As homelessness rises, panhandlers have been caught up in a months-long police dragnet that critics say is ineffective and inhumane. Soon, the Louisiana Supreme Court will weigh whether it’s constitutional.
News + Notes
8/3 Council Preview: Willow Street jail, charter commission, City-Parish Alignment Commission appointments
Some controversial items are up for consideration this week, like declaring a new Willow Street jail a public necessity and calling a charter commission to examine further changes to Lafayette’s home rule charter.
6 min read
How Should Lafayette spend its ARPA funds? Here’s what readers had to say — so far.
Readers want to see ARPA funds go toward keeping the city afloat (literally) and its residents housed.
3 min read
Amid lawsuit, LEDA turns over applicants for parish’s highest paid public job
The Lafayette Economic Development Authority has turned over the full list of applicants who met the July 14 application deadline for the agency’s top job, by far the highest paid position for a public official — potentially worth an estimated $450,000 in salary and benefits.
6 min read
OPINION: Guillory’s first proposed budget was too bearish, his second is too bullish
Projecting historically big increases in sales tax revenue, he is championing a quarter billion dollar increase in the city’s five-year capital outlay plan, including $132 million of new debt.
6 min read
Undercurrent Awards: Here are this year’s Wavemakers
These six honorees have made big waves in our community, taking on some of the defining issues of our time.
2 min read
Door-to-door vaccine outreach finds success in Lafayette’s Latino community
Language and access, not resistance, are big barriers to vaccines for Lafayette’s Latinos. ACLA’s solution is simple: knock on the door.
6 min read
Current Media sues LEDA to compel release of applications for CEO job
The Current has filed a public records lawsuit against the Lafayette Economic Development Authority and its president and CEO, Gregg Gothreaux, to compel the agency to turn over the more than 30 applications/résumés of candidates seeking to replace Gothreaux.
5 min read
Big money for infrastructure but not pandemic aid in Guillory’s proposed budgets
In two budgets proposed Tuesday, the Guillory administration showered funding on infrastructure and Downtown Lafayette. But in its rescue plan budget, the administration allocated little to no money for direct economic aid, housing or attacking the pandemic.
6 min read
OPINION: Lafayette’s councils should reject Guillory’s proposed Rescue Plan budget and start over
The lack of engagement might be forgivable if the proposal was amazing, but it’s not. We need to start over from scratch.
6 min read
House narrowly sustains veto of transgender sports ban; session adjourns
The bill fell two votes short of an override, with Lafayette’s delegation split along party lines.
5 min read
7/20 Council Preview: Introducing budgets, building a new jail and redeveloping the Oil Center
Up for votes and discussion are a host of issues, including next year’s budget, how to spend the $83.5 million of fiscal recovery money, taking first steps to build a new jail, rezoning the Oil Center, investing $1 million in parks, and more.
7 min read