re: What will be the response from Nawlins regarding the statues?

You're correct. Removing these statues will not do anything to correct the ills of the past. Nor will it benefit anyone going forward. Removing them does cost money, not sure maybe it was privately donated. Most of all, removing them was another reminder to blacks that they were once oppressed, just in case they forgot. I'd bet my house that 90% of the city didn't know anything about these statues except for Lee Circle before Mitch made it an issue. But leave it to Mitch to make sure blacks are reminded of their oppression.