New Orleans voters have a few items left on the runoff ballot this Saturday December 8. Your ballot will be different depending on where you live - click here for your sample ballot.  

As I've told you before, I wholeheartedly support current District B Councilmember Jay Banks for re-election. House District 91 and City Council District B largely overlap, so I work with Jay and his staff regularly. Everything Jay does is in service to the people of New Orleans. In a rapidly changing city, Jay is genuine. We know who he is and why he ran for office: to work on behalf of his community and make sure that ALL voices are heard and represented. He has worked tirelessly for District B residents for the past 4 yours, and it shows in his list of work accomplished while in office.

When I ran in 2019 (seems like a lifetime ago!) it was incredibly meaningful for me to be endorsed and supported by the local unions. Their support helped me to cross the finish line, and they in turn know that they always have someone in their corner fighting for working people and the poor. Jay is also endorsed and strongly supported by our local unions. GNO AFL-CIO President Tiger Hammond said it best: "I have witnessed firsthand what Jay has strived for. Jay fought for living wages for all workers. He demanded that local vendors be front and center of the bid process, as well as ensuring that small and disadvantaged businesses got their fair share. Jay has always been a friend of Labor." The service industry is the literal backbone of this city, and our workers need someone looking out for them now more than ever.

I am also supporting Austin Badon for Clerk of Criminal Court. This administrative role is important, as the clerk is responsible for running local elections. The new clerk will also face the monumental task of updating an online criminal docket that is virtually non-existent; this lack of modern technology has harmed so many criminal defendants, including some of my former clients. Austin is the clear choice in this race. He is well known and respected, has a history of working with a wide variety of people, and most of all, has dramatically improved the functioning of the clerk's office at First City Court in a short time, something I have witnessed myself in filing matters with that court. As I discussed in this short video, Austin is the right person for this job. (I am also troubled by the fact that the current clerk pressured election workers to support Austin's opponent - on official letterhead.)

There are two millages on the Saturday ballot - please vote YES on both! The first extends the current library millage (it is *not* a new tax), and it's crucial that this is extended so that our library services continue without interruption. The second millage extends a current millage (also not new) that funds affordable housing, and is supported by the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center, an organization I work with frequently and greatly respect.

Progress takes many forms, and isn't always linear. Remember our big push in session this year to extend Medicaid post-partum from 60 days to one year? Well, good news - LDH is working on plans to hopefully implement this extension early next year. But even better than that: the proposed federal Build Back Better would extend this coverage for new mothers to one year nationwide. Fingers crossed. Health care is fundamental! Thanks also to the Louisiana Primary Care Association for naming me Legislative Champion of the Year for my work on health care issues.

I will never stop trying to assist and protect renters and those facing evictions. In the meantime, I am really happy to see that the New Orleans City Council recently set up a right to counsel fund for those facing eviction in New Orleans. My legislation (with LA Fair Housing!) on this very issue earlier this year helped to push this important conversation, and I'm pleased to see funding for the right to counsel happen so quickly.

Redistricting in Louisiana will likely happen in February, when legislators will draw new maps for the legislature, Congress, and the like. Stay tuned for more info, and mark your calendar for the January 5 redistricting roadshow in Nola. Regular legislative session begins Monday, March 14, 2022.

Please get your booster shot if you haven't, and try to mask up regardless! Louisiana has had zero deaths from the covid vaccine, but we have lost about 15,000 people to this illness. Unfortunately, many in Louisiana continue to refuse to be vaccinated.

Yes, I am VERY worried about what the Supreme Court will decide with regard to abortion and reproductive rights. Louisiana has a trigger law on the books, and is probably the worst state to live in, in the event that Roe is overturned. I will not stop fighting to protect the right to bodily autonomy in our state.

Tuesday I joined JOIN for Clean Air and spoke in front of the City Council, requesting help from them and LDEQ to address the harmful odors and fumes that some Irish Channel residents have been experiencing. Many thanks to these dedicated residents and to Councilmember Banks for working hard to address this serious public health concern.

City Council Chambers with Councilman Banks and members of JOIN for Clean Air

Rep. Aimee Freeman is hosting a holiday food and fund drive, and Rep. Matt Willard is hosting a toy drive (see below). Please donate if you can.

There are so many holiday fairs and markets over the next few weeks. Check out this instagram page for a list of markets this weekend, and other markets here and here.