Author Archives: John Settle

If Shreveport elected officials were to list the top 3 issues that need to be resolved, there is no doubt that these would be at the top of the list: water billing, EPA and SPD. The Pernici Wainwright suit for alleged violations of the non disclosure agreement could cost the City as much as a […]

Its rare, as in real rare, that New Orleans is looked to as a model for progressive government. But such is the case with the New Orleans Redevelopment Agency (NORA), which will serve as a model for the Shreveport Implementation and Redevelopment Agency (SIRA). NORA was created in 1968 and it initially focused it efforts […]

Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus, but sometimes he gets his Christmas list messed up and lumps of coal are delivered rather than gifts.. Such may be case with the much ballyhooed Unified Development Code (UDC) that was adopted by the City of Shreveport this spring and recently by the Parish Commission.  The UDC […]

Many readers responded to a recent article on questions for Shreveport Mayor Tyler’s request for the Shreveport City Council to fund and additional $150,000 for Shreveport Police Department overtime. One reader had many comments and suggestions that should merit sharing to a larger audience, which includes the Shreveport City Council, Mayor Tyler and many in […]

Finally, Shreveport Mayor Tyler took the initiative to develop a plan to address Shreveport’s ever increasing crime by her request to the City Council to fund an additional $150,000 for the Shreveport Police Department (SPD).  Its unfortunate that she waited so long; thankfully Councilman Willie Bradford put public pressure on the Mayor by the introduction […]

Believe it or not, there IS a magic kingdom at Government Plaza on Travis Street in downtown Shreveport; its located on the fourth floor in the offices of the Shreveport Caddo Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC). The king is MPC Executive Director Mark Sweeney and his cabinet is the nine member MPC Board.  King Sweeney collects […]

Believe it or not the Shreveport Caddo Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) offices on the fourth floor of Government Plaza are closed each day from noon until 1 pm; the lights are off, the door is locked and the phones answered by a recording. This noon office siesta time has been in effect every since Mark […]

Hats off to Shreveport City Councilman Bradford and five of fellow Council members for sending a message to Shreveport Mayor Ollie Tyler that her Administration must do more to address the rising crime rate in Shreveport. Willie Bradford, who is not to be confused with city attorney William Bradford (they are not related), introduced a […]

Depending on who one talks to, there was either a big mix up on a meeting date or a deliberate stand up by Shreveport Police Chief with a citizens crime committee at Crump’s office on Tuesday, June 6.   Former Caddo Police Juror David Wyndon and NAACP president Lloyd Thompson headed up a committee that […]

When Caddo and Bossier voters approved the additional 1.5% hotel motel occupancy tax in the fall of 2015, Bossier Mayor Lo Walker and Shreveport Mayor Ollie Tyler promised that the funds collected from out of town visitors would reap great benefits for both Bossier and Caddo Parish. At the end of 2016 many local citizens […]