“One thing is clear,” New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell declared, “I do my job, and I will continue to do it with distinction and integrity every step of the way.”
She marshaled this self-righteousness in response to media inquiries as to why, as The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate reported, “Cantrell has charged the city of New Orleans $29,000 to travel first- or business-class instead of coach.”
Mayor Cantrell defiantly refuses to pay back “the exorbitant fees” she ran up “for the upgraded tickets, including an $18,000 first-class trip to France over the summer.”
But that’s precisely what City of New Orleans policy demands of her. “Employees are required to purchase the lowest airfare available,” it clearly states. “Employees who choose an upgrade from coach, economy, or business class flights are solely responsible for the difference in cost.”
Yet, her excuse for upgraded jet-setting is priceless.
“As all women know, our health and safety are often disregarded …” Cantrell offered. “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,” she continued. “Anyone who wants to question how I protect myself just doesn’t understand the world black women walk in.”
Hmmm. Just how much safer is it in the airplane’s high-priced seats?
Plus, a pity that the mayor didn’t show any consideration for those fearful souls flying with her. One of “Cantrell’s flights cost nine times that of an aide who accompanied her but flew in coach.”
There is good news, however. A recent poll of registered voters shows a majority (55.4%) support recalling Queen — er, Mayor Cantrell.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
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3 replies on “First-Class Arrogance”
While the 1st class vs coach issue is concerning (but seems fairly standard for both politicians and business managers), I have a bigger problem with this situation.
Why would any mayor of a US city ever need to fly to a foreign country at taxpayer expense? I’m sure the total cost of the trip was much more than the cost of her plane ticket, especially since at least one aide accompanied her. While France did play a large part in New Orleans’ history, it was just that — historical. Is there really that much going on between them now that it couldn’t be handled via phone or email?
Mayor Cantrell is also widely criticized for her response to violent crime in New Orleans.
For her part, Cantrell insists that an attempt to effect is popular recall is, somehow, an attempt to deprive the populace of their votes. (Merriam-Webster would have to work over-time to change the meanings of words enough to give her claim the appearance of coherence.)
Those advancing the recall effort are not very slick; they will need a lot of help if they are to succeed.
Just another holier-than-thou politician.