Gov. Landry Announces Unprecedented Partnerships to Revitalize Metro New Orleans for Improved Quality of Life and Special Events—Including Super Bowl LIX

New Orleans, La—After a series of meetings dating back to the transition, Gov. Jeff Landry has formed historical partnerships between the State of Louisiana and the City of New Orleans to revitalize the infrastructure of Metro New Orleans. In order to undertake this project, Gov. Landry has directed the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), the Division of Administration (DOA) and Louisiana Economic Development (LED) to work closely with Mayor Cantrell, CAO Gilbert Montero, the New Orleans Department of Public Works and associated city agencies, SWBNO, LSED, ASM, Downtown Development District, New Orleans Convention Center, French Quarter Management District, Jefferson Parish, Office of the Lt. Gov. and others.  

“New Orleans is a first-class city, and we need to ensure that we are putting our best infrastructure and economic development foot forward as we welcome thousands of visitors for Super Bowl LIX. The story of New Orleans is the story of Louisiana, and the Super Bowl creates a catalyst for great things to happen,” said Governor Jeff Landry. “The world will be watching us, and we must take advantage of that spotlight. I appreciate everyone who has worked hard to make these partnerships possible, and I look forward to the economic development they will bring not just to the City of New Orleans, but to the entire State of Louisiana. It’s time the world truly sees everything that makes Louisiana great!”

Leadership:

“Super Bowl LIX will be the most-watched event in America for the year, and one of the most-viewed in the world – so it is an unparalleled opportunity, as well as responsibility,” said Michael Hecht, President & CEO of GNO, Inc.  “Critical infrastructure improvements and compelling economic development programs will show a New Orleans and Louisiana that are world-class, one-of-a kind , and powerfully attractive to both visitors and businesses.  Moreover, the Super Bowl gives us the chance for beautification, repair, and building that will benefit residents for years to come.”

"The New Orleans Super Bowl LIX Host Committee, led by the New Orleans Saints and Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, and Chaired by Entergy's Marcus Brown, are deeply appreciative of Governor Landry’s support, and providing his office’s direct involvement in ensuring that the needed infrastructure improvements and the State’s economic development efforts are successful," said Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation CEO Jay Cicero. "The Governor is ‘all in’ and his senior staff has been working for months with the Host Committee on the planning and implementation needed to take the best advantage of the unprecedented opportunity that the Super Bowl presents. We welcome the Governor’s appointment of Michael Hecht as the State’s coordinator of the State’s economic development and infrastructure efforts for the Super Bowl."

Economic Development:

LED will work in close partnership with GNO, Inc., and other economic development stakeholders around the state to create a Super Bowl business networking hub that features an interactive showcase of Louisiana’s economic assets, opportunities, diversity and growth trajectory. The on-site experience will be accompanied by an aggressive strategic messaging and marketing campaign that targets business influencers and national media. 

“The eyes of the business world will be on Louisiana during Super Bowl week, and we will capitalize on that international spotlight to amplify Louisiana’s vision for economic development, competitive advantages for investment, and commitment to innovation and growth,” said Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois. “The Super Bowl is all about winning, and we will make sure corporate America leaves New Orleans with the lasting impression that this governor is Positioning Louisiana to Win.”

City/State Infrastructure Projects:

“Starting with the NFL Hand-Off event with Commissioner Goodell, the City of New Orleans appreciates the Leadership of Governor Jeff Landry, Saints Owner Gayle Benson and the full Louisiana Super Bowl support team,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “We look forward to continuing our unified partnership to achieve the “greater good” championship approach that will represent the State of Louisiana and City of New Orleans to score a winning gameplan for Super Bowl LIX.”

"DOTD is committed to upgrading and enhancing New Orleans's infrastructure through a strong collaborative effort with Governor Landry and supporting agencies,” said DOTD Secretary Joe Donahue. “As the world's spotlight hits Louisiana, we will be proud to showcase the results of this significant partnership. DOTD has a strong team that is energized and ready to work alongside the city of New Orleans and the surrounding parishes to show the NFL and the world that Louisiana is an ideal place for the Super Bowl and other world-class events.”

Specific projects include: 

1. The relighting of the Crescent City Connection(CCC). The CCC’s decorative lighting system was destroyed by Hurricane Ida which created a safety hazard for both shipping and motorists. DOTD’s electrical contractor has already begun the relighting process by removing the existing system and will replace it with a modern LED type presentation. Traffic delays are anticipated as a result of this work, but the planned lane closures will conclude by the end of August of this year.   

