NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans councilmembers say Mayor LaToya Cantrell could soon be officially evicted from the Upper Pontalba Building historic apartment after she missed an official deadline set by the New Orleans City Council.
This comes as Mayor Cantrell’s office announced she will travel to Washington, D.C. this week to participate in the Yale Mayors College and Chief Executive Leadership Institute.
On Friday, Councilmember At-Large J.P. Morrell sent Mayor Cantrell a sternly worded letter setting up a deadline for Monday afternoon for her to formally announce a date when her remaining personal belongings and furniture will be moved out of Unit 530B.
That deadline has come and gone, and Councilman Morrell says he has received no reply to his letter.
Late Monday, the mayor’s office sent a statement bashing media outlets and claiming “several inaccurate remarks have been circulating regarding the Pontalba Building.”
“Any statements or sources-say reports are again not accurate and not a fair representation regarding the Office of Mayor, and not a respectful decorum towards the hard work and dedicated efforts of Mayor Cantrell,” the mayor’s office statement said.
“In addition, the suggestion that the mayor is somehow holding up the process regarding the renovation of the building and rental market availability is incorrect. Even before the City Council Ordinance was passed authorizing the return of the Pontalba apartment to the French Market Corporation, the Mayor has not used that apartment.”
The statement, however, failed to clarify what reports they were referring to that they claim to have “several inaccurate remarks”.
While the mayor’s office said, “the suggestion that the mayor is somehow holding up the process regarding the renovation of the building" is "incorrect,” that suggestion comes directly from Councilmember Morrell’s letter to the Cantrell saying; “Until the property is cleared and the keys are turned over, FMC cannot begin the repairs necessary to lease the unit, as required by law. It is particularly important that FMC be given access immediately, given that the property is in need of major renovations to cure water damage.”
The mayor’s statement goes on to say, “Regardless of the misinformation, Mayor Cantrell is committed to doing the work in collaboration with City and State partners and will continue to demonstrate her firm commitment to putting the people of New Orleans first over politics while remaining focused on moving this City Forward Together.”
WWL Louisiana's Alyssa Curtis spoke with Councilmember Oliver Thomas on Tuesday afternoon to get his thoughts on the situation.
"I’ve been involved with other things, budget hearing, dealing with the state in the whole criminal justice package they just passed, understanding the sewerage and water board initiative, trying to deal with the troopers," Thomas said. "I have not really paid much attention to the Pontalba soap opera."
The New Orleans City Council is scheduled to take up the matter of proceeding with the eviction during the council’s regular meeting on Thursday.
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