New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell closed out 2023 by delivering her State of the City Address, highlighting the city’s continued progress and her vision for the community’s future. The Mayor’s priorities include infrastructure, public safety, youth engagement, economic and workforce development, small businesses, quality of life, and cultural investments.
A key highlight of the Mayor’s remarks was the city’s infrastructure initiatives. Mayor Cantrell detailed investments such as the West Complex Power Plant, green infrastructure developments, and the installation of smart meters. Additionally, she stressed the successful management of federal grants for these initiatives to enhance the city’s resilience to flooding and improve infrastructure reliability.
Mayor Cantrell spotlighted the city’s holistic approach to public safety, including collaborating with law enforcement agencies, establishing mobile crisis intervention units, and launching trauma centers to support victims of crime. She also noted the importance of addressing mental health issues and implementing strategies to curb violent crime rates in the city, which have led to a decrease in homicides and violent crime over the past year.
The Mayor shared updates on youth engagement initiatives, underscoring programs such as the Pathways Program, the Mayor’s Youth Employment Program, and mental health services through the Thrive Kids initiative.
Watch Mayor Cantrell’s full remarks here.