2. The refurbishment/improvement of highway lighting from the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport to the CCC. Jefferson Parish, the City of New Orleans and DOTD have embarked on a comprehensive effort to restore or replace Interstate highway lighting from the airport to the CCC, as well as on key sections of Interstate 10 stretches from the Twin Spans to the downtown New Orleans area. 

3. Verizon, AT&T, and Cox (working collaboratively with Entergy) are undertaking significant improvements to bring 5G wireless and data to the entire downtown New Orleans area. As is the case with many of these improvements, these will remain in place long after the Super Bowl; thus enhancing quality of life across the metro area. 

4. The DOTD is currently overseeing a project to repair structural issues at the Senator Ted Hickey Bridge, which is located adjacent to the Lakefront Airport near Hayne Blvd.  The repairs are anticipated to be completed by September of this year, weather permitting.  The repairs are needed after the bridge was recently struck by a marine vessel.  

5. Poydras (Convention Center Blvd - S Claiborne), Poydras (S Galvez to S Claiborne), N. Maestri Place (St Charles Ave to Camp Street), S. Maestri Place (St Charles Ave to Camp Street), Chartres Street (Canal Street to Esplanade Ave), Frenchman Street (Esplanade Ave to Royal Street) and Dumaine Street have been identified as needing substantial repairs and improvements. This work has commenced or will commence soon. 

6. All catch basin and culvert clearing  in the downtown area will be addressed by both DOTD and the Sewage and Water Board New Orleans.  Sub-surface water leaks will be repaired by S&WB of New Orleans.  

7. Elevated Interstate barriers walls and substructure bridge piers in the Downtown area will be power washed. Roads and bridges in the area will continue to be swept for litter and other large debris within and adjacent to the highway right-of-way.    

8. The Department of Health, Louisiana Department of Fish and Wildlife and City of New Orleans Health staff will be conducting sweeps to ensure food safety and to remove ‘pop up bars’ and unlicensed food service operators. The agents will continue to confiscate and remove unpermitted animals out of the French Quarter.

9. A comprehensive cleaning/power washing throughout the downtown area-roads, bridges, facades, sidewalks etc. 

A weekly status meeting with all city and state stakeholders has been established to drive and coordinate Super Bowl efforts. 

Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans Task Force Report to Governor Jeff Landry

Attached is the final report from the Sewerage and Water Board Task Force to Governor Jeff Landry.

Read the report here.

Governor Landry Issues Executive Order: Creates Task Force to Review Failures of the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans

Baton Rouge, LA- Today, Governor Jeff Landry signed an executive order that creates the Governor’s Task Force for the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO). The 14-member task force will review the billing process, the governing structure, and the management and organizational structure of SWBNO. During these reviews, the task force will determine if an opportunity for different governing structures or reorganization exists, and will work to maximize efficiency within SWBNO. EO Attached.

“Those who live in New Orleans are far too familiar with the frequent failures of the Sewerage and Water Board. Widespread flooding and drinking water violations have become second nature to folks in Orleans Parish. The current operating status of the Sewerage and Water Board is not acceptable,” said Governor Jeff Landry. “Through this executive order, we will determine ways to make the board run more efficiently and guarantee tax dollars are being put to proper use.”

The order can be found here.

Chairman Gurvich: How Much Longer Can New Orleans Survive This Idiocy?

I do not know from whence the phrase “delicious irony” originated, but we certainly had a recent case of it right here on the streets of New Orleans, which I guess is itself part of the irony. Irony, of course, is a situation which occurs when something intended to have a particular result, ends up having the opposite result. What made it so delicious? Well, read on:

I am speaking, of course, of the recent car hijacking of Jason Williams, one of the most prominent members of the Soros-backed progressive district attorney club. You know, the same Jason Williams who was elected by New Orleanians way back in 2020, when woke progressivism was, however briefly, the spirit of the age. At the time it was all the rage for the New Orleans citizenry, or at least enough progressives and liberal simpletons, to display their affinity for progressive ideological buy-in by electing Jason Williams as the District Attorney of New Orleans.

Mr. Williams left us in no doubt that he was a progressive- it was perhaps the most prominent aspect of his campaign. He promised a complete departure from the policies of his predecessor, Leon Cannizzaro, to whom the city owes a debt of gratitude for running a good shop on his twelve year watch. Nevertheless, during the election Cannizzaro was faulted for his outmoded, presumably racist, “tough on crime” approach which, God forbid, actually sought to incarcerate violent criminals and serial petty offenders.

And so Jason Williams was elected to be the District Attorney of New Orleans, even though he had no prior prosecutorial experience and had only briefly served as a temporary judge many years earlier. In fact, he had never managed anything other than his small law firm (where he continues to work, presumably part-time), and one or two aides while serving on the New Orleans City Council.

