Whatever Mayor LaToya Cantrell is doing regarding the contract to pick up the trash in the French Quarter, it stinks more than the trash - and French Quarter trash can stink!
Three of Cantrell’s top and most loyal staff officers were shocked when she suddenly changed her mind and inappropriately issued an emergency declaration to give Henry Consulting, owned by Troy Henry, a no-bid contract beginning at the end of this month.
Chief Administrative Officer Gilbert Montano, Deputy CAO Joe Threat, and Sanitation Director Matt Torri were all told by Mayor Cantrell that IV Waste, owned by Sidney Torres, would maintain the emergency sanitation for the French Quarter and the Downtown Development District until the end of the year as it was originally scheduled. But the next day Cantrell issued an emergency declaration giving Henry Consultants a no-bid contract.
In addition to the shocking change in the mayor’s decision, city officials and the city council and others have said that Troy Henry is not prepared to take over the contract that soon and appears to not have trucks or anything else in place to begin keeping the city clean. It’s my understanding that Troy Henry, owner of a consulting firm, is hiring another consulting firm to actually organize the truck and all that is needed to keep the French Quarter and downtown New Orleans clean. How does this make sense? And how does it make sense for Mayor Cantrell to change her mind over the course of 24 hours?
I refuse to speculate on what’s going on, but the mayor’s actions suggest there’s a burning reason why she wants to rip the contract away from Sidney Torres and give it to Troy Henry. Is there a connection between Mayor Cantrell and Troy Henry? Is there a connection between Mayor Cantrell, Troy Henry, and Henry’s “cousin,” Oliver Thomas, who happens to be running for mayor? Thomas is currently far behind in the polls and will have to battle his felony conviction and prison time during the campaign.
It also doesn’t make sense that the city of New Orleans is operating with a deep deficit and Sidney Torres is currently doing an exemplary job of picking up trash for $250,000 less than Troy Henry’s contract.
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