NEW ORLEANS — Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser made a trip to New Orleans on Wednesday to talk all things Louisiana.
“We can do this if we all work together,” Nungesser said to an audience. “We’re always looking for new ideas.”
At the meeting, crime in the French Quarter seemed to be top of mind.
“It’s unacceptable. If this is the jewel of the city, God help us if we can’t clean it up and make it safe,” Nungesser said.
With the Super Bowl just months away, Nungesser says the safety of both residents and visitors is a top priority for state officials.
“We gotta enforce the law,” Nungesser said. “I applaud the governor for putting in the state police and starting to prosecute some of these guys at the state level.”
This all comes just over a week since a 43-year-old tour guide was shot and killed in the Quarter, allegedly by a juvenile who should have been wearing an ankle monitor.
“How do we not know these things are working? That company needs to be fired and bring someone in that can do the job,” Nungesser said.
That’s why he says he wants to work alongside city officials to fight for a safer New Orleans, by utilizing Louisiana State Police, installing security cameras, and flying drones over the French Quarter.
“It’s huge. They can see things before they happen. They can track them. They are leaning forward. They want to make it safe and they’re doing a great job,” Nungesser said.
French Quarter Citizens President Glade Bilby says issues in the Quarter stretch far beyond crime, citing dirty sidewalks, poor signage, and potholes to name a few.
“The French Quarter is the jewel of the city and the state,” French Quarter Citizens President Glade Bilby said. “We need it cleaner, and we need it safer. That’s what we want to focus on.”
He says change needs to happen and help from anyone is welcome.
“We need something done. We don’t need a holistic approach here. Whatever the entity that can make it happen would be great,” Bilby said.
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