The fact that Williams was grossly unprepared for the job obviously did not matter to the progressive wokesters and their useful idiot allies among the city’s elites, and the tragic results predictably followed. Criminals were released in droves and fewer and fewer charges were filed against those arrested by the police. But the rot didn’t stop in the district attorney’s office.

The New Orleans Police Department, already one of the worst performing police forces in the country, was further demoralized by the knowledge that the district attorney now required a very high level of evidence before accepting any case, no matter how heinous the crime. To add insult to injury, Williams had simply stopped accepting charges for most minor crimes like shoplifting, trespass, threats, etc., although policemen knew that they themselves would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law whenever the opportunity presented itself.

And so we arrive at the case of Raymond Rochon, an eighteen year old one man wrecking ball of civilization, and his most unfortunate choice of victims on the night of October 16, 2023. Rochon had numerous outstanding arrest warrants (four as a juvenile and three as an adult, that we know off), and police had been well aware of his penchant for carjacking at the point of a gun. Why, they even had his fingerprints on several of the cars. There was no rational excuse for Rochon still being at-large on the streets of New Orleans, unless you buy in to the progressive ideological claptrap that the criminal is a victim of society.

But at large he was, due in no small part to the intimidation and demoralization of the NOPD, due in no small part to the efforts of the crime victim himself, Jason Williams. And therein lies the delicious irony- even fiction writers can’t make up this stuff. Rochon knew at once why he had finally been apprehended, commenting to the police “I know why y’all are here- y’all’s people…” That is to say, he knew he had carjacked the wrong guy.

Which of course begs the question: What would have happened to Rochon had he carjacked you or me? I think we all know the answer to that one- Rochon would still be out there committing several carjackings a week. It is almost a certainty that sooner or later, he would have killed or seriously injured someone, but in Jason Williams’ world, we are apparently expendable casualties in the cause of woke progressive ideology.

The existential question for the inhabitants of this once great city is how much longer they will permit the present situation to continue?

Louis Gurvich
Louisiana Republican Party - Chairman

Jeff Landry Anti-Crime Ad Drops in New Orleans

Crime in Louisiana is out of control. Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Shreveport are three of the top ten most dangerous cities in the country. This is not a statistical hiccup. This is not a hangover from the pandemic. This is real violent crime that continues to plague our cities.

JEFF LANDRY'S PLAN TO FIX IT

Things will not get better until we have leaders who have the courage to stand up and make it a priority. As governor, Jeff Landry will prioritize safety in our communities and continue to be a leading voice on public safety in our state.

Video Surfaces of Mayor LaToya Cantrell Flipping Off a Float in NOLA Mardi Gras

Need more proof on whether or not you need to sign the petition to recall New Orleans Mayor, LaToya Cantrell? Well, here is is.

Video surfaced of Cantrell flipping off a float in the Krewe of Tucks parade.

.@mayorcantrell 🖕 flipping off a 🧻 Tucks float. I do not know what preceding events occurred to make her do that, but Damm. This video was sent anonymously.

💢 Reposted from ig@i.am.nola.af#NewOrleans #NeutralNews #NOLA #MardiGras #LaToyaCantrell pic.twitter.com/aeQzGXM7yN

— 🄽🄾🄻🄰 ⚜️ 🄽🄴🅄🅆🅂 (@NGN504) February 19, 2023

Tucker Carlson, Louisiana AG Dub New Orleans A US ‘Murder Capital’

“This is an emergency. There’s no bigger. It’s even worse than global warming or Covid. People are dying at a greater rate than any other place in the United States,” Carlson said after the video played. “So if you’re in charge of New Orleans, you would respond immediately.”

LaToya "The Destroya" Pulls Out the Race Card

The Democrat mayor of New Orleans is refusing to reimburse the almost $30,000 of taxpayer money she has spent upgrading flights to first class or business class, despite city policy — after she insisted it was for her safety as a black woman.

Mayor LaToya Cantrell told local reporters Thursday she won’t fork over the exorbitant fees she charged for the upgraded tickets, including an $18,000 first-class trip to France over the summer.

Read more: New Orleans mayor won’t pay city back $30K for flights — insisting upgrades needed for ‘health and safety’

Mayor Cantrell Could Be on the Hook For Nearly $30k in Travel Upgrades

"My travel accommodations are a matter of safety, not of luxury. As all women know, our health and safety are often disregarded and we are left to navigate alone. As the mother of a young child whom I live for, I am going to protect myself by any reasonable means in order to ensure I am there to see her grow into the strong woman I am raising her to be. Anyone who wants to question how I protect myself just doesn’t understand the world black women walk in."

