New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell went
on CNN to explain why she let her guard down and did not start putting
in place measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Cantrell, following in the footsteps of a
long line of Dems who refuse to take responsibility for their actions,
didn’t miss a beat and blamed Trump.
As it turns out, the evidence is
starting to show that Mardi Gras helped spread the virus so Wolf Blitzer
asked her why she made the decisions or lack of decisions that she
did. (See Video Below.)
She said her city was given “no red flag” from Homeland Security, FBI or the CDC to cancel the Mardi Gras.
She then tried to say those agencies follow the “response of our national leader.”
Nice. Mardi Gras this year was Feb 25th.
We had evidence this would get bad but we also probably didn’t have
enough evidence to shut down the world-famous New Orleans Mardi Gras
celebration.
Whoever made that call, whether it was her or Trump would have been crucified in the media.
She ought not blame Trump, just say the
truth – we were all unprepared and now we will work together. Why is
that so hard for the Democrats?
Transcript from Breitbart:
Anchor Wolf Blitzer said, “Experts
say, Mayor, that the Mardi Gras celebrations at the end of February in
New Orleans may have actually played a role in accelerating the spread
of this virus. More than a million people came to your beautiful city at
the time. We are showing some video of that right now. At the time,
Mayor, did you have any guidance from health experts on the potential
risk of coronavirus?”
Cantrell answered, “Well, you know
that the city of New Orleans as it relates to Mardi Gras, we plan Mardi
Gras as a year-long effort. Around a part of our unified command is the
federal government. Homeland Security, as well as the FBI. So in
reaching out, meaning my health directors and public safety officials,
every step of the way consulted with federal partners as well as the CDC
in reference to COVID-19.”
She continued, “The federal
government did not issue any red flags and, therefore, we moved forward
with federal agents being a part of our unified command on the ground.
And with the first time the city of New Orleans for Mardi Gras, we’re at
a rating that was an improvement given to us by the federal government.
So every step of the way, the federal government has been partners with
us with Mardi Gras. No red flags were given. So absolutely, we moved
forward.”
Blitzer said, “Yeah, you certainly
did. I’ll ask you the same question I asked your governor yesterday with
hindsight. We are all obviously a lot smarter with hindsight. Do you
think Mardi Gras could or should have been closed this year?”
Cantrell said, “Well, if red flags
were given at the federal level, leadership matters. So while I was the
first in the state of Louisiana to stop social gatherings, I had to
cancel the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. All hell broke loose when I did
that. It was necessary, giving the data, allowing science to lead us. It
does matter. We rely on the facts to make decisions for the people that
we serve. Given no red flags, we moved forward. In hindsight, if we
were given clear direction, we would not have had Mardi Gras, and I
would have been the leader to cancel.”
Blitzer said, “I know, I guess
reports are within a week or two after Mardi Gras, all of a sudden the
cases started emerging in Louisiana. Obviously, that’s very disturbing.”
He asked, “You are saying no one
from the federal government came to you and urged you to at least can
sell or postpone Mardi Gras?”
Cantrell responded, “That’s
absolutely correct. And not only that, it was backed up with the
response of our national leader. When it’s not taken seriously at the
federal level, it’s very difficult to transcend down to the local level
in making these decisions. But when the experts told me that social
gatherings would be an issue, I moved forward with canceling them, as
well as St. Patrick’s Day parade, as well as our Super Sunday, where our
Mardi Gras Indian’s parade, the suits that they’ve made, all year long,
so this is something that not only concerns us, but it sets the tone
for how leadership matters at every level of government in the United
States of America, where mayors on the front line.”
