50 FREE things to do in New Orleans:
http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/attractions/fiftyfreethings.html
#1 Jackson Square! quote
"It's Magic"
http://www.neworleansonline.com/directory/location.php?locationID=1342
This video link below is from that page.
Please watch this clip (click below or when on the page above, click on the pic of the gold man mime) http://www.youtube.com/embed/OYSV3Bf5VkE?autoplay=1
You can also peruse the
pictures they've posted of the square that include buskers doing their thing (AKA: providing art & SOUL to this unique town)
Why do I mention these wonderful things?
Well... While the tourism bureau sees fit to lure people with promise of a good time in Jackson Square (including Street Entertainers) it looks like someone has an issue with the buskers.
My opinion: someone (who knows someone) has personal issues with the entertainers that occupy the square. I'm gonna zip my lip, cause I'm just guestimating about who and/or what that could be.
FACT: There has been some recent displacement / harassment and it looks like we could the city is gearing up to clean house on the square. Below is a hack cut/paste job (this is the last thing I have time for right now, but I can't sit aside and do nothing) so, I'm doing this for now... Here's the proposed ordinance change.
prop ordinance 1: ORDINANCE
CITY OF NEW ORLEANS
CITY HALL: November 1 , 2012
CALENDAR NO. 29,275
NO. _____________ MAYOR COUNCIL SERIES
BY: COUNCILMEMBER GISLESON PALMER (BY REQUEST)
AN ORDINANCE to amend and reordain Section 110-122 of the Code of the City of New Orleans to provide that only between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. shall “A” and “B” permit holders possess the exclusive right to erect easels, tables, chairs or similar furniture in the Jackson Square artist setup area and in the Vicinity of Jackson Square; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.
SECTION 1. THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS HEREBY 1 ORDAINS, That Section 110-122 of the Code of the City of New Orleans is hereby amended and 2 reordained to read as follows: 3
“Sec. 110-122 – Permits Required 4
a) Every person who shall desire to use the public streets, sidewalks or public places or 5
private places of business establishments for the conduct of any of the businesses or 6 callings hereinafter set forth shall first apply to and obtain from the department of 7 finance a permit. Such permit shall in each instance state the occasion for which it is 8 issued and the date upon which it will expire and shall be in addition to any other tax 9 or license to which permittee may be liable. Except as otherwise provided, annual 10 permits expire on December 31. Such permits, however are not valid within the 11 central business district area bounded by the river on the east, Claiborne Avenue on 12 the west, Esplanade Avenue on the north and Howard Avenue on the south, except as 13 provided in section 110-131. 14
b) Only persons holding "A" permits may place easels, tables, chairs or similar furniture 15 within the Jackson Square artist setup area (as defined in Section 110-121) between 16 the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Only persons holding "A" permits or "B" 17 permits may place easels, tables, chairs or similar furniture in the Vicinity of Jackson 18
Square (as defined in Section 110-121) between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. 19
The New Orleans Police Department shall order 20 any person or persons in
violation of this section to immediately vacate the area. If such person or persons 21
fail to obey this order, any person or persons upon conviction of a violation of this 22
provision shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $500.00 and/or impris23 onment
up to six (6) months. 24
This Section shall not apply to temporary activities approved by Mayoral Executive Order or 25 City Council Resolution” 26
* * * 27
SECTION 2. If this ordinance, or any portion thereof, is held to be invalid by a court of 1 competent jurisdiction, such determination shall not affect those portions of this ordinance that may 2 be given effect without the invalid portion or portions thereof. 3
ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS__________________
___________________________________
PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
DELIVERED TO THE MAYOR ON ______________________________
APPROVED:
DISAPPROVED: ____________________
__________________________________
MAYOR
RETURNED BY THE MAYOR ON _____________________ AT ____________________
__________________________________
CLERK OF COUNCIL
ROLL CALL VOTE:
YEAS:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
