NEW ORLEANS — Mayor LaToya Cantrell returned on Sunday, March 6, 2022, from a four-day trip to the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) Winter Leadership Meeting in Miami, Florida. During the meeting, Mayor Cantrell engaged with fellow mayors and federal partners on key initiatives while advocating for additional funding for New Orleans.
“The work we do with the U.S. Conference of Mayors is vital to our relationships on the national and the global level,” said Mayor Cantrell. “Working in collaboration with mayors from across the nation and key Biden Administration staff, to protect and expand access to resources through federal infrastructure funding is critical to improve and move our cities forward post COVID-19. This collaboration can and will yield the best results possible.”
During the conference, Mayor Cantrell was appointed Co-Chair of the Infrastructure Law Implementation Task Force for USCM, alongside Mayor Jim Ross of Arlington, Texas. In that capacity, the Mayor led a discussion with Senior Advisor and Infrastructure Coordinator Mitchell J. Landrieu, to examine the use and implementation of American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funding. Attendees were advised of additional guidance likely forthcoming from the United States Department of The Treasury, designed to make the use of ARPA funds more flexible – enabling cities to leverage them beyond traditional infrastructure projects.
As mayors at the conference were cautioned regarding the possible “claw-back” of the second tranche of funding by lawmakers at the federal level, they committed to working with their Congressional and Senate partners to fight for that funding.
In response to the crisis in Ukraine, the Conference adopted a resolution in support of the Ukrainian people. Click here to read the Emergency Resolution Supporting Ukrainian People & Sanctions on Russia. Mayor Cantrell spoke via Zoom with Mayor Vitali Klitschko of Ukraine’s capital city Kyiv, and Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova, to offer her support at this critical moment.
Mayor Cantrell was also joined by the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) Superintendent Shaun Ferguson for a presentation to the Conference on police reform and gun violence prevention initiatives, and ways in which New Orleans is responding to the nationwide uptick in violent crime during the pandemic.
The New Orleans leadership team also showcased the City’s efforts to expand green infrastructure and improve resilience, highlighting the Pontilly Neighborhood Stormwater Network and the Gentilly Resilience District.
Mayor Cantrell is also a member of USCM’s Board of Trustees.
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