NEW ORLEANS — Nearly four months after the Hard Rock Hotel collapsed, the New Orleans City Council is joining a long list of investigations into what happened.
The council voted Wednesday unanimously to form a special committee to begin investigating the Hard Rock construction disaster.
"It is our duty to these men and to the families of these men to ask questions, to review information, to dig deep, because answers and justice is what they deserve,” City Council President Helena Moreno said.
City Council Vice President Jason Williams, who joined protesters outside City Hall last week, says committee discoveries could fuel changes to local laws.
"In short, this committee will take facts and in turn, endeavor to make good public policy,” City Councilman Jason Williams said.
Council has not laid out exactly how its investigation will play out, but under the city charter the council does have the power to investigate and even subpoena witnesses and documents. A major part of the new committee’s purpose is giving the public a place to hear updates and have their own concerns heard.
Mayor Latoya Cantrell is against the City Council investigation, saying she doesn’t want them stepping on other investigator’s toes.
“There are ongoing investigations at every single level of government. Federal, state, as well as local. And not wanting to jeopardize those ongoing investigations," Cantrell said.
Meanwhile, the mayor extended the state of emergency that’s been in place since Oct. 17.
The collapse site is set for demolition in mid-to-late March.
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