Banks Denounces Community Center Audit as Retaliatory, Politically Driven

BATON ROUGE, La. — Former Metro Councilwoman Chauna Banks is pushing back against what she calls a “sham review” following a damning audit of the Jewell J. Newman Community Center, denouncing the investigation as a politically motivated attack meant to discredit her legacy and intimidate former staff.

In an open letter to Mayor-President Sid Edwards, Banks rejected the audit’s findings, which allege years of mismanagement and missing assets at the North Baton Rouge facility. She insists the review is less about accountability and more about retribution.

“This is not a genuine audit—it’s retaliation,” Banks wrote. “It was designed to weaponize the integrity of public service and create a chilling effect for those who served alongside me.”

The report, released in May, cited a range of policy violations, including an inability to locate equipment such as a $13,560 copier and a $5,124 treadmill, as well as donated items from a children’s reading room sponsored by The Children’s Place. The audit also claimed more than $1,000 in purchases were shipped to Banks’ home address and that some city property was stored alongside personal items at an abandoned fire station.

Photos included in the report showed deteriorating conditions at the storage location, with community center equipment surrounded by water damage, cracked walls, and cluttered boxes.

Timing and Intent Under Scrutiny

Banks, who left office in early 2024, says the city’s delay in conducting the audit deprived her of the opportunity to respond while in office.

She is urging Mayor Edwards to adopt a policy requiring exit audits for outgoing councilmembers to prevent what she described as “politically timed smears.” She also believes the audit was orchestrated as payback for past political disagreements.

“This report didn’t surface in good faith,” she said in a phone interview. “It’s retaliation, plain and simple.”

Councilman's Audit Request Sparks Debate

The audit was ordered by current District 2 Councilman Anthony Kenney shortly after taking office in January. Kenney has declined public comment, directing inquiries to the audit report itself.

City officials have confirmed that the Baton Rouge Police Department is reviewing the matter. No criminal activity is currently suspected, and the audit noted that high staff turnover—nine center managers in a decade—may have contributed to inconsistent operations.

Despite the audit’s findings, Banks remains firm that her administration operated with integrity and that the report is being used as a political tool.

“I served my district with transparency, with purpose, and with love,” Banks said. “This audit will not define my record.”