Warning: Recent increase in violent crime in New Orleans' French Quarter
Jan 14th, 2015, 04:49 PM
#21
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I think last weekend was not so great for tourists:
http://www.noladefender.com/content/...ickup-burgundy
I went on a swamp tour on Jan. 11 and an Australian on the tour (admittedly a drunken one in the middle of the day) said he had been robbed the night before (I think in the French Quarter).
http://www.noladefender.com/content/...ickup-burgundy
I went on a swamp tour on Jan. 11 and an Australian on the tour (admittedly a drunken one in the middle of the day) said he had been robbed the night before (I think in the French Quarter).
Jan 15th, 2015, 02:40 AM
#22
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I spend a lot of time here and have a second home, so I know this very well. The French Quarter was once considered safe, but things have changed over the past year or two. Unfortunately the mayor here is a lot like DeBlasio, an apologist for delinquents and well entrenched in the "system" which rewards friends and family at the expense of hiring top notch experts in positions of authority. Consequently crime has been as fast growing as TAXES under this Tax and Spend Mayor. Its not that the cops are all bad here, its just that the management, direction and enforcement is abysmal, leading to poor moral and mismanagement. Drugs are a big part of the problem/culture. In all my travels I have never seen so many drug buys go down in the open in the FQ and CBD. The corruption is terrible.
In the end, the criminals here are a bit different than other cities, they operate on a much lower human level...your sneakers are a prize worth killing for....they will shoot first and then rob you..and 12 year olds have no problems unleashing a AK47 in a neighborhood filled with children.
This is not to say you shouldnt visit, nor that there is murderers on every street corner waiting, but you should use extreme vigilance ANYWHERE! The French Quarter has busy spots and lightly traveled areas. Stay with the crowds, dont look like a tourist and dont wear anything that brings attention to you. The latest caper is kids hiding behind cars in less traveled areas of the FQ and jumping you as you pass by. Some folks have been beaten senselessly when it was discovered they had only a few bucks on them. So stay AWAY from lightly traveled areas ESPECIALLY at night.
It's fine of course to dress up nicely and go to dinner at beautiful places like August, but DONT WALK there, take a cab, or if you drive VALET at restaurants.
Unfortunately this is the new reality...I rarely go to the FQ at night now, and when I do I have a (permitted) concealed weapon, and I always be sure to be in situations which would allow me to take preventative action. I'm also a big guy, so I think that I am generally less a target because of my height and size, so you should factor in what they might perceive you as a "target".
There is no real "safe" area in N.O. anymore. I sold my home in N.O a few years back and moved to Metairie so I could actually take a walk in the evening without worrying about who is behind me.
In the end, the criminals here are a bit different than other cities, they operate on a much lower human level...your sneakers are a prize worth killing for....they will shoot first and then rob you..and 12 year olds have no problems unleashing a AK47 in a neighborhood filled with children.
This is not to say you shouldnt visit, nor that there is murderers on every street corner waiting, but you should use extreme vigilance ANYWHERE! The French Quarter has busy spots and lightly traveled areas. Stay with the crowds, dont look like a tourist and dont wear anything that brings attention to you. The latest caper is kids hiding behind cars in less traveled areas of the FQ and jumping you as you pass by. Some folks have been beaten senselessly when it was discovered they had only a few bucks on them. So stay AWAY from lightly traveled areas ESPECIALLY at night.
It's fine of course to dress up nicely and go to dinner at beautiful places like August, but DONT WALK there, take a cab, or if you drive VALET at restaurants.
Unfortunately this is the new reality...I rarely go to the FQ at night now, and when I do I have a (permitted) concealed weapon, and I always be sure to be in situations which would allow me to take preventative action. I'm also a big guy, so I think that I am generally less a target because of my height and size, so you should factor in what they might perceive you as a "target".
There is no real "safe" area in N.O. anymore. I sold my home in N.O a few years back and moved to Metairie so I could actually take a walk in the evening without worrying about who is behind me.
Jan 15th, 2015, 04:40 AM
#23
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It's a shame, we used to travel to New Orleans about once a year and never felt unsafe in or out of the Quarter, but then we were used to walking around downtown and midtown Atlanta and took reasonable precautions.
