The New Orleans City Council is seeking to dock New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s pay over her recent travel spending. New Orleans Council President Helena Moreno confirmed the council feels it can dock Cantrell’s pay for reimbursement purposes. This comes after Cantrell said in a recent news conference that she would not pay back any travel expenses, defending her trips for tourism reasons. “This is not somebody’s personal money. This is your money, this is you – the taxpayer’s – dollars. And so every penny has to be spent properly, and we believe that it’s not been spent properly in this case,” Moreno said. “The charter does give us ability to set the mayor’s salary by ordinance, so we could potentially reduce that salary by $30,000 roughly, which is the amount of the upgraded travel, in the upcoming budget season.”New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s office issued the following statement regarding the council’s consideration to dock her pay:“While the City Council leadership is focused on decreasing the Mayor’s salary, we are laser-focused on increasing salaries for over 4,000 hard-working and dedicated City employees. “We are grateful for the Council’s appropriation of a five percent cost of living adjustment payment that our people have earned and can expect to receive within weeks. “We look forward to working with the City Council in the spirit of collaboration to receive approval to also provide employees with a 10 percent raise over the course of the next three years.”New Orleans has been faced with and has overcome several unprecedented challenges as a city, and this administration is committed to prioritizing and demonstrating our appreciation for every single public servant who continues to put the needs of the residents before themselves every single day.”Earlier reports on travel: Records obtained by WDSU Investigates show that the flight New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell took to France cost over $17,000. The entire trip cost the city of New Orleans over $43,000.Cantrell travelled to France to sign a sister city agreement and attend events to promote New Orleans.The records show the mayor used a company called Going Places Travel to book flights on United and Delta Airlines.That flight cost the city $17,854.The mayor flew first class while in the United States, sitting in seat 1E while travelling from New Orleans to Dulles International Airport in Virginia. She then travelled first class again on the return flight back to New Orleans from Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta, sitting in the first row.After that, she travelled business class to and from the United States to France.The mayor’s hotel stays cost just over $1,200.Records show she stayed at the Pullman Hotel Eiffel Tower and the AV Hotel Ambassador.Records show that three city hall staffers also attended the trip with Cantrell.Communications Director Gregory Joseph, Chief of Staff Clifton Davis and Robert Monlyn, who serves as Cantrell’s executive protection.They all flew economy class on the flights and stayed at the same hotels as the mayor.City records show the flights for the three cost $17,140, which is less than the mayor’s total flight.The hotel stays for all three costs just over $3,600.WDSU Investigates also obtained all records from Cantrell’s trips to Ascona, Switzerland in June — just weeks prior to the July France trip.The mayor was there to promote New Orleans during a Jazz Fest-type event in Switzerland.Records show that a trip with the mayor and two staffers cost the city over $16,600 for airfare and hotel stays. WDSU Investigates has previously reported that the mayor’s flight cost just under $10,000. To view Cantrell’s travel documents, click here.
The New Orleans City Council is seeking to dock New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s pay over her recent travel spending.
New Orleans Council President Helena Moreno confirmed the council feels it can dock Cantrell’s pay for reimbursement purposes.
This comes after Cantrell said in a recent news conference that she would not pay back any travel expenses, defending her trips for tourism reasons.
“This is not somebody’s personal money. This is your money, this is you – the taxpayer’s – dollars. And so every penny has to be spent properly, and we believe that it’s not been spent properly in this case,” Moreno said. “The charter does give us ability to set the mayor’s salary by ordinance, so we could potentially reduce that salary by $30,000 roughly, which is the amount of the upgraded travel, in the upcoming budget season.”
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s office issued the following statement regarding the council’s consideration to dock her pay:
“While the City Council leadership is focused on decreasing the Mayor’s salary, we are laser-focused on increasing salaries for over 4,000 hard-working and dedicated City employees.
“We are grateful for the Council’s appropriation of a five percent cost of living adjustment payment that our people have earned and can expect to receive within weeks.
“We look forward to working with the City Council in the spirit of collaboration to receive approval to also provide employees with a 10 percent raise over the course of the next three years.
“New Orleans has been faced with and has overcome several unprecedented challenges as a city, and this administration is committed to prioritizing and demonstrating our appreciation for every single public servant who continues to put the needs of the residents before themselves every single day.”
Earlier reports on travel:
Records obtained by WDSU Investigates show that the flight New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell took to France cost over $17,000.
The entire trip cost the city of New Orleans over $43,000.
Cantrell travelled to France to sign a sister city agreement and attend events to promote New Orleans.
The records show the mayor used a company called Going Places Travel to book flights on United and Delta Airlines.
That flight cost the city $17,854.
The mayor flew first class while in the United States, sitting in seat 1E while travelling from New Orleans to Dulles International Airport in Virginia. She then travelled first class again on the return flight back to New Orleans from Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta, sitting in the first row.
After that, she travelled business class to and from the United States to France.
The mayor’s hotel stays cost just over $1,200.
Records show she stayed at the Pullman Hotel Eiffel Tower and the AV Hotel Ambassador.
Records show that three city hall staffers also attended the trip with Cantrell.
Communications Director Gregory Joseph, Chief of Staff Clifton Davis and Robert Monlyn, who serves as Cantrell’s executive protection.
They all flew economy class on the flights and stayed at the same hotels as the mayor.
City records show the flights for the three cost $17,140, which is less than the mayor’s total flight.
The hotel stays for all three costs just over $3,600.
WDSU Investigates also obtained all records from Cantrell’s trips to Ascona, Switzerland in June — just weeks prior to the July France trip.
The mayor was there to promote New Orleans during a Jazz Fest-type event in Switzerland.
Records show that a trip with the mayor and two staffers cost the city over $16,600 for airfare and hotel stays.
WDSU Investigates has previously reported that the mayor’s flight cost just under $10,000.
To view Cantrell’s travel documents, click here.
