‘She’s not doing her best:’ New Orleans voters sound off on embattled mayor
As election officials determine whether New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell will face a recall vote, residents tell Fox News time is up for the city's top official.
NEW ORLEANS – Election officials are still counting signatures to determine whether New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell will face a recall vote, but Big Easy residents said support for the effort is widespread.
"Everyone I've talked to seems to be pretty supportive of it," Dustin said.
New Orleans residents out celebrating Mardi Gras told Fox News they have seen widespread support for efforts to oust Mayor LaToya Cantrell. (Fox News Digital)
NEW ORLEANS RECALL ORGANIZERS SAY THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT TO OUST MAYOR OF THIS MURDER CAPITAL
Recall organizers delivered their petition to the voter's office in late February, and this week they reached a deal with the secretary of state that could lower the number of signatures they need to qualify for a ballot.
Cantrell did not respond to Fox News' request for comment. In a local press conference she blasted the recall effort as a Republican-funded campaign that has "relied on lies and misinformation."
But New Orleans residents Fox News spoke with during Mardi Gras festivities all agreed it was time for Cantrell to go.
"I don't think she represents the city well," Kelly said. "And she also does not do a good job of being the mayor."
During a Mardi Gras parade on Feb. 19, Cantrell was caught on camera flipping off parade participants.
‘SHE'S NOT DOING HER BEST': NEW ORLEANS RESIDENTS SOUND OFF ON MAYOR RECALL EFFORT:
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Not everyone is willing to publicly back the campaign.
"Cantrell will be bitter. She will go after people," Babs, of New Orleans, said. "I have a lot of friends that have not signed the petition because they don’t want retribution against them, but they will vote for it when it comes to an election."
Recall organizers have criticized Cantrell for failing to get the city's crime under control and losing more than 150 police officers in 2021.
New Orleans briefly held the title of murder capital of the US after recording 266 homicides in 2022 — a 116% increase from 2019, according to the city council's crime database. Carjackings rose 165% during the same period.
"We've got real problems, just like the rest of big cities in the country do," Sally, from New Orleans, said. "We need more police, and we need to be more careful about what we do."
LaToya Cantrell has served as mayor of New Orleans since 2018 and won re-election in 2021. But recall organizers hope to cut her second term short. (Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence)
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State law allows 20 days for the voter's office to verify the signatures and declare next steps.
To hear more of residents' thoughts on the recall effort, click here.
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