IM PAQUITA DILLON FOUNDER OF FAIR CITY ORGANIZATION AND FOOTPRINTS TO PATHWAYS. I PRAY THAT THIS LETTER FINDS YOU IN GOOD HEALTH AND SPIRITS.. ON BEHALF OF COMMUNITY IN FRANKLINTON LA. IM TAKING A STAND SAYING OUR CHILDREN DESERVE A YMCA, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, POOL, SOMETHING. MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE NEVER HAD A COMMUNITY CENTER. HOWEVER WE'VE DECIDED TO TAKE A STAND AND WE'RE BEGGING FOR YOUR HELP IN DOING SO. THEY HAVE NOT ONE POSITIVE OUTLET AVAILABLE TO THEM YEAR ROUND. IT’S SAD BECAUSE THE ONLY OUTLET FOR POOR CHILDREN WOULD BE FLORIDA PARISH JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER, AND COUNSELORS TO TREAT BEHAVIOR DISORDERS. THEY’RE STATING THAT THERE'S FUNDING HERE FOR THE YOUTH HOWEVER WE DON’T SEE WHERE THE FUNDS ARE GOING. OUR CHILDREN REMAIN ON THE STREETS WITH AN NO POSITIVE OUTLETS IT’S SAD BECAUSE THERE’S NO HELP FOR THEM MOST PEOPLE LOOK AT THEM AS A GRANT FOR AN UPGRADE ON THEIR LIFESTYLE BUT IN REALITY MORE THAN HALF OF THEM REMAIN TO FAIL. CITY AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS CLEARLY HAVE NOT HELPED!!! THE CHURCHES IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE NOT HELPED, IF THIS WERE SO THEY WOULD HAVE HAD SOMETHING HERE A LONG TIME AGO!!! ALL THEY SEE IS FUNDING NOT FAILURE!!! NO ONE IS TRYING TO HELP , YET WATCHING THESE CHILDREN STRUGGLE BECOME ADDICTED TO DRUGS, TEEN PREGNANCY, VIOLENCE, AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT IS NOT POSITIVE WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY. THEY HAVE NO OUTLET SO WE'RE STANDING TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY SAYING THAT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH PLEASE HELP OUR CHILDREN THEY HAVE NO OTHER OPTIONS AT THIS POINT!! WHY SHOULDN’T THESE CHILDREN HAVE A YMCA OR A BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OR SOMETHING TO BETTER THEM BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY ENSURE THAT THEY SUCCEED.. SO IF POSSIBLE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP US HOPEFULLY FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE FUNDING FOR THE YOUTH IN WASHINGTON PARISH WHY HAS NO ONE EVER MADE AN ATTEMPT TO OPEN A COMMUNITY CENTER? A PLACE WHERE THE CHILDREN CAN GO AND LEARN TO SWIM INSTEAD OF DROWNING AT THE STATE PARK, BECAUSE THEY’VE NEVER BEEN TAUGHT TO SWIM.. THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SAYS THAT ITS MISSION IS GAINING AND RETAINING JOBS IN THE COMMUNITY. BUT WHY DOES FAST FOOD HAVE TO BE THE ONLY OUTLET FOR OUR CHILDREN THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ARE HURT THEY’RE TIRED MOST OF ALL WE WANT OUR CHILDREN AND COMMUNITY BACK!!! JAIL CAN’T KEEP BEING THE ONLY OPTION THERE’S GOTTA BE HOPE I’M ATTACHING PHOTOS OF WHAT I’VE MANAGED TO DO FOR THE CHILDREN ONLY MAKING $3 AN HOUR AS A WAITRESS.. LETS SEE HOW MANY FUNDS ARE SENT HERE? WHO RECIEVES THESE FUNDS? BETTER YET JUST TRY GOING TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THEY TRIED SPEAKING TO ME THROUGH THE WINDOW!! THIS IS A PUBLIC PLACE!!! PLEASE HELP US. HOW IS THE WASHINGTON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD SELLING LAND THAT HAD NO PRICE?? WHO OWNS IT? WE DESERVE THIS LAND BACK FOR OUR COMMUNITY!! EVERY CHILD CANT AFFORD $45 FOR ASSOCIATION SPORTS OR NOT EVERY CHILD HAS A PARENT OR RELATIVE EMPLOYED BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.... THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, PAQUITA DILLON