NEW ORLEANS, LA – In a final act of leadership before leaving office, Mayor LaToya Cantrell unveiled a comprehensive plan to “preserve the authenticity” of New Orleans nightlife, primarily by allowing Bourbon Street to crumble at its own pace.
The 27-page “Strategic Plan for Nightlife” emphasizes that “over-commercialization” threatens the city’s charm, a problem Cantrell intends to fix by cutting budgets, ignoring code enforcement, and letting her supporters handle the rest. “New Orleans’ nightlife was built on resilience,” the Mayor said, “and there’s nothing more authentic than watching a historic bar slowly cave in while a brass band is playing.”
Among the plan’s highlights are proposals for nighttime childcare, a citywide shuttle to reduce drunk driving by 2028, and the introduction of “ambient pothole lighting” to help pedestrians identify trip hazards after last call.
Cantrell’s team insists the plan will strengthen nightlife governance “for generations to come,” though most venues say they’d settle for working air conditioning, indoor plumbing and functioning toilets.
Incoming mayor Helena Moreno has yet to comment, reportedly waiting to see if the French Quarter is still standing in January.
