Hy and Christopher take on several subjects on today’s broadcast, including a major communications crisis at the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, The secret to a better Mardi Gras “Fat Friday”, SNAP, NO soda for you, and a New POLL in the Louisiana US Senate race SHOWS A DEAD HEAT… and that the negative ads on Julia Letlow are working.
Referring to the first topic, we had asked Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson a series if questions, and she provided a reply that was less than informative.
We queried, “Last year, the jail switched vendors for providing inmate communications -- like phone calls -- to a controversial Florida company (Smart Communications) that has recently filed bankruptcy, how will that impact jail operations?  Has the Sheriff begun investigation for a replacement? The owner of smart communications was a very proud ex convict.  He had a license plate that said “ convict”.  Did the sheriff express reservations given that information? In some jurisdictions, inmate advocates have been critical of banning mail, arguing that it diminishes contact with family and loved ones; I believe the jail currently scans mail for viewing on kiosk screens -- what are your thoughts on that?

Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office Rep. replied, “OPSO has received solid assurances that all obligations, and commitments will remain unchanged. Any questions you may have about the changes occurring within Smart Communications, should be addressed with the company directly.”

We also talk about an answer to diminishing crowds on the Wednesday before Mardi Gras with “The Vendredi Gras Solution”.

In recent years, it has become a common practice in New Orleans to give school children the Friday before Mardi Gras off along with the week containing Shrove Tuesday. In fact, teachers tend to dismiss their classes at midday on the Thursday prior, as megaparades commence to dominate the calendar that night.  Educators wish their kids get home in time. As a result of a holiday weekend has evolved, and the midweek Krewes have paid the price. Comparatively meager crowds currently attend the parades on Carnival’s Wednesday night.   It is easier just to wait for Thursday—and beyond.  After all, children have school in the morning on Thursday, and the first float of the second parade on Wednesday evening often will not reach most families till 930 at night—or later.
Parade routes which boast of teeming crowds for the long five-day weekend stand nearly empty along St. Charles Avenue on the Wednesday prior to Shrove Tuesday, yet the city must nonetheless spend huge sums of money for police and sanitation despite the mediocre attendance. The former night for Nyx was inherited by Alla and Druids on the Orleans route in 2026, yet neither parade inspired enough loyalty to draw dense crowds this year. Often, there were more people on the floats than receiving the beads in the crowd.
When one accepts that virtually no one in New Orleans truly works on the Friday before Mardi Gras (however official that workday may be listed), it might be time for the City Council to acknowledge transferring the Wednesday night parades on the main route to Friday afternoons and declaring that day a city holiday, with Thursday’s Chaos parade kicking off what would be essentially become a five-day holiday. Savings in police and sanitation costs would be profound, and the businesses which have to shut down early on Wednesday would enjoy a complete full work day…