Batt Campaign signs plastered on blighted properties of major contributor.

New Orleans -   Based on campaign contributions and the proliferation of his campaign yard signs on blighted properties, Jay Batt can’t be trusted by the voters of Council District A to take on property owners who still refuse to clean up their holdings.  Jay Batt has received at least $7500 from Vincent Marcello who owns dozens of blighted properties throughout District A.  Batt’s yard signs have also been sprouting up like weeds on many of Marcello’s worst eye sores.

“How can the people of DistrictA trust Jay Batt to fight blight in our community when one of his largest donors also happens to be one of the most prolific owners of blighted property in our neighborhoods?” said Susan Guidry, candidate for District A.  “And to add insult to injury, Batt is now using those same blighted properties as yard sign locations.”

According to campaign finance reports from the state Ethics Commission, Batt received $1000 from Vincent Marcello on 10/29/2009 and $6500 from Marcello and his corporation, Minacore Investments, in the 2006 election cycle.  At the same time, Batt’s campaign signs have been planted in front of many of Marcello’s properties throughout District A (see attachment).

The following can be found at www.jaybatt.com:  “…residents have had over four years to make a decision on whether to rebuild. There is a broad consensus that buildings that constitute blight should be treated as blight.”

“Jay Batt’s website says that property owners have had plenty of time to make a decision on whether to rebuild.  But his actions suggest that he’d rather treat the blighted property as his own personal billboard,” continued Guidry.  “The voters of District A won’t stand for his hypocrisy.”