New Orleans city and tourism officials gathered on Bourbon Street Wednesday to mark the end of a street repair project. WWNO’s Eileen Fleming was there, and reports the news conference didn’t go as planned.
“Save Our Jobs. Save Our Jobs”
“The underground utilities have not been replaced since 1928. That’s 90 years.”
“Save Our Jobs. Save Our Jobs.”
“And at least 10 years, 92 leaks have been repaired in the 1 through to 800 blocks.
“Save Our Jobs.”
“So for the first time in nearly a century, we made the decision to fully reconstruct Bourbon Street.”
That’s Dani Galloway, director of the New Orleans Public Works Department. The people chanting? Strippers. They were holding up signs, like “Hands Off Our Jobs” and “Our Right to Work.”
Mayor Mitch Landrieu was supposed to be there, too. But he wasn’t. No comment from his staff on why.
Bourbon Street businesses have been affected by the street renovation project for months.
Officials wanted to celebrate the project being completed, just as Mardi Gras builds to its biggest crowds.
Now, raids on several strip clubs in the past few days have shut some down, and strippers at those closed establishments are unhappy about being out of work. Police say they found evidence of prostitution and illegal activities. Alcohol and Tobacco Control suspended liquor licenses. Those establishments can appeal at hearings set for today and next week.
Strip club workers are planning to protest tonight.
