NEW ORLEANS —

With a massive budget deficit hanging over the city, the Cantrell administration is being widely criticized for not sounding the alarm and alerting the council or public about a $160 million hole.

As recently as last July, Mayor LaToya Cantrell was claiming the city had money. Advertisement

"He and other city leaders helped maintain a financial position, bond rating, a reserve," Cantrell said on July 30, when Chief Administrative Officer Gilbert Montano stepped down.

The mayor said "a reserve" to indicate a fund balance and no financial crisis.

But 70 days later, the city's finances are bad.

No reserve, but a deficit and a lot of finger-pointing.

"Do people in New Orleans get frustrated when they see something like this?" asked WDSU's Travers Mackel.

"People have bee

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