Cantrell Rise and Fall in New Orleans

Key takeaways

• Ground-up ascent: From Broadmoor community organizer to the city’s first female mayor, Cantrell leveraged grassroots support to win the office in 2017.
• Crisis leadership and backlash: COVID-19 response and Hurricane Ida aftermath boosted early praise but later fueled criticism over infrastructure and transparency.
• Power shifts: As her inner circle shrank and tensions with the City Council grew, Cantrell faced growing scrutiny over spending, governance, and the Pontalba apartment use.
• Legacy under legal scrutiny: The late-term period included recalls, budget battles, and a federal indictment that cast a long shadow over her tenure.

Table of contents

• Early Rise as a Community Organizer
• First Term: Victory and Policy
• Crisis After Ida: Trash, Power, and Public Safety
• Internal Strife and the Recall
• Final Chapter: Indictment and Legacy

Early Rise as a Community Organizer

In the 2010s, Cantrell built a formidable brand as a Broadmoor organizer, helping prevent mass displacements after Katrina. On the City Council she advanced public health and nightlife reforms, including banning indoor smoking. Her 2017 victory made her the city’s first woman to hold the top office, framed as breaking old rules and expanding opportunity for diverse neighborhoods.

First Term: Victory and Policy

The high-water mark came in 2019 with the Fair Share deal, redirecting hotel taxes to the city and generating $104 million over five years for water and drainage improvements. Cantrell’s COVID era decisions—cancelling parades and endorsing safety measures—were credited by health officials with saving lives, even as hospitality sectors bristled at restrictions.

Crisis After Ida: Trash, Power, and Public Safety

Ida devastated the region; in New Orleans, outages and backlogs strained trust in City Hall. By mid-2022, residents faced messy streets and rolling outages, and Cantrell’s approval fell from a peak after her reelection. The trash crisis and long power outages fueled a growing sense that repairs were not keeping pace with needs.

Internal Strife and the Recall

As aides departed and scrutiny rose, Cantrell clashed with council allies and faced questions about travel expenses and a long-term use of the Pontalba apartment. A recall effort rose in 2022, gathered signatures, and tested her political resilience, ultimately failing to remove her in the next vote.

Final Chapter: Indictment and Legacy

In 2024–25, federal charges emerged tied to spending on personal trips and alleged destruction of evidence. Cantrell’s husband’s death in 2023 and her decision to publicly confront trauma added a personal dimension to a tenure already defined by controversy. Despite a near-20% approval rating late in her tenure, Cantrell faced a complex legacy: a leader who steered the city through COVID and Hurricane Ida, yet left behind questions about governance, transparency, and fiscal stewardship.