Latoya says no festivals in New Orleans for 2020! (1 Viewer)

[Super44]

Not saying I am totally against her position but I think at this point, it is a bit premature to be making a statement as such. The thought was, we could see anywhere from 100,000 - 240,000 deaths nation wide from COVID-19. It appears, through the efforts most have taken to, we will not nearly approach those numbers. That said, this is why I am think it is a bit premature on her part, to make such a statement.

And since French Fest, Jazz Fest and Essence Fest, were all rescheduled to October, what will be her position on Saints games? What will her efforts do to the Saints and the relationship with the NFL? She cannot ban the festivals and then turn the cheek and allow Saints games to be played. And if she does take the stance to ban Saints games, in conjunction with the festival ban, would the NFL pull the Super Bowl from New Orleans, that may be rescheduled for 2025, to not be in conflict with Carnival season in 2024? I could see where the NFL says; “Let’s just move the Super Bowl from New Orleans altogether since we need to move it from 2024”.

Sometimes politicians just do not think things out as a bigger picture. Lots of implications right now with her position, that need some rethinking.

 

[Brennan77]

This is akin to Nagin saying he wants the Cleveland option. Shaking my head.

 

[LAhotsauce]

It's her "recommendation" at this point. It's not some law written in stone.

 

[DaveXA]

While it's possible she's getting a bit a head of things here, I think it isn't a bad idea to give people plenty of time to plan ahead. I just think we've got bigger things to worry about than festivals for much of the rest of the year. I don't think we'll be out of the woods for a while. Time will tell.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

It's her "recommendation" at this point. It's not some law written in stone.

This
It’s not a decree
But the thing is jazz fest (and to a lesser extent FQ fest) are international draws
Until you know that most of the world has testing on point, you can’t risk visitors bring the virus back to NO

I’m not a huge fan of hers but after the BS she got over it canceling Mardi Gras, it’s hard to blame her for being proactive

And I REALLY hope people tuttutting this ‘announcement ‘ weren’t also part of the bandwagon dumping on her over Mardi Gras

 

[Brennan77]

While it's possible she's getting a bit a head of things here, I think it isn't a bad idea to give people plenty of time to plan ahead. I just think we've got bigger things to worry about than festivals for much of the rest of the year. I don't think we'll be out of the woods for a while. Time will tell.

There aren't too many things bigger than people's livelihoods. If she isn't ready to call it, and she shouldn't be at this point, she shouldn't be floating this crap out there. She's been terrible throughout this entire ordeal.

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

And I REALLY hope people tuttutting this ‘announcement ‘ weren’t also part of the bandwagon dumping on her over Mardi Gras

Lol at anyone who even thinks for one second about being critical of Latoya re ‘not cancelling Mardi Gras’.. Just think back a couple months to when Mardi Gras was, and how little we knew about Covid 19 (i dont think many of us had even heard the term, only Coronavirus, and only a trickle of information).. then imagine Latoya had somehow been further ahead of the curve than even the President of the United States was, and that she had come out in February and announced to New Orleans and to the world that, as a precaution- she was cancelling Mardi Gras, all associated parades, and balls, etc... You think Mitch caught some flack for removing some outdated monuments?? Ha, that is NOTHING compared to the wrath Latoya would have drawn if she’d pulled something like that.. would have made the fuss over the monuments look like baby ****.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

Lol at anyone who even thinks for one second about being critical of Latoya re ‘not cancelling Mardi Gras’.. Just think back a couple months to when Mardi Gras was, and how little we knew about Covid 19 (i dont think many of us had even heard the term, only Coronavirus, and only a trickle of information).. then imagine Latoya had somehow been further ahead of the curve than even the President of the United States was, and that she had come out in February and announced to New Orleans and to the world that, as a precaution- she was cancelling Mardi Gras, all associated parades, and balls, etc... You think Mitch caught some flack for removing some outdated monuments?? Ha, that is NOTHING compared to the wrath Latoya would have drawn if she’d pulled something like that.. would have made the fuss over the monuments look like baby ****.

There would have been a coup
And I’m not being hyperbolic

 

[DaveXA]

There aren't too many things bigger than people's livelihoods. If she isn't ready to call it, and she shouldn't be at this point, she shouldn't be floating this crap out there. She's been terrible throughout this entire ordeal.

I understand that regarding people's livelihoods, but I don't think we'll be back to normal in 6 months and if we are, then we will have wasted this entire time trying to flatten the curve and keep the virus at a manageable level. I mean, Mardi Gras couldn't have come at a worse time, and I'd hate to see a repeat of that later this year and see New Orleans back in the national spotlight as a hot spot.

It's a hard call to make, but personally, I'd call off any further festivals until next year and take the next 6-8 months focusing energy on fighting the virus. Festivals are by nature occasions where people are social and basically everything you're not supposed to do during an epidemic. But that's me. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

 

[DaveXA]

There would have been a coup
And I’m not being hyperbolic

It was debated a bit here, but not much elsewhere. I didn't think it was a good idea, but stopping that train wasn't happening no matter was in office.

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

There would have been a coup
And I’m not being hyperbolic

No, you’re being quite literal, i get it.. Old line Krewes would have said ‘We’re rolling, come arrest us’.. and yet, in the name of politics, there will be an element that tries to somehow hold Latoya accountable for not stopping Carnival.. I mean, look, there are lots of things to be critical of Latoya for (for instance, isnt she originally from Atlanta?!)- but not cancelling Mardi Gras isnt one of them.

ETA: i looked it up, she’s actually from Los Angeles originally and moved to New Orleans in 1990.. but my point stands, if you’ve only been in NOLA for 30 years, you’re practically a carpetbagger.

 

[DavidM]

I would imagine this is going to be echoed by other governors and mayors. It's especially hard on a city like New Orleans that is so dependent on tourism and hospitality, but it's hard to believe we aren't a long way, still, from the other side of this.

When will it be safe to pack airplanes again? Crowd into streets? Go to concerts and sporting events?

There's no vaccine and no treatment and so there are no answers to those questions. The only other option is to decide to let the death toll be whatever it's going to be. Who is going to make that call?

 

[Brennan77]

I understand that regarding people's livelihoods, but I don't think we'll be back to normal in 6 months and if we are, then we will have wasted this entire time trying to flatten the curve and keep the virus at a manageable level. I mean, Mardi Gras couldn't have come at a worse time, and I'd hate to see a repeat of that later this year and see New Orleans back in the national spotlight as a hot spot.

It's a hard call to make, but personally, I'd call off any further festivals until next year and take the next 6-8 months focusing energy on fighting the virus. Festivals are by nature occasions where people are social and basically everything you're not supposed to do during an epidemic. But that's me. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Id rather keep the negative drama porn to the existing covid thread. The mayor shouldnt be shooting from the hip on this.

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

When will it be safe to pack airplanes again? Crowd into streets? Go to concerts and sporting events?

Honestly, what if large gatherings, and being in crowds of people, goes the way of smoking cigarettes, and waterbeds, and Jazzercise- and basically ceases to exist outside of a few outliers?

Not to be flippant, but what if an entire generation or two decides it’s just really smart to avoid large gatherings.. so many American (and New Orleans) institutions would vanish for good- things like Saints games, and Mardi Gras, and Jazzfest.

 

[Grumpy Old Manatee]

Just curious (since I am no longer in NOLA), with hurricane season rapidly approaching, has the City or State mentioned how potential hurricane shelters could be opened?