While regular, normal neighbors gathered on drastically shortened Mardi Gras parade routes - criminals and especially juveniles were out running New Orleans streets committing crime. I’ve included a graphic from the metropolitan crime commission and encourage you to sign up for their alerts. Just because you didn’t read or see news reports doesn’t mean violence and fear weren’t the name of the game. Several news outlets have been a solid social media resource - yet because of juvenile laws - it’s difficult to get real crime news . In some ways Mardi Gras waifed over us and for a brief shift the feel of a lighter atmosphere seemed evident - and that’s a good thing … our New Orleans culture - music, food, revelry, second lines, festivals - is the Heartbeat of the unique New Orleans culture. It’s the reason folks stay generation to generation and it’s the reason folks move here.
While we basked in events leading to Mardi Gras - small businesses were robbed at gunpoint, cars were smashed and grabbed along parade routes, gunfights with bullets piercing the walls of a single mother’s home just a mere few feet away from where they were sleeping happened. Where is the outrage from New Orleans’ mayor? Where is your outrage?
let’s keep it real - CRIME IS NOT CULTURE.
If we don’t continue to grow our request CRIME might end up being a famous New Orleans culture item. That’s unacceptable. It’s imperative that the Mayor act - 5000$ bonus pay is a start for NOPD - but lack of recruits is backbreaking and not an immediate solution. Our top three action items …
1. Ask Mayor Teedy to step up against Crime - New Orleans Safe is sick of unchecked crime. Please take 5 minutes - phone a friend. Consider it using a lifeline - ask them to sign New Orleans Safe on change.org . It’s free. No donation required!
2. Lack of officers - New Orleans safe is clearly asking for deployment of 500 La.National Guard troops so … Call response times can be drastically improved in every neighborhood. That’s action for all citizens in all neighborhoods. Safe neighborhoods means New Orleans culture is safe. That neighborly and that’s economy.
3. Say no to Limiting culture and putting UNDUE burden on culture bearers to tamp down culture events because ELECTED officials being paid to make New Orleans Safe can’t make a courageous decision to partner with a Nationally accepted (D.C., Massachusetts & New Mexico) approach for short term safety strategy.
New Orleans Safe is growing but doubling our numbers this week will go a long way …
Thank you if you read this … yesterday my only employee was verbally assaulted in the French Quarter (“lady , I don’t need your help parking. If you don’t shut up I’m going to beat your ass.). She is 5’ tall and about 95 pounds and also very nice. The man was at least 5’8” tall and about 200 pounds. She was distraught for hours afterwards. Whatever is going on needs to stop. We are doing our part. Please stay safe … that’s New Orleans culture.