GOOD NEWS ON SHREVEPORT'S GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND RATING

Evidently, Shreveport Mayor Arceneaux's recent trip to New York City to meet with bond underwriters was successful!Standard and Poor's has just released the city's bond rating on General Obligation bonds---the BBB­+ rating was maintained.Moody's also released the city's new bond rating.

WHY THE FUSS BY COUNCLWOMAN TAYLOR OVER NORTH MARKET SPD LOCATION?

Goodness...this is an old issue. It started under mayor Ollie Tyler. It was approved by mayor Adrian Perkins and consummated by Mayor Tom Arceneaux.

BOSSIER'S UDC MUCH LESS RESTRICTIVE THAN SHREVEPORT AND CADDO UDC

A Unified Development Code (UDC) is a single document/ordinance that regulates development in a government jurisdiction.

SMALL BUSINESS INSIGHTS AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS REPORT

Reform RecommendationsThe collaboration between Cities Work ,md Lite City of Shreveport centers on the overarching goal of making it cheaper, faster and simpler to start a small business especially for individ­uals who have traditionally been excluded from this sphere in the first place.

WHAT ABOUT A POLICE SUBSTATION IN SOUTHEAST SHREVEPORT?

The Shreveport Police Department Headquarters on Texas Avenue has been the focus of media attention recently--and rightly so. This facility has long been overdue for replacement. Nonetheless, it’s time--no past time--for attention also be directed to locating a substation in Southeast Shreveport.

SHOULD MEMBERS OF MEDIA STAND AT INVOCATIONS AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE?

Meetings of local government bodies--city councils, school boards, commission/police jury-commence with an invocation and the pledge of allegiance. All audience members are asked to stand, if able, for both the invocation and pledge.

SHREVEPORT CITY COUNCIL SHOULD GIVE DIRECTION TO MAYOR ARCENEAUX ON SPD SUBSTATION

The concerns over the reverter clause in the donation by the North Shreveport Business Association (NSBA) to the City of Shreveport of property on North Market for an SPD substation have been well-documented.

ALL NW LA SALES TAXES ARE DOWN!

By: Ken Krefft • Contributing Columnist Each of the 6 major NW LA sales taxing jurisdictions shows a decrease in its September 2024 sales taxes compared to 2023. The 3 Bossier entities reflect big declines while the 3 Caddo bodies have lesser drops. The City of Shreveport has a 2.

FILM TAX CREDIT ELIMINATION/REDUCTION WILL ADVERSELY AFFECT G-UNIT PRODUCTIONS

Goodness...hasn't Shreveport been down this road before?Remember all the ballyhoo that Shreveport was the new "Hollywood of the South"?This false hope/dream/fantasy was as ludicrous as former mayor Cedric Glover's proclamation that Shreveport would become "The Next Great City of the South.

SELECTION PROCESS FOR SUPERINTENDENT WAS FLAWED, IT IS NOW TIME TO MOVE FORWARD!

By: Prentiss Smith • Contributing ColumnistThe recent appointment of Keith Burton as the new Superintendent of Caddo Parish Schools has been the subject of much debate and controversy---some of it justified, much of it not.

MATERIAL WEAKNESSES IDENTIFIED IN CITY OF  SHREVEPORT 2023 AUDIT

Carr, Riggs & Ingram recently completed the 2023 Audit of the City of Shreveport and its departments. As with every city audit there are findings of non-compliance with various accounting protocols and standards.

SHREVEPORT BOSSIER FILM & ENTERTAINMENT COMMISSION--CART BEFORE THE HORSE?

The Shreveport Bossier Tourist and Convention Bureau aka Visit Shreveport-Bossier just announced the appointment of Wade Marshall as the head of the newly created Shreveport-Bossier Film & Entertainment Commission.

CADDO SHERIFF HENRY WHITEHORN ISSUES LETTER DETAILING ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND FUTURE INITIATIVES

Caddo Parish Sheriff Henry Whitehorn penned a letter to the community on Thursday highlighting his accomplishments to date and outlining plans for the parish's future.

SHREVEPORT MAYOR ARCENEAUX SHOULD BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN SEARCH FOR SPD TEMPORARY SUBSTATION LOCATIONS

The big push to relocate SPD personnel out of the headquarters building on Texas Ave. has been well documented.The Arceneaux administration has released a list of 18 potential temporary substation locations and has stated that three additional locations will be reviewed.

SHOULD SHREVEPORT BUILD POLICE STATION ON DONATED LAND WITH A REVERTER CLAUSE?

The challenges of relocating the Shreveport Police Department Headquarters from Texas Avenue to temporary locations have been exacerbated by several factors. The first is the insistence by SPD Chief Wayne Smith of a large number of parking spaces at any temporary location.