New Orleans City Council to open Entergy investigation into 'astroturfing' campaign
 

https://media2.fdncms.com/gambit/ima...2913043/cc.jpg
In the wake of Entergy?s admission of an astroturfing campaign leading up to the approval of a power plant in New Orleans East, the New Orleans City Council will change public comment cards and introduce legislation to require lobbying groups register with City Hall.

The City Council will undertake its own investigation of Entergy?s hiring of a firm that enlisted a company to bring paid actors into City Council hearings on construction of the plant ? an investigation from The Lens uncovered the depth of that campaign, and Entergy admitted it had hired a company to generate ?grassroots support? for the project.

?This body has deemed it necessary and appropriate that we do a formal and complete investigation of the use of paid actors,? said Council President Jason Williams. ?It is an act that can affect every single thing we do, from development and land use issues and on and on and on.?