On Politics: Jeff Landry and New Orleans politicos are all smiles; French Quarter food lottery

By James Finn, Ben Myers and Sophie Kasakove

Source: The Times-Picayune | Nola.com

December 3, 2023

Since Jeff Landry won the Louisiana governor’s race, New Orleans political circles have been abuzz with the question of what the relationship might look like between the Democratic city and the Republican governor-elect.

Eyebrows raised last month ago when Landry announced he had assembled a New Orleans-focused transition panel featuring a number of area business, political and civic leaders — but no one from the Cantrell administration or City Council.

Now, it looks like some overtures are starting to happen.

The most public, and perhaps surprising, came Wednesday when Landry shook hands with Democratic District Attorney Jason Williams at a press conference on the floor of the Caesars Superdome to announce the new head of the Louisiana State Police and a partnership between the DA and the state Attorney General.

Absent from that press conference was Mayor LaToya Cantrell, something one reporter in the press gaggle asked about. Landry was quick to say that he had traveled to the press conference from a groundbreaking ceremony for a major infrastructure project with Cantrell, and that the two of them spoke.

Landry, the current Louisiana attorney general, then added that he plans to visit with the mayor in the coming weeks.

The two officials were also spotted together at the Bayou Classic football game in New Orleans on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Cantrell posted a photo on Facebook with Landry where the pair are seen hugging and smiling.

So what’s the deal? A détente? It’s not entirely clear.

Asked what Cantrell and Landry’s conversations have entailed, a spokesperson for the mayor provided a copy of a briefing on city priorities Cantrell sent to Landry last month, as well as a letter in which Cantrell said she’s hopeful to “work together” with the governor.

The 15-page briefing describes the city’s broad priorities in public safety and public health, infrastructure investments, quality-of-life initiatives and good government work.

At least for now, it makes sense for the local leaders to put their histories with Landry aside, said Robert Collins, a professor of urban studies and public policy at Dillard University.

“Every governor gets a honeymoon period. This is (Landry’s),” Collins, said. “Obviously differences are going to arise as time goes on.”

Landry has of course clashed with both Williams and Cantrell in the past. But Collins said Landry’s views align with those leaders on local issues in ways people might not realize. Landry and Cantrell alike have criticized the federal consent decree over the New Orleans Police Department, for instance.

In the case of Williams, worries about crime have nudged the prosecutor away from his “progressive” label, Collins noted, and towards embracing more traditional prosecutorial strategies, such as charging more youth as adults. That approach dovetails with Landry’s aggressive rhetoric around public safety.

On Wednesday, Williams complimented Landry for his pledge to send more Louisiana State Police troopers to the city.

S&WB funding
The Sewerage and Water Board has whiffed on two recent attempts to secure additional funding for drainage needs, and the Bureau of Governmental Research wants the City Council to change how it considers future requests – not necessarily to improve the utility’s odds of succeeding, but to make sure it’s not swinging in the dark.

In a Nov. 28 letter to council members, BGR called for a formal process to consider requests for increased rates, property taxes or other funding mechanisms, all of which require council approval. The lack of such a process politicizes critical infrastructure funding and “threatens the sustainability of the city’s water, sewer and major drainage systems,” the letter says.

Council members last year killed the S&WB’s play for raising water rates before the utility had a chance to propose anything. Council President JP Morrell said at the time that any proposal would be “DOA” until the utility fixed its billing practices.

This year, the council refused to consider allowing the S&WB to reap additional revenue from increased property tax assessments, since it pledged not to “roll forward” all millage rates under its control. BGR’s letter said the council’s refusal to formally consider the S&WB’s request in an open forum stymied “important public dialogue.”

Morrell’s spokesperson, Monet Brignac, said the council and the S&WB have recently discussed creating a 12-to-18-month window for considering future requests, which Brignac said is “more akin to a traditional utility docket.”

Brignac said the council needs time to consider other burdens on residents, like increased insurance premiums, utility costs and rents.

“Considering these challenges over a lengthier period of time in a transparent process will always lead to better outcomes for our residents,” Brignac said.

Lottery awaits
Lucky Dogs made room for another five pushcart vendors to peddle food in the French Quarter in mid-November, and on Friday came the official assent that there will be more vendors in the future.

The City Council voted 5-0 to allow vendors to enter a lottery for additional permits to sell food and drink on the tourist-heavy blocks of Bourbon Street and other non-residential areas of the Quarter. Fourteen new vendors will be selected in the lottery, according to council member Freddie King III, whose district includes the historic neighborhood.

Together with the earlier ordinance, the council’s actions break the exclusive hold that Lucky Dogs and its signature, hot-dog shaped food carts have had since 1972.

A recent effort by the city to crack down on unpermitted vending in the neighborhood — in response to complaints from residents and business owners — prompted officials to consider how to bring more vendors into compliance, said King.

He spoke in broad terms about the policy changes on Friday, commending the council for having “made history in changing these outdated ordinances.” There’s no date set yet for the lottery, King said, adding that it is up to the Department of Revenue to administer it.

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