State bill would limit Mayor LaToya Cantrell's power over New Orleans' public housing

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Mayor LaToya Cantrell is facing yet another challenge to her power over city agencies under a bill filed in the state Legislature that would diminish her oversight of New Orleans' public housing authority in favor of the City Council.

The mayor currently has the authority to select all nine commissioners that oversee the Housing Authority of New Orleans — a state-chartered agency that administers federal funding for public and income-restricted housing.

The bill, HB643, proposed by state Rep. Jason Hughes, D-New Orleans, would make changes to the size of the board, give the City Council some board seats and make all of the mayoral appointments subject to City Council approval.

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Specifically, the number of board members would drop from nine to seven; New Orleans' two at-large City Council members would appoint two of the commissioners; and the other five commissioners would be appointed by the mayor, but would be subject to confirmation by the council.

The council would also approve the hiring of the executive director of the housing authority, a process currently handled exclusively by the board.

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