Thread by @PSNBatonRouge

The East Baton Rouge Metro Council meeting has begun... follow this thread for updates!

While we wait for introductions to be read... here's the things we will be fiyah today.

This may be a quick meeting. Only 75 items and we're wrapping through condemnations (through item 40) fairly fast.

Now we're on Item 41 - Renter's Rights Ordinance.

Donna Collons-Lewis and @FoundationforLA have been working hard on this one.

Here's how the ordinance works:

We've heard from a concerned citizen/resident and now we're hearing from a @FoundationforLA representative.

We're hearing stories about tenants trying to make complaints about code violations about their facilities and then landlords trying to kick them out.

Now we're hearing from a rep of Power Coalition (a large non-profit advocacy organization in Louisiana) who support the ordinance.

Now we're hearing from an attorney who provides civil legal aid, particularly in the cases of housing.

She says "many of our clients in BR completely lack adequate facilities..."

"Something that gets said multiple times is 'Why don't they just move?' Well many people cannot afford to move or they are elderly and can't."

"It simply allows renters to report code violations without fear of retaliatory evictions."

"If renters don't have a way to report without retaliatory evictions you won't hear about fire hazards."

Now we have a rep from the Renter's Association.

He says he's not sure which draft of the ordinance is being voted on but they don't agree with it. They say it's too complicated and has some law issues.

Now we're hearing from a lawyer (who didn't have to give his address) he says there's multiple issues. He says that he'll be put out of business if all renters need is a ✌️code violation✌️to make a complaint.

Now we're hearing from a property manager and real estate agent (who also didn't have to give their address)....

Speaker goes through the various legal ways that landlords are required to keep up their property.

Speaker says that tenants harass the landlords when they try to enforce the contracts.

A speaker in favor responds to landlords complaints and says "Fair Housing Act does not cover retaliation, it does not exist in the law." he goes on to state more laws and facts. Says "Baton Rouge is behind on fair housing rights."

A speaker who lives in Bocage apartment area talks about how neglect of property managers can happen anywhere on Baton Rouge.

"There needs to be a higher bar."

Freiberg immediately asks for a motion to defer item for 2 weeks.

Welch says "Where it comes from is a good place... tenants should have the ability to make complaints without retaliation."

Collins-Lewis says this is the 9th draft. She says she's okay with deferring but not for the next 2 weeks because she won't be at the next meeting.

Collins-Lewis "If you're a good landlord this ordinance is not for you."

"It's not right for landlords to make money off a dump."

"If you violate the code, there are consequences.
If you violate the law, there are consequences.
If you violate this, there should be consequences."

🔥🔥🔥

Wicker has some questions about property laws. We have a rep who is clarifying a previous property code requirements.

Collins-Lewis talks about how HUD is not a good enforcer of property issues.

Item was deferred with no opposition, it'll be taken up again in two weeks.

We had brief confusion on the Mental Health Tax item but now we're on item 43 and moving along...

We're on item 49... sure are a bunch of settlements.

Brief pause because Hudson was concerned about the janitorial services for the library, but now we're on our way.

We're now on item 62.... still chucking along.

While we're waiting. Join us this Sunday 2:30pm at the Main Library on Goodwood to get involved.

Mental Health Tax Time! Speaker expresses concerns about diversity on the board and conflicts of interest.

Further reports from the Bridge Center are expected within the next 30 days.

Now we're arguing over the order in which people are allowed to speak...

Kathy Kliebert of the Bridge Center Board is up to speak! She's asked all present board members to stand while she speaks.

Kliebert is listing the research her team has done about how to run this kind of mental health center and giving surface overview of the Bridge Center business plan. Will we see it soon?

Another board member! Gwen Knox is speaking.

Knox is relaying her personal experiences with a loved one who might have benefited from a local mental health facility. She pledges to make sure proper protocol and procedures are developed and implemented.

According to Knox, the Bridge Center will accept walk-ins, patients brought in by loved ones, and some brought in by EMS.

The Bridge Center will have trained CITs... (Crisis Intervention Training - thank you dictionary!)

Can't... keep... up... with Bridge Center board member names... It seems like they're all planning to speak.

Me to every speaker... /sheepish

Hillar Moore is up to bat! Moore says the Bridge Center is NOT an extension of law enforcement, and the goal is for everyone who goes to the center to be treated. He says the Center will not be checking criminal records (though some intake make come from police).

Current speaker: Michael Mitchell, board member and public defender.

Mitchell hopes to develop a relationship between the Bridge Center and the pretrial diversion program. He wants to assure the public he will work to make sure this does not become an incarceration program.

Now on to the public speakers! Current speaker points out that the tax itself did not name the Bridge Center. She feels that having a new entity with no prior experience in charge of the mental health program is not in the public's best interest.

Speaker believes the Council should issue an RFP rather than handing everything over to the Bridge Center.

More concerns about transparency and the lack of a report from the Bridge Center.

Current speaker encourages the mental health center to include services for out patient treatment beyond crisis intervention.

Frieburg shares her appreciation of the Bridge Center Board and invites Kliebert up for questions.

Kliebert notes that BRAF funded the study into similar centers prior to the creation of the Bridge Center board.

Kliebert feels that, while this group has not run a center like this before, they have had experience individually on projects that required similar expertise.

Wait... do we have a business plan or are we still just figuring out what to do?

Oh. Let's listen to the vitae of all board members... /whisper... where's the business plan?

Bridge Center Board members are appointed for 2 year terms, if you were wondering.

I'm spacing out... board member this... subcommittee that...

Every time a new Bridge Center subcommittee is mentioned, take a shot.

Chauna Banks wants to make sure the Metro Council sees a draft from the Bridge Center before it's officially presented at the Council.

Chauna points out that a business plan has been mentioned, but she wants to see an actual mental health management plan. "The Bridge Center for Hope is a hope." She wants to see something concrete.

Oh my. Chauna thinks going with the Bridge Center as it currently stands is just asking for a lawsuit.

"We want to see a plan." "We'll have it." "We thought we were going to have it tonight." "Well, we have a draft. Cross my heart!" "/crickets."

Thanks for watching my play.

Soooo... now the Bridge Center just wants to manage the mental health center and hire a provider? Maybe? Or maybe not. But kinda. We'll see...

We've been wished a Happy Valentine's Day.

We've gone sentimental. Valentines and chocolate and love and light.

We are adjorned!

@threadreaderapp unroll please.