A top Louisiana health official is not happy with a wedding venue in Metairie owned by the family of a Jefferson Parish council member. The Balcony has allegedly been hosting large gatherings.
"They will not be allowed to continue to operate in that fashion," Assistant State Health Officer at the Louisiana Department of Health, Dr. Joe Kanter told WWL's Newell Normand.
After Normand said it doesn't look good to have a public official's family business operating in a fashion that appears to be in violation, Kanter responded, “Not just the optics, the substance is pretty horrible too.”
He did not elaborate on the investigation after making it clear that the state would not allow the Balcony to keep hosting large events.
“That is a work in progress so to say. But...and I’ll just leave it at that.”
The Lens, WWL TV and The Times Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate report that the Balcony Ballroom on Utica Street has hosted weddings with more than 200 guests, since May. Local news outlets have reported photos of what appears to be a July wedding where few of the guests are wearing masks or social distancing. It appeared as though it were a pre-COVID, normal wedding.
Meanwhile, State Fire Marshal, H. “Butch” Browning's office says they are doing all they can to enforce the state COVID restrictions and diplomatically urge businesses to comply.
Jefferson Parish Councilwoman Jennifer Van Vrancken has reportedly lobbied state officials on the venue's behalf using her parish email to request officials to allow the venue to continue to host large weddings and events, according to Nola.com.
Van Vrancken is not just a parish council member; she is also a paid consultant employed by Balcony Ballroom, which is owned by Van Vrancken’s family, as it is reported.
Since news broke about the Balcony Ballroom and the weddings, councilwoman Van Vrancken issued a statement on her Facebook page.
“The suggestion that favoritism plays into any of my actions is false,” Van Vrancken said in the statement. “I govern everything from the largest shopping mall in the region to the ‘mom and pop’ stores that are the lifeblood of our community.”
She continues, “Any information that I sought or seek from state or local officials was and will be gathered on behalf of all businesses, my family’s business included.”
She also says that the business has a permit to operate as a restaurant.
The Phase Two guidelines in Louisiana state that restaurants can operate with limited capacity and social distancing. Masks are required when patrons are not eating or drinking, and customers must be seated at tables. The rules forbid any dancing or people gathering in open spaces.
Although Balcony Ballroom has several complaints against it filed with the Fire Marshal, the business has not been cited nor shutdown. The Fire Marshal has been actively warning and educating business owners in the region, including managers at Balcony Ballroom.