Gonzales City Council Approves Free Lease for Loving Our Community's Children

The non-profit organization will celebrate its new location today at 5:30 p.m.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 11:21am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Loving Our Community's Children (LOCC), a non-profit organization focused on providing support and resources to children and families in need, will celebrate the opening of its new location in Gonzales, Louisiana today at 5:30 p.m. The City Council approved a Community Partnership agreement in a 3-2 vote, allowing LOCC to use the city-owned property at 320 E Ascension Street rent-free.

Why it matters

The approval of the LOCC lease highlights the ongoing debate around how municipalities should support non-profit organizations that provide critical social services. While some council members argued the city should treat all non-profits equally, the majority recognized LOCC's important mission and the legal precedent allowing the city to offer in-kind support to aid the needy.

The details

After a half-dozen passionate speakers touted LOCC's good works, Councilwoman Terri Lambert grilled the organization's representative, Candace Melancon, and argued the city should instead help LOCC find a space to lease from a private business owner. However, City Attorney Allen Davis advised the council that the state constitution allows the city to provide free use of public property for programs that aid the needy, making the typical 'Cabela's test' for donations inapplicable in this case.

  • On February 24, the Pelican Post reported on the City Council's 3-2 vote to approve the LOCC Community Partnership agreement.
  • The LOCC celebration of its new location will take place today, April 1, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.

The players

Loving Our Community's Children (LOCC)

A non-profit organization with a mission to 'partner with the community to provide children and families with reliable, no-cost support that meets daily needs and fosters dignity, stability, and healing'.

Candace Melancon

The representative of LOCC who presented the organization's case to the City Council.

Terri Lambert

A Gonzales City Council member who opposed the free lease agreement for LOCC.

Cynthia Gray James

A Gonzales City Council member who also voted against the LOCC agreement, arguing the city should treat all non-profits equally.

Eddie Williams

A Gonzales City Council member who voted to approve the LOCC agreement.

Kirk Boudreaux

A Gonzales City Council member who voted to approve the LOCC agreement.

Tyler Turner

A Gonzales City Council member who voted to approve the LOCC agreement and made the motion to do so.

Allen Davis

The Gonzales City Attorney who advised the council that the state constitution allows the city to provide free use of public property for programs that aid the needy.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I think we explained to you certain things and kinda decided the best path would be for you to do like a, uh, maybe go to a business owner or entity...I got off the phone with you and I spent another hour calling very well-known business people in the community to try and find you a space. Yet, here we are, back up here asking for this.”

— Terri Lambert, Gonzales City Council member

“Louisiana Constitution Article VII, Sec. 14(B) contains twelve exceptions to the prohibition against donating public funds. Because this donation of public funds appears to fall within one of the exceptions in La.Const. art. VII, Sec. 14(B), the three-prong Cabela's test used by our office in determining whether or not a donation is gratuitous, is not applicable. La.Const. art. VII, Sec. 14(B)(1) provides, 'Nothing in this Section shall prevent the use of public funds for programs of social welfare for the aid and support of the needy.' Therefore, it is my opinion that because the LOCC provides services of public welfare for the aid and support of the needy, The Cabela's test is not appliable.”

— Allen Davis, Gonzales City Attorney

“I'm gonna vote no because we need to do the same for everybody. We've had other non-profits and we haven't done it for them.”

— Cynthia Gray James, Gonzales City Council member

What’s next

The Gonzales City Council will continue to navigate how to equitably support various non-profit organizations in the community, while also recognizing the unique legal and social welfare considerations for groups like LOCC.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate around how municipalities should balance supporting non-profit organizations that provide critical social services, while also treating all groups fairly. The Gonzales City Council's decision to approve the LOCC lease demonstrates the legal and moral justification for providing in-kind support to aid the needy, even if it means unequal treatment compared to other non-profits.