NEW ORLEANS, LA - Today, District E City Councilmember Oliver M. Thomas Jr. issued the following statement:

“As a city that just recently observed the 20th anniversary of Katrina, we know what it means to see the National Guard on our streets. We’ve lived through that, and it was a scary time. What we learned then and must remember now is that safety comes from partnership with our community, not policing over it. We need partnerships like we do for special events, and that’s not the case now. The message this sends is that this is being done to our people, not with us.

NEW ORLEANS, LA - Today, District E City Councilmember Oliver M. Thomas Jr. issued the following statement:

My thoughts and prayers are with the residents of the Gentilly Ridge Apartments who were impacted by this morning’s devastating five-alarm fire. I am deeply grateful to the New Orleans Fire Department, New Orleans EMS, the American Red Cross, the Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness, the Office of Homeless Services & Strategy, and all of our first responders for their swift and courageous actions to save lives and prevent further tragedy.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Today, District E City Councilmember Oliver M. Thomas Jr. issued the following statement:

“Our hearts are heavy upon learning the news of the passing of Bryan Vasquez, the 12-year-old boy who went missing in his neighborhood,” said Thomas. “This tragedy affects not just the residents of New Orleans East or even District E, but all of our neighborhoods in the city of New Orleans.

Our Sheriff Susan Hutson has recently notified partners in the Criminal Justice System that Deputy Sheriffs will be pulled away from their assigned duties and responsibilities to support prevention of the recent tragedies that have happened at the Criminal Justice Center.