There are huge ideological differences between me and newly elected Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson and quite frankly, I am concerned.
Ms. Hutson is not a bad person, it's just that she and I are not ideologically in the same realm. I have spent 40 years working in law enforcement and I understand the challenges of running a prison. I think her progressive ideology combined with that of the District Attorney in Orleans Parish are going to be incredibly problematic for the safety and security of our families.
There are already limited resources available to do her job, and now think about some of the proposals that they have to shift the cost of those who violate the law and get caught onto you, the taxpayers, in order to accomplish some of the priorities of their administration. That’s simply what this is all about folks - shifting the cost onto you!
One may argue that a person is innocent until proven guilty. Once someone is found guilty, they should bear the cost of their time in jail - right ? But Ms. Hutson wants to eliminate making offenders pay for phone calls and visitations. Like everything else, who should bear the cost? Should it be the taxpayers or should it be the offender, who will not succumb to the customs, norms and laws of our community? That's just one place where I see a huge problem.
I wish her much success, but I specifically hope she does not succeed in her wish that we should have a 500 bed jail. We should only have a 500 bed jail if the crime rate supports it! But the city of New Orleans has over 23,000 crime offenses reported every year, which does not warrant as small a jail as 500 beds. It just doesn't.
If Hutson wants to limit the jail like that, it will not be good for the citizens of this city… and if we let these progressive policies run amok, then get ready to pay, folks, because it's the only way that you are going to protect your investment in your community, the equity in your home, the safety and the security of your schools.
Hutson's policies are very likely to be dangerous, not just for New Orleans, but for the whole metropolitan area. And the fact that 22% of the people voted in this election - folks, that is a tragedy! These are the races that make the biggest difference in the safety and security of you and your family. If we want to keep going down this road of decriminalization, defunding, or the re-imagination of the criminal justice system, then the voters have spoken, and I guess many welcome the havoc in the streets.
We're seeing that chaos now in every place where there is a progressive sheriff and district attorney. Citizens in Seattle and Minneapolis are crying uncle.
Are we going to be next?