Councilman Kenneth Boudreaux speaks to members of the Lafayette City-Parish council during their Tuesday meeting on Dec. 2. Boudreaux expressed concerns for a proposal for waiving transportation fees on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.

Photo by LafayetteLa.Gov

By Brooklyn Fields-Meaux
@fields_meaux

On Tuesday, Dec. 3, the Lafayette City-Parish council held a meeting that discussed the proposal of waiving transportation fees on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, which Councilman Kenneth Boudreaux expressed concerns about not including election days.

“This will immediately become voter suppression in the eyes of many individuals. If we cannot send people to the poles at no cost of public transit, I don’t think we can send them anywhere,” Boudreaux said.

Assistant city-parish attorney Tammy Pratt said the overall purpose of the no fair days is to generate revenue by allowing free transit to retail areas.

Councilman Bruce Conque said he proposed a set of “no fair” days and was legally informed by the state attorney general saying that this was not possible. 

 Pratt also explained to the council that the only reason why these “no fair” days are now legally permissible because it can provide possible revenue for Lafayette and is technically not donating services of LCG. 

Boudreaux responded that there was no greater investment than getting people to the election polls. He also said transportation services must address the value of election participation over revenue generation.

The ordinance was deferred by the council and requested to be reconsidered after revisions. Item No. 13 is as follows: “An ordinance of the Lafayette City-Parish councilman amending the Chapter 86, ‘Traffic and Vehicles,’ of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government Code of Ordinances to add Article XI, ‘Lafayette Transit System.’ ” 

Citizens can also view all city-parish council meetings at https://www.ustream.tv/recorded/125061322