In an amazing display of audacity and arrogance, the Mayor of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell, has justified her first class travel on the basis that economy class is unsafe for black women.
Appalling: How The Mayor Of New Orleans Justifies Her First Class Travel
Public records reveal Mayor Cantrell has a penchant for luxury flying. Her 2022 travel includes:
- $17,854.57 for airfare from New Orleans to France in business and first class On Delta Air Lines and United Airlines
- $9,810.07 for airfare from New Orleans to Switzerland in business class on Delta Air Lines
- $13,978.37 for airfare from New Orleans to Singapore in business class on ANA (she later canceled this trip and holds this amount in future credit)
It’s not just international. The mayor spent more than $2,300 to fly in first class to a Conference of Mayors’ meeting in Washington, DC in January (while the rest of her entourage paid $250 each to travel in economy class). Two months later, Mayor Cantrell spent more than $2,800 to fly first class to Miami for another gathering of mayors. Meanwhile, the NOPD police chief paid $342 to be on the same flights in economy class.
The travel policy in New Orleans for all city employees, which would arguably include the mayor, is economy class only.
Employees are required to purchase the lowest airfare available…Employees who choose an upgrade from coach, economy, or business class flights are solely responsible for the difference in cost.
The mayor claims she is “elected” and not an employee, even though she is paid by the city of New Orleans and will draw a pension from the city. But set that aside for a moment, for I believe that issue is secondary to her stated justification for flying in a premium cabin.
At a recent press conference, Mayor Cantrell sought to justify her travel:
“As all women know, our health and safety are often disregarded and we are left to navigate alone.
“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.
“Anyone who wants to question how I protect myself just doesn’t understand the world black women walk in.”
At yesterday’s press conference, @FOX8NOLA was the only station that asked Mayor LaToya Cantrell about whether or not she will reimburse thousands of dollars to the city for her travel upgrades.
Here’s her full statement: pic.twitter.com/swA2flFIkc
— Andrés Fuentes (@news_fuentes) September 9, 2022
She says coach is unsafe from a health and safety perspective, but flies her staff, which also includes black women, in coach. Furthermore, she says that women are “left to navigate alone” but she took an entourage along on her trip to help her navigate.
Then she claims that anyone who questions her doesn’t understand “the world” black women walk in? Perhaps someone can explain to me in what world the mayor lives? She was brought up in Los Angeles and attended Harvard. Her husband has his own law firm in NOLA (he was a former city attorney, but was suspended after a marijuana joint allegedly fell out of his pocket while he was talking to a police officer in court…). She has enjoyed immense privilege in her life that her economically-disadvantaged constituents can only dream of.
If her concern is COVID-19, why does she not afford her staff the same courtesy?
I know, I know…an elected official fleecing the taxpayers…what a surprise.
Here’s the thing. Black people in this country have faced historical discrimination that many still experience today. Furthermore, the effects of that institutional historical discrimination are still present.
By misappropriating her blackness to justify taxpayer theft, Mayor Cantrell not only steals from the taxpayers of New Orleans, but urinates on the real struggle that many black Americans still face today.
CONCLUSION
I don’t begrudge anyone for flying in business or first class…goodness knows I certainly do the same as often as I can. But I pay for my own travel. And when I was employed, I respected the travel policy of my employer. Even setting all that aside, the biggest issue is Mayor Cantrell’s justification for premium class travel (“I’m a black woman”). It’s really disgusting and I hope her constituents will hold her accountable if she seeks another term in office.
image: Twitter / @mayorcantrell
When I read this I was astounded. I mean, she is flying to Switzerland and France, lol. Not Pakistan.
What makes this even more egregious is that she single handedly insults women, and women of color, who may have legitimate frustrations and concerns. She actually gives power to those who insist that any complaints from women are complete BS. She should be ashamed, made to pay, and removed from office one way or another. And I am a Democrat who supports better understanding of women’s struggles in the world. This is clearly not one of them.
As a black democrat, I couldn’t agree more.
