Mayor Cantrell utilized her most recent weekly press conference to address the recall campaign against her administration. She deemed the effort an attack on black votes after 25,000 active voters were moved to inactive.

Garbage pick up becomes a problem in New Orleans

NOLATOYA.ORG details reckless activity, such as forcing out New Orleans’ sanitation contractors, Metro Disposal and Richard’s Disposal. Metro Disposal owner, Jimmie Woods Sr. describes a trash crisis initiated by Mayor Cantrell’s administration. Mayor Cantrell refused to pay the garbage companies preventing them from hiring help. Woods explained that New Orleans failed to enact emergency federal funds as surrounding governments did during Covid-19. Eventually Woods filed for bankruptcy. Since, New Orleans hired two new garbage companies, Waste Pro and IV Waste. The new garbage contractors pick up trash for more homes, work less days and are costing taxpayers 8 million dollars more a year.

Taxpayers spend $50,000 on illegal mailer

The Recall organization describes Mayor Cantrell illegally sending out a promotional mailer to 106,000 residents costing taxpayers $50,000. Self-promotion at the cost of citizens is illegal and criminal. The mailer detailed Mayor Cantrell’s accomplishments. The promotional mailer mentioned success in infrastructure, public safety, and economy. By the end of 2022, New Orleans had a total of 280 homicides. By September of 2022 the murder rate spiked to over 140 percent, naming New Orleans the nation’s murder capital.

Marc Morial speaks out

Former 2-term serving Mayor, Marc Morial spoke out about the how Mayor Cantrell leads her administration and seems to be in support of Cantrell’s recall effort. Marc Morial describes a successful administration from 1994 to 2002. He attributes it to firing bad cops and quickly replacing them. Morial’s administration increased community policing and invested in youth recreation and job programs. Mayor Morial along with former Police Chief Richard Pennington cut the murder rate in New Orleans in half. Morial said, ”as a Mayor, you must build a coalition to get the job done.”

The recall organization reached a victory on Wednesday. Signatures of 20 percent of registered voters were needed to trigger a recall election and as of this week 25,000 voters were removed lowering the number of signatures required. But is this an attack on black voters, as stated by Mayor Cantrell? Recall organizers have proved in court that the Orleans Parish voter registrar failed to remove hundreds of dead voters from active rolls. There were 30,000 active voters on the list who no longer resided in Orleans Parish.

It’s uncertain at this time how many signatures the recall organization actually have and if a recall election will actually take place.

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With Love, From New Orleans

Header Photography: USA Today