Dear Editor,

Jean-Paul Arguello’s Sept. 19 article about the city’s inspector general and ethics review panel overlooked important facts.

Noting the inspector general’s “steadfast” refusal to report new investigations to the city attorney, the article omitted the compelling reason for the request: that investigations can affect city litigation, for which the city attorney is directly responsible.

The article might have questioned the inspector general’s statement that the city attorney “thinks (she) works for the mayor and not the city.”

As reported, the city attorney sought cooperation in city purposes.

The inspector general refused it. In a larger reference to the “corruption that has plagued the city for decades,” the article did not exempt the current administration, which is implicated in no wrongdoing.

Otherwise, a more balanced piece would have reported comment from the city attorney.Thank you for the Maroon’s coverage of important city developments.

Sincerely,

Fred A. Wild III
New Orleans deputy city attorney
(504) 658-9816
[email protected]