The Light

Jonathan D. Goins can run for City Council District 3.

Judge Rae Swent ruled in favor of Goins, who can run against Charles F. Smith for the District 3 Council seat.

The judge’s ruling came about 5 minutes after closing arguments, in which Smith’s attorney, George Gaienne III, suggested the low use of electricity, water and gas indicated Goins didn’t live in the Juliet Street home and should not be qualified to seek to represent District 3 on the Alexandria City Council.
Goin’s attorney, Thomas Davenport, agreed that Goins does have an alternate residence on Louisiana Highway 28 West, but it is used for business purposes.

“Do not punish this young man because he doesn’t want to take business clients to the hood,” Davenport asked the judge.

Swent did as Davenport asked. She ruled that it’s not necessary to sleep at a home every night for that residence to be considered a primary residence.

“I don’t believe that it was their primary residence, but they were going there all of the time,” Swent said.

“Goins did take up another apartment, but he didn’t stop his mail, change his voter registration. His preference is to maintain contact with the community,” she said.

Meanwhile, Goins said he is grateful for the outcome, but he is upset that it had to end up in court.

“I’m appalled that Charles Fredrick Smith had to go through this length to hire a private investigator to go through my grandmother’s and mother’s private things. It’s a violation of the privacy of two elderly women who have been voting in this district for years.”

District Judge Rae Swent will hear closing arguments in the civil case that pits Alexandria Council District 3 incumbent Charles F. Smith against Jonathan D. Goins, an attorney who wants Smith’s seat.

Smith claims Goins doesn’t live in the Juliet Street home, which is in District 3, but instead lives in an apartment complex located off of Louisiana Highway 28 West.

Swent sent attorneys from both sides home with an assignment to review two cases she cited and bring back written summaries. She intends to make a decision after hearing and reviewing those summaries.

Much of today’s testimony centered on whether or not sufficient enough water, gas and electricity was being used in the Juliet Street home, which would indicate that someone was living in the residence on a regular basis.

Please let me begin by saying that it’s 2:41 p.m. and there’s much more testimony to be heard in Charles F. Smith challenge of Jonathan Goins’ run for the District 3 seat.

This hearing in Judge Swent’s office has the be the biggest happening today in Central Louisiana. Everyone who is anyone has made an appearance to the court. City Councilmen Roosevelt Johnson and Louis Marshall dropped in this morning, as did several attorneys. Mayor Jacques Roy and Police Chief Darren Coutee made appearances this afternoon.

From what I’m hearing and seeing, this case seems to be swinging in Charles F. Smith’s direction. I say that because Smith’s expert witness, Mark Marcotte, the city’s superintendent of utility. Based on an analysis of the water, gas and electricity usage and billing, Marcotte seems to be concluding it “doesn’t appear there is sufficient enough use to indicate occupancy.”

Again, let me say there’s much more to be heard in this case.

Be back shortly!

Councilman Charles F. Smith accuses his challenger, Attorney Jonathan Goins, of living somewhere that is not in District 3 for which Smith represents.

Apparently, on Monday, July 21, Smith’s attorneys, a photographer and an expert witness, inspected Goins Provine Street home to determine whether or not the large appliances used an amount of electricty that would suggest someone lived more in the apartment or somewhere else. The expert witness was Alexandria’s superintendent of electricity.

Jonathan Goins acknowledges that he does have two residences, one at 5445 Provine St., and the other at 3327 Juliet St., which he claims is his primary residence.

Apparently, Smith’s team has video showing Goins’comings and goins from both residences.

Judge Swent is hearing the case.

Stay tuned.

Alexandria City Councilman Charles F. Smith is challenging the residence of his opponent Jonathan Goins in a civil lawsuit.

Smith maintains Goins doesn’t live in District 3 and should not be running to represent the area. Goins says otherwise.

A hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. today. I’m headed off to court now. Will report back later.

Officials from the Environmental Protection Agency and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality joined public officials and members of the Alexandria community on July 15 to celebrate the completion of the cleanup at the Ruston Superfund site.

“Getting the property back into productive use is one of our highest priorities,” said Richard E. Greene, EPA regional administrator. “Encouraging redevelopment, strengthening communities and energizing growth creates a proud legacy for everyone.”

The Ruston Foundry site was an abandoned metal foundry that operated from 1908 until 1985 and is located in an urban area with mixed development within the city limits of Alexandria. Initial site operations began with clearing activities to open up the area for cleanup. Cleanup consisted of the demolition of old site buildings, foundations, as well as the removal of an underground storage tank and closure of onsite wells. Additional cleanup included the removal of asbestos-containing material and contaminated soil.

“This is a monumental occasion” said DEQ Secretary Harold Leggett. “A one-time Superfund site that is now available to be put back into commerce. This is a great day for the state’s environment and for the business community of Alexandria. The completion of such a large project is an example of local, state and federal agencies teaming up to work for the betterment of the state.”

U. S. Sen. Mary Landrieu was the keynote speaker at a July 2 conference in Alexandria, Louisiana.

The conference focused on smart growth and urban planning. Hear what she has to say about how Louisiana can effectively map out its growth.

Read the newest issue of The Light.
Click here:The Light, July 1-14

Tony Brown is moving “Eyes Open With Tony Brown” to KTTP 1110 AM, Rejoice Musical Soul Food after six years of hosting the show on KAYT 88.1 FM.

Beginning Monday, July 7, in three hours from 6 to 9 a.m., Brown will present local, state and national news, weather and issues live from the show’s new home at 3419 Hynson St.

“I want to thank KAYT for working with me through the years. We created history together with the Jena Six. KAYT was good to me, but I now have an opportunity to create a new history towards taking my show to a larger audience through syndication,” Brown said. “I’ve always wanted to get the show to as many listeners as possible.

Though syndication is on the horizon, Brown said the move to KTTP on an AM frequency will limit his audience reach temporarily, but it will allow him to “aggressively go after the pieces of the pie that I wasn’t able to consume before.” KAYT is a noncommercial radio station unlike KTTP, which is a commercial station that will allow a broader advertising base, Brown said.

Radio stations on the AM frequency generally broadcasts talk shows such as Brown’s. Therefore, Brown said, “Eyes Open With Tony Brown” will be at home.
“I believe that my audience will follow me to KTTP because listeners have become accustomed to the show. It’s a part of their routine. I’ve been overwhelmed with calls from people checking up on me and asking where is the show,” Brown said.

Carolyn Frazier, KTTP’s station manager, said she welcomes Brown and co-producer Octavia Jackson to the KTTP family.

“We look forward to working with Tony and doing whatever we can to help make his transition a success,” she said.

Meanwhile, Brown said he is in negotiations with three stations that want to purchase the show. The stations are Tallulah’s KTJZ 97.5 FM, which covers the Mississippi Delta, Monroe, Vicksburg and parts of Jackson, Miss.; New Road’s KCLF 1500 AM, which covers Baton Rouge, Pointe Coupee Parish, Iberville Parish and Marksville; and KPCT, which is under construction in New Roads.