Quentin Anthony Anderson, candidate for Louisiana State Senate District 14, issued the following statement regarding Governor Jeff Landry’s recent executive order & actions concerning homelessness in New Orleans:
“Governor Landry’s recent executive order cloaked in ‘security and safety’ language raises alarm bells for all Louisianans who value dignity and justice. Let’s be clear—this is not a plan; it is a press stunt aimed at appeasing his national political ambitions, donor handlers, and Republican elite, not the needs of our state or the unhoused individuals he purports to help.
Phrases like ‘those with means will be given bus or train tickets out of state’ are veiled threats of forced displacement, which undermine the principles of compassion and equity. Who decides who has ‘means’? Where are these people being sent, and under what conditions?
Prioritizing the unhoused with jobs while effectively neglecting the unemployed among them also reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of homelessness. These arbitrary delineations ignore the systemic barriers many face, including mental health struggles, disability, or the lack of opportunities in an unequal economy.
This move comes from the same governor who went out partying the very night of the horrific terrorist attack in New Orleans, calling it being ‘New Orleans strong.’ That was an insult to the victims and their families. Now, instead of focusing on solutions that uplift our most vulnerable, he is doubling down on inhumane policies to clear the way for photo ops during Mardi Gras and the Super Bowl.
I call on the Louisiana Legislature and the press to scrutinize this executive order and its implementation closely. We need transparency and accountability, not vague statements and authoritarian gestures. Most importantly, I demand the Governor work toward humane solutions that address the root causes of homelessness, such as affordable housing, job opportunities, and mental health services.
The people of Louisiana deserve better than being props in a political theater. They deserve leaders who work for all of us—not just those who can afford box seats at the Super Bowl.”