By National Urban League
Published 10 AM EDT, Wed Feb 21, 2024
URBAN LEAGUE LEADERS MARC MORIAL AND JUDY REESE MORSE WARN GOV. LANDRY: BACKTRACKING ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS WILL REVERSE COST SAVINGS AND MAKE LOUISIANA LESS SAFE
NEW ORLEANS (February 21, 2024) – National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial, and Urban League of Louisiana President and CEO Judy Reese Morse joined forces to sound the alarm on the dangerous proposals requested by Governor Jeff Landry in the recently convened Special Legislative Session on Crime taking place in Baton Rouge.
Morial and Morse issued the following statement:
“Contrary to Governor Landry’s claims, the policy prescriptions he has asked the state legislature to enact do nothing to prevent incarceration. They are unsupported by data and proven best practices regarding safety, which will no doubt cause real harm to Louisianans.
“As a former mayor of New Orleans with a proven record of reducing crime, and a former deputy mayor with deep experience, we can state unequivocally that Governor Landry’s proposals will do nothing to prevent crime or increase safety in neighborhoods throughout our state.
“Gov. Landry’s proposals run the gamut of right-wing extreme so-called tough on crime proposals, but in fact, they are all reactionary, unnecessarily draconian, destructive, and will cost the state millions of dollars we do not have. On the other hand, the bipartisan criminal justice reform packaged passed by state leaders in 2017, which Gov. Landry wants to abandon, have already saved the state an estimated $153 million.
“This phenomenon of right-wing extremist Governors and state legislatures enacting regressive and discriminatory policies poses a grave danger to our nation, undermines democracy, and will cause great harm especially for marginalized communities. Our country has a long history of legislating injustice that makes it easier for people in authority to cause harm to vulnerable communities. That is why we must be vigilant in calling out and fighting these orchestrated campaigns everywhere we see them.
“Gov. Landry’s policies will cause more division, give license to further abuses of power, will cause harm, and cost the state millions of dollars that could actually be invested in prevention, intervention, smart enforcement, and rehabilitation. Additionally, the Governor should be mindful of the consequences other states have experienced when they have exacted similar reprehensible policies – businesses, conventions, and residents looking for places to work, live and play have decided to relocate to other states.
Louisiana cannot afford to lose investments, new industries and people to help grow our economy and create a more prosperous state for all.
“There will be major ramifications if these policies are rammed through the legislature in this way. We call on the Governor and State Legislative leaders to abandon these
policies, convene bi-partisan meetings, and propose compromise legislation in the March Regular Legislative Session that would actually prevent and solve crimes in our communities.”