Name
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First Name
Last Name
Email
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Which Metro Council District are you running to represent?
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(1) Jail Construction — With the universal agreement that the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison is no place for human existence, what is your position on jail refurbishing and/or replacement?
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Briefly explain why you support refurbishment or replacement.
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(2) Do you agree Baton Rouge needs to pass an ordinance that limits the size of the local jail?
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If so, what do you think the suggested capacity limit should be and why?
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(3) Jail Conditions — Jails typically have a lack of medical facilities, mental health treatment, law libraries, recreation, and rehabilitative programs. What do you feel is most needed in EBRPP, and how will you make it happen?
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(4) Reentry Programs — Over the past five years, state politicians have made no secret that they are rejecting investing in reentry and rehabilitation, even though that approach can increase people’s success when they return to the community and reduce recidivism. The state is shifting to an all-punishment approach, which we know leads to worse outcomes for community safety. What can you do as a Council Member to improve the circumstances of people while incarcerated and being released from jail and prison?
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(5) Diversion/Probation/New laws — In 2024, Louisiana passed laws that extend probation from 3 years to 5, while also making it easier to violate probation when no new crime is committed. What will the impact be on the local jail and the community?
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(6) Housing Discrimination — People with criminal convictions are often turned away from renting an apartment despite having a job and money in hand. This varies from public housing to corporate landlords. Do you support this form of discrimination?
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What would you do on this issue?
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(7) Housing Availability — Local rents are extremely high and becoming a growing percentage of people’s monthly budgets. With landlords investing based on the profit motive, what are some things you would do to address this crisis?
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(8) Redistricting — Despite Black people outnumbering white people in the parish, the Metro Council has redrawn their districts to make 7 out of 12 to be white-majority districts. And considering there are even fewer white people in EBR than in 2010, what is your position on this disparity?
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What is your position on the St. George subdivision taking taxes away from the city of Baton Rouge?
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(9) Voter Registration and Turn-Out — Baton Rouge voting statistics are abysmal, where 355,000 adults only produce 278,000 registered voters, only 99,000 voted in the last election for governor, and only 66,000 voted for Attorney General and Secretary of State. Less than 20% of our adult citizens are participating in this entry level part of democracy. Do you think there is a problem?
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How would you address this issue?
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(10) Health Care — What issues around health care would you champion?
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(11) Mental Health/Bridge Center — When the people of Baton Rouge overwhelmingly voted in 2020 to build the Bridge Center for Hope with public funds, the community sent a clear message, and expectation, that the police should be able to redirect people struggling with mental illness away from the jail and towards resources. What is your take on the impact of the Bridge Center four years later?
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Regarding the current debate about building a long term forensic mental health facility (in addition to the short-term Bridge Center), what is your position on where to build this pressing need?
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(12) Education — This past year, the State’s primary impacts on public education was to place the Ten Commandments in every classroom, while moving towards education vouchers that take funding away from public schools and can be used at any private, charter, or religious school. What impact do you think this will have on Baton Rouge students, and what steps do you plan to take to improve student success?
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