New Orleans must enhance its security measures after failing to fully follow up on a report that warned of a vehicular attack just like this one. This, combined with reported political dynamics, undermined the homeland security capabilities that needed to be built. There is an urgent need to increase funding, personnel, and capacity in New Orleans when it comes to preparing for a turbulent security environment.
The New Orleans Mayor's Office was unable to prepare for this attack because of failure to follow up on a technical risk assessment, but more so for spending time on politicized agendas involving topics like climate, equity, and sustainability. Instead of implementing security protocols and studying the threat of radical Islamic terrorism, the mayor spent 103 days traveling and tending to the wrong issues.
Rather than focusing on the "security" needed to make New Orleans safer, more attention needs to be focused on the extraordinary level of surveillance that has long been intruding into the lives of city residents. From omnipresent cameras to intrusive technologies, it's vital that, going forward, the true nature of oppressive surveillance in New Orleans is considered.