Is there a ‘take over’ afoot?
4th November 2024 · 0 Comments
If Governor Jeff Landry’s attempt to extend the 2024 state legislative session to hold a constitutional convention didn’t signal his intention to take over New Orleans, the recent “sweeps” of unhoused people by state police, aka Troop NOLA, Wildlife and Fisheries agents, the Department of Transportation personnel and other state departments on October 23 and October 24 before the Taylor Swift concerts did.
The state agents carried out the sweeps despite requests from city leaders to delay the cleanup because these residents were set to be housed in a matter of weeks. The “clean-up,” which only moved unhoused people from their encampment near the convention center to a few blocks away – Landry’s crew offered no housing – illustrated the governor’s determination to overrule city leaders and act independently.
Two unhoused people filed a lawsuit against the Louisiana State Police, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Department of Transportation. The plaintiffs showed more courage than city leaders who didn’t tell Landry to stand down. According to news reports, Mayor LaToya Cantrell couldn’t comment because of pending litigation.
The New Orleans City Council should have filed the lawsuit because Landry violated a municipal ordinance outlining a specific procedure for removing unauthorized encampments. Among other rules, unhoused campers should have gotten 24-hour notice instead of 30 minutes. According to eyewitnesses, some people’s possessions were thrown away.
Judge Lori Jupiter granted the plaintiffs’ request for a TRO (temporary restraining order) and stopped Landry’s overreach into the city’s business.
Many New Orleanians see that action as a step towards a hostile takeover of the Crescent City. After all, when political commentator Tucker Carlson asked Landry in 2023, then a gubernatorial candidate, how he would improve New Orleans, his response was, “I will bend it to my will,” reported New Orleans Magazine. And yes, there are the rumors that Landry wants the state to take over the Sewerage & Water Board, among other departments.
After intimidating District Attorney Jason Williams into an agreement that allows the state’s attorney general to prosecute people arrested by “Troop NOLA” and the city allowing Troop NOLA to be housed in the French Quarter, Landry obviously believes he has carte blanche.
What he doesn’t have however, is a cooperative endeavor agreement (CEA) with the city like former mayor Mitch Landrieu set up with the state.
So why are the city’s elected officials and those who we pay to protect us silent?
There’s radio silence from the New Orleans delegation at the State Capitol. Where are they as the governor encroaches on New Orleans’ charter power? Why aren’t they challenging Landry’s authority to weaken our city charter?
Where are the Dorothy Taylors, Dutch Morials, Jim Singletons, the Rev. Avery Alexanders, Diana Bajoies? These freedom fighters used their elected positions to get reciprocity for their city and its residents. They fought for civil and economic investments in their communities, justice, and fairness.
When whites wanted to take over Audubon Park, Mayor Ernest Dutch Morial said, “No.” Dorothy Taylor took on the establishment, and today, there’s diversity in Mardi Gras krewes. The Rev. Alexander fought against segregation, discrimination, and voter intimidation and fought to keep Charity Hospital open, among other battles.
Whenever you watch the film “A House Divided” by Sybil Morial, wife of Ernest N. Dutch Morial, you’ll see the Rev. Alexander being dragged up the stairs of the cafeteria at City Hall, which was segregated at the time.
They were not complicit or silent.
In lieu of Landry’s actions, there are those are saying they now understand why the hard push to get NOPD out of the consent decree. Remember, as the state’s attorney general, Jeff Landry advocated for its end.
Be forewarned.
If Landry gets the chance to change the state constitution, he could rewrite the laws to create a pass-through for New Orleans revenue, where the city’s money would go to the state to fund the city’s budget. He could divide the NOPD into a division of the state police. He could control funding and contracts for DBEs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprises), build more jails, and control all public education funding.
This article originally published in the November 4, 2024 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