We did stop our trips to N.O. a few years ago when it became a smoker's mecca due to relatively lenient restrictions on smoking. Hope to return one day once they catch up with the rest of the western world on this front.
We did stop our trips to N.O. a few years ago when it became a smoker's mecca due to relatively lenient restrictions on smoking. Hope to return one day once they catch up with the rest of the western world on this front.
Jan 15th, 2015, 09:15 AM
#24
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On the subject of the general effectiveness of the New Orleans Police Department, here's a rather sickening news story that broke last November, regarding the NOPD's routinely ignoring reported sex crimes over a three-year period.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/13/us...t-inquiry.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/13/us...t-inquiry.html
Jan 15th, 2015, 11:25 AM
#26
Terrible! I have great affection for the city, both our children having been born there, but even back then the police force had significant issues, recognized by all, but not corrected. Heck, there has been degrees of corruption in various forms, and in various sections of the government going back decades and decades. It seems to takes an outside force to recognize it as such and hopefully take some action. The piece about the two year old is so bad as to be almost unbelievable!!
Jan 16th, 2015, 02:05 AM
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I was quite hopeful when I first moved here, I got involved, did what I could, but after many years I realized that the problems are too ingrained into the culture and fabric of the city. I could write many paragraphs on what I believe the root issues are....but if I were to summarize it in a sentence I would use a response to a question posed by a local talk show host a few years after Katrina...the host asked this renowned analyst "what do you think would be the most effective way to solve the problems we face in New Orleans" to the shock of the host, the reply was (paraphrasing) "until you can replace 40% of the population with people from outside Louisiana and across the country, New Orleans will never change". Keep in mind this unbelievable figure....over 80% of the population of N.O. has NEVER lived anywhere else. In my opinion he hit the nail on the head!
Jan 31st, 2015, 08:32 AM
#28
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Well at least they've finally addressed the smoking problem:
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/01/22/...n-smoking.html
Here's to hoping they can get the safety issues under control.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/01/22/...n-smoking.html
Here's to hoping they can get the safety issues under control.
Jan 31st, 2015, 08:51 AM
#29
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Crime and political cronyism have been a major problem in Louisiana and NO sine forever. As far back as Kingfisher Huey Long - in the 1920s and 30s corruption crime were rampant. Sadly the state has limited resources and the few industries are major polluters - making life difficult for all without a strong job/financial base.
Naturally rampant crime is only one of the problems associated with such widespread poverty.
Naturally rampant crime is only one of the problems associated with such widespread poverty.
Feb 2nd, 2015, 10:09 AM
#30
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It is really crazy how many politicians in Louisiana at every level (from governor to US Congressman down to school board representative) have been convicted of corruption-related charges (and other charges). A taxi driver was rattling it off for me. And I think the corruption problem predates 1920--it's an artifact of how the colony was populated and developed.
On New Orleans sites, the posters keep on making these cracks about the smoking ban, apparently not realizing how stupid it makes them look. First, the police are not going to be enforcing it. Second, just about everywhere in the civilized world does indoor smoking bans now, including in Mexico (and they are adhered to).
On New Orleans sites, the posters keep on making these cracks about the smoking ban, apparently not realizing how stupid it makes them look. First, the police are not going to be enforcing it. Second, just about everywhere in the civilized world does indoor smoking bans now, including in Mexico (and they are adhered to).
Feb 3rd, 2015, 03:56 PM
#31
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We took our teenage children to New Orleans between Christmas and New Year's, so just a month ago, and felt perfectly safe the entire time. We stayed in the CBD and walked to the French Quarter several times, to the WWII museum, and up to the streetcar. I would not hesitate to visit there again. We loved it.
Feb 4th, 2015, 04:57 PM
#33
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honeymayspirit, I've been perfectly safe (as a middle-aged woman) doing lots of walking through lots of places that probably aren't recommended. What public transport do you have in mind? Cabs can be difficult if you are trying to go from an out-of-the-center location to the center, but easy going from the center. The odds are overwhelmingly in your favor.
