction and 55% support removing Mayor Cantrell from office now. Among New Orleans voters - 53% of Black voters support removing Mayor Cantrell from office and 55% of Black voters think the city is going in the wrong direction. Among Democrats in the city - 68% say the city is going in the wrong direction.
Mayor Cantrell had an approval rating of nearly 80% after being elected. That has fallen to 44% following her silence on the violent crime wave, siding with a convicted thug in court over the victims, and her decision to spend $29,000 of taxpayers’ dollars to fly first class on non-essential trips to Switzerland and France.
The recent developments have compounded other negative publicity about Cantrell from one of the dead bodies in the tragic collapse of the Hard Rock Hotel on Canal Street and her wholesale lack of transparency.
The results of the new poll showing a majority Black voters in New Orleans support recalling the mayor must be hitting her in the core of her political career. Cantrell, like many politicians, worked to secure a specific base; and the poll shows that the mayor’s base is turning on her over her recent decisions.
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Recalling a politician is a daunting task, especially in Louisiana; and Mayor Cantrell has time on her side. The recall effort needs the signatures of almost twice as many registered voters as actually voted for her in her re-election campaign.
Voters tend to focus on what is in front of them at the moment, and the biggest challenge is to maintain enough passion among registered voters to attract the number of signatures required.
The lesson I hope the city learns from the recall effort is that it is important to vote. Only a small percentage of voters actually voted for Cantrell and small turnouts usually indicate that only the most supportive voters vote. Would Cantrell even have won re-election if more people voted?
Mayor Cantrell’s political attitude following her re-election paints a picture of a politician who seems to feel untouchable and that she can do whatever she wants to do - and that is never an attractive attribute of a politician.
With incidents of verbal backlash and the further threat of backlash from City Hall - I wonder if other members of the media will be signing the petition to remove the mayor from office. And remember - I signed the recall petition for all of you who want to sign but can’t.