Council votes to rescind interim zoning restrictions on adult live performance venues after lengthy testimony

The New Orleans City Council voted to rescind interim zoning restrictions governing adult live performance venues after a lengthy public‑comment period in which dancers, club workers, researchers and neighborhood stakeholders urged the panel to reverse the limitations.

Mark Shetler, representing Shift Change, said workers and culture bearers risk retribution for speaking publicly and urged the council to end practices he described as cross‑district political reciprocity. Emily Nestor, speaking for herself and colleagues, told the council, “Our industry faces stigma; restrictions on adult live performance venues have historically harmed workers,” and urged clarity on the evidence used to justify limits.

Multiple performers, including Katherine Curley and other entertainers who described years of on‑the‑floor experience, said the interim rules would chill independent club openings and concentrate power in corporate operators, reducing workers’ options and bargaining power. Devin Ladner, a researcher with a background in criminal‑justice studies, said past enforcement actions in 2018 shuttered small clubs without producing evidence of the harms claimed.

Councilmember King introduced a motion directing the City Planning Commission to revisit related zoning language and the council later moved to adopt rescission language; the motion was recorded as adopted with all members voting in favor. Council President Morrell acknowledged the painful history of past state and local actions and said the council would do better at communicating with the industry going forward.

Speakers who opposed the interim restrictions called for the council to include workers in policy development and to base any regulation on clear, provable secondary effects. Several business owners and neighborhood residents said competition among venues protects workers and that limiting new entrants could worsen labor conditions.

The council’s vote removes the interim zoning limitation in question and sends the matter back to the planning process for additional review and public input.