An introductory ordinance banning open containers from downtown and the McKinley and Simcoe strips goes back before the City-Parish Council Tuesday evening, and a source says it has a better chance of passing this time around. An introductory ordinance banning open containers from downtown and the McKinley and Simcoe strips goes back before the City-Parish Council Tuesday evening. District 3 Councilman Brandon Shelvin, who represents downtown Lafayette, pulled the ordinance out of a batch of intro ordinances that will be voted on as group, allowing the go-cup ordinance to be discussed by the council as well as the public.
A source close to the council tells The Independent the ordinance, which failed on a 5-4 vote Sept. 21, may fare better this time around. In the intervening two weeks, council members who voted against the ordinance in September have received emails and phone calls from downtown business owners as well as citizens who support the prohibition. As recently as Monday an email was circulated among downtown business owners urging them to keep the pressure on.
"We certainly think that this ordinance would be a benefit to the downtown area," the email reads in part. "We are contacting council members, downtown businesses and friends to express our support for the ordinance. We would appreciate it if you or someone on your staff can contact the council members to express your support."
The same source tells The Ind that District 1 Councilman Purvis Morrison, who won the mayoral election for the city of Scott on Saturday, is likely to switch his vote and approve the ordinance, although the source says final approval of the ordinance, scheduled for Nov. 2, is not assured. Morrison, however, could not be reached for comment early Tuesday; his cell phone's voice mail is full, likely with congratulatory messages related to his election victory over the weekend.
Yet the ordinance still faces public opposition. Several opponents of the measure, including residents who have registered their opposition on a Facebook page - "Save the downtown go cup" - spoke up for the status quo at the Sept. 21 CPC meeting. Several of those opponents have registered their intention to attend Tuesday's meeting and again lobby against the ordinance.