New Orleans, LA – Thursday, December 12, 2024, the London Lodge Motel, a notorious hub for chaos and criminal activity, served as a setting for a series of violent crimes, including a tragic shooting of a 3-year-old child earlier this year. Beyond the violence, investigations uncovered appalling living conditions rife with severe health and safety hazards. Sewage backups, rampant mold growth, rodent infestations, and natural gas leaks posed threats to anyone who passed by. Compounding the neglect of the problematic motel, there were piles of trash and drug paraphernalia, creating a stark portrait of lawlessness that demanded immediate action.

This was a checkmate move that stemmed from months of hard work, strategic planning, and collective determination.

For all these reasons, the London Lodge Motel became a focal point for the District Attorney’s Office. The New Orleans Data-Informed Community Engagement (NODICE) initiative led by Director of Strategic Initiatives Daniel Shanks, developed a roadmap for the first use of the City’s padlock ordinance to force its closure. This was a complex operation, following long-term investigations, multi-department inspections, and painstaking efforts to ensure that displaced residents would have resources available to them upon closure. Which was done with care and consideration for those living there. It was also noted that Director Shanks of NODICE went out each morning and evening in the 72 hours prior to the cease-and-desist order to help ensure that residents had a place to go.

The success of this operation would not have been possible without the contributions of numerous partners, including:

• City Council

• CAO’s Office

• Office of Homeless Services

• New Orleans Police Department (NOPD)

• New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD)

• Safety & Permits

• Code Enforcement

• Sanitation Department

• State and Local Health Departments

• Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF)

• State Fire Marshal

• Louisiana State Police (LSP)

• Entergy

• Sewerage & Water Board

Council President Moreno introduced the Padlock legislation, taking a queue from the City of Baltimore and other jurisdictions who mapped out a way to handle problem establishments.

“The London Lodge, once a site of rampant violence and criminal activity that plagued this neighborhood is now done and dusted. For the residents of New Orleans who are tired of these types of sites that harbor sex trafficking, murder, drug dealing, and worse, it’s long past time that we use all of our resources to serve the people’s best interests and safety. Proud to work with our District Attorney and local and state partners to finally give relief to the people of Dixon and Holly Grove,” said City Council President Helena Moreno.

“The other part of public safety is making our neighborhoods safe and making them healthy. And as somebody who represents Hollygrove on the other side of Airline and Dixon, that’s right behind us, I can tell you that we are making a difference in people’s lives right now by clearing out this blight.”

“This transformation couldn’t have happened by accident. It reflects the power of collaboration among federal, state, and city agencies. This is a united force no longer reacting to crime, but proactively transforming the environment where safety, opportunity, and community can thrive.”