![New Orleans Council Says NOPD Can Close Businesses If They Harbor Criminal Activity](https://townsquare.media/site/34/files/2021/09/attachment-GettyImages-1325674394.jpg?w=980&q=75)
New Orleans Council Says NOPD Can Close Businesses If They Harbor Criminal Activity
NEW ORLEANS, La. (KPEL News) - It seems like everyday media outlets are reporting the ever-increasing number of crimes reported in New Orleans.
If you didn't know this, let this sink in; in September 2022 New Orleans was designated as the "murder capital". You can click here to read our colleague Joe Cunningham's story about the designation.
In addition, this September designation is not the first time the Metropolitan Crime Commission named New Orleans the murder capital.
Many state officials across the state of Louisiana have been keeping an eye on the things going on in New Orleans. Tourism officials will tell you the first destination for people visiting Louisiana is New Orleans, followed by Lafayette.
If you are a community dependent on tourism then what happens in New Orleans will have an impact on your area.
If you did not know, the New Orleans City Council voted in favor last week of something called the "padlock" ordinance. A discussion of the new ordinance was featured on FoxBiz.
It's basically a law that allows the New Orleans Police Department to shut down "businesses that knowingly and repeatedly harbor crime. The ordinance allows the police chief to suspect licenses of these establishments.
A Fox8 report says that the penalties for this will have serious repercussions for the business that is shut down. This measure has teeth. The business could be shut down for up to two years.
New Orleans Councilwoman Helena Morena said during Thursday's council meeting what would define a nuisance business,
A chronic nuisance would be defined as a business that fails to address drug, theft, and violent crime committed on its property in a timely manner.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell says the Metropolitan Crime Commission is reporting crime is down a bit from January 2022 to January 2023.
There were 280 homicides in New Orleans in 2022 according to WDSU.
List of Homicides and Deaths in Acadiana for 2023
List of Homicides and Deaths in Acadiana for 2022
More From News Talk 96.5 KPEL
![Mass Shooting Late Sunday Night in New Orleans Leaves One Dead, 11 Wounded](http://townsquare.media/site/34/files/2021/03/GettyImages-1212883606.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![‘They’re All High': Rats Eating Marijuana in Evidence Room of This Louisiana Police Station](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/03/attachment-Untitled-design-2024-03-12T103015.532.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Louisiana Band Mom Upset After Police Officer Pushes Son During Mardi Gras Parade](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/02/attachment-angelo-brewing-52.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Don’t Stop If You’re Pulled Over by an Unmarked Car in New Orleans, Louisiana, NOPD Warns](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2021/08/attachment-Police-Lights-Photo-courtesy-of-michael-fortsch-y5LaV9IEC_g-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Vigilant Man Shouts to New Orleans Police from Balcony, Helps Cops Locate Perpetrators](http://townsquare.media/site/34/files/2022/01/attachment-IMG_2930.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Two Boys Arrested In New Orleans After Robbing Man Of Phone At Gunpoint](http://townsquare.media/site/34/files/2019/06/GettyImages-678748250.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![New Orleans 911 Operator Wanted For Hanging Up On Callers](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2021/08/attachment-Police-Lights-Photo-courtesy-of-michael-fortsch-y5LaV9IEC_g-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Lafayette Police Seek Public’s Help in Identifying iPad Theft Suspect](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-Untitled-design-2024-07-15T194605.280.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Alleged Donald Trump Shooter Spotted Nearly 30 Minutes Before Shots Fired](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-GettyImages-2161431349.jpg?w=980&q=75)