Pride parade approved in split vote after debate over costs, process

Zuckerman again casts lone ‘no’ vote on permit

Event slated for May 30 parade up Girod to Trailhead

MANDEVILLE — The Mandeville City Council on Thursday approved Queer Northshore’s Pride Northshore parade in a 4-1 vote following an extended and, at times, tense discussion that underscored both community controversy surrounding the event and lingering questions about the city’s new special events ordinance.

Councilman-at-Large Jason Zuckerman cast the lone vote against the permit, while the remaining four council members voted in favor.

The decision comes amid heightened public attention on the Pride parade following issues raised during previous events, including complaints from members of local faith-based groups and the local Jewish community over pro-Palestine messaging, banners and attire that some said introduced political and potentially antisemitic elements into what they argued should remain an LGBTQ-focused celebration.

Additional scrutiny followed recent statements by Queer Northshore indicating broader advocacy themes tied to this year’s event, further fueling debate over the scope and tone of the parade.

Messaging on the Queer Northshore website in the lead-up to the 2025 event included a list of the flags they would fly during the parade with the text: “The Palestinian flag represents our solidarity with those suffering in Gaza and the West Bank where over 50,000 Palestinians, including more than 15,000 children, have lost their lives in recent years as a result of ethnic cleansing, funded in part by our taxes. We oppose all forms of genocide and oppression, regardless of geography.”

Against that backdrop, Thursday’s meeting became a focal point not only for the permit decision itself, but also for how the city will apply and refine its newly adopted parade and special event rules, which became law with the adoption of Ordinance 25-34 on Jan. 8.

The Pride parade and the Old Mandeville Business Association’s Girod Street Stroll — approved unanimously earlier in the meeting — are among the first major events to come before the council under the new ordinance and are being closely watched as early test cases for how the rules will function in practice.

While the OMBA event drew little opposition, the Pride parade prompted a lengthy review of the application, cost estimates and supporting documentation.

Council members said the Mandeville Police Department estimated attendance at 4,000 people based on prior years, despite the application listing 1,500 attendees and Queer Northshore claiming on their website they had over 3,000 attendees. Based on the police estimate for this year, police projected $12,420 in costs tied to traffic control, security, parking enforcement, barricades and no-parking sign deployment.

During the discussion, Zuckerman, who also serves as the current council chairman, questioned whether the application materials fully documented required elements under Ordinance 25-34, including fire services, sanitation, portable restrooms and payment procedures for officers working the event.

“I just like a clean confirmation that all that’s been reviewed,” Zuckerman said, emphasizing that his concerns centered on the process and completeness of the application rather than opposition to events generally.

Other council members acknowledged similar gaps, and said the issues could be addressed as the city refines its process under the new ordinance.

At one point, a brief exchange highlighted tension among council members as Zuckerman pressed questions about hypothetical payment issues and procedural details.

While Police Chief Todd Schliem addressed the council, explaining that police officers working at events are typically paid directly by check from the event organizers on the day of the events, Zuckerman inquired about the consequences should an organizer fail to do so.

Councilman-at-Large Scott Discon interjected, noting that some of the concerns being raised by Zuckerman were not directly tied to the application under consideration and urging the council to remain focused on the Queer Northshore event.

“[T]hese hypotheticals you’re coming up with, that’s not relevant to the application that’s at stake. So the application’s here, she’s, they’ve applied, looks like they’ve … done everything,” he said.

But Zuckerman fired back: “Please don’t interrupt me. I’ll give you the floor as soon as I’m finished. I think it is relevant because we’re taking the time to discuss the ordinance itself and I think Mr. Vogeltanz [District II] brought up some good points. He brought up some good points about how the officers are paid and I’m simply asking the question about how that’s addressed.”

City officials and event organizers provided clarifications throughout the discussion.

Queer Northshore Executive Director Layla Hekmatdoost told the council the organization would provide eight portable restrooms, coordinate with public safety agencies and handle cleanup with volunteers. Officials also confirmed that Fire District No. 4 would not charge the group for its participation.

Schliem said the police estimate was driven primarily by operational needs along the parade route rather than the applicant’s stated attendance figure.

“The driving cost is the amount of personnel we need to close that parade route and enforce no parking,” Schliem said.

District II Councilman Kevin Vogeltanz used the discussion to outline how applications move through the city’s review process and how the ordinance’s attendance-based matrix determines required staffing levels for parades.

Questions also arose about how police working the event are paid, with officials confirming that while some fees are paid in advance to the city, individual officers are typically paid directly by organizers on the day of the event — a longstanding practice that some council members said could warrant further review.

Despite the concerns raised, the council ultimately approved the parade permit.

The Pride Northshore parade was approved in a 4-1 vote, with Zuckerman casting the lone dissenting vote — as he did last year.

Earlier in the meeting, the council unanimously approved the OMBA Girod Street Stroll set for April 18, though that item also prompted discussion about improving how future applications present information on cleanup, public safety coordination and other logistical requirements.

Thursday’s meeting signaled that while the city’s new special events framework is now in place, both council members and staff expect continued adjustments as additional large and closely watched events come before the council.

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