Following the recent tragedy in New Orleans, the city of Austin is taking steps to bolster its own security measures. According to a report from CBS Austin, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis announced plans for increased police presence and the potential installation of protective structures in the city's entertainment district. "It was a planned attack in New Orleans. That could happen anywhere," Chief Davis told the press, highlighting the urgent need for heightened safety protocols.
In response to the disturbing events that killed over a dozen individuals in New Orleans, Austin is considering placing balusters along sidewalks down 6th Street, aiming to prevent a similar incident. "So if we did open the streets a car couldn't come up like what happened in New Orleans," Davis explained in a statement obtained by CBS Austin. The Austin Police Association also echoed the sentiment for improved safety measures. "Because the barricades that we have down there, they’re not structural," President Michael Bullock mentioned, recognizing the existing infrastructure's limitations. Bullock suggested that bollards, potentially retractable ones, may be an effective solution.
Meanwhile, New Orleans has acted swiftly installing temporary "Archers" barricades along Bourbon Street. These barricades, designed to restrict vehicle access, are a stopgap until the fixed bollards previously removed for maintenance can be returned to their posts. The unfortunate timing of the fixed bollards' absence proved fatal on New Year's Day, when suspect Shamsud-din Jabbar maneuvered a pickup truck around police barricades, driving into crowds and killing 14 people. This was revealed in a report by WWLTV.
In light of these events, Austin's Councilmember Zo Qadri underlined the city's commitment to public safety. With the backdrop of multiple high-profile festivities like SXSW and ACL, the necessity for secure public spaces could not be clearer. "I'm committed to exploring with staff enhanced safety treatments for major street closures downtown, along with anything applicable to our City that investigations in New Orleans may reveal," Qadri said in a statement shared via CBS Austin. The collaboration across multiple city departments reflects a comprehensive approach to fostering safe environments for residents and visitors alike.
