Media interested in interviews with the musicians affected by the enforcement of this ordinance and/or their advocates may contact Lisa Palumbo, [email protected]. This page has been set up in an effort to support New Orleans Street Musicians and Performers as well as to disperse information on how you can help change the current situation. In June of 2010, the City of New Orleans began enforcing
a curfew of 8PM for street performers on Bourbon Street, a street known across the world as a place to hear music. The corner at Frenchmen and Chartres has been the open market stage for many and varied musicians, including the Young Fellaz Brass Band. There were also reports of the curfew being extended to all areas of the district, which includes the musicians you hear on your romantic after dinner strolls down Royal Street as well as the buskers on Decatur. Thanks to the efforts of so many supporters, many of whom have joined the fight through this page, we had been in s state of detente, so to speak, with the powers that be and until recently (summer of 2012), the problems have largely been isolated. Now, street musicians have been shut down for any other reason that could be found. Musicians have been issues citations for blocking the sidewalk, even when it's been just one musician and his horn in a doorway, well out of the way of pedestrians. There are others in this city with an agenda to remove musicians from the streets, particularly the brass bands and as long as those forces exist and continue toward their agenda, so will we. This music, these musicians, the sounds in the air at night are part of the fabric of our lives here. We're the lucky ones who hear that sweet note over our heads as we pass by on foot or on our bikes on our way to our destinations. The importance of that same music to the visitors who come to this city cannot be overstated. While some tourists are here for conventions and find the music by chance, there are many, many others who buy that ticket expressly for the chance to catch what we take for granted. We cannot take it for granted anymore. Like it or not, we need those tourist dollars, and more importantly, the musicians themselves make their livings on the tips thrown into those boxes or instrument cases. This is something we have to fight. If our period of detente ends and we're unable to negotiate a fair arrangement for street performers, the resources that follow will be helpful. Mayor Mitch Landrieu, who said he wanted to preserve our culture, needs to be contacted. Here is a link to an email form for contacing him. http://www.cityofno.com/Portals/Portal35/portal.aspx?load=~/CNO/Modules/ContactUs.ascx
I'VE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE LINK TO THE FORM NEEDS TO BE CUT AND PASTED INTO YOUR BROWSER FOR IT TO WORK. Mayor's Office Phone: 504-658-4900
Mitch Landrieu's page: http://www.facebook.com/mitchlandrieu
Once you're done with that, please go down the list below. Call, email or both:
Police Chief Serpas
[email protected]
Quality of Life Officer for 8th District
Ofc. Roger Jones, 8th Dist PD
[email protected]
504-301-7667
Arnie Fielkow/City Council Counsellor at Large
[email protected]
504-658-1060
Jackie Clarkson/City Council Vice President
[email protected]
504-658-1070
Kristin Palmer/District C Councilmember
[email protected]
Please don't expect that the "other guy" will write those emails or make those phone calls. You ARE that other guy. Please sign the online petition as well:
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/letthemusicplay