Read more: Mayor Cantrell could be on the hook for nearly $30k in travel upgrades

Recall Petition of NOLA Mayor LaToya Cantrell is Filed

🚨BREAKING🚨

The recall of New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell is OFFICIALLY filed and certified by the Louisiana Secretary of State. pic.twitter.com/39CWYR4Avu

— JD Carrere (@jdcarrere) August 26, 2022

LaToya the Destroya Fiddles While New Orleans Burns

New documents obtained by WDSU Investigates give a glimpse of how much money New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell spent on her recent trip to Switzerland.

According to the documents, on airfare alone, Cantrell spent nearly $10,000.

Read more: New Orleans mayor spent nearly $10,000 on airfare to Switzerland in trip criticized by community, council

How much did it cost Mayor Cantrell to travel to Switzerland to sign a "Sister City" agreement and attend a jazz festival? Almost $10,000. And that's only the flight. More to come. Council discussion on capping elected officials' travel expenses at $1K per trip should be heated. pic.twitter.com/7ucSH1T2y2

— Mike Perlstein (@MikePerlstein) July 28, 2022

New Orleans officers, leaving in droves, air grievances in exit interviews

Gregory Rotton’s career as a New Orleans Police Department officer ended with a crash.

A detective in the First District, Rotton was tapped to investigate after four young people in a stolen SUV barreled into a St. Claude Avenue arcade on Jan. 12 with police in pursuit, severely injuring a worker.

Read more: New Orleans officers, leaving in droves, air grievances in exit interviews

New reports from @nolanews shed light onto why there is an exodus of officers leaving NOPD.

I’ve been saying this for months, so I’m glad it’s finally being reported.

📰: https://t.co/fQAkkPbyPf pic.twitter.com/rCaSP5u0qJ

— jpmorrell (@JPMorrell) July 24, 2022

AG Jeff Landry Calls Out "Honor Code" Edwards Over Funding of New Orleans

On Tuesday, Landry sent a letter to the Louisiana Treasurer and his fellow Bond Commission Members to delay any applications and funding for the City until its officials have affirmed they will enforce State laws.

Read more: Edwards calls Landry’s efforts to withhold funding from NOLA due to abortion ban enforcement ‘misguided’

“Honor Code” Edwards was quick to give his opinion on the actions taken by the AG during a press conference yesterday, which can be seen in the below video.

As Governor, “Honor Code” should be in the business of ensuring that the bills that were signed into law are properly executed. As a result, the Attorney General called him out on his response.

What's the point of @LouisianaGov signing these laws, if he doesn't care about them being enforced? https://t.co/7aXXbeoRH5

— AG Jeff Landry (@AGJeffLandry) July 19, 2022

Once again, the “Governor” talks out of both sides of his mouth. Promotes himself as a “pro-life” Democrat and, at the same time, refuses to respect the rule of law in Louisiana.

Landry wants funding withheld from NOLA due to abortion ban enforcement

Landry wants funding withheld from NOLA due to abortion ban enforcement https://t.co/5ozLYFmH9g

— KLFY NEWS 10 (@KLFY) July 19, 2022

“As Attorney General and member of the Bond Commission, it is my belief that a parish or municipality should not benefit from the hard-working taxpayers of this State while ignoring laws validly enacted by the people through their representatives,” said Attorney General Landry. “In light of the City’s open defiance of the will of the people of Louisiana, I urge the Bond Commission to defer any applications for the City of New Orleans, Orleans Parish, and any local governmental entity or political subdivision under its purview. In addition, any other funding that will directly benefit the City of New Orleans should also be paused until such time as the Council, Mayor, Chief of Police, Sheriff, and District Attorney have met with and affirmed that they will comply with and enforce the laws of this State and cooperate with any state officials who may be called upon to enforce them.”

Read more: Landry wants funding withheld from NOLA due to abortion ban enforcement

AG Jeff Landry Praises Parents Who Filed Legal Challenge to Draconian Edicts

“Parents and guardians – not government bureaucrats – should make medical decisions for their children. And thanks to the legal challenge by families who had enough of the madness in the Crescent City, today is finally the end to the attacks on personal freedom in New Orleans. I again applaud the parents in the case and look forward to continue fighting with them to ensure the government at any level does not force medical procedures on citizens.”

