In an attempt to quell the furor over widespread car break-ins during Saints and Pelicans games, a City Council committee on Wednesday approved a new law that would require private downtown parking lots to hire attendants during most of the city’s signature large special events. The ordinance will go to the full council for a vote on Jan. 19.
While all five council members present at the Community Development Meeting— Freddie King, Joseph Giarrusso, Lesli Harris, JP Morrell and Helena Moreno—voted in favor of the ordinance, parking lot owners voiced concerns about the cost and safety of attendants, and the issues that transferring a government function to private citizens creates.
“Owners shouldn’t be expected to stem a systemic issue of crime,” said Ryan Berger, who operates seven parking lots, most in the French Quarter. “An attendant being tasked with stepping in the middle of a crime creates an incredibly dangerous situation.”
The proposed law, authored by City Council member Freddie King, would prohibit private parking lots from operating during special events—including NFL and college football and basketball games, the French Quarter Festival, high school football championship games, cruise ship departures, Essence Festival events, events at the Saenger Theater, Mardi Gras parades and balls, and any other event expect to draw more…