Mr. Tidmore said on Tuesday, " As I told the three former PANO Presidents and rank and file police officers that make up the Crimefighters organization, 'Put simply, we need to incentivize our cops to stay and join the municipal departments. There is a simple way that will not cost the state or city a dime."

"Give Cops a FREE House."

"The state will own over 20,000 repairable homes in the Metro Area thanks to the buyouts under the Road Home Program. Any Police Officer who agrees to work here for seven years gets one of these homes--and access to a low interest loan to help fix it up."

"This idea is not the notion of some newcomer to criminal justice issues. For ten years, as a
journalist I have covered the crime that you confront everyday. I see first hand the tremendous odds that police officers confront, under equipped and underpaid. The late, great Sandy Krasnoff recognized my writings and radio coverage of these issues and gave me one of the greatest honors I have ever received--the Victims and Citizens Against Crime Award for Excellence in Journalism. "

"It is an understatement to say that I seriously began to worry when I saw the exodus of young police officers after Katrina. The tremendous attrition rates--and the growing difficulties in
recruiting--stemmed from other cities and regions outside Louisiana drawing our trained officers away with higher promises of pay."

"It's hard to blame those cops for leaving. A friend of mine, a Sergeant in First District, was offered $20,000 more per year to move to Oakland, CA. He stayed, but many of his peers left."

"Thanks to the Constitutional Amendment, there will be some regular supplemental increases, but they are not enough to compete, unless we use an existing resource."

"To keep cops here, give them a house. The state will, thanks to the Road Home, own over an estimated 20,000 houses. Rather than waste them through a myriad of parish political deals, any police officer, fireman, first responder, teacher, or medical professional, who opts to live and work in Louisiana for seven years gets one of the Road Home houses for FREE--and a low interest loan to fix it up."

"Unlike the last time an attempt was made to give vacant homes to police officers, most of these houses are in places that police officers and their families would like to live, from Lakeview to Metairie."

"In a study for the New Orleans Police Foundation, the think tank, the Rand Corporation estimated that this plan would boost recruitment substantially, and lower existing attrition rates."

"It is legal and feasible to do. The current state statute governing the home purchases from the Federal Block Grants says that the homes must be transferred to either a 501c3 or to the Parish Governments. A simple amendment could mandate that police and first responders are gifted the homes in exchange for a seven year commitment."

"Moreover, we can tier the equity. After three years, a cop could have a 40% ownership stake, 60% after five years, and complete ownership after seven. This way, there is no hesitation to use the low interest FHA loans that the Federal Government offers to police officers as a home equity loan to repair the properties."

"In other words, for, perhaps, a $60,000 repair cost, officers would get a $300,000+ home in Lakeview--a good deal, even with rising insurance costs. Moreover, the concept and my candidacy were honored to have the endorsement of the Alliance for Good Government. The members of the Allaince thought the idea critical to retaining police in the Metro New Orleans area."

"We have a small window of opportunity to get this legislation passed. There is just one regular
legislative session in the spring before the homes are transferred to Parish Governments. I hesitate to think what will become of these properties under the malfunctioning Orleans Parish Government."

"Therefore, I ask you. Please spread the word. If you live in the Riverbend Area of Uptown New Orleans, Elmwood, Old Jefferson, or Central Metairie Vote for Christopher Tidmore, #54, for State Representative."

If you have any questions, call the campaign at 734-0954.