Louisiana governor-elect and New Orleans mayor working together?

Governor-elect Jeff Landry announced he will have a commission focused solely on problems in New Orleans according to WVUE.

The members of the committee will consist of people with special interests in the city of New Orleans, and will be chaired by prominent businessman Boise Bollinger.

Landry first spoke about this committee when he visited Lafayette to talk about his transition team. Landry said it’s not necessarily about what he wants to see change in Louisiana, but rather what the commission sees as major flaws in the city. He was quoted as saying,

Not exactly the kind of change I want to see. We want to hear from those people on that committee what kind of changes or policies are being infused with concerns or issues that the city of New Orleans has that have kept the city of New Orleans from being the great city it once was.

One of the major issues affecting the city is the number of homicides that have been reported. So far this year, there have been 191 cases according to the Metropolitan Crime Commission as of October 30, 2023.

This week, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell was asked about this committee during her weekly press conference.

And she had to say this about the committee,

To me, this is an indication that the governor-elect understands what New Orleans means not only to ourselves but to the state of Louisiana. I’m an optimist and I do believe, you know, that great things come from collaboration and I think this is a step in the right direction.

Cantrell went on to say that although the governor-elect has not personally contacted her about the committee, she says this is supported as something in the spirit of cooperation. She says she’s supportive because it will be about what’s best for Louisiana, and ultimately the state of Louisiana.

Will the two play political games with the committee or what results will they reach?

Will politics play a role in this committee, and what recommendations can be made? This remains to be seen. Governor-elect Landry is a Republican and New Orleans’ Mae Cantrell is a Democrat.

If you examine the data available at the Pew Research Center, many people in Louisiana report that they lean neither left nor right politically. The report shows that sixteen percent is between the two parties.

Louisiana is truly a politically divided state

Forty-one percent of people say they are Republicans or lean toward the Republican Party. 43% of people say they are Democrats or lean toward the Democratic Party.

WVUE Fox8 political analyst Mike Sherman had the following to say when asked whether or not the two would eventually agree,

We all know the days are coming when there will be ideological division and battles between the city of New Orleans and the new governor’s administration but today is not that day. Knowing that the City of New Orleans is included in the governor-elect’s transition planning can only be a good thing because it brings attention and focus to the city.

We’d like to know what you think about this committee, and what the two of them are likely to do with the committee’s findings. You can give us your thoughts in the results section.

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