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. Documents also show that Cantrell took three employees to Switzerland with her, including a social media manager, her director of internal relations, and executive protection. The nearly $10,000 figure for airfare was only for Cantrell, details on how much it cost to fly her employees were not provided. There were also some documents that were not provided to WDSU Investigates, including costs of her lodging, food and entertainment. The trip was funded by taxpayers. Cantrell was in Switzerland to reinforce a sister-city agreement. However, this was not Cantrell’s only overseas trip. WDSU Investigates is awaiting documents on her trip to France. This comes after New Orleans City Council leaders took steps towards capping Cantrell’s travel after two recent trips to Europe brought on a lot of criticism from leaders and community members.Her expenditures on the trips to Switzerland and France drew complaints and concerns that Cantrell is leaving the city, while there was disarray from stalled projects to surging crime.Those critics say her time and money should be focused on cleaning up the city. WDSU Investigates pressed Cantrell on the timing of her trips, asking why she chose to leave the country while the city deals with the worst crime rate since Hurricane Katrina. “There is always a right time to conduct the city’s business especially expand our cultural footprint that drives the local economy,” Cantrell said. “Making sure that we’re making those connections that only embrace our cultural barriers.”Some community members at a recent council meeting were critical, saying Cantrell’s priorities should be focused locally on crime and the city’s economy.“It’s a shame that our mayor she takes lavish vacations on the taxpayers’ money while people are dying in the city of crime,” said one community member speaking at a city council meeting Tuesday.It’s not just community members who are concerned about how money is being spent.City Council President Helena Moreno and Vice President JP Morrell filed legislation capping non-essential travel expenses for city elected officials at $1,000 per trip.Non-essential trips would essentially stop trips like the ones Cantrell recently took to Switzerland and the French Riviera to reinforce sister city agreements.Prior to WDSU Investigates receiving the documents about spending, Cantrell was asked how much the trips cost taxpayers. She said she didn’t know. “I do business on behalf of the city not just an isolation of one sister city that you just mentioned. It’s comprehensive in regards to the business, but I do on behalf of the city. So no I don’t know offhand just looking through the tunnel I look at the whole,” Cantrell said. When WDSU Investigates pressed her on if she understood the community’s concerns, she said she didn’t understand the question. “I don’t know what you’re asking me,” and walked off.This isn’t the first time Cantrell’s spending has been questioned, in 2019 the city spent thousands of dollars for Cantrell and staff to go to Ghana for an essence event and when she was on city council she was investigated for misusing her city credit card charging $9,000 dollars for food and various Walmart runs. If voted through, this would impact more people than the mayor, it would be placed on council members as well. The ordinance would require quarterly reports of travel by elected officials.The ordinance will be discussed Tuesday, August 4.
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.
Documents also show that Cantrell took three employees to Switzerland with her, including a social media manager, her director of internal relations, and executive protection.
The nearly $10,000 figure for airfare was only for Cantrell, details on how much it cost to fly her employees were not provided.
There were also some documents that were not provided to WDSU Investigates, including costs of her lodging, food and entertainment.
The trip was funded by taxpayers. Cantrell was in Switzerland to reinforce a sister-city agreement.
However, this was not Cantrell’s only overseas trip. WDSU Investigates is awaiting documents on her trip to France.
This comes after New Orleans City Council leaders took steps towards capping Cantrell’s travel after two recent trips to Europe brought on a lot of criticism from leaders and community members.
Her expenditures on the trips to Switzerland and France drew complaints and concerns that Cantrell is leaving the city, while there was disarray from stalled projects to surging crime.
Those critics say her time and money should be focused on cleaning up the city.
WDSU Investigates pressed Cantrell on the timing of her trips, asking why she chose to leave the country while the city deals with the worst crime rate since Hurricane Katrina.
“There is always a right time to conduct the city’s business especially expand our cultural footprint that drives the local economy,” Cantrell said. “Making sure that we’re making those connections that only embrace our cultural barriers.”
Some community members at a recent council meeting were critical, saying Cantrell’s priorities should be focused locally on crime and the city’s economy.
“It’s a shame that our mayor she takes lavish vacations on the taxpayers’ money while people are dying in the city of crime,” said one community member speaking at a city council meeting Tuesday.
It’s not just community members who are concerned about how money is being spent.
City Council President Helena Moreno and Vice President JP Morrell filed legislation capping non-essential travel expenses for city elected officials at $1,000 per trip.
Non-essential trips would essentially stop trips like the ones Cantrell recently took to Switzerland and the French Riviera to reinforce sister city agreements.
Prior to WDSU Investigates receiving the documents about spending, Cantrell was asked how much the trips cost taxpayers. She said she didn’t know.
“I do business on behalf of the city not just an isolation of one sister city that you just mentioned. It’s comprehensive in regards to the business, but I do on behalf of the city. So no I don’t know offhand just looking through the tunnel I look at the whole,” Cantrell said.
When WDSU Investigates pressed her on if she understood the community’s concerns, she said she didn’t understand the question.
“I don’t know what you’re asking me,” and walked off.
This isn’t the first time Cantrell’s spending has been questioned, in 2019 the city spent thousands of dollars for Cantrell and staff to go to Ghana for an essence event and when she was on city council she was investigated for misusing her city credit card charging $9,000 dollars for food and various Walmart runs.
If voted through, this would impact more people than the mayor, it would be placed on council members as well. The ordinance would require quarterly reports of travel by elected officials.
The ordinance will be discussed Tuesday, August 4.
