Erroneous French Quarter murder statistics reported by FQMHAMD, Times-Picayune, and WSDU

[lunanola]

Per New Orleans Police Department spokesman Bob Young, the correct
statistic regarding the number of murders that have occurred in the
French Quarter since January 1, 2007 is seven (7), not "23" or "24."

For the opinion of a French Quarter renter and small business employee
regarding the significance of this inaccurate data (and an opinion
regarding the so-called "security district" in general), please read
the blog post entitled, "The Wendy Byrne Murder Tax": http://ow.ly/2MsP8

At the public meeting held at the Omni Royal Orleans on Tuesday,
9/21/10, the FQMHAMD presentation included a slide that cited "24
murders" occurring in the French Quarter since January 1, 2007. This
information was also erroneously stated in the French Quarter Marigny
Historic Area Management District's "Management and Operations Plan"
approved at the 9/7/10 Board of Commissioner's meeting: "Within 1/2
square mile, there have been 23 murders since January 2007." Source:
Page 1, "Executive Summary"- http://gcrconsulting.com/downloads/FQM_Draft_Plan_4_7_10.pdf

On Monday, 9/27/10, the Times-Picayune published the following story
by Bruce Eggler, which also cited the number of murders occurring
since 2007 as totaling 24: "French Quarter security district proposal
is a contentious proposition" http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/09/french_quarter_security_distri.html

The following appeared in the "Corrections & Clarifications" box of
the Times-Picayune today (Thursday, 9/30/10):

"MURDER TOTAL CORRECTED: An article in Monday's newspaper about a
proposed security district in the French Quarter said the Quarter has
been the scene of 24 killings since January 2007. New Orleans Police
Department spokesman Bob Young said there have been 24 killings in the
8th Police District, but only seven in the French Quarter. The 8th
District includes the Quarter as well as the Central Business
District, Warehouse District and adjacent areas." Source:
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/corrections/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1285828218114000.xml&coll=1

[Note: the NOPD 8th Police District also includes includes the Marigny
Triangle to the boundary of Elysian Fields Avenue. A map of the NOPD
Police Districts can be viewed via this link:
http://www.cityofno.com/Portals/Portal50/Resources/NOPD_PoliceDistricts.pdf
]

On Tuesday, 9/28/10, WDSU also reported the inaccurate "24 murders"
statistic, but has yet to correct this misinformation:
http://www.wdsu.com/r/25198133/detail.html