A recent tourist who was shot followed a stranger for 15 blocks out of the French Quarter at 5:30 AM, either in search of "partying" or a "drink", and he was shot (but survived). You won't do that, I'm sure. I don't think being sensible will prevent all crime, but maybe 50% of it.
A recent tourist who was shot followed a stranger for 15 blocks out of the French Quarter at 5:30 AM, either in search of "partying" or a "drink", and he was shot (but survived). You won't do that, I'm sure. I don't think being sensible will prevent all crime, but maybe 50% of it.
Feb 4th, 2015, 06:44 PM
#34
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I have booked the Four Points French Quarter for 3 nights in Sept with 2 kids ages 6 & 10 yrs. Should I be worried and look elsewhere for accommodation? Any recommendations where to stay that is safe for a young family?
Feb 17th, 2015, 01:58 PM
#35
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Happy Mardi Gras, everyone! I've been sitting at home streaming Mardi Gras music on WWOZ all day (http://www.wwoz.org), wishing I were in New Orleans, and then it suddenly occurred to me that i hadn't looked in on this thread in a while.
honeymayspirit, if you're still out there... The Crowne Plaza is on the corner of Canal and Bourbon Streets, on the edge of the French Quarter. From a safety perspective, that's an okay location, but not an optimal one. You'll be totally fine during the day. After dark, that part of Canal Street gets pretty seedy, and there a lot of bad folks just kind of standing around and looking dangerous. It's much worse than it is a few blocks closer to the river, though much better than it is a few blocks farther toward the lake. Canal is a good example of how the busier streets in New Orleans aren't always the safest ones (as opposed to, say, New York, where you're pretty much always safe if there are a lot of people around). I stayed at the Roosevelt a few years ago, which is one block even farther toward the lake. While walking home at about 11:30 PM, I walked right through a big incipient fight that turned into a fatal shooting about an hour after I passed through.
Meggsy76, the Four Points French Quarter is on the corner of Bourbon and Toulouse, in the heart of the Quarter, and in the heart of all the noise, debauchery, and all-around craziness. It's on the same corner as the famous Tropical Isle, home of the Hand Grenade.™ And, although women rarely flash their bare chests up at people on balconies in exchange for beads any more (I think it's because of the advent of ubiquitous cell phone cameras), I've probably seen that more often involving the Four Points' balconies than any others. Personally I can't stand Bourbon Street, and I would be happier staying somewhere else. Depending upon your parenting style, it could be especially awkward to be amongst all the booze and sexuality with two kids. But from a crime perspective, I think that's a pretty good spot. You'd have to deal with Bourbon Street-type annoyances, like pickpockets, aggressive panhandlers, and drunken idiots out looking for a bar fight. But I wouldn't worry about things like stabbings and shootings too much, unless you're out after 2 AM. If you could find a hotel one or two blocks closer to the river, on Royal or Chartres, you'd have a much more child-friendly (and, frankly, adult-friendly) scene, but you'd still be in the Quarter, and still about as safe from violent crime as you could hope to be, in the touristy areas of New Orleans.
honeymayspirit, if you're still out there... The Crowne Plaza is on the corner of Canal and Bourbon Streets, on the edge of the French Quarter. From a safety perspective, that's an okay location, but not an optimal one. You'll be totally fine during the day. After dark, that part of Canal Street gets pretty seedy, and there a lot of bad folks just kind of standing around and looking dangerous. It's much worse than it is a few blocks closer to the river, though much better than it is a few blocks farther toward the lake. Canal is a good example of how the busier streets in New Orleans aren't always the safest ones (as opposed to, say, New York, where you're pretty much always safe if there are a lot of people around). I stayed at the Roosevelt a few years ago, which is one block even farther toward the lake. While walking home at about 11:30 PM, I walked right through a big incipient fight that turned into a fatal shooting about an hour after I passed through.
