Monthly Archives: July 2018

In 2011, the City of Shreveport, Northwest Louisiana Council of Governors (NLCOG), and the Housing Authority of the City of Shreveport (HACS) embarked on a multi-year planning effort to revitalize the historic Allendale, Ledbetter Heights, and West Edge neighborhoods.  Working with action-oriented strategy, community partners, and a community advisory group supported by a Housing and […]

Ten candidates qualified in Shreveport’s mayor race last week — Anna Marie Arpino, Temecius Dixon, Steven Jackson, Kenneth Krefft, Adrian Perkins, Jeron Rogers, Lee O. Savage, Jim Taliaferro, Ollie Tyler and John-Paul Young. If voters want a wide variety of choices, this slate certainly provides just that. Five candidates are white — Arpino, Krefft, Savage, […]

One of the rituals of going into the Caddo Courthouse on the 500 block of Texas is getting to enter through metal detectors—and to take off your belt.                                         Caddo Sheriff deputies man metal detectors at the […]

Sooo … when is a political “discussion” not a political “event”? Well, it depends on whom you talk to. Steven Jackson had a gathering at Proud Mary’s 360 Grill on June 21.  At the end of his speech about leadership opportunities, Jackson, a Caddo Parish commissioner, announced that he was running for Shreveport mayor. This […]

Between now and the primary election on November 6 voters in every district with a contested race will need to decide their vote. Only Councilman Bowman (District G) has no opposition. Voters cast their ballots for various candidates for various reasons.  Sometimes the motivation is to vote against a certain candidate as much as it […]

Numbers can be interpreted in different ways. Recent headlines have touted “good news” for the local and state economy. The Southern Business and Development magazine ranked Louisiana number 2 for the strongest economic development results in 2107. This high ranking, right behind Kentucky, was based on the state’s share of leading capital investment and job […]

By 4:30 pm Friday (July 20), all the Shreveport city council wannabes will be known. In the meantime, some are definitely in, others are definitely out, and some on the fence. Currently, four council members can seek re-election.  Three council members are finishing a second term and can not run again this year.  Willie Bradford […]

It’s every entrepreneur’s dream. Plan a business event with a guaranteed profit. And that is exactly what the vote of the Shreveport City Council did on Tuesday. A film festival has been planned for months.  The event organizer advised the Council that all the expenses have been covered by private funds, donations, and sponsorships. There […]

Well, it could have been worse. Maybe. Thankfully the vote was not to sponsor a hog calling contest limited to white bubba males. But the sponsorship of a film festival is just as bad on the basis of public policy.  And it probably is illegal. By a 4-2 vote on Tuesday, the Shreveport City Council […]

On July 6 Caddo Shreveport Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) Executive Director Mark Sweeney emailed the MPC Board announcing his resignation, effective August 15. He advised that he had accepted a “once in a lifetime” career and financial prospect. He stated that the knowledge and experience he had gained as Executive Director prepared him to take […]