Mayor Latoya Cantrell has tossed around the idea of making the French Quarter and Bourbon Street a pedestrian-only zone following the terror attack on January 1st and a successful Super Bowl coming to town when it comes to security.
WWL’s Tommy Tucker spoke to New Orleans City Councilman Freddie King about the possibility of a permanent ban on vehicles in the area, and he doesn’t see it as a possibility. “I know the mayor mentioned the possibility of a pedestrian-exclusive zone, but I really don’t think that’s realistic,” King says.
King emphasizes that food, beverages, and restaurant linen service are all integral pieces to the success of the area, and all require vehicle access. “Small things such as clean linens not being able to be on the same truck as dirty linens … these are all wrinkles that need to be taken into consideration when you’re throwing around these ideas,” King goes on to say.
While he is open to the possibility of some sort of time-specific compromise moving forward, King also worries about the safety impact to the area, along with the necessary delivery services businesses in the French Quarter need.
“During the Super Bowl, there were multiple different security agencies in town. You had local law enforcement plus Homeland Security. If you start emphasizing more foot traffic in the French Quarter, do you have the additional police presence available to now be in those areas where you may triple the amount of pedestrians? These are complex issues with no simple solutions,” emphasizes King.