Just hours after New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced that Mardi Gras 2023 festivities could be canceled because of the New Orleans Police Department's staffing shortage, city council members are demanding answers from the head of the NOPD.
Related
The council's criminal justice committee met on Friday. During that meeting, council president Helena Moreno asked NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson about the mayor's comments.
"So explain to me: what do we need to do to ensure that we have a safe and successful Mardi Gras," Moreno asked Ferguson.
Ferguson responded by saying the NOPD is looking at several different options.
Related
"We're in the middle of our assessment now," Ferguson said. "We're doing a needs assessment to determine what exactly do we need. What did we have this past year? What will we need to do the same or replicate the same? Everything is on the table. I mean, addressing the route, asking for assistance from other agencies, all of that is on the table."
Ferguson added that people concerned about the mayor's annoucement should pump their brakes.
"I don't think now is the time to panic," Ferguson said. "Now is the time to plan, and that's exactly what we're doing."
Related
