Policies
Jon Johnson believes government should focus on the basics: protecting quality of life, keeping communities safe, making everyday life more affordable, and preparing people for the future. His priorities come directly from listening to residents and taking action on the issues that affect daily life.
Quality of Life
Quality of life starts at home, on your block, and in the places where families spend their time.
Jon stands with residents who have raised concerns about large-scale industrial and port expansion projects that could bring pollution, constant truck and rail traffic, and added strain to already overburdened infrastructure. These projects risk changing the character of neighborhoods and displacing longtime residents. Jon believes local communities deserve a real say in decisions like these and supports local authority over land use.
He also believes development should fit the neighborhoods it’s built in. Jon opposes projects that ignore the scale, density, parking needs, and historic character that make New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish neighborhoods livable and distinct.
Public Safety
People should feel protected, not intimidated, in their own city.
Jon has heard from hospitality workers and residents who feel that a military presence at major events sends the wrong message. He supports a coordinated law enforcement approach led by NOPD, with clear mutual aid agreements between local and state agencies to ensure proper training, communication, and accountability.
New Orleans cannot afford an understaffed police force. Jon supports increasing supplemental pay to help recruit and retain officers, and deploying Harbor Police and Levee Board Police to assist NOPD in neighborhoods that need additional support.
Jon also believes public safety starts long before a crime occurs. He supports investing in youth mentorship, truancy intervention programs, and paid internships that give young people structure, opportunity, and a reason to stay engaged.
Affordability
For too many families, the cost of living keeps climbing while wages struggle to keep up.
New Orleans East/ Little Woods and Desire/Pontchartrain Park have the highest home insurance rates in New Orleans. St. Bernard Parish now has the highest home insurance rates in Louisiana. Jon supports expanding funding for hurricane-resistant roof programs, strengthening consumer protections, and pushing back against unjustified policy cancellations and excessive fees.
Louisiana’s sales tax system places a heavier burden on low- and middle-income families, making everyday necessities harder to afford. Jon opposes any increase in sales taxes and supports fairer tax policies that ease the pressure on working families and seniors.
The cost of childcare has become unmanageable for many households. Jon supports tax incentives for employers who provide free on-site childcare and encourages public schools to offer childcare options for teachers and school staff.
Strong Neighborhoods & Economic Development
Strong neighborhoods don’t happen by accident. They require investment, accountability, and follow-through.
Jon supports state funding for long-delayed economic studies and planning efforts needed to move revitalization forward in New Orleans East and along St. Claude Avenue as well as move forward with retail development and the redevelopment of the Jazzland/Six Flags site.
In the Lower Ninth Ward, economic stagnation and food insecurity remain daily realities. Jon supports using tax credits and abatements to attract businesses that commit to local hiring and to help homeowners repair and reinvest in their properties.
Blight and illegal dumping send a clear message that a neighborhood has been ignored. Jon supports installing crime cameras in dumping hotspots, increasing penalties for chronic neglect, and holding absentee property owners accountable so communities can recover and grow.
Environmental Protection & Resilience
Environmental issues are quality-of-life issues, especially in Louisiana.
Jon stands with Lower Ninth Ward residents who have raised concerns about industrial projects that could bring pollution and increased rail traffic into residential areas.
Flooding has become routine, even after minor storms. Jon supports practical solutions like green infrastructure and rain gardens that help manage stormwater and reduce chronic street flooding.
He also believes coastal protection can’t wait. Jon supports immediate action to protect Orleans Parish, St. Bernard Parish, and surrounding communities through large-scale coastal restoration efforts.
Preparing for the Future
Preparing for the future means preparing people for good jobs.
Jon believes workforce development must be a real budget priority.
He supports strengthening job training and technical education, and building partnerships with local employers so residents can access well-paying jobs and businesses can hire a skilled local workforce.