The gist: Mayor-President Josh Guillory had an uneasy time explaining an email he sent to council members Tuesday morning claiming veteran Parks & Recreation Director Gerald Boudreaux would be “announcing his retirement from LCG soon.”
Tight for time, Louisiana Legislature tackles ‘tort reform,’ medical marijuana, gun rights and more
While lacking time, the Legislature nevertheless managed to push through several notable bills. Among them long-sought wins for business interests and the beginnings of change to Louisiana’s jungle primary.
Council Preview: Celebrating Reggie Thomas and moving money around
The gist: The city, parish and joint council meetings are relatively uneventful this week, though some moves are in the works on the city budget, bond sales and spending CREATE funds on parish parks.
‘This is different’ — A dispatch from Lafayette’s Rally Against Police Brutality
Sunday’s rally wasn’t the first time Lafayette resident protested police violence. The difference, organizers say, was its diversity and clarity of purpose.
LGH, Lourdes systems bring in almost $50 million in relief as losses mount
The gist: Hospitals within Lafayette’s two major health systems got federal relief from the CARES Act that will only cushion the blow from COVID-19 losses, mainly attributable to postponed elective procedures.
Yes, community spread of coronavirus is still active in Lafayette
While outbreaks at crawfish production facilities and nursing homes are the primary drivers of new cases in the Acadiana region, spontaneous community spread remains a risk.
Consultant again waves warning flag about lack of permanent leadership at LUS
Going on two years without permanent directors and headed for uncertainty, LUS and LUS Fiber could risk their financial health without permanent and steady leadership, the systems’ consulting engineer warns in an annual report issued last month. The engineer has raised flags about vacancies atop the city-owned enterprises since late last year with no movement by the previous administration or Mayor-President Josh Guillory.
LCG will lay off 101 employees in cultural positions
Mayor-President Josh Guillory announced late Friday afternoon that 101 LCG employees were notified today that they will be laid off June 5 due to financial straits caused by coronavirus.
Will Lafayette’s bike spike stick around after coronavirus?
Lafayette’s bike community is cautiously optimistic a recent surge in riders could lead to a more permanent growth in bike culture.
Lafayette metro projected to lead state in job losses
The gist: A new economic forecast projects that the Lafayette metro area will lead the state in jobs lost from the first quarter of this year to the second. Modeling by economist Gary Wagner of UL Lafayette’s B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration shows the area recovering less than 10% of those jobs over the next 18 months.
Housing and unemployment ‘a serious crisis, regardless’ as Lafayette commits all HUD coronavirus relief to small business grants
The decision previews potentially tragic choices to come as local and state governments dig their way out of a worsening economic fallout from the coronavirus: Governments have more problems than they can fix.
Guillory’s cuts only the tip of the inevitable iceberg
Before we break out the tar and feathers, we need to appreciate the context of Guillory’s budget cuts. Given the dire straits of the city’s financials, these cuts—and more—are arguably inevitable.