Public commenters urge support for reentry, housing help and oppose Louisiana congressional redistricting

Multiple community members addressed the Caddo Parish Commission during the citizens’ comment period on July 9.

Pinky Clinton, who identified herself with Grace Community Outreach (Grace House), described a longtime local ministry that serves people experiencing homelessness, substance use disorders, domestic violence and trafficking and said the program is at risk of closing. Clinton said her group takes clients who cannot access other shelters and requested financial and administrative help; commissioners asked staff to follow up after the meeting and offered contact information.

Carla Bunton said she traveled to Chester, Virginia, and other parts of the Washington, D.C., region to study data centers and shared observations on how that community has handled infrastructure, water and taxes. Bunton reported officials told her that developers there were offering infrastructure investments and that neighbors she interviewed did not report problems with noise or utilities, though she cautioned her sample was small.

Heather Dubois and other speakers urged commissioners to adopt resolution 46 opposing Louisiana’s congressional redistricting, arguing the process undermined voter confidence and may disadvantage vulnerable populations. The commission ultimately voted to adopt the resolution; the clerk recorded four commissioners in opposition.

Commissioners used the public comment period to ask presenters to leave contact information for follow-up and to direct staff to connect commenters with appropriate departments.