Howie Kaplan was officially introduced as the inaugural director of the Mayor’s Office of Nighttime Economy at a press conference on August 8 led by New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. Kaplan is the longtime owner of The Howlin’ Wolf live music venue and manages the Rebirth Brass Band. He has been a vocal advocate for musicians and venues and spearheaded many charitable initiatives to aid the music community.
“Culture is the economy of the City of New Orleans, but even more importantly (of) the state of Louisiana,” Cantrell said. The mayor emphasized that the new department’s role will be dedicated to examining problems and finding solutions but not enforcement of existing laws and ordinances, such as zoning licenses and noise regulation.
‘This is not an arm of enforcement,” Cantrell said. “It is about bridging the gap, about listening and gaining an understanding of what is happening on the ground that will then influence enforcement so that it’s balanced and fair. That’s what our businesses, as well as our musicians and culture bearers want.”
New Orleans is following the lead of other cities that have established so-called “nighttime mayors,” including Philadelphia, Seattle and Atlanta. The mayor and City Council approved a budget of $500,000.
The focus of his job is “about mediation,” Kaplan said. “It’s about figuring out the issues before it becomes an issue at 3 o’clock in the morning … I don’t think there’s going to be one overarching theme. I think it’s more about the quality of life and about what we can do to elevate that.”
Cantrell praised Kaplan for his past leadership as a business owner in advocating for smoke-free music venues and marshaling aid for the cultural community throughout the pandemic shutdown and in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida.
“His approach is always one of striking that balance, of communication, and collaborating to get things done, not pushing back on change, but embracing change and making sure its a win-win for everyone,” Cantrell said.
Kaplan noted that more than 50,000 workers are employed in New Orleans’ hospitality industry. “This isn’t about an us versus them, it’s about all of us working together,” he said.
The Louisiana State Ethics Board is reviewing Kaplan’s appointment since he is a nightclub owner, but Cantrell said the vetting process to date revealed no issues. Kaplan said he would recuse himself from any potential conflict of interest.
Kaplan spoke with OffBeat publisher Jan Ramsey in an extensive interview in July, mere weeks after Kaplan accepted the position. Read the transcribed conversation here.
