Darian Trotter WGNO News

February 22, 2012
NEW ORLEANS—
Mardi Gras was a major success.

That's the word from New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. He laid out the hits, runs, and errors in this year's report card.

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People are packing up and the streets of the French Quarter now, look very different than they did just a few hours ago.

Mardi Gras 2012 is gone but not forgotten.

"We pretty much stayed drunk and half naked the whole time," visitor Angus Campbell said.

"I had a wonderful time, it was a great experience," said visitor Stacey Lee. "People were nice and friendly it was everything I'd hoped it would be."

And that's how city leaders see it.

"Simply stated, Mardi Gras 2012 rocked," Mayor Mitch Landrieu said.

In his annual Mardi Gras wrap-up, Mayor Mitch Landrieu talked about things that went well; like the city's public safety plan, which put extra officers on the streets, in bright colored vests.

"There was a huge police presence," Campbell

"Everywhere you went there was a police office, on horse on foot in the little cars so it was great," Lee said.

"By all indications it was one of the biggest and the best," Landrieu said.

Mayor Landrieu says fewer crimes were committed this year, compared to last year.

Police arrested 193 people for curfew violations. There were 33 gun arrests, and 45 people arrested for drugs.

"At the end of the day the men and women in this department proved without fail that they are the very best in the world at managing large crowds, managing large crowds of people who come here to have a good time," Mayor Landrieu said.

People like this group, packing up loads of memories.

"We came out here had fun, and we're 100% coming back next year," Campbell said.

The mayor also praised EMS workers and the Red Cross for their contributions.

Landrieu praised sanitation crews for cleaning up so quickly along parade routes and in the downtown area.