Turnover at New Orleans Public Belt Railroad

At the request of New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, two members of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad board have submitted letters of resignation. At least least three other board members reportedly have given verbal commitments to stepping down in the wake of reports of excessive spending by the agency.

The resignations of cement company president Arnold Baker and finance firm owner Tina Owen came after the departure Monday of General Manger Jim Bridger, whose spending habits were questioned by the state auditor. Mayor Landrieu said Walter Chappell, Roy Mack, and Paul Wegener have indicated they also will resign.

At a news conference Wednesday, Landrieu asked all 14 members of the Public Belt’s board of commissioners to step down. As mayor, Landrieu serves as the board’s president; two board seats have been vacant since he took office in May.

“I have determined as a result of reviewing that audit that it is in the best interest of the public to start with an absolute clean slate at the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad,” he said.

The railroad’s website describes the railroad as “both a political subdivision of the State of Louisiana and an unattached commission of the City of New Orleans. It is not a department of the City or State, but rather a separate, autonomous (or self-governing) juridical entity.”