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JEFFERSON PARISH, La. (WVUE) – Learning that New Orleans’ Krewe of Culinary Queens will not be riding the West Bank route this year leaves questions about parade funding.
Jefferson Parish City Councilman Byron Lee proposed that the parish donate $30,000 to the Krewe to help offset some of the costs associated with the parade.
The culinary queens of New Orleans were more than two weeks past the deadline to secure all the funding needed for the Feb. 6 event.
Still, Councilman Lee proposed funding. This practice is not new, but the crew’s captain, Acacia Lee Nicholas, is the niece of Councilman Lee.
The deal does not constitute a conflict of interest, according to state ethics rules.
Dr. Robert Collins, a political analyst at Dillard University, says it’s all about transparency.
“And yet, if this person is related to you, the average taxpayer will say, ‘Well, wait a minute, is there some nepotism going on?’ Did they receive the same treatment as other citizens? ” Collins said.
Superintendent Kim Raines Chatelain said city council members twice suggested the parish provide $30,000 to Crews. In 2023, this resolution was revoked before it could be approved.
“Whenever a situation like this comes on our radar, we stay on our toes,” Raines Chatelain said. “Whether people agree with it or not, this was definitely within the realm of ‘acceptable.’
This year, the resolution was approved by Congress, but the parade canceled the ride and the contract was voided.
“For the last two years, two seasons, things that could have happened didn’t happen,” Raines Chatelain said.
carnival authority
Two city council members FOX 8 spoke with said they had no knowledge that Councilman Lee had a relationship with the captain.
“Parish councils have a duty to taxpayers to investigate the individuals and organizations that receive public money,” Mr Collins said.
The City Council member who voted to approve the proposed funding was Acacia Lee Nicholas, who was serving federal prison after pleading guilty in 2009 to conspiracy to commit health care fraud related to another entity she owned. It is unclear whether he was aware of this.
“We pay attention whenever a diocese contributes public funds to a nonprofit organization under a cooperative effort agreement,” Raines Chatelain said.
A search of the Secretary of State’s online dashboard shows that Culinary Queens of New Orleans LLC does not have a good relationship with the state. Another search for the Krewe acronym, Krewe of TCQNO INC., tells a different story.
“The organization that was trying to contract with the diocese is actually in good shape,” Raines Chatelain said. “The people should know that.”
While the case was legally and ethically acceptable in the state’s eyes, the inspector general said it reiterated the importance of strong processes and strong controls.
“Enough facts are out there so that people have the information to know that they are making informed decisions. So transparency is key,” Raines Chatelain said. . “That’s important, but it’s also important that decision makers have the information they need to make good decisions.”
Councilman Lee told FOX 8 that each of the three parades scheduled in his district requested parish funds to offset marching band costs and other related costs.
He said funding for the Nandi organization is expected to be approved in early February. He reiterated that the Crew of Culinary Queens has never received any money from the district.
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