Citizens for a New Louisiana’s membership pin, typically worn on your left lapel.

“They’re scrambling like cockroaches,” a Louisiana resident reported jubilantly after hearing of a public records request we submitted earlier in the day. That one comment is probably the best encapsulation of the work we do at Citizens for a New Louisiana. Everything we strive for is based on a strong belief that public officials will perform better when they’re under the public’s watchful eye.

We are “Louisiana’s most influential voice” thanks to our unique methods to accomplish change in our state. Instead of echoing overused platitudes or being another tattletale when bad government continues to do bad things, we actively engage in the process. Watching and sharing gets your attention, but most of our real work happens behind the scenes.

Here are just a few examples of where we’ve made a significant impact in the lives of Louisiana’s businesses and residents.

Fighting against pornography & erotica in librarys' kids section

Currently, we’re fighting to remove taxpayer funded pornography, erotica, and gender dysphoria propaganda from the children’s section of library systems across the state of Louisiana. So far, the front lines have been in Lafayette and Livingston Parishes. However, this battle will eventually have to expand to all 64 parishes.

The fight in Livingston was escalated by a local librarian that sued us in court! She claimed that merely pointing out her advocacy for the erotic materials we found in the library children’s section was “defamation.” As of this writing, Judge Erika Sledge of the 21st Judicial District Court disagreed. In her ruling, the judge effectively declared the Amanda Jones v. Citizens for a New Louisiana, et al, suit to be frivolous and meritless. We’re seeking a court order to reimburse our legal expenses. That hearing will take place on November 21, 2022. However, the librarian simply won’t take no for an answer. Her new attorneys have filed motions seeking a new trial!

Reopening Louisiana's economy during COVID emergency

We worked with officials to reopen Louisiana’s economy, specifically for our restaurants who were going out of business in record numbers. In spite of overwhelming resistance by Louisiana’s Legislature and (believe it or not) the Louisiana Restaurant Association, our team partnered with a very few Lafayette area restaurant and business owners, worked with Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, and successfully moved Louisiana into “Phase 3” of the COVID recovery plan. That brought live music back into restaurants, reduced capacity regulations, and finally allowed restaurants to start charting their own course again without fear of government overregulation.

Reigned in the governor's emergency powers

During COVID, our team successfully “encouraged” a very reluctant Speaker of the House to finally get enough signatures on the “Seabaugh Petition” to reign in Governor John Bel Edwards emergency powers. Although the Speaker mangled the effort, which was eventually defeated in court, the reason it even got into court was thanks to our Baton Rouge team’s hard work. Without the effort, which afterwards resulted in a significant legislative push-back to Edwards, we may still be in some form of medical lockdown.

Keeping homes and businesses from flooding

Eliminated a woke non-profit that was stealing tax dollars to fund social justice wars in the Lafayette Area. The Vermilionville Living History Museum Foundation was redirecting YOUR dedicated tax dollars to fund a campaign against police officers. Instead of keeping the Vermilion River clean and clear so local homes and businesses wouldn’t flood, they were funding salaries of woke employees who extolled and emboldened woke political groups like Indivisible, friends of Drag Queen Story Time, Supporters of the Library (which are anything but), and Lafayette Citizens Against Censorship (who actively work to bully and censor anyone who believes children should not be subjected to pornography and erotica in the library’s kids section).

After our members took over the Bayou Vermilion District board, the taxpayer funded organization went from a $1 MILLION annual budget deficit to $170,000 in the black. They saved the Vermilionville “museum” from financial ruin and restored funding to river operations all at the same time. Now, they have a restored focus on their primary mission; the reason voters approved the tax in the first place. That is: keeping the river running clean and clear, a major component to prevent flooding.

Blocked a taxpayer funded Drag event for three-year-olds

Successfully blocked overwhelming and continuous attempts to use tax dollars to promote and fund Drag Queen Story Time (a drag show for three-year-olds) at the Lafayette Public Library. After the success of stopping this terrible woke event, we continued a protracted battle to address the root cause. It’s taken about four years, but we have worked to replace the director and every single board member who had planned on allowing that event to take place. As of this writing, there is only one of the original eight board members left to go.

Shining light into the dark corners of Louisiana government

During Sunshine Week, we sent out thousands of public records requests and gauged responses from countless public bodies in all sixty-four parishes. Some of those requests were followed up and later morphed into free-standing investigations of their own.

Citizens for a New Louisiana is the point of the spear. We’re saving Louisiana from this desk right here, baby.

Clay Higgins

US Congressman

Citizens for a New Louisiana is more than just holding government accountable. It’s engaging everyday people to actually make a change locally and statewide.

David Eaton

President, Bayou Vermilion District

That’s just a short sample. We’ve also stopped countless taxes and terrible spending plans in Lafayette, Iberia, Acadia, Vermilion, and St. Landry Parishes. Our newest chapter in Baton Rouge is expanding our common-sense approach into surrounding parishes of West Baton Rouge, Livingston, and Ascension. We also have members scattered across the state in other parishes who are eagerly encouraging us to build up a team in their respective areas.

Let’s face it, though, it’s quite a task for a small nonprofit like ours to watch Louisiana’s thousands of elected officials along with tens of thousands of unelected bureaucrats in all sixty-four parishes. That’s why your involvement is so crucial. The financial contribution from your membership provides much needed resources to fund research staff and publication of our findings. Your membership also provides numerous potential benefits for your personal fight for transparency in local government.

As part of your membership, we offer numerous opportunities to meet with like minded transparency hawks in your part of the state. Our team is also made available to help you understand how your local government works, where to look for answers, and what to do when you find something. You’ll also be a respected member of the only movement in Louisiana dedicated to improving our state one parish at a time.

Membership options

Friend

Get more involved
$50/monthly
  • ad-free browsing on our website
  • ability to comment on articles
  • help us financially
  • full membership
  • member’s only chat group
  • member’s only website access
  • secret lunch open invitation
  • official membership pin
  • priority access to network meetings
  • email updates
  • online membership tools
  • access and participation on advisory board

Leader

Help chart our course
$100/monthly
  • ad-free browsing on our website
  • ability to comment on articles
  • help us financially
  • full membership
  • member’s only chat group
  • member’s only website access
  • secret lunch open invitation
  • official membership pin
  • priority access to network meetings
  • email updates
  • online membership tools
  • access and participation on advisory board

Champion

Next-level support
$250/monthly
  • ad-free browsing on our website
  • ability to comment on articles
  • help us financially
  • full membership
  • member’s only chat group
  • member’s only website access
  • secret lunch open invitation
  • official membership pin
  • priority access to network meetings
  • email updates
  • online membership tools
  • access and participation on advisory board

Non-Member options

More ways to get involved

There are so many ways you can help to remake Louisiana. Quite a few of our supporters contribute in a mixture of ways. If membership isn’t quite right – or isn’t quite enough, here are a few additional options to consider. We’re also available to craft a unique partnership at [email protected].

Make A Donation Tax-Deductable Gifts Volunteer To Serve

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