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New Orleans City Council hosts public hearing on future of second lines in city

Harry November 21, 2024

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The message from New Orleans leaders and community members is clear: Second-line culture should not be blamed for this latest tragedy, but changes are needed to ensure the tradition can continue as best as possible.

“What we’re doing is trying to find a solution so that we can have culture and tradition for the next 100 or 300 years or 300-plus years of this city,” Councilman Oliver Thomas said.

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When it comes to police presence at these events, the New Orleans City Council and NOPD feel a heavy presence is important, and both agree that building a stronger relationship between the force and the second-line clubs is also important moving forward.

“That’s what it’s all about. My side of things is to make it safe and honor the culture, so I thank the councilman for leading us in the conversation and as long as we can talk back and forth we’ll come to a good resolution,” Supt. Anne Kirkpatrick said.

Some say more police are not the solution.

“When we call outside law enforcement, all they do is come in and beat our heads up and no one can come up with a real solution,” said one New Orleans resident.

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The city council is expected to form a second committee soon; that committee would be able to consider new rules and procedures just as the mayor’s Mardi Gras advisory committee considers carnival parades.

“I thank Councilman Morrell for the offer to meet with the Mardi Gras advisory committee and my committee and Lisa Alexis and the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy to talk about how we can advise representatives who will serve on this committee, so a lot of the things we’ve tried in the past are now institutionalized,” he said. Thomas.

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