Cantrell, Charbonnet debate on city budget, S&WB and Department of Public Works merger
At a public forum in Lakeview, mayoral candidates Latoya Cantrell and Desiree Charbonnet claimed their stances on how to improve New Orleans through budgeting and what issues they would focus on if they were to be elected mayor.
The candidates spoke at the Lakeview Civic Improvement Association meeting on Nov. 11 during a forum sponsored by The New Orleans Advocate.
In her introduction, Charbonnet highlighted her campaign’s focus on crime. “I understand the needs of this community,” Charbonnet said. “I know crime is a serious issue to this community. That is why I have made it my very top priority.”
District B Councilwoman Cantrell finished her own introduction by stating that her leadership has been documented in over 150 publications, 26 books, and three cases studies.
“Our community, our city needs to be unified, and I can do that,” Cantrell said. “I can assure that I will be one fighting for what’s right for our community, stabilizing government, dealing with infrastructure. Of course, in regard to public safety, I’ve been at the forefront and in the trenches.”
In terms of budgeting, Charbonnet spoke of citizens needing to know they have a mayor they can trust with money. Cantrell talked about ensuring development projects are executed properly. Charbonnet said that more money should be spent on streets in order to show people results for their taxes the soonest, and she said additional funding can come from her not instituting a deputy mayor’s position.
Cantrell talked about the results from a “deep dive” city government compensation study and allocating funding to youth and family services.
“The [municipal government employees] that do the job every single day need to have the level of skillset and pay so that we can hold them accountable,” Cantrell said.
The mayoral candidates disagreed about the merging of the Sewerage & Water Board (S&WB) with the Department of Public Works. While Cantrell encouraged addressing the immediate needs under the current merge, Charbonnet said she couldn’t overemphasize that the merge doesn’t work and that the operation leads to the two organizations wasting money.
“That’s why you hear about a street being paved and then it being ripped up for the Sewerage & Water Board to repair a line,” Charbonnet said. “We can’t afford that. You’re paying too much money.”
The final question of the forum asked candidates for something they wished they would have been asked during the campaign. Charbonnet said that she was going to answer lightly and responded that no one had asked her about any of her hobbies—gardening is one of them.
Cantrell answered that she wished she was asked about mental health. During the forum, she recalled an incident that she had with a mentally disabled woman and how she thought the NOPD should not have to respond to such a non-violent situation involving mental health.
“[Mental health] is essential, and it hasn’t bubbled up as a priority,” Cantrell said.
The runoff election for New Orleans mayor is Nov. 18.
