A Power Grab Disguised as Reform
The New Orleans City Council, led by Council President JP Morrell, has launched a Trumpian-style power grab to weaken Mayor LaToya Cantrell.
Morrell has long been the Mayor’s nemesis. No matter what she does, he attacks. Vice President Helena Moreno often joins him.
Who can forget the travel ban or his interference in awarding professional services contracts?
Ordinances That Violate the Charter
Now, in an effort to rewrite the city’s governing structure, Morrell has pushed ordinances that violate the Home Rule Charter. His goal is simple: strip power from the Mayor and hand it to the Council.
The Home Rule Charter clearly defines a strong mayor-council system. The Council writes laws. The Mayor runs the city. Period.
But Morrell ignores this. He authored Ordinance #29676, which gives the Council power to approve or deny contracts over $1 million or lasting more than one year.
Contracts Targeted Without Cause
Sounds fair? Not when you realize how he weaponized it.
Attorney Charles Rice received a $75,000 legal services contract. Henry Consulting, LLC won a $73 million, 7-year trash collection contract. Both went through legal RFP processes. Still, Morrell opposed both.
He criticized Henry Consulting for securing a 50% performance bond instead of 100%.
“The performance bond is an insurance policy to ensure the company does its job,” said Henry in an interview. “A new mayor could cancel the contract in 90 days, and the bond would be gone. Those who didn’t negotiate a reduced bond just didn’t negotiate.”
The Courts Strike Back
Cantrell, Rice, and Henry sued the New Orleans City Council. They won.
Judge Jennifer Medley declared Ordinance #29676 “NULL, VOID, AND ILLEGAL” under the Home Rule Charter. The court upheld the Mayor’s executive authority and the current structure of New Orleans city government.
Morrell’s clearly illegal moves delayed both contracts. So Cantrell had to hire a temporary garbage company.
IV Waste Enters the Picture
IV Waste, owned by Sidney Torres IV, won the temporary contract. It runs until July 31. Cantrell has given a 90-day notice. Henry Consulting takes over August 1.
Despite a litany of lawsuits and critics everywhere IV Waste has been, Morrell doesn’t have anything bad to say about IV Waste. Instead, he attacked Cantrell for ending their contract. He accused her of staging a crisis to force approval of Henry Consulting’s deal.
Still, Morrell never sued over the IV Waste contract. If he thought it was invalid, why not challenge it in court?
District C Councilmember Freddie King also wants IV Waste to stay. Morrell and King claimed the temporary deal was invalid because the Council didn’t approve it.
Double Standards and Overlooked Histories
So which is it, JP? If both contracts are invalid, who was supposed to pick up the trash during Mardi Gras and the Super Bowl?
Morrell claimed no one vetted Henry Consulting’s “bona fides.” Did he check Torres’s?
In Kenner, IV Waste fought lawsuits and accusations of overbilling and underpaying. Mayor Michael Glaser and Torres exchanged public barbs. Torres told Fox 8, “They’re just not honest, and we can’t work with them.” But the Mayor of Kenner called Torres a public menace with criminal intentions.
“He’s a menace who fraudulently overbilled Kenner with no intentions of stopping”
But Morrell didn’t raise these concerns. Why not?
And Kenner isn’t the only place where IV Waste left a trail of problems.
In 2017, IV Waste abruptly ended its trash pickup contract with Jefferson Parish, leading to public frustration and service delays. Parish officials said they were blindsided by the decision. Source: The Advocate
In 2020, the City of Kenner accused IV Waste of billing for services it didn’t provide and failing to meet performance expectations. That battle led to multiple lawsuits. Source: Fox 8 Live
In each case, complaints ranged from inconsistent service to a full blown legal conflict. Yet Morrell stayed silent on IV Waste’s history while aggressively questioning Henry Consulting. Why?
Morrell’s Pattern of Power Plays
His supporters claim he’s protecting the city. Maybe. But his actions tell a different story.
Morrell, a Democrat, seems to mimic Donald Trump. Trump issued unconstitutional executive orders. Morrell passes illegal ordinances. Both ignore the courts.
Even after two court losses, Morrell may appeal to the Louisiana Supreme Court.
If he loses again, will he comply? Or will he defy the ruling, just like Trump?
Either way, JP Morrell has shown that legality, accountability, and city services are secondary to his political ambition.
Somebody strong please run against and beat JP. We deserve better than this guy.
JP wants to be in charge. But that stupid superman thing makes him look childish. Silly. Nobody likes him. He is Mr. No.