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Lafayette officials and residents divided over new Mardi Gras parade route
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) -- Lafayette's Mardi Gras parade route has been changed, sparking controversy among city officials and residents.
The decision to alter the parade route was made by Mayor-President Monique Blanco Boulet's administration, aiming to bring the parade back to the heart of downtown Lafayette along Jefferson Street.
District 5 City Council member Kenneth Boudreaux expressed disappointment, stating he felt bypassed in the decision-making process. He also expressed frustration and concern that neighborhoods in his district were being cut out of the route.
"There was no racial intent in this, Councilman Boudreaux, and I think you know me better than that. The accusations have been offensive. There was no intent to leave out the north side," Mayor-President Boulet said, addressing accusations during a heated city council meeting.
Boudreaux claimed he received more than 200 calls from concerned residents, contrasting Boulet's assertion of receiving few complaints.
The new parade route excludes several neighborhoods in District 5, which has led to Boudreaux's concerns about community displacement.
Boulet defended the change, noting that only 14% of the route was altered and emphasizing the goal of boosting energy and excitement around the Mardi Gras festivities by bringing back a historic route along Jefferson Street.
Lafayette Police Chief Paul Trouard assured the council that the new route is safe for crowds and manageable for law enforcement.
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KLFY. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KLFY staff before being published.