NEW ORLEANS, LA – In a desperate attempt to cover mounting tax delinquencies tied to New Orleans’ tallest towers, city officials announced plans this week to auction off Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s extensive collection of Delta SkyMiles.
According to the City’s Finance Department, Cantrell accumulated over 1.3 million miles during her tenure, enough to fund “at least two months of downtown air conditioning or one City Council retreat to Atlanta.” The move comes as the Hancock Whitney Tower faces foreclosure, joining a growing list of downtown properties now worth less than the mayor’s travel budget.
Officials say the auction will open to the public tomorrow at noon, inviting anyone with a valid ID and questionable priorities to bid. City leaders claim the move demonstrates “fiscal creativity,” though critics argue it’s just the first step toward listing City Hall itself on eBay.
If successful, city officials hinted they may next explore auctioning Cantrell’s hotel loyalty points, which reportedly total enough to remodel the entire Superdome.
