Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s announcement that the city of New Orleans would not follow the CDC’s or the state’s lead in mask guidelines should have not been a surprise to anyone. Instead of following the major changes in the mask-wearing mandate from the CDC, the state, and surrounding parishes, Mayor Cantrell refused to drop the mask mandate for the city.
The Mayor did announce the easing of capacity and crowd restrictions. Beginning Friday, most businesses can open to 100% capacity, but only if mask-wearing and social distancing are enforced. Gatherings, such as weddings, can now allow 500 people outdoors and 250 indoors. For sporting events and concerts in venues, like the Smoothie King Center, crowd capacity has expanded to 25%, which would be 4,000 for that venue.
Dr. Jennifer Avegno, head of the New Orleans Health Department and close COVID-19 adviser to the Mayor, participated in this morning’s press conference, pointing out the city will now be more open than it has been since the pandemic forced changes 14 months ago. Dr. Avegno also emphasized that getting the vaccine will open the door to a full return for citizens and visitors, and she made a point of reminding everyone that the vaccines are free and available to everyone with free rides to get the vaccine provided to anyone who needs one.
The importance of getting the vaccine was the primary theme of the press conference. New Orleans is 36% fully vaccinated and 43% partially vaccinated, but the goal is 75%.
Mayor Cantrell warned that if we are to have the French Quarter Fest and Jazz Fest, currently scheduled for this fall, and if the Saints want to be at full capacity in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome this season, then the city must reach the 75% vaccination rate. But the Mayor said something that will give her an excuse to stop events even if 75% immunity is reached. Cantrell added that the only way festivals and full capacity for concerts and Saints games will actually happen is IF her Public Safety Team is capable of managing large public events.
[shortcode-inline-related expand="1" link="/wwl/news/local/public-safety-bandwidth-will-affect-fall-events" headline=""Public safety bandwidth" will play in decision to approve fall events: City spokesman" image="/media-library/image.jpg?id=64262967"]Mayor Cantrell spoke about how the pandemic has decimated areas of her Public Safety Team, like EMS. By saying that the ultimate decision will be left up to her, the Mayor is giving herself an excuse to exercise her control even if the 75% threshold is met.
I give Mayor Cantrell credit for being vigilant through the pandemic; but from the beginning of her reign over the crisis in the city, she has shown signs of relishing the political spotlight by maintaining a tough attitude. Is Mayor Cantrell implying that the people of New Orleans are less capable than people everywhere else when it comes to decisions that she said would be driven by the data? Clearly she has not always followed the data, and I do not get the sense that she is wavering from her strong-handed approach.
Whether intentional or not, Mayor Cantrell does not give the impression that she is excited about the possibility of French Quarter and Jazz Fest this fall. Whenever the Mayor speaks about future possibilities, she leans toward an authoritarian attitude rather than an encouraging, optimistic attitude.