I’m not gonna lie, I’m biased towards supporting any brother or sister in office, but I dug in and did my research. It turns out she spent a total of $43k in France trip alone, which included staying at luxury hotels and having a side trip to see the Eiffel Tower using taxpayer money. Regardless of political affiliation of Mayor Cantrell or whoever’s weighing on this, this is clearly wrong and needs to be pointed out.
I think it’s disgusting she used taxpayer funds for this in general. For example, had the city of Juan-les-Pins paid for her France trip, it would’ve been fine because it’s not abusing taxpayer funds. But the fact that she’s not owning up to her guilt and is making these excuses make the rest of the black community look bad and that’s what makes it even more upsetting to me and others in the community. She claims that she needed to fly business class and stay at luxury hotels to “protect herself” but Paris has a lower crime rate than New Orleans (https://www.numbeo.com/crime/compare_cities.jsp?country1=France&city1=Paris&country2=United+States&city2=New+Orleans%2C+LA). Also, as a person who goes to Paris many times per year for work and vacationing, the parts where there are luxury hotels are the safer parts of Paris and I’m sure she didn’t even get close to the rough Arrondissements in the outer parts of Paris.
End of the day is, she should’ve been honest and when presented the evidence, she should own up to it instead of making bad excuses and eventually face the consequences involved. Trying to use a political narrative as an excuse is not okay. Regardless of politics or political affiliations or beliefs, what’s bad needs to be called out and people need to take responsibility.
https://www.nola.com/news/article_0a41d2d4-23fa-11ed-a671-c7e245359adb.html
She should follow the policy, but the policy is wrong and should be changed to allow premium travel.
But, that said, what is she spending $2300 and $2800 to fly domestic first class? She most be buying the most expensive fare bucket.
Don’t women AND men who vote Republican,Libertarian,etc,support a better understanding of ” womens struggles”?…as well as those of other group(s) or individual (s)?
This is government. Publicly-funded travel requiring economy class is the norm. As stated in the article, she CAN upgrade, but she needs to pay for the cost difference. Perfectly reasonable for use of taxpayer money.
Oh dear. Of all the things she could have tried and used to justify traveling premium, and she chose that?
LOL. This woman(am I allowed too use that term??) knows that she is a person of color and no one will dare challenge her lest they be called a racist. That’s the world the left has spawned. I think she’s awesome. She can claim anything and play the “safety” card. Pretty ballsy. Two thumbs up for this official elected by the idiots in NoLa.
“to” not “too”.
Meanwhile, New Orleans is a sh!thole of a city in general. She;s corrupt to the core.
I bet she gets reelected over and over by pretending to care about issues of black women.
Of course, they will bring race to the card when their integrity is being questioned.
Step 1 – Bring race if you don’t like what is being discussed or asked
Step 2- Play the victim card
Step 3 – If it doesn’t work, gaslight TF out of them
Woke Gone Wild Season 4 Episode 6
Great write-up and nice to see this get coverage outside of Louisiana. Love my home state and hometown, but “leadership” like this is precisely why so many like myself have left.
The good people of New Orleans has elected her to office. They are getting exactly what she promised on the campaign trail. Good luck to New Orleans! You maderjb your bed, sleep in it!
“The travel policy in New Orleans for all city employees, which would arguably include the mayor, is economy class only.
Employees are required to purchase the lowest airfare available…Employees who choose an upgrade from coach, economy, or business class flights are solely responsible for the difference in cost.”
That’s not how I read the above. Without further context, the above just says that the lowest airfare must be selected for the applicable class of travel. And the line “upgrade from coach, economy, or business class flights” could be read to mean e.g. that upgrades from business to first class are not permitted, but there are circumstances where business class is allowed.
As someone familiar with government travel policies from several states and municipalities, I can tell you the article got it right. Typically, a government employee is required to travel economy class, and seek the lowest fare (which, as you know, can vary widely) as practical. The only time travel in a higher class is allowed is when there are no economy class seats available. There’s probably a line about that in their policy, too.
I was curious, so pulled up NOLA’s travel policy (thanks Google), which states in relevant part that:
An authorized employee is allowed to purchase a business class flight at a rate not to exceed 110% of the coach rate for international flights greater than ten (10) hours. Documentation showing the length of the flight must be provided with the Travel Expense Form.
