A public-relations firm billed Entergy New Orleans about $55,000 to bring supporters of a new power plant to two public meetings. Some of those people were actors. Documents turned over to the city council raise questions about Entergy's claim that it didn't know supporters would be paid.
City may have improperly used millions in special taxes to satisfy state pension obligations.
It has also pledged police protection and zones where only NFL-sanctioned commercial activity will be allowed.
A way to generate citizen involvement and grassroots power
It’s the first major rollback of the year-old law that legalized and regulated rentals via services like Airbnb, VRBO and HomeAway.
The investigation will "dig as deep as humanly possible" into the astroturfing campaign, said Council President Jason Williams.
The company told the city it would provide names of more than 200 hosts next week.
The council would drop a current study and replace it with one looking at cities with strict regulations.
The council has asked Entergy to preserve evidence of its astroturfing campaign.
The city uses the tax exemption to lure companies, so the boards wants to hear from New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell.
