When Good Trouble Becomes Bad News
By Dr. Kyshun Webster, Sr.
New Orleans has endured political dysfunction for decades.
However, the Audubon Nature Institute’s decision to elevate Gilbert Montaño into a senior executive role crosses a dangerous line.
The move normalizes failure.
It also weakens public accountability.
Montaño previously served as Chief Administrative Officer for the City of New Orleans. Audubon now reportedly pays him more than $400,000 annually. The appointment came only months after the city confronted a severe budget crisis that developed under his leadership.
On November 25, Mayor-elect Helena Moreno addressed the crisis publicly. She described the fiscal breakdown as “incompetence” that “comes close” to criminal malfeasance. No court has issued a criminal finding. Still, her words reflected the seriousness of the failure.
Audubon made its decision anyway.
Experience Does Not Replace Results
Audubon leaders defended the hire by citing Montaño’s experience in government operations and finance. Experience alone does not justify promotion.
Results matter.
Under Montaño’s tenure, New Orleans moved from a projected surplus to a massive deficit. City leaders imposed furloughs. Departments reduced services. State officials stepped in to stabilize the situation.
City residents absorbed the consequences.
Leadership avoided them.
Audubon has not explained how it evaluated Montaño’s performance or mitigated the risks associated with his record. That silence undermines public confidence.
So does the absence of criticism from familiar civic watchdogs. Where is David Hammer? Rafeal Goyeneche? Many who routinely weigh in on public accountability have remained quiet. Their silence raises questions about who receives scrutiny—and who escapes it.
Public Money Creates Public Obligations
Audubon Nature Institute does not operate as a private corporation. Voters fund the organization through dedicated millages and public bond support. That relationship imposes real obligations.
Audubon must act transparently.
It must steward public dollars responsibly.
It must earn public trust continuously.
Recent actions have strained that trust.
Audubon recently announced a sharp increase in membership prices. Family passes nearly doubled overnight. Families responded immediately. Many expressed frustration and disappointment.
Audubon paused membership sales after public backlash. However, the damage lingered.
The optics proved difficult to ignore. Audubon cited financial necessity while paying top executives extraordinary salaries and hiring a leader associated with fiscal instability.
A Pattern Demands Attention
Montaño’s record does not raise concerns in New Orleans alone. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, critics also challenged his leadership. Reports documented financial management issues and organizational disruption.
These facts appear in the public record.
They do not rely on rumor or speculation.
Two cities raised alarms.
Now a third institution assumes the risk.
Audubon has not explained what due diligence it conducted before assigning Montaño significant operational and financial authority. The public deserves that explanation.
Related: Montano’s Money Mess
Leadership Requires Judgment
Audubon CEO Michael Sawaya bears responsibility for this decision. Leadership requires judgment, not loyalty. It demands protection of the institution and respect for the public.
By continuing Montaño’s employment without explanation, Audubon sends a troubling message. The decision suggests that documented failures do not disqualify leaders. It also signals that accountability depends on professional relationships.
Audubon can still correct course. The organization can address concerns directly. Leaders can acknowledge risk, describe safeguards, and demonstrate fiscal discipline.
Public institutions must meet that standard.
Trust Determines the Future
This issue does not revolve around punishment.
It revolves around trust.
Voters approved Audubon millages because they expected careful stewardship of public funds. When institutions ignore past failures, trust erodes.
Residents will remember these choices.
They will remember them during future millage votes.
New Orleans residents do not demand perfection. They demand honesty, competence, and accountability—especially when public money supports leadership decisions.
Accountability loses meaning when leaders delay it.
Audubon still holds the power to act.
Its next steps will shape not only the next headline, but the public’s long-term confidence in the institution itself.