Betrayal

Betrayal, that's all I can call it. My Monroe City Councilman Ben Katz who repeatedly has criticized Mayor Mayo to me and many others voted resoundingly with the Mayor last evening at the City Council meeting. The issue: a series of amendments to the City's ordinances on Trash and Garbage; the most onerous being an amendment to fine, I am sorry City Attorney Summersgill/Tew, to levy a fee on an offender--not clearly defined--of $50 the first week after the transgression and doubling for every week thereafter---and with no warning.

Mr. Katz had said to me in a private conversation before voting yes to introduce the ordinance anyway, that he could not support this unenforceable ordinance. He also said he didn't care if old people and handicapped people were fined!

The community comments to these amendments were very responsible, supportive of cleaning up the city but suggesting with a carrot approach rather than with a stick. Cindy Smith, and officer in north Louisiana Interfaith was supported by seven members of InterFaith as she spoke about a more reasonable approach for the City to take, one less threatening. Baron Powell, Jimmy Inzina, and several others spoke in the same vain pointing out the practical problems of enforcing such a punishment on untraceable trash dumpers.

Persuaded by these comments the Chair of the City Council, Mr. Red Stevens, offered a motion to delay implementation of the ordinance vote by ninety days to allow for conversations with the public, saying that he was impressed by the suggestions and ideas from the community speakers. Mr. Robert Johnson seconded the motion. It was defeated by Mr. Gilmore, Mr. Marx, and Mr. Katz. Then on the original motion to implement the amendments, the vote was the same Mr. Gilmore, Mr. Marx, and Mr. Katz. Mr. Stevens and Mr. Johnson opposed.

Once again the Monroe City Council caved to the Mayor. A reasonable thinking Louisianan must conclude that Mr. Katz, who is offended by everything the Mayor does, traded his vote for the Mayor's support of his wife during the recent election for House of Representatives. Pitiful!