Sidney Barthelemy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sidney Barthelemy
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| 58th Mayor of New Orleans | |
| In office May 5, 1986 – May 2, 1994 |
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| Preceded by | Ernest Morial |
| Succeeded by | Marc Morial |
| Member of the New Orleans City Council | |
| In office 1978–1986 |
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| Preceded by | Joseph V. DiRosa |
| Succeeded by | Dorothy Mae Taylor |
| Member of the Louisiana Senate from the 4th district |
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| In office 1974–1978 |
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| Preceded by | Adrian Guy Duplantier, Sr. |
| Succeeded by | Henry Braden |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Sidney John Barthelemy
March 17, 1942 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
Sidney John Barthelemy (born March 17, 1942) is an American politician who served as the mayor of New Orleans, Louisiana. He was the second African American to be elected to this important job.
Before becoming mayor, Barthelemy was a member of the Louisiana State Senate and the New Orleans City Council. He is a member of the Democratic Party, one of the two major political parties in the United States.
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Early Life and Education
Sidney Barthelemy was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, into a Creole family. He grew up in the city's Seventh Ward and went to Corpus Christi Elementary School and St. Augustine High School (New Orleans).
For a time, he thought about becoming a Catholic priest. He studied at St. Joseph Seminary in Washington, D.C., where he earned a degree in philosophy. However, he decided not to become a priest and returned to New Orleans in 1967.
Start of His Career
Back in New Orleans, Barthelemy began working to help his community. He worked for an organization called Total Community Action. He also earned a Master of Social Work degree from Tulane University. This degree helped him learn more about how to help people and solve community problems.
In 1972, he started working for the city's Department of Welfare under Mayor Moon Landrieu. This experience gave him a good look at how city government worked.
Entering Politics
In 1974, Barthelemy was elected to the Louisiana State Senate. He was the first African-American to serve in the state senate since the Reconstruction era over 100 years earlier.
After serving in the state senate, he was elected to the New Orleans City Council in 1978. The city council is a group of people who help the mayor make laws and decisions for the city. He served on the council for two terms.
Becoming Mayor of New Orleans
In 1986, Sidney Barthelemy ran for mayor of New Orleans and won. He was known for his calm and relaxed personality, which was different from the previous mayor, Ernest "Dutch" Morial.
The election was special because both of the final candidates, Barthelemy and Bill Jefferson, were African American. Barthelemy won with 58% of the vote. He began his first term as mayor on May 5, 1986.
Challenges as Mayor
When Barthelemy became mayor, New Orleans was facing tough money problems. The city was getting less money from the federal government. At the same time, a drop in oil prices hurt Louisiana's economy, which depended on the oil industry. This was called the Oil Bust.
Because of these challenges, many people in the city lost their jobs, and the city government had a $30 million budget deficit (meaning it was spending more money than it was taking in). To fix this, Barthelemy and the city council had to cut costs and raise fees. This was a difficult time for the city.
Working for the City's Growth
Mayor Barthelemy believed that private businesses should lead the city's growth. He focused on making New Orleans a better place for tourists. During his time as mayor, several important attractions opened, including:
- The Aquarium of the Americas
- The Riverfront streetcar line
- The New Orleans Centre and Riverwalk shopping malls
He also helped bring big events to the city, like the 1988 Republican National Convention and the 1993 NCAA Final Four basketball tournament. These events brought many visitors and helped the city's economy.
Barthelemy's administration also supported the arts. The New Orleans Museum of Art was expanded, and the Louisiana Children's Museum was created.
Later Years as Mayor
Barthelemy was re-elected in 1990. Throughout his time as mayor, he was known for his quiet and calm leadership style. Some people thought this was a good thing, while others wished he was more forceful.
Like many big cities in the 1980s and 1990s, New Orleans faced challenges with rising crime. The city's population also went down during this time.
In 1993, a story about a special scholarship to Tulane University became public. It was revealed that the mayor and state lawmakers could give these scholarships to students. This news started a statewide conversation about how these scholarships were awarded.
Life After Being Mayor
After leaving office in 1994, Sidney Barthelemy remained a respected figure in New Orleans. He has been praised for making tough decisions that helped the city's future.
In 2006, after Hurricane Katrina, he met with other former mayors to discuss how to protect the region from future floods.
Today, Sidney Barthelemy works as the Director of Governmental Affairs for Historic Restoration, Inc. (HRI Properties), a company that develops and restores buildings in New Orleans.
