Mayor
Landrieu Encouraged to Change Course, Protect Critical Funds, and Improve
Public Safety
BATON ROUGE, LA – Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry is once again offering
his office’s assistance to New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu in an effort to
protect critical federal funding for the City from the United States Department
of Justice (USDOJ).
“My
office stands ready and available to work with your legal counsel in drafting a
policy that conforms to federal law and ensures continued financial support by
the USDOJ,” wrote General Landry in a letter today to Landrieu. “The safety of
citizens who live, work, and visit New Orleans is too important to ignore.”
General
Landry’s offer to help comes hours after the USDOJ issued their final warning to New Orleans regarding its sanctuary city
policy, stating they must be in compliance with federal immigration law or lose
federal funding. As he has done for over a year, the Attorney General
emphasized that the Mayor’s disregard for the law jeopardizes grants from the
USDOJ and other government agencies. The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD)
has received millions of taxpayer dollars over the past few years.
“The
most recent letter from our U.S. Attorney General should make it clear to you
that the Trump Administration and the USDOJ will use all means necessary to
uphold the rule of law,” continued General Landry. “Your requirement for NOPD
officers to obey your own personal political objectives, rather than federal
law, is illegal.”
With
a violent crime epidemic sweeping the city, General Landry once again
encouraged Mayor Landrieu to abandon political aspirations that “not only
hamper public safety but also now jeopardize crucial public safety funding.”
“I am once again reaching out to you and offering the assistance
of my office to help mitigate this issue for the citizens of New Orleans,”
concluded General Landry. “I urge you to accept our assistance. Change course,
protect critical funds, and improve public safety.”
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A full copy of Landry’s letter to Landrieu may be found at http://www.agjefflandry.com/Home/GetRelatedFile?articleId=2688.