After weeks of defying New Orleans city travel policies and declining to pay the price of that defiance, Mayor LaToya Cantrell is yielding.
Following a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, the mayor stated she will repay the city for the first-class upgrades she enjoyed on recent international trips.
“It is very clear that business was done on behalf of the city of New Orleans. However, I will have to reimburse the city for those business expenses. And so, I’m moving forward to do that," said Mayor Cantrell.
“The only way deal with a bully is you call them out,” said Newell Normand.
On the Newell Normand Show Tuesday, Newell tipped his hat to the public and particularly the people organizing and supporting the effort to have Cantrell recalled as mayor of New Orleans.
The mayor’s blatant disregard for the city’s travel policy, which required all city employees to reimburse all expenses if they choose to fly in any class other than coach, grated on many citizens.
At a time when many people are concerned about the cost of food and gas, and their safety against criminals, the mayor’s refusal to pay for roughly $30,000 worth of firs-class travel in the past year revealed her disconnect with the reality many people are facing.
Her shifting explanations as to why she flew first-class further insulted many citizens. She initially tried justifying her first-class travel by saying it provided her more security.
She then called out critics by saying they didn’t understand the safety concerns of a black woman. Eventually she added that she suffers from anxiety and that flying first class is a way to maintain her mental health.
As questions about the mayor’s obligations to repay the city for the first-class treatment continued to snowball, the city CAO said he would allow the city attorney to make a determination on whether the mayor is considered a city employee.
The mayor claimed a person in her position is not considered an employee of the city. When the city attorney declared the mayor is in fact an employee of the city, the CAO said he would proceed with enforcing that decision.
Before Tuesday’s developments, the New Orleans City Council was also discussing the possibility of docking the mayor’s pay to make up for the taxpayer money she had spent on first-class flights.
Newell Normand believes no threats from political, or city leaders forced Cantrell’s hand to repay the money she spent. Newell said what unfolded on Tuesday is the product of pure civic expression. Newell sees the public’s determination to check the mayor by empowering the movement to recall her is yielding actual results.
“The only reason this is happening is because your voice has been heard. You have been pushing back. You have screamed at the top of your lungs that we’ve set the bar and we’re not willing to accept anything less. Is there any doubt? I told you that this would happen. If you wanted accountability…sign the petition,” Newell said.
There’s more work ahead. Newell says to get that work done, more momentum is necessary.
“The more successful the petition to recall the mayor is the more compliant she will be and the less likely she will be the bully she has been for the last five years,” said Newell.
“The only reason this is happening is because your voice has been heard. You have been pushing back. You have screamed at the top of your lungs that we’ve set the bar and we’re not willing to accept anything less. Is there any doubt? I told you that this would happen. If you wanted accountability…sign the petition,” Newell said.
There’s more work ahead. Newell says to get that work done, more momentum is necessary.
“The more successful the petition to recall the mayor is the more compliant she will be and the less likely she will be the bully she has been for the last five years,” said Newell.