Send us Fan Mail THE NOLAPAPA PODCAST • SPECIAL EPISODE This special episode of The NolaPapa Podcast is presented without advertising and is not endorsed by any business or corporation. The opinions expressed are solely those of Erik Alexander. Last year, when I hosted the New Orleans Mayoral Forum at the House of Blues, the energy in the room was electric. Our city stood at a crossroads, and there was a palpable sense that change was coming. Throughout that process, we heard from key voices shaping the future of New Orleans. Today, however, I find myself struggling to find the words. Our city is facing challenges as enormous as its budget deficit. Popularity, social media influence, and public perception seem to be finding their way into some of the most consequential positions in government. Meanwhile, a troubling lack of personal accountability, sound judgment, and discernment has contributed to an environment where arrogance and entitlement threaten to overshadow public service. And that brings me to a familiar name: Oliver Thomas, former New Orleans City Council president, a council member representing two different districts, and a 2025 mayoral candidate. OT is a complicated figure, but his story cannot be reduced to his mistakes. During Hurricane Katrina, he risked his life helping rescue people by boat. He helped save multiple lives. He is also the only person to have been elected to all three of those council and council leadership positions. That is a remarkable legacy of public service. To me, O.T. is the G.O.A.T. And while people have every right to scrutinize public officials, I believe there is a difference between holding someone accountable and permanently defining them by mistakes for which they have already paid the price. We had a spirited conversation about the direction of our city—not just as a government, but as a community of people who share a future. Too often, it seems our leaders prioritize the voices that sound like their own. But what about the voices that sound like us? What about the residents who feel overlooked, unheard, or left behind? What about all the voices that make New Orleans what it is? As we begin this next chapter, arrogance and entitlement risk setting the tone. The fight to control the narrative can become more important than the responsibility to lead. But where does that road ultimately take us? And who pays the price when leadership loses sight of the people it is supposed to serve? Another situation that raises important questions about accountability and fairness involves Holly Friedman, a former City Hall staffer who was reportedly terminated from her position with the New Orleans District Attorney's Office following an incident involving a university assignment. As I understand it, Holly was taking classes at Tulane University and translating a slide as part of her coursework. She translated the material. She did not offer an opinion or add commentary. It was an academic assignment. Yet, according to the account discussed here, she was terminated the following day and escorted from the building in front of her colleagues while carrying boxes from her office. If the circumstances are as described, this raises serious questions about due process, workplace accountability, and whether the situation was fairly evaluated before such a consequential decision was made. A person's professional reputation and livelihood are not small things. They deserve to be treated with care, fairness, and respect, not assumptions or snap judgments. And if Holly believes her rights were violated, she deserves the opportunity to explore her legal options and seek answers. However, that's not how I said it on the show. Because accountability cannot be a standard we demand only from the people we disagree with. It must apply to everyone, including those in positions of power. New Orleans deserves leadership that listens, communities that stand together, and a system that treats people fairly. We may not always agree on the issues, the personalities, or the politics, but we should all be able to agree on one thing: the people of this city deserve better than a constant battle over who controls the narrative. The question is no longer whether change is coming. The question is what kind of city we are willing to become. She deserves better, and so do we. 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