NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell held her weekly news conference on Wednesday, Sept. 6 to discuss a number of subjects including a fallen oak tree, extreme heat, short-term rental lottery and public safety.

She began by discussing the latest public safety statistics, stating that in comparison to the 2022 numbers, there continues to be visible progress made.

Cantrell said crimes against persons are down 18%, murders are down 22%, armed robberies are down 30%, non-fatal shootings are down 16% and carjackings are down 43%.

Cantrell credited NOPD’s faster response time to the crimes to the Mobile Crisis Intervention Unit. The new dispatch line was put into action on June 1 and used to serve residents suffering from mental crises and limit the use of NOPD resources to respond to non-criminal related calls.

“625 calls since its launch. Representing 29% of all mental health-related calls to 911. This demonstrates, in a very real way, the resources that the City of New Orleans not only received but that we deployed are being utilized effectively,” said Cantrell.

The discussion topic of extreme heat in regard to the recently fallen oak tree on Carrollton Avenue and Spruce Street. Cantrell noted extreme heat being the cause of its collapse, but also mentioned the tree was relatively healthy.

“It is very important to reiterate that the tree on South Carrollton Avenue, was a healthy live oak tree in the City of New Orleans recently visited by an arborist and inspected. But because of climate adaptation, all living creatures are filling it. So, we must pay attention,” said Cantrell.

Watch the full conference in the video player at the top of this story.

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