Interesting. Can you please provide a link? Was that on Lexis Nexis?
https://www.nola.gov/chief-administrative-office/policies/policies/no-9-(r)-travel-and-business-expenses/
Again, it’s unclear whether the mayor is subject to this particular policy, but it has the language you cited in the article.
Excellent. Thanks.
Whether she is allowed to or not, the optics are horrible and the defense is disgraceful.
Well, even if that is the policy she for sure exceeded that threshold.
Here is how much economy classes for those flights would have to be for her to justify to be in the 110%
$17,854.57 for airfare from New Orleans to France: Coach would have to cost $8,501
$9,810.07 for airfare from New Orleans to Switzerland: Coach would have to cost $4,671
$13,978.37 for airfare from New Orleans to Singapore: Coach would have to cost $6,656
She probably missed the math classes at Harvard.
“110% of the coach rate” means (i) the coach rate * (ii) 110%.
That means if the coach rate is 100 dollars, the max qualifying business class buyup is $110. It doesn’t mean the max qualifying business class rate is $210.
I don’t think that is intended, but that is the what the letter of the policy says.
No, that is not what it means. It means 10% over.
Matthew – we are saying the same thing. x * 110% = x+10
Ah, sorry I misunderstood.
Good research, Eliteflyer. Nice of NOLA to allow that for their employees, but man, where are you ever going to find a fare like that for business? I’ll bet if someone did, there’d be an ethics investigation regarding the place ticket!
Goverment servants should not travel business class. They do not create wealth or create jobs. They are a cost center and only are in existence because we allow them to lord over us. They should join private sector if they want luxury in travel, but then they will have to work much harder.
“110% of the coach rate” means (i) the coach rate * (ii) 110%.
That means if the coach rate is 100 dollars, the max qualifying business class buyup is $110. It doesn’t mean the max qualifying business class rate is $210.
I don’t think that is intended, but that is the what the letter of the policy says.
If that is the case there is no way anyone would be able to fly business class. Where can you find a business class ticket for only 10% more than coach?
Well, we see it from time to time on domestic and international flights when using miles.
For example, tonight on UA:
The 110% only applies to international flights.
Let me talk to the soldier I know about government employees only being cost centers.
US soldiers are just glorified mercenaries. The US goes to war at least once every decade to protect the interests of rich oligarchs that don’t want to pay fair share of taxes and behave as if they do us a favor by not already having enslaved us. I think the oligarchs should be made to pay for the defense department directly.
Atl goverment services are cost centers. Some are more essential than others.
Disgraceful. She should be stripped of office……..
She is an example of a corrupt politician like in Equatorial Guinea or Sudan.
Wait!!! I need to get my popcorn. LOL!!!
Nawlins ppl should vet their gov’t officials with better transparancy. Of course there is a deeper story here, yes,? She and her husband from a high powered LAX lifestyle and mentality probably did an oscar winning performance to all of Nola. Ppl got choices, did some make the wrong one? Yes they did and we all know this.
What defines her as a woman?
ROFL!!! Popcorn is ready.
Another Democrat grifter……I’m shocked.
Quick! Trump needs you to send him $100 for his “legal defense fund”. Only a RINO wouldn’t contribute! And I know you aren’t a RINO!
Like clockwork, “Orange Man Bad” Billy Bob comes to the rescue of corrupt democrat values!
Lets just admit both sides have their corrupt members?
Oh, not an employee? Seems that the parrish can stop paying her the $200k/year salary and discontinue her employee benefits then. That ought to balance the books here.
Some facts while “da Maya” has been jet setting around the world the last few years:
* The city is experiencing its highest murder rate in recent memory
* The city is experiencing an all time high of carjackings
* The NOPD is 500 warm bodies below budgeted staffing, and has been for some time. Morale is at an all time low in the department.
