When Rodney “Smokie” Bourgeois got fed up with food trucks parking under the Interstate 10 overpass at Perkins Road, he proposed an ordinance in April that would have required vendors to produce “written permission” from parking lot owners to sling their tacos and burgers. In the face of stiff opposition from vendors, the Metro Council rejected the regulation.
Bourgeois’ move was viewed by some as a shrewd tactic to eliminate potential competition from his restaurant under the overpass, Georges. Bourgeois, however, maintained he brought forth the ordinance because he saw a safety issue in a tight parking area.
Now another business—this time the brick-and-mortar City Pork Deli and Charcuterie—threatens to constrict parking near the District 12 councilman’s restaurant. With approval from the Planning Commission on Monday, City Pork Deli will be a step closer to setting up shop directly behind Georges.
“I’ve been quiet; don’t get me wrong,” says Bourgeois.
And he’ll stay quiet. The outspoken councilman says he’ll recuse himself from voting when City Pork Deli goes before the Metro Council next month for its potential final approval.
Bourgeois doesn’t appear to have much choice. Section 2.10 of the city-parish plan of government includes a clause prohibiting Metro Council members from voting on items in which they have a “personal or pecuniary interest.” City-parish assistant attorney Dawn Guillot says there isn’t a clear definition of that clause, but it won’t pertain to Bourgeois since he has already given notice that he’ll abstain from voting.
“To that extent, it’s a nonissue,” Guillot says.
City Pork Deli proprietor Trey Williams has said he wants to expand parking under I-10 with 15 new spaces under the westbound onramp.
