“New Orleans thinks they’re so special …” -Gov. Jeff Landry

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Amid an ongoing power struggle between state Republicans and New Orleans Democrats, Gov. Jeff Landry said New Orleans is no longer as important to Louisiana’s economic success as it has been in the past.

“Used to be, the saying was, ‘Where goes New Orleans, where goes the state.’ Let me tell you what happened today. That has changed, ” Landry said Monday after a press conference announcing the expansion of an enormous Meta data center project in northeast Louisiana.

“Where goes Louisiana will determine the fate of New Orleans, okay?” the GOP governor said.

Landry’s remarks about New Orleans – the largest Democratic stronghold in Republican Louisiana – come after almost two weeks of feuding between the city’s leaders, the governor and Republican Attorney General Liz Murrill, Landry’s closest political ally.

A New Orleans grand jury indicted Murrill shortly before the July 4 holiday over allegations of malfeasance in office and intimidation of New Orleans elected officials.

Since the charges were handed down, the Louisiana Supreme Court has recalled an arrest warrant issued for Murrill. Landry has also made several statements criticizing New Orleans and helped block state approval of a loan the city was planning to take out.

“New Orleans thinks they’re so special …” Landry said Monday. “That parish is going to operate exactly like the rest of this state, and the people of this state want that.”

New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno responded to Landry’s comments by describing New Orleans as Louisiana’s “largest economic engine” that generates tax dollars for communities across the state.

“The focus should always be to strive for every city, every town, and every parish to reach their fullest potential. We are all Louisiana after all,” she said in a written statement Monday.

Moreno, a Democrat, asked to meet one-on-one with Landry, but the governor has shunned the mayor so far. On Monday, he said he would only meet with Moreno once “she understands that they have to get their fiscal house in order.”

Moreno responded in her written statement by saying: “We’re stronger together. My door remains open.”

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The Louisiana Department of Revenue tax collection report for the 2024-2025 state fiscal year, the latest data available, shows the New Orleans region was still the powerhouse generator of tax revenue that year.

The New Orleans suburb of Jefferson Parish and Orleans itself were two of the three parishes with the highest gross state sales and income taxes that cycle. The third was East Baton Rouge.

Orleans is also still the third largest parish in terms of population, behind Jefferson and East Baton Rouge.

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