Alexandria, LA (10/20/2025) – The Alexandria City Council is preparing to introduce an ordinance to revert the city’s district lines back to the 2022 map. While some residents welcome the chance to ensure fair and accurate representation, many are asking a different question: Why are Alexandria’s biggest issues taking a back seat?
With an election year less than twelve months away, citizens across the city are beginning to question whether political focus is shifting away from the challenges most impacting daily life, including rising crime concerns, potential utility rate hikes, and a proposed tax renewal.
How We Got Here
Following the 2020 Census, Alexandria was required to redraw its city council districts. The council unanimously approved Ordinance 153-2022, establishing new boundaries to reflect population shifts and maintain balanced representation across all five districts.
The council members at that time were Jim Villard, Lee Rubin, Chuck Fowler, Reddex Washington, Gerber Porter, Catherine Davidson, and Cynthia Perry.
Perry was absent during the vote, and the ordinance passed 6–0.
In early 2024, District 4 Councilwoman Lizzie Felter authored a new redistricting ordinance, saying it was designed to reunite neighborhoods that were divided by the 2022 plan. That measure, Ordinance 37-2024, was adopted by a 4–3 vote, with Felter, Villard, Rubin, and Fowler voting in favor, and Johnson, Washington, and Perry opposed.
Now, just over a year later, Council President Cynthia Perry has authored legislation that would repeal the 2024 map and reinstate the 2022 boundaries, reopening a debate many residents thought was settled.
Public Safety Still Tops the List
For most residents, crime remains the number one concern.
Despite reported decreases in certain offenses, the perception of safety has not returned. Families in neighborhoods from Samtown to Martin Park and from North to the South, say they continue to hear gunfire and see limited patrol presence.
“Numbers may look better, but we’re still living with the fear,” said one homeowner off Mason Street. “We just want that same level of urgency about safety that we see when political maps are on the table.”
Utility Rate Hikes Stir Frustration
Another growing concern is the consultant-recommended utility rate increases currently under review by the CURE Commission and supported by Mayor Jacques Roy.
Residents say the city should first address transparency, billing accuracy, and infrastructure issues before raising rates again. For many households, the thought of higher bills is simply unaffordable.
“The average working person can’t take another hit,” said a North Alexandria resident who attended a recent meeting. “We want to see the city get its own house in order before asking for more.”
Transparency and Accountability Questions Persist
Across social media and community meetings, Alexandrians are voicing frustration over how city decisions are made and communicated.
Whether it is utility reform, fiscal planning, or redistricting, citizens say they often learn of major actions after they are already in motion.
While officials have framed the redistricting item as necessary housekeeping, some residents see it as part of a larger pattern where personal and political matters overshadow policy priorities that affect people’s lives every day.
The Tax Renewal Debate
The proposed tax renewal supported by the mayor has also raised questions about city spending and accountability. Supporters argue the renewal is critical to fund core operations, but many citizens say they still do not have a clear breakdown of how tax dollars are being used.
With rising costs and little visible improvement in infrastructure, residents are demanding more detailed, public-facing reporting before any renewal is approved.
What’s Really Driving the Agenda?
To many in Alexandria, it is not the redistricting itself that raises concern, it is the timing.
Why now, as the city faces unresolved safety concerns, utility uncertainty, and economic pressure? Why not prioritize the everyday issues most affecting citizens?
Residents say they are not opposed to fairness or representation, they simply want to see that same commitment applied to crime prevention, utility reform, and financial transparency.
As one small business owner put it, “It’s not about lines on a map. It’s about priorities. We can respect fair representation and still expect leadership to address what’s right in front of us.”
Councilwoman Felter’s Response
When contacted by UrbanCast for comment, Councilwoman Lizzie Felter responded by text, saying:
“Hey Jack! Thanks for reaching out, let me see what I can work out.”
She did not provide additional comments before publication.
Outreach for Comment
UrbanCast also reached out to Council President Cynthia Perry for comment prior to publication. Perry did not respond to text messages or return calls.
Editor’s Note
2022 redistricting (Ordinance 153-2022):
Adopted 6–0, with Villard, Rubin, Fowler, Washington, Porter, and Davidson voting in favor. Perry was absent.
2024 revision (Ordinance 37-2024):
Adopted 4–3, with Felter, Villard, Rubin, and Fowler voting in favor, and Johnson, Washington, and Perry opposed.
