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The layoffs announced recently by St. Mary Parish’s two largest casinos affect nearly 400 employees, according to warning notices filed with the Louisiana Workforce Commission, part of a trend statewide and across related economic sectors.
Cypress Bayou Hotel and Casino in Charenton, announced 229 layoffs effective July 1.
Amelia Belle Casino announced another 170 layoffs for the same date.
Casinos, along with schools, indoor church services, bars, barbers and hair salons, and other entities were shut down in March as part of efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.
When casinos were allowed to reopen, they were subject to capacity limits and social distancing requirements.
The St. Mary casinos weren’t the only ones affected.
Casinos from Shreveport and Bossier City to New Orleans and Lake Charles have filed notice of more than 3,231 layoffs this year.
A case can be made that the larger economic sector, leisure and hospitality, has been hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.
That category, which includes restaurants, hotels and entertainment venues, employed about 237,000 people in the state in May 2019, according to the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
By April 2020, that total dropped to 130,000. Employment increased by 15,000 in May but is still down by about 91,000 year over year.
The impact on local governments from the St. Mary casinos themselves may be minimal.
Cypress Bayou, operated by the Chitimacha tribal organization, pays no local taxes. But the Chitimacha organization has contributed to infrastructure projects in the Charenton area, noted St. Mary Parish Chief Administrative Officer Henry C. “Bo” LaGrange.
Unlike other casinos, which are taxed based on the number of customers who walk through the doors, Amelia Belle pays a more or less fixed amount to the parish each year, LaGrange said.
The minimum payment is $1.4 million annually, he said, not counting property taxes on buildings associated with the casino. The payment can be as much as $1.6 million, but LaGrange said the parish has received the $1.4 million minimum in each of the last few years.
The real impact may come from the reduced sales and property taxes paid by employees.
St. Mary total nonfarm employment, which peaked near 27,000 before the fall 2014 slump in oil prices, was about 16,000 in May 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Workforce Commission.
The parish’s unemployment rate was 13.9% in May, better than April’s 14.4%. But the May jobless rate was still more than double the May 2019 rate of 5.3%.
“It’s absolutely heartbreaking,” Richard Picard, Cypress Bayou’s director of public relations and advertising, told KLFY-TV. “A lot of those team members are very loyal and dedicated, and we know that. But we really needed to save to ensure that this business can move forward.”

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has used his veto pen to grant $57 million in raises to state workers that the Louisiana Legislature voted to hold back.
While enough money was available to grant the scheduled raises, legislators argued giving state workers raises right now would send the wrong message when so many private sector workers are struggling or lost their jobs.
“What would be the perception?” Republican Finance Chairman Sen. Bodi White said.
Sen. Cameron Henry, a Metairie Republican, argued that given the current economic uncertainty, it makes more sense to hold back the money at least until the fall. Legislators likely will be in session again and might have a better idea of the state’s fiscal outlook.
But Edwards in a letter to legislative leaders said he vetoed the provision in the state budget bill to delay the scheduled “market rate adjustment” raises because the State Civil Service Commission has constitutional authority to regulate pay for classified employees. Eliminating the adjustments would harm “frontline personnel” dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, such as those engaged in public safety or public health, he added.
Even without legislative approval, the Civil Service Commission still could have granted the raises. If they did so, Edwards said, departments would have had to make cuts in other areas that could affect critical services.
He also vetoed $21 million in delayed appropriations to various executive branch departments. Much like the delayed pay raises, legislators said it made more sense to hold back spending those dollars until October when lawmakers might have a better idea of how the economy is recovering, rather than make cuts during the middle of the fiscal year.
A University of Louisiana at Lafayette study released in May found that tax collections could fall between $800 million and more than $1 billion over the next four quarters compared to pre-pandemic levels. Results in those ranges likely would necessitate midyear cuts unless the federal government provides more aid to states.
But Edwards said managing appropriations within the executive branch is under the governor’s constitutional authority, and said similar mandates were not imposed on the legislative or judicial branches. Edwards said he has directed executive branch agencies to reduce by 10 percent spending of their appropriated funds, in case tax and fee collections come in lower than the current official projection.
The governor also rejected a provision calling for the Louisiana Department of Health to check quarterly the eligibility of half of the state’s current Medicaid recipients, while also annually checking eligibility of half of everyone who enrolled during the previous year. The budget language called for using all available information including federal tax data, for which access is tightly regulated.
Edwards said the provision violates both federal regulations and the state constitution’s ban on making substantive policy changes in an appropriations bill, adding that the change would cost $42 million that the bill does not appropriate.
Edwards’ administration has been criticized by lawmakers and others over waste and fraud in the state’s Medicaid program since he expanded it under the Affordable Care Act shortly after taking office. Critics have been calling for better accountability to make sure those receiving benefits are eligible.
Edwards also vetoed a budget line item calling for $2 million in new money for the State Fire Marshall’s office for acquisitions and major repairs. He said the office did not request the money, adding that he wasn’t authorizing new acquisitions for any executive agency.
He vetoed $7 million in aid for state governments that he said appear to give the state treasurer “vast discretion” to decide where to spend “a wholly new appropriation.” The money should be available for legislators to spend later in a supplemental bill, he said.

