Back-door tactics are being used to take power away from the people of New Orleans

It seems like there are forces lining up to use back-door tactics to take power away from the people of New Orleans; the people who have already chosen their representatives through the electoral process. We have seen these tactics used in the past to dismantle our local school system and to dismantle our local control, authority, and ability to govern. With the loss of control and accountability came: the negative effects of the firing of 6,000 certified teachers, our babies now have to stand at bus stops at six in the morning for the lack of a holistic transportation system, and there has been a great decrease in responsiveness to the concerns of local parents and guardians. Will placing the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office under federal receivership be déjà vu? Is this the second verse of the same song?

Proponents of federal receivership say it is necessary to bring about a change in the Sheriff’s Office, but there is already a mechanism by which change occurs: it is called the electoral process. Sheriff Marlin N. Gusman has been elected to office and re-elected twice. Each time, Sheriff Gusman was elected by the citizens of New Orleans with an overwhelming majority.

The state of our jails and Sheriff’s Office when Sheriff Gusman was first elected was deplorable, but the Sheriff has fought for change and has led his office out of a gloomy past. When Sheriff Gusman was elected, buildings and grounds were dilapidated, dangerous, and even toxic. The Sheriff fought for funds to erect new, safer and smarter facilities. The Sheriff fought for an increase to his budget to increase the pay of his deputies from $6 an hour to just over $12 — and he is still fighting for more pay for his deputies.

Progressive, systemic change takes time; it also requires a leader with integrity. Our Sheriff’s Office does not need federal receivership, it needs time and support. Our Sheriff is a man of integrity who needs time and financial support to keep making historic strides at the Orleans Justice Center.

­– Cynthia Willard-Lewis
Former N.O. City Councilperson

This article originally published in the May 30, 2016 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.