NEW ORLEANS - District "D" Councilmember Jared Brossett has issued the following statement regarding New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORDC) programs for local teenagers and juvenile justice following today's press conference with Mayor LaToya Cantrell:

"I applaud and support Mayor Cantrell's efforts to reduce the overall crime in the City, especially the significant increase in juvenile crime that's occurred over the past six months. Crime has had a substantial impact on District "D," and I know my constituents are tired of being victims.

Most residents in New Orleans believe in redemption and reform, but they also believe in and expect personal responsibility and justice when a crime has been committed. We cannot make excuses for or attempt to normalize the current situation, where residents are being victimized daily.

Every year during the budgeting process, I've advocated for increased funding for public safety measures. As this is an area in which we still need to see much improvement, I again want to stress the importance of taking every fiscally-reasonable step possible to increase both the real and perceived safety threats in our city. Since 2016, one of the measures I've pushed for is the implementation of gunshot detection technology throughout New Orleans. I hope to have a discussion with the Mayor soon about the merits of this technology. Now, more than ever is the time to look beyond traditional approaches, identify and implement emerging technologies to increase the public's trust, and ultimately, reduce crime.

As Budget Chair, I'm committed to supporting a supplemental appropriation to NORDC recommended by the Mayor's administration to ensure we can offer a robust package of recreational programming and summer job opportunities for the youth of New Orleans. We have been focused and will continue to focus on investing in the things that matter - our children and increasing public safety.

Teens who have access to quality, engaging workforce development and employment opportunities are more likely to end up on the path of success. When we create meaningful job and learning opportunities, at-risk teens are less likely to have idle time on their hands, establishing a foundation for their future, and reducing their chances of dropping out of school. I commend the Mayor for taking steps to match at-risk teens with quality summer employment and recreational opportunities. This gives them a chance to build the skills and capacity needed to meaningfully contribute to our city."

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Contact:

Domonique Dickerson
Chief of Staff
Councilmember Jared C. Brossett, Chair of Budget/Audit/BoR Committee
504-658-1040
dcdickerson@nola.gov