New Orleans controversial Democrat mayor is accused of living in taxpayer-funded apartment rent free

The controversial mayor of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell, admitted to living in an apartment in the French Quarter for free.

Cantrell, who previously caused outrage when she spent city money on first-class air travel and excused it by saying economy class was “unsafe” for black women, claims to have done nothing illegal.

Apartment 530B is located in the city’s Upper Pontalba Building on Jackson Square in the famous neighborhood and has a competitive rate of $2,991 per month.

A spokesperson for Cantrell and the councilor on the company’s board, French Market Corp., which manages the building, said everything is legal under the city’s terms with French Market Corp.

However, the city’s Metropolitan Crime Commission sent a report to the city council on Thursday requesting an investigation into Cantrell’s use of the apartment.

The MCC showed photos of the mayor entering and exiting the apartment and testified that she spent nights, putting up privacy screens and receiving packages.

City Council President Helena Moreno asks for time to review the findings before agreeing to an investigation.

A spokesperson for Eugene Green, who is on the board of French Market Corp. sitting, said, “Councilman Green is not aware of any rules or procedures that may have been violated.”

FMC records obtained by: WWL TV said no rent was paid on the apartment between September 1, 2021 and July 31, 2022.

It is also alleged that a city employee was used as a de facto building superintendent to solve problems in the apartment.

The report shows Cantrell talking to Byron Cornelison of the Mayor’s Office for Cultural Economics about a bathroom leak and telling him when it’s a good time to fix it.

She wrote to him earlier about getting Cox Cable employees to come and fix the wifi in the apartment.

Rafael Goyeneche, the chairman of the MCC, calls this arrangement inappropriate for the mayor and says: “That’s a tax-free extra benefit she receives. She doesn’t have to live there or use it. And I think it’s abuse and abuse of her authority. But I’m waiting to see what the council’s position is.’

Goyeneche demands that the municipality investigates.

Cantrell’s communications director, Gregory Joseph, replied, “The mayor’s use of the city’s Pontalba apartment is consistent with the use of previous mayors. In the 2013 franchise agreement, there are no rules for using that unit and the FMC believes that the mayor is not obligated to pay rent for that apartment because she uses it in the same way as previous mayors.”

The mayor has been in the news lately after declaring that economy class flights are unsafe for black women, while insisting she won’t refund $30,000 in taxpayer money blown on first-class flights to France and Switzerland. .

Speaking at a press conference Thursday, LaToya Cantrell said, “My travel accommodations are a matter of safety, not luxury.

“As all women know, our health and safety is often ignored and we have to navigate on our own.

“As the mother of a young child I live for, I’m going to protect myself by all reasonable means to make sure I’m there to watch her grow into the strong woman I’m raising her.

“Anyone who wants to wonder how I protect myself just doesn’t understand the world black women walk in.”

She has repeatedly refused to reimburse herself for the cost of an American Airlines luxury flight from Washington Dulles Airport to Switzerland in July, despite a city ban on luxury air travel.

Cantrell spent about $10,000 on her own flatbed seat and blew a similar amount on a first-class return to France earlier this year — while her assistants traveled in a coach.

Cantrell has defended her purchase of the luxury tickets because she is both “doing business” on behalf of the city and because she doesn’t think it would be safe for her to travel in economy class.

While the mayor was in first class, her team, including her security detail, were on the bus.

The Chief Administrative Officer has revealed how the legal department is still investigating whether Cantrell must refund nearly $30,000 in taxpayer money for first-class tickets to France and Switzerland.

The mayor reacted extremely sharply when journalists asked on Thursday if she was considering supplementing the city treasury.

“All expenses incurred in conducting business on behalf of the City of New Orleans will not be reimbursed to the City of New Orleans,” Mayor Cantrell said outside the Nix Library.

‘One thing is clear; I do my job and I will continue to do it with distinction and integrity every step of the way. And so, that’s what I have to say about that!’

The mayor insists the trips and luxury travel expenses were necessary to make New Orleans itself better.

But the city’s travel policy leaves little wiggle room: “Employees are required to purchase the lowest airfare available… Employees who choose to upgrade bus, economy or business class flights are solely responsible for the difference in cost. ‘

The policy also states: ‘Any reconciliation of travel expenses leading to overpayment by the city requires the employee to repay the city within 20 business days’