New Orleans will restrict street vendors during Essence Fest
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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.
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