Following the recent terror attack in New Orleans, many things are left hanging in the air with a sense of uncertainty. There is large-scale introspection about the organization and communication of agencies within the city and questions still loom about what the state of Mardi Gras in New Orleans will look like going forward from a security standpoint.
Joining WWL’s own Tommy Tucker, New Orleans City Councilman Joe Giarrusso discussed what steps are being taken. “New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation have hired the former Police Chief of New York, Bratton. What he’s going to do is look at major things: how personnel are deployed and where to put them. He’s also going to assess what equipment and other needs the city has, including an investigation into the bollards,” Giarrusso says.
The question still looms in many New Orleanians’ minds: will this horrible event change what Mardi Gras looks like in this city, which is steeped in tradition?
Giarrusso quickly pointed out that many of those concerns are being discussed. “I think we’ve been through this, both in shortening the routes a few years ago and having more compact crowds along that route. That’s my greatest concern is making sure we don’t tighten it too much or have too much overflow. We’re going to have to push to have as many barricades as possible to keep people distanced from floats,” he goes on to say.
Because of the specific nature of the terror attack, coolers and grills will be a concern for both the public and law enforcement agencies. Councilman Giarrusso notes that it will take a great deal of partnership between law enforcement and the general public when it comes to staying aware of any potential safety issues.
When asked specifically about coolers and grills on the parade routes moving forward, Giarrusso said, “I think we’re going to have to do sweeps and have a good education campaign directed at people. We basically need to tell folks: if it’s your cooler, keep it close to you and your family … and if you see something that wasn’t there or watch someone drop something off and walk away, make sure you let people know.”