* During the reading of impact statements by 3 carjacking victims , da Maya entered the juvenile court room and sat with the mother of the perpetrator. He only received a suspended sentence
* Several months back, garbage was not collected in multiple neighborhoods for weeks at a time
* The city DA was just found innocent of tax evasion; but now works part-time for the law firm that defended him
* A recall effort to oust “da Maya” is currently underway
* The recently elected city sheriff has just been accused of bringing a gaggle of jail department employees on a business trip while several inmates have escaped, been killed, or rioted in the city jail in the last few weeks
The above are available at NOLA.com. Makes interested reading!!
Well said, Matthew. A shame about the trolls trying to turn this into a crazy troll bro-fest though. The hatred is getting old.
So all others are safe in economy? Pure graft.
Weak attempt to justify flying First Class on the taxpayer nickel. Typical. Coach is good enough for the masses, but not for her.
Not a single person disagrees with you on this, Matthew.
Did she seek coup d’etat counsel from her desk mounted red-button-summoned diet coke butler?
What absolute bullsh*t. I grew up in the most dangerous part of southside Chicago, worked my butt off to get to go to Yale which is in New Haven for four years, and have been working on Wall Street right after graduating from Yale for the past eight years. Of all places I’ve been to or lived in, an airplane is definitely not a dangerous place for let alone black people. This isn’t pre-Jim Crow either so I don’t know what she’s talking about.
What type of mayor needs to go to Singapore? New Orleans isn’t even a sister city to them? She spent more than $30k including the canceled flight to Singapore on business class to places that aren’t even sister cities. I can’t find any documentation or articles about her trips being related to being related to work of being a mayor of New Orleans.
As a black democrat, I am outraged of her actions of misusing taxpayers for her personal trips. She needs to face repercussions for her actions. It’s disgusting.
I stand revised on the sister cities part. Juan-les-Pins is a sister city of New Orleans as of July 14th this year and she went there to sign that. However, spending 17k on a business class ticket is just outrageous. She spent a total of $43k according to the article below and had a side trip to see the Eiffel Tower and included staying at luxury hotels. If the city of Juan-les-Pins had paid for the hotel or for those side trips, that’s fine, but this was done by her and her entourage using taxpayer funds, which is the disgusting and outrageous part.
https://www.nola.com/news/article_0a41d2d4-23fa-11ed-a671-c7e245359adb.html
What’s the justification for a municipal mayor to fly to France, Switzerland, and Singapore? Is there any official New Orleans business to conduct in those countries? Moreover, it would be interesting to see what hotel rooms she booked. Something tells me it’s not the “Standard King Room.”
The article also mentions some extraordinarily expensive tickets that were canceled and held as future credit. It’s important to investigate whether that credit (or others from similar canceled trips) was only used for city business-related travel. I wouldn’t be surprised if it were used to fund some personal travel.
“Here’s the thing. Black people in this country have faced historical discrimination that many still experience today. Furthermore, the effects of that institutional historical discrimination are still present.”
As The (little) Lebowski put it: “That’s just like your opinion, man”.
I’ll beg to disagree and although I know this is a travel blog, and I don’t want to get overly political, I reserve the right to call out what I think is a form of racism which is white guilt. If this was the 1950’s, I’d call out Jim Crow discrimination for what it is as well.
Let’s start with your first sentence: Many black people didn’t face discrimination in this country, such as Obama’s father, because they were immigrants who sought to IMPROVE their standard of living by moving here. While discrimination was still present when Obama’s father immigrated, he enjoyed a form of reparations such as “affirmative action” which his son also enjoyed who preferred to identify as African American for political reasons and to enjoy preferences.
If African Americans are still being institutionally discriminated AGAINST, then why do they insist upon identifying themselves as such as often as possible? By the same token, there are white males who identify as non-white or women for similar reasons. Hey, I’ve considered identifying as a trans-gender lesbian but at this point, I don’t need to. But if I was 20 and in college, I’d totally go for it!
To make the point relevant to the travel blog: If African Americans and women are disproportionately represented in economy class due to presumed disenfranchisement, wouldn’t they be safer there amongst each other?
We can end this problem once and for all: Allow ANY of us to identify as a woman or non-white and apply for college, and other institutions, as such since such discrimination is rampant. That should end the problem once, and for all, yes?