New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu appropriates $5M to firefighter pension fund

Under the threat of court seizure, Mayor Mitch Landrieu is moving to appropriate $5 million into a pension fund for New Orleans firefighters.

Lawyers for Landrieu's administration informed Civil District Court Robin Giarrusso Friday of his intention to request the $5 million appropriation from the City Council at a special meeting scheduled for Thursday, a spokesman for the mayor said.

"It's a good start," said Louis Robein, a spokesman for the firefighters.

The city owes the Fire Fighter Pension and Relief Fund some $26 million, the balance of a $31 million judgment Giarrusso ordered Landrieu to pay in December. The money was meant to compensate the fund for mandatory contributions that Landrieu withheld for several years after taking office.

Read more: http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/05/mayor_mitch_landrieu_to_pay_5m.html

Cross-posted in the Labor Movement Group.