The New Orleans City Council gave the green light to plans for a controversial hotel that will exceed the maximum size limit under city law. Supporters say it will bring commerce to an abandoned lot.

But the mayor was forced to cast another tie-breaking vote to avoid having the decision on his bond issue put off even longer.

The City Council narrowly approved Mayor Brandon Johnson's controversial $830 million bond deal to finance neighborhood infrastructure improvements, despite complaints that a back-loaded repayment schedule would inflate the total cost to $2 billion by the time all of the debt is paid off.

Thursday was a fateful day in New York City politics as two people who could upend the Democratic mayoral primary prepared to enter the fray.

The council speaker says New York is under attack and that Mayor Eric Adams is unwilling or unable to protect the city.

A source close to the speaker — who would face a bevy of logistical challenges in running against Mayor Adams in this summer’s Democratic primary — said she has yet to make a final decision