Mayor-elect Helena Moreno aims to overhaul City Hall in first 100 days
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Helena Moreno is already getting to work as New Orleans' mayor-elect.
Why it matters: She has a long to-do list if she's going to follow through on her campaign promises.
The big picture: Moreno says she's putting together her transition team now so they can work with Mayor LaToya Cantrell's administration before the Jan. 12 inauguration.
- They'll announce the leadership "in the coming days" and form committees for critical issues, her campaign said Monday.
- They also launched NewDirectionNOLA.com, which will have updates and job postings. Residents can also share input there.
Meanwhile, Moreno's still vice president of City Council and says her priority is getting the budget sorted out.
- The city faces an estimated $100 million deficit this year with more revenue shortfalls next year.
- Cantrell earlier this month proposed a 30% across-the-board cut to all city agencies, along with a 0.5% sales tax increase to help turn things around.
The latest: City leaders appear before City Council starting Tuesday to make their budget proposals. See the schedule.
- Members are expected to approve the final budget by Dec. 1.

Zoom out: Moreno tells Axios she'll spend her first 100 days "fixing City Hall" — hiring top talent, solving the "safety and permits mess" and ensuring coordination — so New Orleanians "get the basic services they deserve."
- She plans to restructure city departments, she told reporters at her victory party Saturday.
- She wants to "boost" some, like economic development and public works, and "diminish" others she says are underperforming. She didn't specify which ones.
- She plans to create an infrastructure operations center to coordinate drainage, water and roadwork citywide.
- She also told Axios' Chelsea Brasted that she wants to re-evaluate operations the city outsources to see what can be done in-house.
What'x next: It's common for mayors to bring in their own leadership team.
- Moreno told Verite she will keep the city's chief health officer, Jennifer Avegno.
- It's likely she'll also keep NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick, whom Moreno supported during the confirmation process. The chief also has a high public approval rating.
What we're watching: It remains to be seen what kind of working relationship Moreno will foster with Gov. Jeff Landry.
- Landry is focused on reforms in New Orleans and asked President Trump to deploy the National Guard in the city and elsewhere in the state.
- Moreno previously said she'll fight "any federal takeover."
- Landry congratulated Moreno after her win.
Interesting tidbit: Moreno is the city's first Latina mayor and the second woman.
- She's also the second consecutive transplant elected mayor. While Cantrell grew up in California, Moreno was raised in Mexico and then Texas, according to WWNO.
- She moved to New Orleans in 2001 for a reporting job with WDSU.

By the numbers: Moreno was elected with 55% of the vote, avoiding a runoff with Councilmember Oliver Thomas or state Sen. Royce Duplessis.
- More than 105,000 residents cast ballots in Saturday's primary, representing 40.1% of registered voters, according to preliminary data from the Louisiana Secretary of State.
- See the full voter breakdown.
The intrigue: Thomas gave up another council term to run for mayor, but he still has his spot until January. Cyndi Nguyen and Jason Hughes face off Nov. 15 for his seat.
- Thomas, in a statement Sunday, congratulated Moreno and said he will hold her "accountable to ensure we all get a seat at the table."
- "No one should be left behind or counted out in the planning of the 'New Direction' we are going in," he said as a nod to her campaign slogan.
- Meanwhile, Duplessis' Senate term ends in 2028.
What's next: Cantrell leaves and Moreno begins Jan. 12.
