New Orleans CAO says Mayor Cantrell must repay travel expenses
New Orleans’ Chief Administrative Officer said Friday that he would enforce the travel policy as it relates to recent travel upgrades made by Mayor LaToya Cantrell. It follows a ruling by the city attorney that the mayor is considered a city employee. The New Orleans Chief Administrative Office policy says that any upgrades to flights must be paid for by the city employee.”As I mentioned in previous interviews, I was waiting on the city attorney’s opinion on this topic, and now it is clear,” Chief Administrative Officer Gilbert Montaño said.Montaño, second-in-charge under the Cantrell Administration, reports solely to the mayor and can only be terminated by her. “I will follow through on all the rules and policies that I have to all other employees,” Montaño said.Members of the New Orleans City Council have also weighed in on the travel expenses, warning they could dock the mayor’s salary if she didn’t repay the nearly $30,000 in expenses. Records obtained by WDSU Investigates show that the July flight Cantrell took to France cost over $17,000.Cantrell said the upgraded travel expenses were in relation to her health and safety relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, and she wasn’t planning to reimburse the city. “I don’t know anybody that works harder or loves the city of New Orleans more than the mayor,” Montaño said. “I know her personally, and I know her publicly. And I can speak in earnest where her heart is.”Montaño said he plans to discuss the repayment of the funds and is confident that this will be resolved. However, Montaño couldn’t provide a timeline as to when that would happen. “I empathize, and I can understand the distraction this has caused,” Montaño said. “We are at an inflection point where vital and important initiatives are moving forward from infrastructure improvements, operational efficiencies and crucial public safety investments.” “We need to move things forward together. It’s vital we keep our eye on the ball, and that’s the city of New Orleans moving forward to a better day.”
New Orleans’ Chief Administrative Officer said Friday that he would enforce the travel policy as it relates to recent travel upgrades made by Mayor LaToya Cantrell.
It follows a ruling by the city attorney that the mayor is considered a city employee. The New Orleans Chief Administrative Office policy says that any upgrades to flights must be paid for by the city employee.
“As I mentioned in previous interviews, I was waiting on the city attorney’s opinion on this topic, and now it is clear,” Chief Administrative Officer Gilbert Montaño said.
Montaño, second-in-charge under the Cantrell Administration, reports solely to the mayor and can only be terminated by her. “I will follow through on all the rules and policies that I have to all other employees,” Montaño said.
Members of the New Orleans City Council have also weighed in on the travel expenses, warning they could dock the mayor’s salary if she didn’t repay the nearly $30,000 in expenses.
Records obtained by WDSU Investigates show that the July flight Cantrell took to France cost over $17,000.
Cantrell said the upgraded travel expenses were in relation to her health and safety relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, and she wasn’t planning to reimburse the city.
“I don’t know anybody that works harder or loves the city of New Orleans more than the mayor,” Montaño said. “I know her personally, and I know her publicly. And I can speak in earnest where her heart is.”
Montaño said he plans to discuss the repayment of the funds and is confident that this will be resolved. However, Montaño couldn’t provide a timeline as to when that would happen.
“I empathize, and I can understand the distraction this has caused,” Montaño said. “We are at an inflection point where vital and important initiatives are moving forward from infrastructure improvements, operational efficiencies and crucial public safety investments.”
“We need to move things forward together. It’s vital we keep our eye on the ball, and that’s the city of New Orleans moving forward to a better day.”
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