Newell Normand reminded listeners that non-compliance with laws are what push society toward total chaos, as New Orleans City Councilmember Freddie King updated him on the French Quarter sweeps of illegal vendors.
"The sweeps are working," King said. But Normand said there needs to be more and consistent enforcement, adding illegal vendors are 'no better than any other thief.'
"We were able to run off and confiscate several, stop several people from vending or selling illegal items. The word kind of got out ... so as we moved further into the heart of Bourbon Street, we saw less of it," King said, adding that officials have been out on Bourbon every week for a month and what they saw with illegal vendors was appalling.
He went on to say that "without any law enforcement out, without people knowing who we were, it was chaos, and just lawlessness on the street. People selling, and offering you any and everything that you imagine from having a python wrapped around your neck to Jell-O shots to edibles, food being grilled on the sidewalk to what appears to be marijuana."
King said the sweeps to combat that activity will be ongoing and in partnership with the state and the New Orleans Police. The councilman continued, "We're going to keep doing this as often as possible to rid the French Quarter of the element of just doing what you want." That kind of 'everything goes' atmosphere is what keeps people away from iconic Bourbon Street, he said.
The rules are simple, Normand and King agreed: No one is allowed to sell goods or services on public property without proper licenses and no one is allowed to sell marijuana or liquor 'in any condition anywhere.'
"Without following those rules, vendors are stealing from residents and from their properly licensed counterparts, who are paying taxes and going through the effort and expense of following regulations," insisted Newell Normand.
Normand added, "I see illegal vendors selling beer, Jell-O shots, food, liquor and more...all the time around arenas and events. And it needs to end."
"In fact, right across from City Hall for a long, long time there was a guy cooking on the back of a trailer, cooking chicken - which you know is one of the riskiest things - that and pork and all kinds of other stuff. No license...doesn't pay sales tax...no health certificate. Sitting out there in plain view... and no enforcement. He was there every weekend, like nothing," preached Normand, the former Sheriff of Jefferson Parish.
"And the people who do that, whether they're in sight of City Hall or not are taking money from the pockets of taxpayers and legitimate business owners," said a fiery Normand. Normand insisted that you cannot have order, if you do not obey and enforce the law.
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