KEY TAKEAWAYS: Mayor Moreno signs 13 executive orders setting early administration priorities. Orders establish deputy mayor system and launch budget efficiency program. Infrastructure, street maintenance and streetlight reliability targeted for reform. Package includes public safety review, w orkplace standards and climate restructuring.   Mayor Helena Moreno has signed a sweeping package of 13 executive orders aimed at reshaping city government, setting early priorities for her administration around fiscal discipline, infrastructure coordination, public safety and workplace standards. Moreno said the orders are intended to improve how city government operates while addressing long-standing challenges that affect residents’ quality of life, from street conditions and lighting outages to internal accountability and financial oversight. “These executive orders represent our commitment to good governance, fiscal responsibility, and improving the quality of life for all New Orleans residents,” Moreno said. “From ensuring our streets are properly maintained to creating respectful workplace environments, these directives establish a clear path forward for my administration.” Among the most significant changes is an order establishing a deputy mayor system, creating six deputy mayor positions responsible for overseeing broad areas of city government. The administration said the structure is designed to strengthen coordination across departments and clarify accountability at the senior leadership level. Another order launches a Budget Stabilization and Efficiency Program, directing city agencies to identify recurring savings, reduce waste and improve procurement and contract management amid ongoing fiscal pressures. Moreno’s office said the effort will rely on data-driven performance reviews to improve outcomes while managing limited resources. Several orders focus on infrastructure and public works. One directs the Department of Public Works to evaluate the creation of a permanent, in-house street maintenance unit to reduce reliance on contractors and improve responsiveness. Another creates an Infrastructure Coordinating Council to better align planning and operations among city agencies and utilities, including the Sewerage and Water Board, with the goal of reducing service disruptions and improving project delivery. Public safety initiatives are also central to the package. A “Lights-On” Streetlight Stabilization Initiative aims to address chronic streetlight and traffic signal outages, which the administration says are critical to neighborhood safety and crime prevention. In addition, Moreno ordered a 120-day public safety and operational readiness review to assess emergency management, criminal justice coordination and preparedness for major events such as hurricanes and Mardi Gras. Other directives focus on long-term planning and internal standards. The mayor ordered the development of a comprehensive citywide plan for youth and family services, citing their importance to public safety and economic stability. She also created an advisory committee to study options for a new City Hall, Civil District Court building or a consolidated civic center, citing aging facilities and operational inefficiencies. Several executive orders address governance and workplace culture, including the revocation or review of select orders from the previous administration, new standards for a harassment-free workplace and a review of policies governing outside employment by executive branch officials. Another order restricts non-essential travel paid with public funds during the city’s current financial strain, applying the limits to the mayor’s office as well. The final order reorganizes how the city approaches climate, resilience and sustainability by embedding environmental initiatives across multiple departments rather than housing them in a single office, a move the administration says will better integrate those priorities into daily operations. Moreno said the orders mark an initial step in a broader effort to reform city government and restore public trust. The full text of the executive orders is available on the city’s website at nola.gov/mayor. ...read more read less