Let the good times roll ... just not like they did in the past.
Officials in New Orleans are moving to make major changes to the way Mardi Gras parades operate throughout the famed city. That includes earlier start times, shorter routes and stricter safety guidelines – all to cut police overtime costs.
On Wednesday, a New Orleans city council committee approved the new measures.
“The bottom line is, as you look at this budget situation in this city, we’re going to have to make decisions that are budget conscious,” Jason Hughes, a councilman, said during the meeting.
The proposed safety and operational rule changes include:
- Earlier start times and route shifts to give police officers longer breaks between shifts and ease travel between parades.
- Safety harness requirements for float riders, who must also keep both feet on the float floor.
- A total ban on tobacco use aboard floats, with immediate removal for violators.
- A prohibition on riders handing alcohol to parade spectators, along with a ban on glass products on floats, except for glass beads.
- A 3.5-pound weight limit on items tossed from floats, which must be pre-approved, along with new size restrictions on branded merchandise.
- A rule preventing marching bands from stopping to perform while floats behind them are moving.
- A requirement for car clubs to drive side-by-side rather than in a single line.
- Higher fines for tying ladders together along parade routes, as well as an increase from $250 to $1,000 for leaving unattended ladders, tarps, grills or private toilets on neutral ground.
The proposed measures would alter traditions in a city that hosts nearly 70 parades over the main 12-day Mardi Gras season. Processions are put on by “krewes” — private, nonprofit Carnival social clubs that build the floats, purchase items to toss to the crowd and fund the parades.
Thousands line the streets for the parades in the city where Mardi Gras is more than just one day.
JP Morrell, a councilman at large, said the city would strictly enforce no-parking zones before parades using a larger fleet of tow trucks and drivers, according to CBS affiliate WWL-TV. Capt. Anthony “Buddy” Micheu, who commands the New Orleans Police Department’s traffic division, said parking bans would take effect four hours before parades started, instead of two.
“As you know, our formations start earlier in the day,” Micheu told the council committee. “We need to have that clear so we can place floats safely and effectively without blocking in residents in their homes or also vehicles getting stuck or damaged.”
Under the proposal, several parade schedules will shift to earlier start times, accompanied by route adjustments designed to give police officers longer overnight breaks and allow faster transit between parade sites.
The proposed modifications have drawn pushback from community members and parade organizers. During Wednesday’s meeting, an attendee in the council chambers shouted that the festival was being overpoliced. The full New Orleans City Council is expected to vote on the measures in an upcoming session.
Kenneth Beck, captain of the Knights of Sparta parade group, asked the council to preserve his organization’s traditional route along Magazine Street.
“We’ve got people who have already paid their dues, purchased their throws, expecting to ride on Magazine Street,” Beck said.
Online, local residents echoed concerns over the proposed schedule changes, pointing out that shifting parade start times to 5 p.m. would worsen evening rush-hour traffic.
“I’m against starting a midweek parade earlier at 5 p.m. given that’s prime traffic time,” wrote Brad Griffin, who noted he lives within the parade footprint.
Others questioned the city’s underlying motives for the shifts, attributing the changes directly to police staffing shortfalls.
“So basically the city is trying to cut overtime for the NOPD, which is understaffed by about 200-300 officers,” wrote Christopher Prochaska in response to the proposals, “at least that’s what I’m reading.”
For long-time paradegoers, the rules represent another step away from local traditions, with resident Michael Ow describing the proposed changes as a “watered down Nola.”