Read more: New Orleans Mayor Finally Makes It Official: Mandates Over In Crescent City

Either "The Science" Changed or It's the Old "For Me and Not For Thee" in New Orleans

Photo source: Fox News

Mardi Gras is in full swing in the Big Easy. So is hypocrisy.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya “The DeStroya” Cantrell recently imposed a mask mandate for the city prior to the start of Mardi Gras season, “following the science” regarding COVID-19 safety. The full mandate can be found here, but the key points are below:

In response to the exponential growth of new COVID cases and hospitalizations statewide due to the Omicron variant, the City of New Orleans today announced the reinstatement of the indoor mask mandate in Orleans Parish, effective Wednesday, Jan. 12 at 6 a.m. 

The mask mandate will be in place for all public indoor spaces, including all K-12 schools and healthcare facilities throughout Orleans Parish. Masks will also be required for use of public transportation as detailed in the federal guidelines, for all residents ages 2 and older. COVID-19 mitigation measures implemented for certain businesses requiring proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for entry will remain in place.

With Mardi Gras season in full swing, Cantrell and her cohorts were seen at a recent ball without masks and flaunting her own mandate. Your kids in the city are forced to wear masks throughout the day, but if you are in a leadership position, these rules are not applicable. The response from her administration?

In a statement to Fox News, Cantrell spokesman Beau Tidwell admitted that there was not a "perfect adoption of the guidelines in every instance" over the weekend.

"The mask guidelines and the vaccination requirement will remain in effect thru Mardi Gras," he said. "That has not changed and it will not change. Under the current guidelines, masks may be removed indoors while eating and drinking. While we did not see perfect adoption of the guidelines in every instance over the weekend, we were encouraged overall by the level of masking and vigilance we saw on the parade route and at ball events."

In other words, who are you gonna believe? Us or your lying eyes?

It’s past time for the people of the State of Louisiana to stand up and fight back against these baseless mandates. It’s not about “the science”, but about political superiority.

Read more: New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell held maskless ball after reimposing mask mandate

Jan 11, 2022: City of New Orleans Announces Reinstatement of Indoor Mask Mandate

Mayor's Ball 2022: https://t.co/YA5owyP7yn pic.twitter.com/ZOA6AGCH1S

— Sam (@SamSullivan) February 21, 2022

LaToya “The Destroyer” Cantrell Shows Her Absolute Ineptitude

The “Mayor” of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell, shows how totally ill-equipped she is in handling the COVID-19 virus in an interview with CNN. She actually goes so far as to blame her irresponsibility on none other than President Trump.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell blames Trump for her not canceling Mardi Gras: "When it’s not taken seriously at the federal level. It’s very difficult to transcend down to the local level in making these decisions." pic.twitter.com/JF1VgNsJHB

— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) March 26, 2020

Xavier University, Mayor LaToya Cantrell & Shell Host NOLA Back 2 School Fest

As per the Grow Louisiana Coalition: 

Photo source: Xavier University

Last weekend, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Shell sponsored the NOLA Back 2 School Fest, which provided thousands of students in grades K-6 from the New Orleans area with essential school supplies and services necessary to learn and achieve academic success in the upcoming school year.

Students received free school supplies, backpacks, haircuts, health screenings, hands-on STEM exploration stations and information from other community resources.

Boy, The Big Easy Sure Knows How to Pick a Mayor

Photo source: nola.com

The latest piece out regarding the soon to be sworn in mayor of New Orleans is a scathing one regarding the confidentiality of LaToya Cantrell’s transition into the office.  

As is often the case when elected officials slip behind a curtain of secrecy, Cantrell sought to spin the confidentiality agreements as a way to actually encourage openness.

"It's not to hide anything; it's to give people the opportunity to talk freely and openly," Karen Carvin, a spokeswoman for the Cantrell campaign, said at the time. "The whole idea is to allow people the freedom to be brutally honest about their assessment of various departments and each area they're looking at. They are going to be having people interview people who have contracts with the city, and they want them to feel free to be open and transparent about their view of where things stand."

Going from a clown show of a mayor like Mitch Landrieu to this train wreck should be entertaining to say the least. The city deserves so much better, yet elect the worse.  

Read more: What does LaToya Cantrell have to hide? | Opinion

Landry: Hug-A-Thug policies threatening New Orleans

 On Monday, Attorney General Jeff Landry spoke with Moon Griffon about the rising violent crime rate in New Orleans. Landry said , "The epidemic of crime that is sweeping this city is getting out of control." 

Landry did not mince his words when he called out Mayor Mitch Landrieu and his administration for failing to protect the citizens of New Orleans. Instead of cracking down of violent offenders, the administration has instituted "Hug-A-Thug" polices. Landrieu would rather focus on environmental issues and removing historical monuments instead of tackling the biggest threat to the city, crime.

Click here to hear the entire interview.

Source:  Citizens for Louisiana Job Creators