DA's Office Reinstates Employee Fired Over Tax Posts

Holly Friedman returns to her post after being dismissed following Facebook posts about New Orleans' property tax proposal.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Remote Work

DA's Office Reinstates Employee Fired Over Tax Posts

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The Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office has reinstated Holly Friedman, its former director of litigation support, after firing her over social media posts about the city's property tax proposal. Friedman says she was dismissed over those posts and had no prior disciplinary actions.

Why it matters

The case raises questions about public employees' speech on government fiscal decisions in New Orleans. It also comes as the City Council has moved to raise property taxes by rolling forward certain millages.

The city administration projects the property tax move will bring in $23.2 million a year, with an additional $42 million sought through a further millage roll forward. The source does not provide a baseline or the total taxable base those figures are drawn from.

The players

Holly Friedman

Former director of litigation support at the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office who was fired and later reinstated after posting about the city's property tax proposal.

Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office

The prosecutorial office for Orleans Parish that employed Friedman and carried out her termination and reinstatement.

Joe Giarrusso

New Orleans Chief Administrative Officer who expects the property tax increase to generate $23.2 million a year.

The details

Friedman, who was director of litigation support and had served with the office since 2023, posted on Facebook questioning how many mills would be rolled forward and what the resulting tax increase would be. She was fired days later, and has said the posts were the reason. The office has since reinstated her to her position.

Timeline

  1. October 29: Public hearing and City Council vote on property tax millages were scheduled.

  2. 2023: Friedman began serving with the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office.

  3. November 10, 2026: Reporting on Friedman's reinstatement was published.

Market Landscape

The episode fits a broader pattern in which local governments seeking revenue increases through millage roll-forwards face public scrutiny of how the tax changes are calculated. Its significance depends on whether the reinstatement signals limits on how public employees can criticize fiscal proposals.

Residents face a proposed property tax increase tied to a $23.2 million annual revenue projection and a further $42 million sought through another millage roll forward. The source does not state the per-household effect on tax bills.

The takeaway

Public employees' rights to comment on local tax proposals are being tested in New Orleans, and the outcome may shape how agencies handle such posts. Residents tracking the millage votes should watch for the per-household figures once the roll-forward is finalized.

Further reading

For related coverage of workplace policy and employment disputes, see Remote Work in the business section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by WDSU News.

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