Meggsy76, the Four Points French Quarter is on the corner of Bourbon and Toulouse, in the heart of the Quarter, and in the heart of all the noise, debauchery, and all-around craziness. It's on the same corner as the famous Tropical Isle, home of the Hand Grenade.™ And, although women rarely flash their bare chests up at people on balconies in exchange for beads any more (I think it's because of the advent of ubiquitous cell phone cameras), I've probably seen that more often involving the Four Points' balconies than any others. Personally I can't stand Bourbon Street, and I would be happier staying somewhere else. Depending upon your parenting style, it could be especially awkward to be amongst all the booze and sexuality with two kids. But from a crime perspective, I think that's a pretty good spot. You'd have to deal with Bourbon Street-type annoyances, like pickpockets, aggressive panhandlers, and drunken idiots out looking for a bar fight. But I wouldn't worry about things like stabbings and shootings too much, unless you're out after 2 AM. If you could find a hotel one or two blocks closer to the river, on Royal or Chartres, you'd have a much more child-friendly (and, frankly, adult-friendly) scene, but you'd still be in the Quarter, and still about as safe from violent crime as you could hope to be, in the touristy areas of New Orleans.
Feb 21st, 2015, 11:56 PM
#36
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Thanks for that information hawksbill. We have decided to change hotels and now booked the Renaissance Pere Marquette. Hopefully that's more suitable with kids and still within walking distance to the French Quarter
Feb 22nd, 2015, 01:19 AM
#37
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I think most people would advise you not to walk with kids from Renaissance Pere Marquette hotel in the Central Business District to the French Quarter. Much better to be in the French Quarter and at your previously booked hotel. But if you want to stay at that Renaissance, take cabs.
Personally I would risk walking (without kids) during the day from Renaissance Pere Marquette, but take a cab to or from at night.
I'm puzzled as to the switch. It does not improve your safety.
Personally I would risk walking (without kids) during the day from Renaissance Pere Marquette, but take a cab to or from at night.
I'm puzzled as to the switch. It does not improve your safety.
Feb 22nd, 2015, 02:00 AM
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Was changing more due to bourbon st noise, drunks etc. My other option to book was the holiday inn château Lemoyne. I can still change my bookings as they have not been paid for yet. Is this better option?
Feb 22nd, 2015, 06:10 AM
#39
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Hi Meggsy76 -
Dh and I have visited NOLA many times and are planning a trip for spring break this year with our two teens.
Personally, I would stick with your first hotel. I am guessing they have entrances and exits at the hotel that do not you put you directly onto Bourbon, and as longs that is the case you are fine. We are staying at Dauphine New Orleans, which is one block away from Bourbon.
When I was a kid living in New Orleans and we had people visit us, my parents would walk us down Bourbon Street with them during the day. No big deal. It really only gets a party atmosphere at night. You should tell the hotel you have kids and don't want a room that directly overlooks Bourbon. You are in a MUCH better location in the French Quarter than if you stay in CBD (which I think would be quite inconvenient and often not safe to walk to attractions in the French Quarter). If you change hotels, I would change to another one in the French Quarter but not on Bourbon.
DH and I have stayed at Royal Sonesta on Bourbon when we have visited in the past. As long as you get a room that doesn't directly overlook Bourbon, there won't be an issue with noise.
Dh and I have visited NOLA many times and are planning a trip for spring break this year with our two teens.
Personally, I would stick with your first hotel. I am guessing they have entrances and exits at the hotel that do not you put you directly onto Bourbon, and as longs that is the case you are fine. We are staying at Dauphine New Orleans, which is one block away from Bourbon.
When I was a kid living in New Orleans and we had people visit us, my parents would walk us down Bourbon Street with them during the day. No big deal. It really only gets a party atmosphere at night. You should tell the hotel you have kids and don't want a room that directly overlooks Bourbon. You are in a MUCH better location in the French Quarter than if you stay in CBD (which I think would be quite inconvenient and often not safe to walk to attractions in the French Quarter). If you change hotels, I would change to another one in the French Quarter but not on Bourbon.
DH and I have stayed at Royal Sonesta on Bourbon when we have visited in the past. As long as you get a room that doesn't directly overlook Bourbon, there won't be an issue with noise.
Feb 22nd, 2015, 12:34 PM
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When i booked the Renaissance it said it was located in FQ. I didn't realise that it wasn't. I'll keep looking at places off bourbon st as still want it suitable for kids but keep within a few streets. Is the westin near the Canal in good spot?
