Political Corruption and Governance Issues

History of the Challenge

New Orleans has a long history of political corruption, mismanagement, and government inefficiency that has impacted public trust, economic development, and infrastructure projects. Corruption scandals have plagued both local and state governments for decades.

Key historical moments contributing to corruption and governance issues:

• Reconstruction-Era Political Corruption (1860s–1900s): After the Civil War, New Orleans saw fraudulent elections, bribery, and patronage politics, often benefiting wealthy elites while disenfranchising Black voters.
• The Long Political Machine (1920s–1960s): Louisiana was dominated by political figures like Huey Long and his family, who built a powerful, but corrupt political empire known for bribery and favoritism.
• Corruption in Infrastructure & Public Works (1960s–1990s): City officials embezzled millions from public projects, including the Sewerage & Water Board and police department scandals.
• Hurricane Katrina Response Failure (2005): Government mismanagement, fraudulent contracts, and slow recovery efforts caused widespread distrust.
• Recent Corruption Scandals (2010s–Present): Multiple city officials, including former Mayor Ray Nagin (convicted in 2014 for bribery), have been involved in corruption cases related to contracts and misuse of funds.

How We Got to the Present Moment

Corruption and poor governance in New Orleans persist due to:

1. Weak Accountability & Oversight: A lack of transparency in government contracting leads to misuse of public funds.
2. Nepotism & Patronage Politics: Many city contracts and government positions are awarded based on political connections rather than merit.
3. Election Manipulation & Voter Suppression: Political machines have historically controlled elections through fraud and intimidation.
4. Poor Public Services Due to Mismanagement: Infrastructure projects are often delayed or abandoned due to corruption and inefficiency.
5. Distrust in Government: Public confidence in city leadership is low, making civic engagement and reform efforts more difficult.

Current Data on the Issue

• Louisiana Corruption Ranking: Ranked 5th most corrupt state in the U.S. (based on public officials convicted per capita).
• Public Trust in Government: Only 32% of residents trust local officials to act in their best interest.
• Fraud & Mismanagement: Over $1 billion in federal funds for post-Katrina recovery mismanaged or lost to fraud.
• Transparency Issues: Only 2 out of 10 public contracts are subject to independent audits.

Possible Solutions

Increasing Government Transparency & Oversight

1. Strengthen Independent Audits
• Require third-party audits for all major city contracts and infrastructure projects.
• Increase funding for state and local watchdog agencies.
2. Improve Public Access to Government Records
• Mandate real-time online access to city budgets, contracts, and campaign donations.
• Enforce strict open records laws to allow journalists and citizens to track spending.

Political & Election Reform

1. Implement Stronger Anti-Corruption Laws
• Increase penalties for bribery and kickbacks in government contracts.
• Establish whistleblower protection programs for public employees.
2. Expand Voter Participation & Election Security
• Strengthen automatic voter registration to prevent manipulation.
• Increase independent oversight of elections to ensure fairness.

Improving Public Service Delivery & Budgeting

1. Reform Public Contracting & City Spending
• Introduce competitive bidding for city contracts to eliminate favoritism.
• Require regular financial reporting on how taxpayer money is spent.
2. Create Citizen Oversight Boards
• Establish community-based commissions to review public spending and governance.
• Allow residents to directly vote on key spending initiatives (participatory budgeting).

Organizations Actively Working on These Solutions

1. Bureau of Governmental Research (BGR)
• Conducts independent research on city budgeting and policy transparency.
• Website: www.bgr.org
2. Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana (PAR)
• Advocates for government transparency and accountability reforms.
• Website: www.parlouisiana.org
3. Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office
• Investigates fraud, waste, and mismanagement in state and local government.
• Website: www.lla.la.gov
4. New Orleans Ethics Review Board
• Ensures ethical conduct in city government and investigates corruption cases.
• Website: www.nolaethics.org
5. Common Cause Louisiana
• Works on voter rights, campaign finance reform, and government accountability.
• Website: www.commoncause.org/louisiana
6. The Lens – Investigative Journalism
• A nonprofit news organization focused on exposing corruption and waste in New Orleans.
• Website: www.thelensnola.org
7. New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission (MCC)
• Investigates government fraud and collaborates with law enforcement to fight corruption.
• Website: www.metrocrime.org
8. League of Women Voters of New Orleans
• Works on election transparency and civic engagement.
• Website: www.lwvno.org
9. Sunshine Review Louisiana
• Advocates for public records access and government transparency.
• Website: www.ballotpedia.org/Louisiana_transparency
10. Together Louisiana

• A coalition working to hold officials accountable for fair taxation and ethical governance.
• Website: www.togetherla.org

Outside Success Stories

1. Stockholm, Sweden – Transparent Government & Anti-Corruption Laws
• What Worked: Stockholm implemented strict transparency laws & digital monitoring to track government spending.
• Lesson for New Orleans: Adopting real-time public accountability tools can reduce corruption.
2. Portland, OR – Citizen-Led Budgeting
• What Worked: Portland created participatory budgeting programs where residents help allocate city funds.
• Lesson for New Orleans: Engaging residents in budget decisions can improve trust and transparency.

On this page

• Political Corruption and Governance Issues
• History of the Challenge
• How We Got to the Present Moment
• Current Data on the Issue
• Possible Solutions
• Increasing Government Transparency & Oversight
• Political & Election Reform
• Improving Public Service Delivery & Budgeting
• Organizations Actively Working on These Solutions
• Outside Success Stories