Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Farewells topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Outgoing New Orleans City Council members trade thanks, highlight climate work and warn on finances; meeting adjourns unanimously
Summary
Outgoing council members used their final meeting to thank staff and families, highlight climate and utility achievements including expanded community solar and major storm-hardening investments, and express concern about the city’s fiscal outlook; Councilman Thomas moved to adjourn and the body voted 6–0 to adjourn.
Outgoing members of the New Orleans City Council used their final scheduled meeting to exchange farewell remarks highlighting the council’s recent policy work, to thank staff and family members, and to warn about the city’s fiscal outlook before the body voted to adjourn.
Joseph Ignatius, one of the departing members, thanked his wife, family, colleagues and staff and said the council had managed to preserve a civil working environment even amid tough disagreements. "It is not a part time job. It is easily the hardest job I've ever had in my life," Ignatius said, and told colleagues he looked forward to continuing to work with the council as part of the Moreno administration starting Monday.
Council Vice President Moreno used his remarks to summarize several multi-term accomplishments, including emergency responses to the Hard Rock collapse, a municipal cyberattack, the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Ida. He cited policy work on climate and utility regulation, referencing a "renewable clean portfolio standard" and efforts to expand community solar, and noted major infrastructure investments: "the most recent $30,000,000 investment on additional microgrid, to close to $200,000,000 investment in storm hardening," as he described it. Moreno also said he is "incredibly concerned about the financial crisis that we're in. It's something that actually wakes me up in the middle of the night."
Councilman Thomas, the meeting’s other departing member, framed the occasion with a call for civility and collective responsibility. "When the game was over, you line up and you shake hands," Thomas said, praising staff and fellow council members by name and urging support for incoming leadership.
After the remarks, Councilman Thomas moved to adjourn; Councilman Jeruso seconded. The presiding officer directed members to record their votes and reported a 6–0 tally in favor of adjournment. No formal policy votes or new motions were taken at the meeting beyond the adjournment.
The meeting closed with brief informal remarks and appreciation for staff; no further actions or hearings were scheduled during this session.
