Thursday on CNN, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said her city was given “no red flag” from Homeland Security, FBI or the CDC to cancel the Mardi Gras celebrations to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
She argued the agencies follow the “response of our national leader,” who Cantrell said was not taking it seriously.
Anchor Wolf Blitzer said, “Experts say, Mayor, that the Mardi Gras celebrations at the end of February in New Orleans may have actually played a role in accelerating the spread of this virus. More than a million people came to your beautiful city at the time. We are showing some video of that right now. At the time, Mayor, did you have any guidance from health experts on the potential risk of coronavirus?”
Cantrell answered, “Well, you know that the city of New Orleans as it relates to Mardi Gras, we plan Mardi Gras as a year-long effort. Around a part of our unified command is the federal government. Homeland Security, as well as the FBI. So in reaching out, meaning my health directors and public safety officials, every step of the way consulted with federal partners as well as the CDC in reference to COVID-19.”
Don’t Forget: Key Platner Staffer Talked About His Penis in Book for 10-Year-Old Boys, Said He Wanted Them to See Images of It
Obama judge clears left-wing group to fly ominous flag aimed at Trump on his own turf
NEW VIDEO: UK Releases Outrageous Bodycam of Cops Who Cuffed Dying Brit for Being Racist Toward Man Who Stabbed Him
GOP demands Trump kill controversial $2B fund before reviving ICE funding package
WATCH: Schiff ducks Platner questions as embattled Dem Senate hopeful hits DC
Virginia bus driver from crash that killed five faces more manslaughter charges
Google Employee Charged with Stealing Search Data To Make $1.2 Million in Polymarket Scheme
Breaking: Trump Names Acting Director of National Intelligence After Tulsi Gabbard Announces Resignation
Foreign enemies have a shockingly simple way to track US troops overseas, lawmakers warn
Hilton, Becerra, and Steyer make final pitch in California’s chaotic marquee race for governor
Connecticut Dems Facing Legal Trouble in Desperate Attempt to Ban Glocks
Sanders says Platner has the ‘guts’ to fight billionaires despite growing scandal pileup
Iowa man suspected of killing 6 family members in ‘act of evil’
Ohio Gov. DeWine Revokes AI Data Center Tax Break Measures
Republicans chase breakthroughs in multiple state primary elections and more top headlines
She continued, “The federal government did not issue any red flags and, therefore, we moved forward with federal agents being a part of our unified command on the ground. And with the first time the city of New Orleans for Mardi Gras, we’re at a rating that was an improvement given to us by the federal government. So every step of the way, the federal government has been partners with us with Mardi Gras. No red flags were given. So absolutely, we moved forward.”
Blitzer said, “Yeah, you certainly did. I’ll ask you the same question I asked your governor yesterday with hindsight. We are all obviously a lot smarter with hindsight. Do you think Mardi Gras could or should have been closed this year?”
Cantrell said, “Well, if red flags were given at the federal level, leadership matters. So while I was the first in the state of Louisiana to stop social gatherings, I had to cancel the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. All hell broke loose when I did that. It was necessary, giving the data, allowing science to lead us. It does matter. We rely on the facts to make decisions for the people that we serve. Given no red flags, we moved forward. In hindsight, if we were given clear direction, we would not have had Mardi Gras, and I would have been the leader to cancel.”
Blitzer said, “I know, I guess reports are within a week or two after Mardi Gras, all of a sudden the cases started emerging in Louisiana. Obviously, that’s very disturbing.”
Don’t Forget: Key Platner Staffer Talked About His Penis in Book for 10-Year-Old Boys, Said He Wanted Them to See Images of It
Obama judge clears left-wing group to fly ominous flag aimed at Trump on his own turf
NEW VIDEO: UK Releases Outrageous Bodycam of Cops Who Cuffed Dying Brit for Being Racist Toward Man Who Stabbed Him
GOP demands Trump kill controversial $2B fund before reviving ICE funding package
WATCH: Schiff ducks Platner questions as embattled Dem Senate hopeful hits DC
Virginia bus driver from crash that killed five faces more manslaughter charges
Google Employee Charged with Stealing Search Data To Make $1.2 Million in Polymarket Scheme
Breaking: Trump Names Acting Director of National Intelligence After Tulsi Gabbard Announces Resignation
Foreign enemies have a shockingly simple way to track US troops overseas, lawmakers warn
Hilton, Becerra, and Steyer make final pitch in California’s chaotic marquee race for governor
Connecticut Dems Facing Legal Trouble in Desperate Attempt to Ban Glocks
Sanders says Platner has the ‘guts’ to fight billionaires despite growing scandal pileup
Iowa man suspected of killing 6 family members in ‘act of evil’
Ohio Gov. DeWine Revokes AI Data Center Tax Break Measures
Republicans chase breakthroughs in multiple state primary elections and more top headlines
He asked, “You are saying no one from the federal government came to you and urged you to at least can sell or postpone Mardi Gras?”
Cantrell responded, “That’s absolutely correct. And not only that, it was backed up with the response of our national leader. When it’s not taken seriously at the federal level, it’s very difficult to transcend down to the local level in making these decisions. But when the experts told me that social gatherings would be an issue, I moved forward with canceling them, as well as St. Patrick’s Day parade, as well as our Super Sunday, where our Mardi Gras Indian’s parade, the suits that they’ve made, all year long, so this is something that not only concerns us, but it sets the tone for how leadership matters at every level of government in the United States of America, where mayors on the front line.”
Story cited here.
