It is time for my annual column where I make my predictions for the new year. Unlike the past when I made predictions about unrelated events, this year there is a theme that hangs over most events in the city. That theme is safety.  

Even before the New Year’s Day terrorist attack on Bourbon Street, a couple of upcoming events would have focused the attention of city leaders on safety. The first is the Super Bowl. As host of the 59th Super Bowl, the city will need to protect the attendees of the most-watched annual sporting event in the U.S. 

Then there is the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. In 2015, on the 10th anniversary of the hurricane, the city was flooded with international media and hosted several conferences studying the lasting effects of the storm. This year, a series of conferences are planned and the media coverage is expected to be extensive. 

The terrorist attack solidified the theme of safety as the top issue for residents. However, the response to this attack was different than after past disasters. News reports, history books and published academic studies always speak of the city’s resilience. But after having suffered repeated trauma, residents are weary of being described as resilient. 

Resilience is exhausting, and New Orleans residents are tired. They just want to be safe. 

Safety is difficult to achieve. To become safe from natural disasters, large expenditures on physical infrastructure are required. To become safe from terror attacks and crime, some loss of personal freedom and restriction of movement is required. I predict that residents are ready to make the necessary sacrifices and will ask political leaders for their safety plans.

Now on to specific predictions. 

I predict the 2025 Super Bowl will be safe and judged by the nation as a huge success which showcases the best aspects of local culture. The Superdome is a highly secure building with limited access points, all of which are guarded by experienced personnel. All attendees are screened and monitored. 

A successful Super Bowl will be followed by a safe and successful Carnival season. While Carnival is primarily an outdoor show without guarded access points, the New Orleans Police Department and Louisiana State Police will be supplemented this year by U.S. Homeland Security resources as part of the city’s newly granted Level 1 Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR). Terrorists usually exploit the element of surprise. The city will be on high alert this year and is no longer a soft target. 

Finally, we will be in the thick of an active municipal election season for mayor and City Council. The primary is Oct. 11, and the runoff is Nov. 15. 

One office holder has announced her candidacy for mayor but I predict more elected officials will declare in the current months. A term-limited mayoral incumbent and an open seat always draws a crowd.  

I predict that safety will be the number one issue as recorded in polls. Safety includes not only protection from hurricanes and terrorists, but also from street crime. 

Since the New Orleans economy depends on tourism, safety is also a jobs and money issue. 

I predict political success this year will come to leaders who propose the best plans to provide safety to locals and tourists alike, so that we all have the ability to enjoy the most interesting city in the world.

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Robert Collins is a professor of Urban Studies and Public Policy at Dillard, where he holds the Conrad N. Hilton Endowed Professorship. He previously held positions as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences...