Sidney Barthelemy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sidney Barthelemy
58th Mayor of New Orleans
In office May 5, 1986 – May 2, 1994
Preceded by	Ernest Morial
Succeeded by	Marc Morial
Member of the New Orleans City Council
In office 1978–1986
Preceded by	Joseph V. DiRosa
Succeeded by	Dorothy Mae Taylor
Member of the Louisiana Senate from the 4th district
In office 1974–1978
Preceded by	Adrian Guy Duplantier, Sr.
Succeeded by	Henry Braden
Personal details
Born	Sidney John Barthelemy (1942-03-17) March 17, 1942 (age 83) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Political party	Democratic

Sidney John Barthelemy, born on March 17, 1942, is an American politician. He was the second African American person to become the mayor of New Orleans. Before becoming mayor, he served in the Louisiana State Senate from 1974 to 1978. He was also a member of the New Orleans City Council from 1978 to 1986. Barthelemy was the mayor of New Orleans from 1986 to 1994. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Sidney Barthelemy: A New Orleans Leader

Early Life and Education

Sidney Barthelemy was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on March 17, 1942. He was the third of six children in a Creole family. He grew up in the Seventh Ward of the city.

He attended Corpus Christi Elementary School and St. Augustine High School (New Orleans). These schools were run by the Josephites. After high school, he considered becoming a priest with the Josephites. He studied at Epiphany Apostolic Junior College in Newburgh, New York. Then he went to St. Joseph Seminary in Washington, D.C.. There, he earned a degree in philosophy and studied Theology. During his summers, he worked as a laborer for a company that loaded and unloaded ships.

Starting His Career

In 1967, Barthelemy decided not to become a priest. He returned to New Orleans and began working as an assistant for Total Community Action. In 1968, he married Michaele Thibideau. From 1969 to 1972, he directed the Parent Child Center of Family Health, Inc.

During these years, he also earned a Master of Social Work degree from Tulane University. He worked part-time for the Urban League of Greater New Orleans. He also helped with different political campaigns. He joined COUP, a political group in the 7th Ward of New Orleans.

Entering Politics

From 1972 to 1974, Barthelemy was the Director of the Department of Welfare. He worked under Mayor Moon Landrieu. With support from COUP, Barthelemy was elected to the Louisiana State Senate in 1974. He represented District 4. He was the first African-American to serve in that group since the Reconstruction period.

While in the Legislature, he also worked at Xavier University of Louisiana. He was an assistant director for a program there. He also taught in the Sociology Department. He became a part-time teacher at Tulane University in their health sciences department.

In 1978, Barthelemy was elected to the New Orleans City Council. He held this position for two terms. During his time on the council, he became known for his disagreements with Mayor Ernest "Dutch" Morial. In 1979, he won a state Senate seat, defeating a long-serving white politician.

Becoming Mayor in 1986

Sidney Barthelemy first thought about becoming mayor in 1982. He was reelected to the city council that year. Barthelemy was seen as very different from the strong-willed Mayor Ernest Morial. Morial could not run for a third term and supported Barthelemy's opponent, Bill Jefferson.

The election in 1986 was historic. It was the first time both candidates in the final round were African Americans. Barthelemy won with 58 percent of the votes. He received more support from white voters than black voters in this election. However, when he ran for reelection in 1990, he won with strong support from black voters.

Mayor of New Orleans

Barthelemy became the second African American mayor of New Orleans in 1986. His time as mayor started during a tough period. The federal government had cut funding to cities. Also, the region faced an economic slowdown called the Oil Bust. The price of oil dropped, which hurt Louisiana's economy.

The city's unemployment rate went up, and the government had a $30 million budget problem. To fix this, Barthelemy worked with the city council. They cut costs, raised fees, and let private companies take over some city services. More than 1,000 city workers lost their jobs during this time.

Economic Development and Challenges

Barthelemy believed the private sector should lead economic growth. He was less involved in economic development than the previous mayor. For example, he suggested privatizing and tearing down much of the city's public housing. This idea was not popular and was eventually dropped.

During his time as mayor, New Orleans lost many corporate jobs. Companies like Exxon and Chevron had large offices downtown, but many moved away. Barthelemy tried to create a good environment for new businesses, but it was difficult. A big disappointment was when Martin Marietta, a defense company, lost a contract for the Space Station Freedom. This meant thousands of jobs went to another city.

However, Barthelemy's administration did have some economic successes. He brought the giant Pick 'n Save distribution center to New Orleans East. This project helped the city use its Port of New Orleans better. The city also focused on growing its tourism industry.

Boosting Tourism and City Life

Tourism was the only part of the city's economy that grew significantly under Barthelemy. New Orleans hosted the Republican National Convention in 1988. It also hosted the NCAA Final Four basketball tournament in 1993.

Barthelemy oversaw the opening of the Aquarium of the Americas. He also saw the start of the Riverfront streetcar line. New shopping areas like the New Orleans Centre and Riverwalk opened downtown. He also supported the first expansion of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

His administration also managed to get rid of the $30 million budget problem. He tried to raise money in new ways, like proposing a tax on people who worked in the city but lived in the suburbs. He also supported legalizing a land-based casino and riverboat gambling.

Other important events during his time included a visit from Pope John Paul II in 1987. He also supported a large addition to the New Orleans Museum of Art. This made the museum its current size. The Louisiana Children's Museum was also created during his term.

Leadership Style and Reelection

Sidney Barthelemy was known as a quiet and calm politician. This was different from the strong style of his predecessor, Dutch Morial. Some critics saw this as a sign of weak leadership. However, Barthelemy saw his calm approach as a strength. He once said, "People tend to underestimate me because I don't bang my fist on the table and jump up and scream...but I know how to get the job done."

Despite criticism, Barthelemy won reelection in 1990. He defeated his challenger, Donald Mintz, in a close election. In 1993, a historic streetcar barn was destroyed, which was a low point for his administration.

Later that year, a controversy arose about scholarships. It was revealed that politicians, including the mayor, could grant scholarships to Tulane University. These scholarships were sometimes given to family members or political allies. This caused a lot of discussion across the state.

Even with these challenges, Barthelemy was generally well-liked. A former state senator, Fritz H. Windhorst, said Barthelemy "doesn't whine or complain when things go badly." He added that Barthelemy's calm style helped reduce anti-New Orleans feelings in the state legislature.

After City Hall

After his time as mayor, Barthelemy has received more positive reviews. In 2012, a City Council member said that New Orleans would not be where it is today without his tough decisions. She praised his strength in facing criticism for making good choices for the city's future.

As a respected former mayor, Barthelemy has continued to be involved in important discussions. For example, he met with other former mayors and local leaders in 2006. They discussed plans for flood protection after Hurricane Katrina.

Currently, Sidney Barthelemy works as the Director of Governmental Affairs for Historic Restoration, Inc. (HRI Properties). This is a real estate development company based in New Orleans.