Tag: COVID-19

French Quarter Festival, Satchmo Summerfest canceled due to COVID-19

Two annual festivals held in the French Quarter for the last several decades were canceled, organizers announced on Thursday, adding to the increasing financial blow to businesses and growing list of events nixed due to the shutdown of the New Orleans tourist economy caused by closures and stay-at-home orders issued during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a Twitter statement on May 7, the nonprofit organizer of the French Quarter Festival and Satchmo Summerfest said both 2020 events were officially canceled and were rescheduled in 2021.

Additionally, the organizer, French Quarter Festival, Inc., launched a resilience campaign to raise money that will cover the loss of revenue caused by the pandemic.

Mayor LaToya Cantrell issued a March 16 order closing certain businesses, including bars and live performance venues that compose much of the French Quarter. Gov. John Bel Edwards’ issued a statewide stay-at-home order on March 22, which was extended to at least May 15.

French Quarter Festival, which started in 1984 and is described as one of America’s largest free music festivals, was postponed until October this year but rescheduled for April 8 to 11 in 2021.

Satchmo Summerfest, which celebrates the life of New Orleans jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong and is held in early August, is rescheduled for July 30 to August 1, 2021.

Both festivals combined contribute to the generate substantial financial support annually for businesses and musicians in the French Quarter.

Jazz, Voodoo and Essence festivals were also canceled this year due to coronavirus.

People who visited the New Orleans in 2017 contributed nearly $8.8 billion to the local economy, according to the city’s Tourism Marketing Corporation, which spent almost $16.7 million promoting the city in the same year.

Capt. Anthony Caprera promoted to lead NOPD 8th District; ex-station chief demoted

A New Orleans Police lieutenant with the 8th District was promoted to the rank of captain on Friday and will now lead the station as its new commander.

Capt. Anthony Caprera (pictured left), who is now in charge of the 8th District, was promoted from lieutenant during a private ceremony in Superintendent Shaun Ferguson’s office on Friday, according to New Orleans Police.

Additionally, Capt. Preston Bax, formerly a lieutenant and assistant commander with New Orleans Police’s 4th District, was promoted to captain and commander of the 6th District during the same ceremony.

The ceremonies were held separately and in private in order to practice social/physical distancing measures to stop coronavirus spread, the New Orleans Police said.

NOPD 8th District officer dies after battle with coronavirus

Caprera takes on responsibility for the district, which includes the French Quarter, the Central Business District and parts, other parts of downtown and a portion of the Marigny.

Caprera replaced his former boss, Lt. Octavio Baldassaro (pictured right), who was demoted from captain following an undisclosed and ongoing internal administrative investigation conducted by the Public Integrity Bureau, New Orleans Police said.

Baldassaro was previously investigated for an excessive force incident in which he was filmed throwing a woman to the ground while arresting her for fighting during French Quarter Festival in 2019, but was later cleared of wrongdoing, according to The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate.

NOPD 8th District officer dies after battle with coronavirus

A 30-year New Orleans Police veteran and 8th District officer passed away on Thursday following complications from COVID-19, according to the department.

Mark Hall Sr., a police officer assigned to NOPD’s 8th District in the French Quarter, died Thursday after he was diagnosed with coronavirus on April 3.

Hall served more than 30 years with the department, most recently with the 8th District, when he died. The NOPD announced his passing in a public statement posted to Facebook.

Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin gets early release from federal prison due to coronavirus pandemic

“It is with great sorry that the New Orleans Police Department announce the passing of a brother in blue due to complications from COVID-19,” the statement said. “Hall was a veteran of the NOPD with more than 30 years of service, most recently with the 8th District. Please keep his family in your prayers.”

The Louisiana Department of Health reported 447 coronavirus deaths and 6,557 confirmed cases in Orleans Parish, according to its most recent data published on Monday.

Additionally, public health officials on Monday reported a total of 29,673 confirmed coronavirus cases and at least 1,991 deaths statewide.

Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin gets early release from federal prison due to coronavirus pandemic

Former New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin was released early from federal prison Monday due to the COVID-19 pandemic after serving seven years of a 10-year sentence on corruption charges, according to The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate.

The former mayor walked out of jail early thanks to a memo from Attorney General William Barr that ordered the release of inmates who are at risk for coronavirus.

Nagin was a “perfect” candidate for release given his lack of prior criminal record and because he served, according to the Times-Picayune | Advocate.

Nagin served as mayor from 2002 to 2010 (re-elected in 2006 and terming out in 2010).

He was re-elected despite his response to Hurricane Katrina, but later indicted on 21 federal corruption charges related to accepting thousands of dollars in bribes and free granite slabs for a family business in exchange for city contracts.

A jury found Nagin guilty on 20 out of 21 charges and he was sentenced in 2014 to 10 years in prison, which was below the 15 to 20 years recommended by federal sentencing guidelines.

New Orleans discontinuing French Quarter daily evening solid waste collection May 1

Trash in the 500 block of Bourbon Street on the morning of March 8. Photo by Tony Webster | CC Flickr.

Daily evening solid waste collection services in the French Quarter will be discontinued on May 1, although morning trash and recycling collection will still continue at various locations serviced by the city.

Evening solid waste pickup in the French Quarter, which occurred between 4 and 6 p.m. each day, will cease on Friday at eligible locations in the French Quarter and Downtown Development District, according to New Orleans spokeswoman LaTonya Norton.

Morning solid waste collection, however, will still continue to run between 4 and 8 a.m. every day and recycling will continue at eligible locations between 4 and 8 a.m. on Tuesdays.

Metairie-based Empire Services provides trash collection services in the French Quarter and DDD, according to the New Orleans Department of Sanitation website.

The reduction in trash service comes as the vast majority of French Quarter businesses were forced to close after Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a proclamation on March 22 to stop the spread of COVID-19.

The business closures have led to a significant decrease in the vast amounts of trash that’s normally generated each night and a level of consistent cleanliness in the French Quarter that hasn’t been seen in years, or possibly ever.

With the existing trash services, however, the city reminded eligible French Quarter residents to place carts and black bags curbside for collection after 4 p.m. on the day before collection and before 4 a.m. on the collection day.

Carts should be removed from sidewalks and public rights of way by 9 a.m. on collection day, Norton said.

Additionally, French Quarter residents must follow the following code requirements:

  • Trash collected for bulky waste collection for eligible residential properties on Wednesday can include up to: six secured bags of green waste or up to six bundles of tree limbs cut in four-inch lengths; metal pieces weighing no more than 25 pounds and no bigger than four inches in length; furniture, mattresses; appliances with the compressors removed; carpet pieces less than four inches in length, rolled and tied; and up to four tires.
  • Residents can call 311 to schedule a bulky waste collection of up to 15 secured bags of green waste or up to 15 bundles of tree limbs cut into four-inch lengths and other similar items. Weight limit is 50 pounds.
  • Solid waste containers or bags must be placed in front of the property generating the waste and not block pedestrian or vehicular rights of way.
  • Property owners and tenants are responsible for removing solid waste on their premises, including the area extending one-and-a-half-feet from the curb into the street.
  • No one can sweep, blow or pour items into storm drains.
  • Permanent dumpsters must be screened from public view.
  • Signs cannot be placed on public rights of way, such as on neutral grounds, utility posts or between the sidewalk and the curb.

Call 311 to report any sanitation-related issues or visit nola.gov/sanitation for more information.