NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) — Mayor Cantrell announces the demolition of a company her violent crime task force has found a cause for concern in the city.
The announcement comes as Councilor Helena Moreno says the task force is overdue for a progress report.
Moreno sent a letter to Tyrell Morris, executive director of the call center and leader of the task force, requesting a 60-day benchmark update on the task force’s progress, something the mayor committed to when she launched the task force founded in January.
Morris responded, saying that there was never a commitment to a benchmark. He said he plans to report on the findings at a council committee meeting on April 5.
“If we can get people’s eyes out of the junk, like I’ve always said, then we can clearly allow people to see progress and where we’re going and where we want to be and stay,” Cantrell said at a news conference .
Paradise Carwash in Mid City will soon be leveled.
Mayor Cantrell Announces Demolition of Store That Was Scene of Murder (WVUE FOX 8)
The closed shop was the scene of a murder in January.
But Catherine Washington has lived her entire life in Orleans Parish.
She says there are more pressing issues plaguing her community, like dangerous potholes and high utility bills.
MORE: The mayor of New Orleans establishes a violent crimes task force after a deadly start to 2023
“If she wants people to vote for her and be there for her, she has to help the people out here,” Washington said. “Don’t just come here on TV and say what you’re going to do. Do it. Help.”
Mayor Cantrell was short on details when asked for an update on the task force’s data collection.
She claimed not to have said that there would be data to view within the first 60 days of the task force’s formation. However, in the Jan. 11 announcement, Cantrell said, “Really, that 60 mark, to be able to back it up with data, what’s been working, what’s not, how are we tweaking, how are we moving forward, what do we have digressed into what have we advanced? But just a roadmap that charts our course every day.”
Also, at the first press conference, the mayor suggested that the task force had something to show for their day-to-day work.
“The broad recommendations come as we look at the data on a daily basis. Procedures happen every day,” Cantrell said. “You don’t wait. They use this data every day.”
Moreno asked for information on the frequency and participation of task force meetings.
“This morning I was asked how many meetings we had. I’m not interested in dating. I am interested in work. So we meet when it’s necessary,” Morris said.
Cantrell defended her commitment to ensuring that New Orleans City Council members are regularly engaged by reviewing the April 5 public hearing.
“Understand that the entire New Orleans City Council may attend any committee meeting that is held,” Cantrell said. “That’s the responsibility of the New Orleans City Council.”
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