Actors were paid to attend New Orleans city council meetings supporting power plant
E.A. CRUNDEN at Think Progress
https://thinkprogress.org/actors-new-orleans-energy-plant-43dd430035e7/
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Some of the concerned citizens who turned up at city council meetings in New Orleans to support a proposed power plant were in fact paid actors, according to a new report.
The Lens New Orleans reported Friday that at least four people received payment for appearing at city council meetings last October and February. The meetings were held to survey public opinion on efforts by Entergy, an energy company that serves areas throughout the Deep South, to develop a new power plant in New Orleans East, located in the city’s Ninth Ward.
In March, the city council approved the power plant by a vote of 6-1, overruling the objections of opponents who say the plant is expensive and will pollute eastern New Orleans. A number of local residents spoke in favor of the power plant over the course of more than 22 meetings. But doubts are now being raised over just how authentic those voices were.
Roughly 50 people turned out to support a $210 million effort to build a power plant in the city during one October meeting, but several attendees told the Lens they were paid $60 to wear orange shirts and express support for the endeavor.
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