Overview
- Mayor-President Monique Blanco Boulet’s administration approved the Jefferson Street route, which she describes as a 14% adjustment to the previous alignment.
- Lafayette Police Chief Paul Trouard told the council the route is manageable for officers and safe for large crowds.
- District 5 Councilmember Kenneth Boudreaux says he and residents were bypassed, reports more than 200 constituent calls, and raises concerns about the north side being left out; Boulet rejects any racial intent.
- City reporting presented at the meeting indicates available standing room could drop from about 200,000 square feet to roughly 80,000, prompting questions about crowd accommodation.
- Business reaction is split, with Vermilion Street owners warning of losses and Jefferson Street shops anticipating gains, while the Downtown Development Authority urges careful planning to protect recent streetscape investments.