“It’s time to get off the fence and sign the petition to recall Mayor LaToya Cantrell,” said petition campaign co-chair Eileen Carter Tuesday, September 27. More than 10,000 New Orleanians have already put their signatures on the petition, approximately one-fifth of what is needed. “This campaign is about the mayor’s job performance and has nothing to do with anything else. People often say that the mayor can’t do this or the mayor can’t do that. What the mayor can do is lead. That’s what we elected her to do and that’s what she is not doing,” Carter explained.
Carter made her remarks at a press conference on the steps of City Hall attended by such community leaders as recall campaign chair Belden Batiste, Bishop Shante Sutton, Rev. Raymond Brown, entrepreneurs Mark Lawes, Leilani Heno and Anthony Brown, Libertarian Party official Amy Misko and community activists Kim Ford, Angelique Gilbert and Antoinette Cranford. Each of them talked about the personal reasons they are supporting the recall campaign from crime, infrastructure, garbage and economic development issues to how the mayor’s alleged failures have negatively impacted families and young people. The speakers reiterated that they represented a broad cross-section of the community. “We are not one color or one political party; we are purple, green and gold,” said Carter. Individuals and organizations across the city – even in Venetian Isles – are gathering together to hold signing parties, which is helping organizers reach the goal.
Though campaign leaders have until late February to gather the 53,000 signatures from Orleans Parish registered voters, they hope to complete the process by the end of the year. An early completion should ensure that an election to recall Cantrell would be held in the spring of 2023. If the voters support removing Cantrell from office, a new mayor could be elected in the fall of 2023. “In one year from now we could have a new mayor,” Carter exclaimed.
Carter believes the easiest way to get 53,000 signatures is for “dedicated Orleans Parish voters” to download the petition sheets from the NoLaToya.org website, read the requirements, and get 15 people to sign each sheet. “If 3600 registered voters would download one sheet each and fill it with signatures from your family, friends or by walking down your block, we can be done. We are stronger together. We can do this together. This is real. This is happening. Get off the fence and sign your name.”
Carter said they will not release exactly how many signatures they have thus far and specifically who has signed to protect those individuals. “Releasing those names had encouraged retribution. We have had direct conversations with family members of police officers, as well as hospital workers, employees of non-profits and community organizations who have been told that signing the petition would put them in jeopardy. Aren’t you sick of this type of tyranny? You all are going to hear our voice for our children, our families, and our future. We can’t take another three years of this.”
Upcoming petition signing events will take place September 28 at Upperline St & Prytania Street from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. and at 2320 Mazant Street in the Upper 9th Ward from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. On September 29, petitions will be available at Frenchmen Street & Royal Street in the Faubourg Marigny. Visit No Latoya.org for the location of additional signing events and for information on how to host a signing party or download the petition.