September 20, 1955 — July 7, 2020
Rickey Adam (Lil Black) Arceneaux, 64, a native of Amelia and resident of Bayou L’Ourse, passed away peacefully on July 7, 2020, at his home surrounded by his wife, children, and grandchildren after a three-year battle with cancer.
Rickey was born on September 20, 1955, in Thibodaux, to Lionel (Blackie) Arceneaux and Mildred Blanchard Arceneaux.
Rickey was a devout Catholic, and no matter where he was or what he was doing, he always made it a point to attend Mass. To know him was to love him. He had an uncanny method of leading and teaching whether it be in the workplace, outdoors, or life itself- always influential. Rickey was an avid sportsman. He loved hunting and spending time at his hunting lease and fishing, especially bass and tournament fishing. Not to mention his love for crawfishing and crabbing. His bass boat was his pride and joy. Aside from his passion for the outdoors, he relished in attending all sporting events for his three grandsons. What a number one fan he was. Rickey also had a fondness of fishing at Sam Rayburn Reservoir with his family and friends. He was quick with wit and loved to tell stories.
He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his high school sweetheart who became his wife of 46 years, Reba Faye Arceneaux; his twin daughters and sons-in-law, Michele and Jared Amedee, and Melissa and Shane Cooley; the lights of his life, his three grandsons, Brennen Cooley and Peyton and Luke Amedee; his honorary granddaughters, Sophie Waguespack and Maddie Gros; his mother, Mildred Arceneaux; his sisters, Brenda Thompson, Diane (Carl) McAllister, and Carol (Jim) Ryan; his brother, Kent (Dawn) Arceneaux; and his nieces, nephews and godchildren.
Rickey was preceded in death by his father, Lionel (Blackie) Arceneaux; and his father- and mother-in-law, C.J. and Viva Solar.
A time of visitation will be held on Friday, July 10, 2020, from 10:30 a.m. until time of dismissal at 2 p.m. at Hargrave Funeral Home. Services for Rickey will begin with a Eulogy taking place on Friday, July 10, 2020, at 2:50 p.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial taking place at 3 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Following services, Rickey will be entombed in the Morgan City Mausoleum.
Due to the current requirements regarding limited gatherings, Hargrave Funeral Home can only allow up to 150 guests in the facility during the visitation while Sacred Heart Catholic Church can only allow up to 100 guests during the eulogy and Mass. All guests are encouraged to follow social distancing protocols and wear masks upon entry of the church for services.

The following are the radio dispatch logs from the Morgan City Police Department. To report unlawful or suspicious activity, call the police department at 985-380-4605.
Wednesday, July 8
7:08 a.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Medical.
7:50 a.m. 300 block of Lawrence Street; Complaint.
8:48 a.m. 300 block of Egle Street; Animal complaint.
9:12 a.m. 7700 block of La. 182; Disturbance.
10:03 a.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Complaint.
10:24 a.m. 1200 block of Youngs Road; Reckless operation.
11:44 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Welfare concern.
12:18 p.m. U.S. 90 East; Stalled vehicle.
1:37 p.m. Second and Adams streets; Complaint.
1:38 p.m. 100 block of Roderick Street; 911 hang up.
2:05 p.m. 300 block of Lawrence Street; Telephone harassment.
2:16 p.m. 100 block of Terrebonne Street; Fire.
2:23 p.m. 300 block of Lawrence Street; Complaint.
2:27 p.m. 7000 block of Railroad Avenue; Criminal damage to property.
2:57 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Disturbance.
3:06 p.m. 2700 block of Shaw Street; Complaint.
3:07 p.m. 700 block of Everett Street; Complaint.
3:30 p.m. 100 block of South Railroad Avenue; Assistance.
3:35 p.m. 300 block of Glenwood Street; Telephone harassment.
4:07 p.m. 800 block of Brashear Avenue; Assistance.
4:15 p.m. 400 block of Belanger Street; Juvenile problem.
4:40 p.m. Brashear Avenue and Seventh Street; Crash.
5:54 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Medical.
6:25 p.m. 600 block of Greenwood Street; 911 hang up.
6:49 p.m. 300 block of Leona Street; Complaint.
7:02 p.m. 200 block of Robin Street; Disturbance.
7:34 p.m. 2500 block of Elm Street; Assistance.
7:50 p.m. 400 block of Belanger Street; Complaint.
8:26 p.m. 300 block of Second Street; Disturbance.
9:18 p.m. 6800 block of La. 182; Disturbance.
9:26 p.m. 600 block of General Patton Street; Accident.
10:24 p.m. 500 block of First Street; Removal of subject.
Thursday, July 9
12:03 a.m. U.S. 90 West; Traffic incident.
4:57 a.m. Martin Luther King Boulevard exit; Traffic incident.