Uh-oh. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieau may be talking to The Queen. He apparently wants to "Disney-fy" Bourbon Street. The Morning Advocate reported:
Mayor Mitch Landrieu's administration announced Tuesday it is dropping a controversial part of its citywide security plan that would have forced bars to keep their doors closed after 3 a.m. — a proposal that had generated backlash from bar owners and others who feared it would harm the French Quarter's spirit of "laissez les bons temps rouler."
But at the same time, the administration is coming under fire for a new proposal that critics argue will contribute to the "Disney-fication" of the Quarter: a crackdown on a "culture of lawlessness" along Bourbon Street that aims to make the city's most notorious stretch of nightclubs resemble the far more sedate environs of nearby Royal Street....
The vision outlined Monday night for cleaning up Bourbon Street, a famously freewheeling stretch of strip clubs and loud music venues, calls for eliminating vendors who sell booze to patrons from buildings' windows, cleaning the street and focusing on code and business violations.
The final touch, once city officials have erected bollards blocking off vehicles from several blocks of Bourbon, would involve adding trees, planters, benches and other furniture to the roadway.
“We see it as changing the culture of lawlessness,” City Planning Commission Deputy Director Leslie Alley said. “We’ve got to go out and change the culture in this town of lawlessness.”
But that proposed change, and other aspects of the plan, did not go over well with many in the crowd that packed the St. Jude Community Center to grill city officials at the first public forum on the security plan since it was announced two months ago.
The meeting was organized by two residential groups, Vieux Carre Property Owners, Residents and Associates and French Quarter Citizens.
“There’s an image that’s coming to my mind, and I don’t want to say the ‘D-word,’ " VCPORA Executive Director Meg Lousteau said of the plans for “street furniture” — an apparent reference to what some refer to as the transformation of the French Quarter into a Disneyland version of itself. Rest of article
Mitch must want to finish the job started by his father- ruining New Orleans.
21 comments:
The "culture of lawlessness" is elsewhere in the city.
Focus on real crime, Baby Moon.
In allowing crowds to grow uncontrolled for years, Nola created this mess.
Gate the first 6 blocks of Bourbon on the weekends....use metal detectors....frisk everyone.
Once this happens for 3 weeks in a row then the crowds will settle down.
The businesses won't miss those affected by the metal detectors and frisks....they don't spend $.
The allure of Bourbon Street is "the culture of lawlessness". People come from all over the world to experience said lawlessness and freedom. Drinking while walking down the street has a certain "I'm free if only for a while" feeling to it.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Folks who dislike the Bourbon scene (like me) know how to avoid it. There is real value in zoning the idiots.
We've only been once, since Katrina. But there are several clubs whose music was ridiculously loud - blasting out onto the street. It was tacky. And it had NOTHING to do with New Orleans' heritage - just sleazy, straight-off-the-radio pop garbage.
There's a lot of great New Orleans strip club music. My grandparents had the records. THAT was fun. And it was sexy. But even that kind of music should have its decibel limits.
And who needs to be out drinking after 3:00 in the morning? As long as brief nudity on the street is still tolerated, I say, "Bring the reforms!"
Planter boxes and trees in Bourbon Street? What type of plant, much less a tree, can withstand repeated feedings of human stomach contents? Kudzu perhaps? Acorns from the oaks in The Grove?
I wouldn't mind if they cleaned up Bourbon a little, but you can buy alcohol for a window at Disney World (Epcot). The difference isn't in alcohol sales at windows it it the lack of a Hustler Club and people using the street as a urial.
I say, "Yes! Tear down all those establishments reminiscent of the Civil War!"
Sherman and Grant both hung out on Bourbon Street and swilled cheap drinks for days on end in celebration of winning Lincoln's War. The place was a Confederate stronghold, for years catering to sick and wounded troops and teaching them little more than dancing skills. More than a few on both sides of the war became transsexuals following their experiences in The Quarter. Let it all be demolished along with the statuettes, brothels and riders mounted on rearing animals.
the bars and strip clubs are not the problem. stepping over homeless people and local thugs patroling the streets are the problem.
Please Lord, save us from those who think everyone likes what they like , thinks like they think, should act like they act and who feel threatened by anything or anyone who is different.
I guess "big government" is fine as along as it's cracking down on moral issues and loud music....
I've never had fun on Bourbon St, so I don't go. Some people love it- and that's fine. It does not bother me or hurt me one bit that some people love Bourbon St.
Perhaps we can open up Farish and make it what Bourbon St was- get those tourist dollars! We already have homeless and thugs and resort status. we just need strip clubs and tourists.
And Please Lord save us from those who think they know it all.
7:30 Profound.
8:50 Anemic.
The folks with the "Culture of Poverty" mindset are the problem!
"who needs to be out drinking after 3:00 in the morning?"
Aaaand you just said that in reference to New Orleans.
Talking to the Queen? More like talking to Giuliani. He wants to do to Bourbon what New York did to Times Square.
10:50 PM you are 100% correct! And run tag scanners in the entire FQ. That will keep the criminal element away.
If you think Bourbon Street is scary, head to Beae Street Memphis now. If you aren't in a club with a cover charge, you are wading through some gangstas.
Bourbon Street was such a let down during my first (and only) visit. From the tackiest of strip clubs advertising with outdoor photos of some pretty gross sex acts, to the very gross catcalling coming from inside a club where a man stood in the doorway with a woman who looked like a zombie biker babe, shouting what she would provide to the two men walking in front of me. I was looking for culture, fun and something on the wild side but found what looked to be people and establishments that seemed to be out of Cabbage Town (circa 1970) Atlanta.
It was truly disgusting and I can't even imagine anyone spending a dime on that street for ANYTHING and if you do, be sure to get a full physical afterwards. Ha, that being said and yes I am a lady, I still can't see any man desperate enough to want that kind of nightlife. Other parts of NOLA was a blast but the homeless and thug issue made me want to spend my money elsewhere. I won't be back. What a dissappointment and total waste of money it was for me.
Underground ATL use to be pretty nice but now is is nothing but thugs and violence. No great cafe's or clubs exist anymore there either. Guess that is the way of the world.
Beale Street and Memphis in general looked so bad, I knew I would not be safe off the beaten tourist path. Too afraid to get out and explore much other than the usual tourist digs. The city looks trashy and dirty. So sad that these landmark areas have turned to this and I would not make fun of Disneyfying any great old city. It might bring them back.
I also remember my friend's parents taking trips to NOLA. They would pack their best suits and evening dresses (in the 60's and 70's) I always wished that someday I would go. It seemed so exciting. After my first and only visit, I threw away my sandals that I had worn!
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