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Wednesday, May 01, 2013

He said? Or maybe she said? Could be nobody said.

Today Mitch Landrieu vetoed the new Food Truck ordinance, mostly because this vitally important issue hasn't been in the headlines nearly enough already. But also for some other reasons which he stated here.
In a letter to the City Council clerk Peggy Lewis, Landrieu said he was concerned parts of the law might be unconstitutional. The letter states the ordinance's author, who is Councilwoman Stacy Head, and the reforms' "principal proponent" acknowledged that the law was unconstitutional. Additionally, the City Attorney indicated to the mayor that the law wouldn't pass a legal challenge, the letter states.
Except the City Attorney says (well Stacy Head's office says he says) he indicated no such thing


Head said she contacted City Attorney Richard Cortizas who told her he never expressed such a concern to the mayor.

“The city attorney’s office had absolutely not told the mayor there was a need to change the law because of possible litigation,” Head said.
But then, Cortizas is pretty much on coast this week, anyway, so maybe he isn't remembering hard enough.
NEW ORLEANS – City attorney Richard Cortizas will step down next week, after serving nearly three years in Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s administration, City Hall announced Friday.

According to a city statement, Cortizas’ last day will be May 3.  The city says Cortizas will pursue family business interests and take a position with the city’s largest law firm, Jones Walker.

Sharonda Williams, who serves as Chief Deputy City Attorney for Litigation, will be promoted to City Attorney, the mayor’s office said.
Maybe Mitch is saying the incoming City Attorney thinks the food truck law has constitutional issues. Did anyone ask her?   Also, what did we ever find out what Cortizas' reason for leaving is in the first place? Surely it isn't over something as silly as food trucks.

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