Crime priorities now in council’s hands

A list of projects and programs that law enforcement and city-parish officials say represent the most pressing crime-fighting and prevention needs is now in the hands of the Metro Council for consideration. At its meeting Wednesday, the council accepted the Crime Committee’s final list of priorities. It includes 15 items officials deem most important for crime control and relieving facility overcrowding, as well as estimated crime reduction, cost estimates and potential sources of funding for each. Councilman Trae Welch, who led the committee, says it took pains to minimize the impact on taxpayers, seeking private and existing funding when possible. However, he says, cost was not the primary factor in determining priorities. “This was strictly what we think is going to be, priority-wise, the best way to actually do something for crime” control, he says. Top priorities include a replacement of the parish prison at a cost of $165 million; a larger juvenile complex for $45 million; and a public safety complex for $102 million. The list emphasizes detoxification and juvenile needs because, Welch says, “over 90% of the people that come into the prison system have some sort of addiction, whether it be alcohol or drugs. We’re dealing with our children before it becomes that way.” Most of the projects, Welch says, don’t require any tax revenue, and some are currently under way. “Six of those have been recommended for tax funds,” Welch told the council. “It will ultimately be up to this council to put that forward. But that’s something we still need to talk about.” —Ian McGibboney