Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser didn’t mince words following the tragic New Year’s Eve terror attack on Bourbon Street.
Frustrated with what he sees as gross incompetence from New Orleans’ leadership, particularly Democratic Mayor LaToya Cantrell, he let it all out—and who can blame him? This isn’t the first time New Orleans’ lackluster planning and political posturing have led to preventable disasters, and Nungesser is done staying silent.
The crux of his frustration? The missing bollards—those critical security barriers that could have stopped the attacker’s car from driving into Bourbon Street. For years, officials have pushed for better security infrastructure in the French Quarter, yet here we are again, cleaning up after what looks like a glaring failure to act. Nungesser didn’t hold back, calling Mayor Cantrell’s leadership “an embarrassment” and directly questioning how such a lapse was allowed to happen during one of the busiest times of the year for New Orleans.
“I’ve held my tongue long enough,” said Nungesser. “Her lack of leadership is an embarrassment.”
“I don’t think anyone knew that — at least I didn’t… — that these balusters were not in place. And to say they were under repair is not a good answer.”
— Billy Nungesser, Louisiana Lt. Governor, was angered by the lack of barriers on Bourbon St.@BillyNungesser @EmmaRechenberg pic.twitter.com/RIoHQZ2enS
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) January 2, 2025
Of course, Cantrell’s team fired back, brushing off Nungesser’s comments as “outside commentary.” That’s rich, considering the issue here isn’t about political gamesmanship but public safety. Meanwhile, political analysts like Ed Chervenak are clutching their pearls, claiming it’s “too soon” to criticize the mayor. Too soon? When is the right time, exactly? Should we wait until the next preventable tragedy occurs?
Nungesser’s critics might accuse him of politicizing the tragedy, but the questions he’s raising are anything but trivial. Where were the bollards? Who decided this was the time for repairs? And why haven’t we learned anything in the 20-plus years since 9/11 about protecting major urban centers during high-profile events?
This attack is a sobering reminder of the real threats America faces. While the Biden administration is busy downplaying radical Islamic terrorism and focusing on “domestic extremism” and “white supremacy,” the rest of us are left to wonder how priorities got so out of whack. New Orleans is a known target, yet the leadership there allowed a glaring vulnerability. This isn’t about partisanship—it’s about common sense and basic security measures that any competent administration should have in place.
ADMIN POST.
Listen to the absolute clowns of New Orleans trying to make excuses why the terrorist was able to drive straight up the street at pedestrians, a street that’s had bollards for over a decade, but they didn’t know how to work them.
The terrorist must’ve had prior… pic.twitter.com/U8XoDiBeAi
— Tommy Robinson 🇬🇧 (@TRobinsonNewEra) January 1, 2025
And let’s not ignore the broader failures at the federal level. Biden’s lax border policies have created potential entry points for bad actors, while his administration seems more concerned with scoring political points than keeping Americans safe. If we’re serious about preventing these kinds of tragedies, we need a government willing to prioritize safety over slogans.
Nungesser’s question—“Where were the bollards?”—isn’t just a logistical query. It’s a symbol of a larger failure of leadership, not just in New Orleans but across the country. If this attack teaches us anything, it’s that we need leaders who are willing to take security seriously—not just when it’s convenient, but every single day.
