FILE - New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell speaks at a ribbon cutting ceremony, Nov. 5, 2019, in Kenner, La. New Orleans officially opened its arms in welcome Thursday, July 4, 2024, to the thousands of people descending on the Big Easy for the 30th annual celebration of the Essence Festival of Culture. Cantrell thanked Essence for the longstanding partnership. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)