The Lafayette City-Parish Council will once again consider an introductory ordinance that would prohibit open alcohol containers downtown and on the Simcoe and McKinley strips. District 7 Councilman Don Bertrand had the ordinance banning open containers placed on the Oct. 5 agenda. A similar ordinance failed on a 5-4 vote on Sept. 21, with some councilmen saying they opposed the ordinance because it didn’t apply parishwide.
The prohibition is one of a few measures that have been considered in an effort to deal with what police and some Lafayette Consolidated Government officials consider rowdy, out-of-control crowds, especially downtown. If passed, the ordinance would bar the use of so-called go cups — plastic cups into which bar patrons transfer their beverages before leaving. Police Chief Jim Craft has alleged that much of the crowd downtown on weekends is generated not by bar patrons, but by people who drive to the area with alcohol and hang out and drink. A prohibition on open containers would presumably mitigate that problem.
Once again, a small but committed group of go cup supporters, galvanized by a Facebook page, “Save the downtown go cup,” plan to attend the council meeting to oppose the ordinance. Bertrand told The Independent last week that in the interim the five councilmen who voted against the ordinance — Purvis Morrison (District 1), Brandon Shelvin (3), Kenneth Boudreaux (4), Jared Bellard (5) and William Theriot (9) — should expect calls from downtown business owners fed up with the trash left behind by bar hoppers.
... written by yesidoknow , October 01, 2010 - 02:35 pm
Please explain to me the differnce between the old ordinance that was defeated and this new one being introduced.
... written by ragin_cajun , October 02, 2010 - 02:08 am
The difference is.....Don Bertrand is really, really mad this time. And he's gonna fix this.....because it's a quality of life issue.
But rest assured, there will be loopholes in the law so the arts walks and French music festivals won't be affected. That's totally different.
... written by ieerto , October 02, 2010 - 12:05 pm
Step one: Authorize an official Lafayette City-Parish Council Go Cup. Step two: Ordinance banning any Go Cup but the official one. (it could even change colors regularly) Step three: Sell the Go Cup to Bar Owners at cost plus 10%. Step four: Profit Step five: Cleanup costs paid from profits.
... written by Tired of it , October 04, 2010 - 02:10 am
Because Don Bertrand is the Administration's go to guy when they want something done. He never opposes Jodu and is pushing this for them even though it has nothing to do with his district.
... written by ragin_cajun , October 04, 2010 - 04:54 pm
Tired of it " it has nothing to do with his district" that raises a very interesting question. This isn't Bertrand's district. Is it Shelvin's district? How did Shelvin vote on this issue the first time?
does he not know his constituents better than bertrand? Bertrand represents my district, I don't like his policies and his stances on the issues. So I should just pick whatever councilman agrees with me to introduce new ordinances?
I'm gonna call William Theriot and ask him to propose an ordinance that bans LCG from funding anything but LCG. Who do I call about putting SafeSpeed on a ballot for the voters?
... written by CC , October 14, 2010 - 07:42 pm
Notice the trash that business owners complained about was shown on the news. The trash consisted of fast food bags, fast food cups, and also powerade bottles. Not just beer bottles and so called "Go-Cups". Just Saying
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