City Responds to Vetoes Targeting New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS - Today, the City of New Orleans responded to vetoes by the Governor eliminating more than $33M in funding for New Orleans. The line-item vetoes strike key City priorities including $16m for Armstrong Park redevelopment; $2m from design for a new City Hall Civic Complex; $1M for a new Behrman Stadium, over $9m of housing, resilience, and health care infrastructure projects within the City and $6m of operational funding for homelessness provider costs, recreation, public safety, and community organizations.
Over 62% of all operational funding cuts and 53% of all capital infrastructure cuts made by the Governor target New Orleans.
“At a time when New Orleans is building real momentum and confidence in our future, it’s deeply disappointing to see so many investments in our city singled out for elimination. More than half of the state’s line-item vetoes impacted New Orleans. These projects represent real improvements for our residents and opportunities to strengthen our economy, public safety and quality of life," said Mayor Helena Moreno. "We remain strongly committed to be “all in” for a better New Orleans, and we will continue working with every partner possible to restore these investments and keep the progress moving forward."
The Governor also vetoed the City's Senate Bill 384, authored by New Orleans Senate Leader Jimmy Harris, which sought to create opportunities for innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to public infrastructure issues. The legislation was broadly supported by economic development agencies and stakeholders and received unanimous State Senate passage. It now fails to be enacted at the stroke of the Governor's veto pen.
The list of funding vetoes can be seen here.
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