NEW ORLEANS – As controversy continues to swirl around Entergy and the company’s push for a power plant in New Orleans East, the company is part sponsor of a holiday parade in the East this weekend.
Jingle on the Boulevard is partially sponsored by the power company, which has been accused of utilizing paid actors in council meetings to take up seats and speak at the podium or holler in support of the power plant. Entergy has denied that it knew about the use of the paid actors and, in fact, has filed suit against Hawthorn, alleging the use of paid actors was not part of Entergy’s deal with the company.
New Orleans City Council member Cyndi Nguyen, who represents New Orleans East, said the company’s sponsorship is not a conflict of interest despite the issues surrounding the company and its proposed power plant.
“No, let me be very clear,” she said. “Entergy issues, the city council is addressing that.”
The event is raising questions about Nguyen’s relationship with Entergy. During the company’s lobbying push for a $210 million gas plant, her non-profit, Vietnamese Initiatives in Economic Training, received at least $37,000 from the utility company in the form of a community grant.
Entergy has relied in the past on community partners for help. A third-party investigator found emails of Entergy officials reminding community partners of the millions of dollars they’ve donated and asking for assistance.
“I can’t comment on that because I’m not Entergy,” she said. “I don’t think that’s true.”
Nguyen was also noncommittal on the possibility of the council asking for a re-vote on the Entergy gas plant issue in light of the paid actors’ issue. The measure previously passed the council.
“At this point, I haven’t had any thoughts on it,” she said, but then re-phrased. “Let me back up. It’s always on my mind.”
Entergy issued a statement saying that its support of the parade is part of its “decades-long history supporting the New Orleans community.
“The assertion that Entergy would support charitable organizations for any reason other than the causes these organizations serve is patently false,” said the statement.