NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Mayor Latoya Cantrell says she’s focused on moving the city forward after a failed recall effort and controversy surrounding a former member of her executive security team. Cantrell fielded countless questions during a lengthy one-on-one interview with FOX 8 on Wednesday (March 29) at a local hotel.
Cantrell discussed how she was affected by the effort to remove her from office.
“Well, the recall, of course, like I said, I’m a human being, so at any given time, I’ve run for mayor of the city of New Orleans twice and won twice, and I want to continue to serve as mayor of this city, but I want to serve a city that wants me, and so with the failure, it only assured my commitment to the city, but also the commitment of the residents to me in serving as their mayor,” Cantrell said.
She was asked if the recall drive had prompted her to do some personal reflection.
“Well, I would say that in this role as the chief executive of the city and I have to make decisions and be accountable for those decisions, no matter what they are, I would say that reflection is always part of the job because you’re always, Always I really strive to be better, every day I try to be better, so to be better I have to reflect on myself,” Cantrell said.
Tens of thousands of New Orleanians signed the recall petition in hopes of prompting a recall election, but the recall came up short on the number of signatures needed.
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Still, Cantrell says he’s working hard to improve the city’s quality of life for supporters and opponents alike. But is there an area she would like to improve on as mayor?
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“Well, being the mayor of New Orleans and reflecting, I just stay focused. Part of that is not letting the recall efforts and the orchestration around the recall and other efforts that were aligned with it distract me,” Cantrell said.
Crime remains a thorn in the side of the city, and Cantrell says fighting it remains her top priority.
FOX 8 also asked Cantrell about the investigation of Officer Jeffrey Vapi, who was a member of her security team and was reassigned as the NOPD’s Bureau of Public Integrity investigated some of his actions.
In response to a question, Cantrell said she declined to be interviewed by PIB.
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“Oh, well, the PIB was advancing the investigation on behalf of the New Orleans Police Department. I was asked to participate or be interviewed, but I chose not to,” Cantrell said.
When asked why, she said, “Because I’m the mayor of the city of New Orleans and the investigation was about practices related to my executive protection team and practices that could have been handled very well by the PIB and of course practices that were coordinated with executive protection teams that have been with mayors for decades in the city of New Orleans.
Cantrell said her lawyers had no role in her decision not to answer questions from the PIB.
“No, I figured the answer would be no, it’s never happened in the history of the city of New Orleans, unprecedented at its finest, and it was something I chose not to be a part of,” Cantrell said.
She previously called the investigation thorough. FOX 8 asked how he knew it was a full probe.
“Of course, I know that I’m the mayor of the city and I know how I interact with my executive protection team and that gave me and continues to give me the confidence that’s really needed, so I just remained supportive of the PIB and their practices for investigation and they continue with their investigation and that’s it,” Cantrell said.
She was criticized for commenting on an ongoing NOPD investigation.
“Well, my understanding is that the substance of the investigation is almost complete, and based on that, I’m not commenting directly on the investigation, in terms of their practices, in terms of, you know, how they went about conducting their investigation, and I I haven’t and I won’t,” Cantrell said.
Asked how he knew the investigation was coming to an end, Cantrell said, “As far as I know, it’s coming to an end.”
“Because I know it’s coming to the end of the process that PIB went through, so I believe in terms of their interviews and the like, those parts or that part of the investigation is over, so it makes me know that it’s moving towards its end.
Cantrell insists her relationship with Vapi is appropriate.
“What I do know is that perception, there’s always room for perceptions that aren’t reality, and as it relates to my professional relationship with Officer Vappie, that’s where it’s at, it’s strictly professional, and I’ve also learned that I would said in Ofc. Vappie as it relates to being a true trusted advisor,” Cantrell said.
She was asked if she would like Vappie to return to her position as a member of her security team.
“Well, I’d like to be a police officer. Vappie to be in a position that allows him to continue to be a public safety advisor to the City of New Orleans,” Cantrell said.
After a recall effort and the ongoing controversy surrounding Officer Vappie and confidential PIB records that became public, Cantrell was asked if she felt she had been weakened as a top city leader.
“Well, how I appreciate it, it’s really consistent with the work that we’ve been able to do and continue to do, which is related to boxes that have been going around for decades in the city of New Orleans, but under my leadership and that of my administration, we’ve been able to take on and address infrastructure improvements across the city, replacing pipes that have been here since 1852 in some areas, ensuring we have a power plant that is under construction for the Sewerage and Water Board,” Cantrell said .
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