City of No we don't want to hear about it

It's not clear why the mayor ditched this effort to count the number homeless who die on the streets of New Orleans each year. Her spokespeople only say here that she "would certainly consider" something like it in the future.

City officials effectively killed the effort through what Miller describes as widespread indifference and a refusal to devote any resources to ensure every homeless death was counted.

So last year’s count stopped at 40. No one knows how many more people died. The final number could be 80. It could be 100. It might be more. It might be less.

Mayor LaToya Cantrell, who initially agreed to an interview to discuss the issue, instead issued a statement saying her administration is dedicated to “finding inclusive and responsible ways to address homelessness.”

The mayor “took an interest in the report put together in prior years,” Communications Director Beau Tidwell said in reference to Miller and Burchfield’s work. “As mayor, she would certainly consider instituting an official annual accounting of homeless deaths. Our health department will be evaluating best practices from other cities.”

The article makes an effort to show that other cities do work like this. It also suggests that Cantrell's commitment to it wavered after she moved from City Council to the mayor's office.  But neither she nor anyone interviewed here provides an explanation as to why.  There must be something we aren't hearing.