US staggers into 2025 buffeted by week of attacks and looming political violence
www.reuters.com
Just eight weeks ago, the country had heaved a sigh of relied after the presidential election went peaceably

Months before the deadly New Orleans vehicle attack on New Year’s Day, the city modeled scenarios for how an attacker could enter Bourbon Street at various intersections in a crew-cab Ford F-150 similar to the one used to kill 14 people and injure dozens more.

Engineers found such a pickup could enter the crowded tourist strip at speeds ranging from 12 to 70 mph - and yet city officials are now installing new street barriers that can only withstand 10-mph impacts, according to an April city-contracted engineering analysis and city bid documents reviewed by Reuters.

Those new barriers, known as “bollards,” had not yet been installed on Bourbon Street on New Year’s but are planned to be completed by the Feb. 9 NFL Super Bowl in New Orleans. The documents reviewed by Reuters, which have not been previously reported, make clear that the system won’t be able to prevent vehicle attacks at moderate-to-high speeds.

  • @MutilationWave
    3•2 days ago

    I’ve read several things about this today and it seems like a matter of funding. Putting in those retractable ones that can stop a truck is crazy expensive and then you have to pay people to raise and lower them, and to service them. New Orleans is my favorite city in the US and it’s sad that they have to make due with so little amid disaster after disaster.

    I saw someone comment that they should just make parts of the Quarter like Bourbon pedestrian only 24 hours a day and put in permanent barriers. Then business deliveries could be handled by cargo bikes. It’s not like it snows or gets very cold there.

    Oh and if anyone wants to make their next trip to New Orleans and spend some money they badly need there- skip Bourbon Street. Maybe walk through once for the experience, but the streets nearby are way cooler. Shout-out to Frenchman Street, The Spotted Cat and Checkpoint Charlie.

    I haven’t spent much time in Garden or downtown, but Garden is more chill and has great bars. You can go to Dragos downtown and have the best oysters of your life, charbroiled style with the best bread. One order will feed two people. And it looks super fancy but you don’t have to dress up to go there.

    I’ve been four times and I only did Bourbon once on the first trip. Never went back.

    Oh and hang out with the homeless punks a bit. They might look scary and say horrible shit to scare people for laughs, but most of them are super cool and into solidarity. Give them some cash or some food for hanging out with you. They make good music and have the best jokes. Last time I was there one of them just walked up to me and put a huge mushroom chocolate in my hand, said have a great night, and walked away.

    Wow I wish I was there right now after typing all that out. After how wild I got last time I don’t know if my wife will ever go with me again. But you don’t have to go nuts. Best food in the world.