Mayor Edwards Presented His Crime-Fighting and Community Engagement Plans

Last Monday evening, the newly elected Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish, Sid Edwards, shared his vision for tackling crime and boosting community involvement. The event took place at the Charles R. Kelly Community Center, where the North Baton Rouge community turned out in large numbers, eager to hear and contribute their own ideas. The focus of the meeting was community engagement strategies. Darryl Hurst, the Metro Councilmember for District 5, introduced a project called BLOCKS. This initiative aims to identify areas where the city can improve and overcome barriers to success. In the first 90 days, the plan involves going door-to-door to address specific family needs, conducting surveys, and identifying obstacles. Edwards also emphasized the importance of mental health and autism awareness. As the father of two autistic children, he wants Baton Rouge to become a more inclusive city-parish. He aims to collaborate with experts in special education and autism services to open more doors for citizens with special needs. A woman in the audience shared her thoughts, "We see the crime numbers rising. Early intervention can prevent more shootings. " Edwards agreed, highlighting the need for proactive measures. Edwards will assume office on January 2.