Mayor-elect Moreno hung banners at Gallier Hall. Mayor Cantrell had them taken down.

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New Orleans Mayor-elect Helena Moreno's transition team recently hung banners at Gallier Hall to announce her Jan. 12 inauguration -- but staffers pulled them down Wednesday at Mayor LaToya Cantrell's request.

Moreno’s team put up the banners Dec. 8 after the city’s Property Management department approved their placement, a spokesperson for the transition said Wednesday.

But Cantrell later told Moreno’s team to remove the banners, which are paid for with private funds associated with the transition and inauguration, said spokesperson Todd Ragusa. Crews were seen Wednesday morning pulling the banners down.

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Cantrell’s spokesperson Terry Davis said on Wednesday that the mayor's administration respects Moreno’s process for implementing inauguration plans. He said the removal request is part of standard business practices at event venues across New Orleans that call for adding or removing certain elements to accommodate the event.

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In an email Wednesday, Ragusa said the inauguration committee and the City Council do not believe the banners should come down and that it would be irresponsible to use public funds to do so.“Moreno’s inauguration is being approached differently than in the past, with inclusive events that invest back into the city -- from a volunteer day of service improving NORD playgrounds to a free festival for all New Orleanians to celebrate together.”

“She’s more concerned with settling petty scores than doing her actual job,” Council President JP Morrell said of Cantrell on Wednesday. “With the city in a financial crisis, it makes zero sense to waste taxpayer dollars to tear down banners.”

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