New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell indicated last week that sometime this week we will find out whether or not Mardi Gras 2022 parades will be consolidated Uptown. The Mayor previously mentioned she had considered the move due to a lack of available NOPD officers.
WWL spoke with Mardi Gras Guide publisher Arthur Hardy about the impending announcement. He sounded confident that the consolidation will occur.
“Oh I think it is more than a possibility, it think it is a certainty, but the devil is in the details as they say and what is that route, is it universal for everyone?” said Hardy.
That would mean Mid City would be losing Endymion, a big blow to the community and its businesses.
“A few years ago the Mid City Business Association declared the Krewe of Endymion the business of the year,” said Hardy. “It used to be we’re in a good school district now it’s we’re on a parade route that is selling homes.”
What about Zulu? Hardy said just because other parades get moved Uptown doesn’t mean Zulu will get moved off of its Jackson start.
“Word we are hearing is that every krewe will be impacted in some fashion, but that doesn’t mean that every krewe will be on the same route.”
Hardy said whatever the decision, it won’t be easy.
“There are no bad guys in this thing, the police have a tough job, the krewe captains have a tough job. You know, we're all trying to do something that is fun, but do it safely,” said Hardy.