On our newswire is a story about Jackie Clarkson's attempt to make unpermitted meetings, rallies, and public performances in public places and private locations illegal: newswire article.

UPDATE: At the last City Council meeting, this ordinance was passed, but without the portion requiring permits in order to "to hold meetings or rallies or public entertainment in private or public halls or places".

According to Chief Deputy City Attorney Evelyn Pugh, that part of the ordinance was from a 1950's ordinance intended to be used by local officials against civil rights demonstrators. (Lovely.) It was accidentally included in the approved ordinance aimed at restricting tarot card readers from Jackson Square by restricting everybody except visual artists. Times-Picayune article