New Orleans will restrict street vendors during Essence Fest
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Guests visit Soko Mrkt during the 2023 Essence Fest at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Essence
Essence Fest kicks off its 30th anniversary event next week in New Orleans, and a large swath of downtown will have special rules for a so-called clean zone.
Why it matters: Festival organizers like the clean zone because it limits competition while local businesses say the rules infringe on their ability to operate.
The big picture: Clean zones are used across the country as essentially a non-compete option for big events.
- They limit street vendors, exterior marketing and outdoor festivities in the specified geographic zone during a certain timeframe.
- New Orleans leaders use these zones to help entice organizers to bring their multimillion dollar events to the city.
- They've been used at Essence Fest, the Super Bowl, French Quarter Fest, NCAA Final Four and other moneymakers.
Zoom in: The Essence ordinance says goals include preventing the sale of counterfeit items along with reducing congestion and litter from other events.
- An Essence representative says the clean zone also prevents big brands from competing with the fest's corporate sponsors, according to Sophie Kasakove with NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune.
Yes, but: Critics say the rules come at the expense of local vendors.
- They restrict street vending and prevent businesses from hosting their own events and festivals.
Case in point: Essence cited the clean zone rules last year when it asked the city to shut down a Black author event at Baldwin & Co., a Black-owned bookstore.
- Essence eventually dropped Baldwin from the lawsuit, but not before getting wide criticism from New Orleans residents.
- DJ Johnson, the owner of Baldwin, spoke against the ordinance this month before council members voted 5-0 to amend and approve it, writes Katie Jane Fernelius with Verite.
Between the lines: The city has been sued at least twice over the clean zones for the Super Bowl and French Quarter Fest, NOLA.com says.
By the numbers: Essence had an estimated $251.3 million economic impact on New Orleans for its 2022 festival, according to a report from Dillard University.
- It draws thousands of attendees, mainly women, to the city, who sell out hotels and fill up restaurants.
How it works: If there's a clean zone in effect, street vendors must apply for a permit to operate.
- Council members changed the rules for Essence, giving the city the authority to issue the permits instead of festival organizers, Verite says.
- The zone is also a little smaller this year.
The fine print: Essence's clean zone is from July 1 through July 8 and governs the Warehouse District, the CBD, the French Quarter and parts of the Lower Garden District, Algiers, Marigny and elsewhere.
- It doesn't include the Caesars Superdome, the Smoothie King Center or the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
- Violators can be fined and/or arrested.
Meanwhile, Essence is allowing some minority-owned and women-owned businesses in the city to use festival graphics on promotional materials.
- Essence also said it is hiring local vendors and employees.
What's next: Essence Fest starts July 3.
- City Council members are expected to vote later this year on the clean zone ordinance for the Super Bowl, which New Orleans is hosting in February 2025.
Go deeper: