Global Courant 2023-05-02 11:00:45
The mayor of New Orleans may have survived a recall, but she still faces criticism as she grapples with violence and other issues in one of the country’s murder capitals.
LaToya Cantrell, a Democrat, was the first black woman elected mayor of New Orleans in 2018 and easily won her reelection in 2021. quality of life in the city, culminating in an attempt to oust Cantrell as mayor.
“There has been a deliberate attempt to discredit my work as mayor. It’s very clear that it’s coming from multiple angles. I don’t expect anything else,” Cantrell said in March after the attempt failed.
In September, New Orleans briefly became America’s murder capital, with 52 homicides per 100,000 residents — the highest rate the city has seen since the early 1990s. Carjackings and homicides in the Big Easy have more than doubled since 2019.
Mary Murdock, co-owner of Betsy’s Pancake House in town, previously told Fox News that some people “will not come to town because of the crime.” She complained that in recent years the city’s roads were full of potholes and sidewalks were covered with garbage.
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“Our politicians need to focus more on making us look better,” Murdock said. “It’s like your house. You want your house to look good when someone arrives.’
Tamara Jackson, a victim advocate in New Orleans, previously told Fox News, “We don’t have the population we had before Katrina, and we’re still experiencing tragedy after tragedy.”
“Violence is still continuing and people are still dying,” Jackson added.
As well as overseeing the city’s decline, Cantrell was criticized for spending much time in a city-owned apartment typically reserved for official business. She also faced complaints for making trips, such as a $43,000 economic development trip to France’s Rivera, at taxpayer expense. according to WDSU News.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s second term has been marked by challenging obstacles, including Hurricane Ida, rising crime rates and a deteriorating quality of life in the city. (Peter Bos/Getty Images)
Amid the escalating homicides in New Orleans, this woman is often one of the first on the scene
City Council voted unanimously last week to deter city employees from using city property as residences. And last fall, the council threatened to cut its salary for using city funds to pay for first-class upgrades on flights to Europe. She described the expenses as a “matter of safety, not luxury,” but eventually agreed to pay back about $30,000 to the city.
The recall began in August and alleged Cantrell’s failure to “put New Orleans first and carry out the responsibilities of the position.” The petition fell short of nearly 18,000 of the 45,000 signatures needed to put the recall on the November ballot.
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Cantrell and her defenders said the attempt to oust her was rooted in racism and sexism.
“Obviously, this recall is just not about me,” Cantrell said A press conference. “It’s about disenfranchising our voters, especially black voters in this community.”
However, Eileen Carter, a black woman and a lead organizer of the recall who was formerly Cantrell’s social media director, said she believed the mayor became disengaged and combative during her second term as the city faced mounting crises.
“It seemed like she didn’t want to do her job,” Carter told The New York Times.
Founded in 1986, Betsy’s Pancake House is losing customers who don’t want to come to town due to the increase in crime.
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Since surviving the recall attempt, Cantrell has met regularly with city departments and overseen infrastructure repairs, The New York Times reported. Homicide, carjackings and armed robberies fell year on year in the first quarter, New Orleans Police Chief Michelle Woodfork said last month.
However, violent episodes persist, including three teenagers who were shot dead within a week in April. Some residents doubt anyone can change the city, despite wanting new leadership.
“It’s time for someone new,” Jodie Flowers, an artist who signed the recall, told The New York Times. “But the next one won’t be able to do anything.”
Fox News’ Megan Myers and Hannah Ray Lambert contributed to this report.
Teny Sahakian is a co-producer/writer for Fox News. Follow Teny on Twitter at @tenysahakian.
