City Hall

A White Southerner Confronts History

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It’s New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s last day in office. He spoke to Chris Riback while he was still packing up his office. They talked about why he removed statues from his city that honored the Confederacy, his new book, and of course the question many have for him: Are you running for president?

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Inside One of America’s Ugliest Political Feuds

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New York Times: “The idea of Mr. de Blasio and Mr. Cuomo ever collaborating on anything seems almost unfathomable nearly 16 years later. The two Democrats are now engaged in a feud so nasty, petty and prolonged that even in the cutthroat politics of New York, few can remember ever seeing anything quite like it. The two men have sparred over substance, silliness and everything in between: public housing and private workout routines, homelessness and topless women in Times Square, taxing millionaires and euthanizing a deer, a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak and state troop deployments, schools, snowstorms and the subways — even naps.”

Garcetti Holds Up Los Angeles as Example for Nation

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“Mayor Eric Garcetti, fresh off a trip to Iowa to test the waters for a presidential run, delivered a State of the City address Monday that billed Los Angeles as a thriving, progressive metropolis that has hiked the minimum wage, snagged the Olympics, invested in its subway system and is tackling big issues such as climate change and gun violence,” the Los Angeles Times reports.

Said Garcetti: “‘I want to say to anyone who wants to understand who Americans are: Don’t look to D.C. — come to L.A.”

Anchorage’s Vote-By-Mail Shatters Turnout Record

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“Turnout in Anchorage’s first vote-by-mail election was the highest in the city’s history, buoyed by a wave of last-minute votes,” the Alaska Dispatch News reports.

“About 80,000 ballots had been received by elections officials at the end of the day Wednesday. More were still on the way. Until now, the most ballots the city had ever received in a local race was 71,099 votes in 2012.”

Nashville Mayor Pleads Guilty to Felony Charge

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Nashville Mayor Megan Barry (D) “resigned and pleaded guilty to a felony theft charge, a month after the rising Democratic star admitted to an affair with her bodyguard,” the AP reports.

“In court, Barry didn’t say how she stole money from the city, but an investigation found that she was engaged in her relationship with her bodyguard while on city-paid trips. Authorities also found a nude photo and partially nude photo of a woman that were taken while her bodyguard, Sgt. Robert Forrest, was on duty.”

Tennessean: “As part of her plea deal, Barry was sentenced to three years of probation and has agreed to reimburse the city $11,000 in unlawful expenses. “

Nashville Mayor’s Phone Seized

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“The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says it has obtained nude photos of a woman taken on the phone of former Sgt. Rob Forrest, evidence that investigators believe shows Nashville Mayor Megan Barry (D) engaged in an affair with her former bodyguard while he was on duty,” the Tennessean reports.

“The photos are referenced in an affidavit in support of a search warrant that Nashville Judge Steve Dozier signed Tuesday seeking access to the contents of Barry’s cellphone… Documents show the TBI obtained a search warrant and took possession of Barry’s phone Friday. The mayor and her attorney have refused to share the passcode to unlock it.”

Barry Hired Daughter of Man With Whom She Had Affair

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“Within months of taking office, Mayor Megan Barry (D) recommended the adult daughter of the head of her security detail — the man with whom she later admitted to having an affair — be hired for a job in the city’s legal department,” the Tennessean reports.

“The daughter got the job. The position as an entry-level city attorney was the first newly created job in Nashville’s legal department in two years. It was not part of the existing budget. Barry approved the new job opening. No other candidate was considered.”

Nashville Mayor Admits Affair

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Nashville Mayor Megan Barry (D) told the Tennessean that “she had an extramarital affair with the police officer in charge of her security detail, an extraordinary admission that rocks the popular Nashville mayor’s first term.”

“During the interview, Barry hesitated when asked whether she plans to resign, but said she will not, despite rumors swirling Wednesday that she might step down.”

Atlanta Mayor’s Race Heads to a Recount

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“For the second time in eight years, the mayoralty of the South’s most influential city is likely to head to a recount,” the New York Times reports.

“Fewer than 800 votes separated Keisha Lance Bottoms and Mary Norwood after local officials tallied more than 92,000 ballots that were cast in a runoff election on Tuesday, according to unofficial returns. The margin was narrow enough that Ms. Norwood, seeking to become Atlanta’s first white mayor in more than 40 years, said she would ask for a recount.”

“But Ms. Bottoms and her allies declared victory early Wednesday.”

De Blasio Once Had Warm Relationship with Kushner

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“Long before Mayor Bill de Blasio started to define New York City as the nexus of anti-Donald Trump sentiment, the mayor and other senior officials in his administration maintained friendly relations with the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and his daughter, Ivanka Trump, emails obtained through a Freedom of Information request show,” Politico reports.

“The emails, spanning from de Blasio’s first year in office in 2014 through the spring of 2017, show de Blasio’s occasionally fawning overtures to Kushner and others in the Trump Organization in the weeks after the 2016 election.”

Seattle Mayor Resigns After 5th Child Molestation Claim

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Seattle Mayor Ed Murray (D) resigned, “just hours after new allegations that he sexually abused a younger cousin decades ago in New York,” the Seattle Times reports.

Said Murray: “While the allegations against me are not true, it is important that my personal issues do not affect the ability of our City government to conduct the public’s business.”

“Murray ended his re-election bid earlier this year because of the scandal, but had staved off calls for his resignation before his term is completed this year.”

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: “For months, Murray has faced allegations that he sexually abused homeless boys he encountered decades ago. On Tuesday, Murray’s cousin Joseph Dyer levied similar allegations, saying he felt moved to act because of Murray’s treatment of his accusers.”