Louisiana bill on Baton Rouge blight moves forward

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A bill that gives the local government more authority in dealing with blighted property has advanced in the regular legislative session.

Blight is a growing problem in cities all across Louisiana. The issue of rundown properties in Baton Rouge had the attention of Mayor-President Sid Edwards as he was preparing to take office.

“Since 2016, more than 64,000 calls for service in East Baton Rouge on blight issues have occurred, almost 19 calls a day,” said Edwards.

Senate Bill 236, authored by Sen. Rick Edmonds (R-Baton Rouge), is aimed specifically at Baton Rouge. Its goal is to make sure the governing authority can condemn, demolish, or remove dilapidated and dangerous property more efficiently.

Originally, the bill named Edwards specifically as the one to make the designation. Some amendments have changed some of that language, but the bill is still meant to speed up the process and to provide some relief, especially for people who live near these blighted properties.

Edmonds told the House Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs that before Edwards took office, his transition team spoke to about 150 people to find out what issues were the most important for the city.

“Out of all the issues one of the top was the subject of blight, so we formed one committee that did nothing but that, the mayor, Sid Edwards, walked multiple parts of the district, and committee members, not all but some walked too, and began to look at how to prepare our city for a great win in the future,” said Edmonds.

The measure passed out of the committee with no opposition. The bill must now go to the House.

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