As the anniversary of the Bourbon Street terror attack looms, there are mixed feelings in the Crescent City. While many are looking forward to turning a page and stepping into a fresh new year, there’s no way to overlook the pall that hangs in the air as the region reflects on that tragic event. Glade Bilby is president of French Quarter Citizens and understands the strange blend of emotions being felt by visitors and citizens around New Orleans at this time. However, he emphasizes that safety is a top priority this year. “The French Quarter is used to rolling with the punches, as they say,” Bilby notes. “This year, there’s certainly a lot more emphasis on safety and there’s been a good job of addressing that. They’re doing everything that they can to make this a nice, safe experience,” he went on to emphasize.
Ultimately, the French Quarter is a hub for visitors on New Year’s Eve not for its safety, but for its loose and inviting atmosphere. Bilby hopes the added security doesn’t keep anyone away from the French Quarter and wants visitors to experience the full breadth of what New Orleans has to offer. “The mindset here is having a good time. The weather is going to be great. I think everyone is looking forward to making this a good time for everyone all around,” adds Bilby.
Bilby says added barricades have been added along Bourbon Street this year, along with a heightened awareness of how close to home terrorism can come now. He also reminds people that Bourbon Street is still a neighborhood while still acting as a hub of celebration in the French Quarter and hopes visitors and locals will be mindful of lowered speed limits and pedestrian-only zones. “Working with the state police and the sheriff’s department, they have all hands on deck for this. They’re doing everything they can to make this a nice, safe experience for everyone,” Bilby went on to highlight.