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No set plans to fund or build new Lafayette jail
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LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) -- The Lafayette Police Chief and Mayor-President discussed community issues at a meeting hosted by the VOTE organization, focusing on pedestrian safety and the stalled progress of a new parish jail.
The meeting addressed the ongoing problem of pedestrian safety on University Avenue, where vehicles frequently strike pedestrians. Lafayette Consolidated Government is considering installing a roundabout to slow down traffic and improve safety.
"There has been some controversy around the whole issue with social justice and the jail," said Aimee Dominique, a member of the Vote organization.
The idea of a new parish jail was first proposed in 2021 under Josh Guillory's administration, which led to the purchase of land on Willow Street for potential development. While progress has stalled, the idea remains in the minds of the community.
"Who's going to pay for it? Where's the money coming from? Feds, state local?" Dominique asked. "The site they've picked on Willow might not be the best because it's so close to a school."
Mayor-President Monique Blanco Boulet clarified that her administration has no funds set aside for the new jail, which is estimated to cost $190 million. She mentioned the possibility of state funding, given Governor Jeff Landry's tough stance on crime, but no concrete plans are in place.
Lafayette Police Chief Paul Trouard did not address the jail issue directly. Trouard and Boulet made it clear that LCG owns the jail, and the sheriff's office operates it. His department has no control over jail operations.
Trouard did, however, emphasize the importance of community engagement and reassured residents of the city's safety.
"We have a fully functioning police department. You should sleep tight and not worry," Trouard said.
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KLFY. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KLFY staff before being published.