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WEBVTT JULIANA: 82 PAGES ON T INVESTIGATION, AND UP TO 400 PLUS FREE JAZZ FEST TICKETS GIVEN OUT IN 2017. THE REPORT ALSO SAYS ONE CITY EMPLOYEE HAS BEEN GETTING THEM SINCE 1988, LEADING THE INSPECTOR TO PULL OUT THE STATE ETHICS CODE. THE REPORT SAYS JAZZ FEST ORGANIZERS GAVE THE TICKETS TO SEVEN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT HEADS IN THE CITY TO DISTRUBUTE TO EMPLOYEE THOUGH THE MAJORITY IN THIS REPORT SAID THEY KNEW BETTER THAN TO ACTUALLY USE THEM. THE ALLEGATIONS RELATE TO LAST YEAR’S JAZZ FEST, BEFORE THE CANTRELL ADMINISTRATION TOOK OFFICE. BUT HER PRESS OFFICE SAID THEY WILL ADHERE TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL’S RECOMENDATIONS MOVIN FORWARD, WHICH INCLUDE STOPPING THE PRACTICE OF ACCEPTING FREE TICKETS, ESTABLISH A CREDENTIA PROCESS FOR CITY EMPLOYEES THAT NEED T WORK THE FAST, AND FINALLY, STOP LOANING PROPERTY TO JAZZ FEST OFFICIALS. SHAU WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE LOANING PROPERTY, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHERE DID THE RECOMMENDATION COME FROM? JULIAN ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ACTUALLY SAID THEY USED THE TICKETS ALSO LOANED JAZZ FEST OFFICIAL FREE ITEMS. IT SAYS THE PARKS AND PARKWAYS DEPARTMENT LOANED GAZEBOS TO THREE JAZZ FEST IN 2017 WITHOUT EXECUTING AN ACTUAL AGREEMENT NOR CHARGING A RENTAL FEE. THOUGH THE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS NEVER IN EXCHANGE FOR THE TICKETS. GOING OFF THAT THOUGH, A DPW OFFICIAL STATED IN THE REPORT, I -- "I APPALLED AT THE AMOUNT OF AM WORK WE DO FOR JAZZ FEST WITHOUT COMPENSATION. THE CITY PROVIDES A HUGE AND IMPORTANT SERVICE TO THE JAZZ FESTIVAL FREE OF CHARGE." THAT’S ECHOED BY THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT, WHI SAID "JAZZ FES PAYS FOR FEATURE -- BLEACHERS, BUT THE UNDISCLOSED AMOUNT IS LOW AND NO WERE NEAR THE MARKET RATE." A CONCERN HERE IN THIS REPORT IS THAT THE CITY WASN’T ALWAYS CHARGING WHAT IT SHOULD HAVE CANTRELL’S ADMINISTRATION AND JAZZ FEST OFFICIALS SAYING THEY WILL FOLLOW THE INSPECTOR GENERALS RECCOMENDATIO

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A newly released, 82-page report from the Office of the Inspector General in New Orleans alleges up to 424 free Jazz Festival tickets were given out to city employees in 2017.However, the report also includes testimony from one city employee who said she'd been receiving them since 1988, leading the inspector to pull out the state ethics code.OIG investigators found that Festival Productions Inc. provided seven different department heads within the city of New Orleans between 284 and 424 free admission tickets to the Jazz Festival in 2017. The majority of those department heads and their employees stated they were aware that they could not accept free tickets and said they either did not use them at all or only used them to conduct official city business.However, the report also includes employee testimony stating their departments were giving Jazz Fest officials services and/or items at little or no cost, leading the inspector general's office to find the city was not charging what they should have.The Parks and Parkways Department loaned three gazebos to Jazz Fest in 2017 without executing an actual agreement or charging a rental fee, according to the report, though the department said it was never in exchange for the tickets.A Department of Public Works official stated in the report: "I am appalled at the amount of work we do for Jazz Fest without compensation. The city provides a huge and important service to the Jazz Festival free of charge."That statement was echoed by the Property Management Department, which said Jazz Fest pays for bleachers but said the "redacted amount is too low and nowhere near the market rate."The inspector general's report listed three primary recommendations for the city of New Orleans moving forward:Discontinue the practice of accepting free admission ticketsDiscontinue the practice of loaning City property to the Jazz FestivalEstablish a credentialing process rather than rely on the goodwill of a vendor to provide free admission tickets so that city employees can carry out their official duties."The findings in the OIG report concern events prior to our term in office, and going forward, the current administration is committed to ensuring that appropriate policies are in place," said a City Hall spokesperson. Gilbert Montano, the city's current chief administrative officer, responded to the OIG report in which he outlined steps the city is taking to address the issues. Montano said the city will discontinue the practice of accepting free admission tickets, discontinue the practice of loaning city property to Jazz Fest and establish a credentialing process for city duties."Jazz Fest is currently reviewing the Inspector General's recent report," said the Jazz Fest Press Office. "As always, the Festival works closely with the city to comply with all municipal policies and regulations and will follow any forthcoming procedural recommendations."The full report can be viewed online.Keep up with local news, weather and current events with the WDSU app here. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here to sign up!