QUESTIONS ON HUMOR & HARMONY FESTIVAL AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES/FACILITIES

It’s almost here--two weeks from this Thursday the Humor & Harmony Festival kicks off.After a presentation by SPAR Director Shelley Ragle at the Shreveport City Council work session yesterday, many questions are being asked by concerned citizens.The festival will be conducted at many locations:1.

50 CENT COMMENDED FOR HIS VISIT TO BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE

I am proud to say I served in the U.S. Air Force for almost four years. I served as a Staff Judge Advocate, which is an Air Force attorney. As I used to say, I "flew a desk." I was stationed at Castle Air Force Base in Atwater, California for three years.

HUMOR & HARMONY FESTIVAL TO BE MOVED TO MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM?

That's the word on the street.Humor & Harmony Festival was scheduled for Thursday and Saturday nights--August 8 and August 10-at Independence Stadium.Now, the two events will be held at Municipal Auditorium.The Stadium sits over 35,000 people. Municipal Auditorium holds less than 4,000 people.

HAS CADDO COMMISSIONER BURRELL PAID HIS STATE INCOME TAXES FOR LAST FEW YEARS?

A third party made a Public Records Request to the Louisiana Department of Revenue concerning the payment of state income taxes by Caddo Commissioner Roy Burrell.The request indicated that the Department could only confirm whether a return had been filed for a specific year.

BURRELL RESPONDS TO COLUMN ON INJECTING STATE AND NATIONAL POLITICS AT COMMISSION MEETINGS

“Hey Mr. Mettle, I will stop exercising my rights to free speech as a Black public official when you condemn or oppose comments from white Republican politicians like Mayor Arceneaux, and other local , state and national figures concerning public issues.

CADDO COMMISSIONER BURRELL SHOULD STOP INJECTING STATE AND NATIONAL POLITICS INTO COMMENTS

If you have ever attended or streamed a Caddo Commission meeting, you will quickly learn that Caddo Commissioner Roy Burrell loves the spotlight. He never misses the opportunity to talk, talk, and talk. Each Commissioner is allowed an opportunity to make comments on ANY items during the meeting.

COUNCILMAN/REVEREND JAMES GREEN VOTES AGAINST LOCAL FAITH- BASED ORGANIZATION

There's an old saying--"petty is as petty does."Shreveport councilman James Green is a minister.Reverend Green has his own church complete with a radio studio.He also has his own radio program on a local station.Councilman/reverend Green often sermonizes at council meetings.

SHREVEPORT COUNCIL MEMBERS TAYLOR AND GREEN GIVE A CLASSIC LESSON IN HOW NOT TO GET LEGISLATION APPROVED

Both are veteran members of the Shreveport City Council.James Green served previously on the Council, and he is now in his second year of another second term.Tabatha Taylor was appointed as an interim council member in May 2020 and has served since then.

HOW THE CITY OF BOSTON SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED ITS MURDER RATE

An article in Friday June 28 edition of the New York Times captioned "Fingers Crossed in Boston as Murder Rate Plummets" caught my attention so much that I saved the page for follow up review. And after re-reading this article I researched Boston Mayor Wu and her crime prevention efforts.

14­-YEAR-OLD KILLED OVER HEADPHONES--ANOTHER 14­-YEAR-OLD ARRESTED FOR POINTING RIFLE AT POLICE OFFICER

Ugh!It’s all I can say.On Saturday (July 6), a 14-year-old male was killed at a community gathering at Bilberry Park over headphones. Reportedly, he refused to return the headphones to the owner who promptly shot him in the chest killing him before he fled.

NEW EFFORT LAUNCHED TO REVITALIZE SHREVEPORT'S HIGHLAND NEIGHBORHOOD  

Revitalize Historic Highland  (RHH) is a non-profit corporation that was launched in April of this year.

HUMOR & HARMONY TO HAVE ONLY TWO EVENTS IN FOUR DAYS IN PROPOSED OPEN ALCOHOL ZONE?

The proposed ordinance by councilwoman Tabatha Taylor for the Humor & Harmony Festival is to allow open alcohol consumption in a four block area for four days--drinking on the streets, sidewalks, parking lots and the Red River District.

SIX BLACK CADDO COMMISSIONERS SPEND OVER $17 GRAND TO ATTEND BLACK CONFERENCE

Six of the seven African American Caddo Commissioners attended a National Organization of Black County Officials conference in Atlanta last month: Roy Burrell, Ken Epperson, Greg Young, Stormy Gage-Watts, Steffon Jones and Victor Thomas.

MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT PROPOSED SUSPENSION OF ALCOHOL LAWS IN RED RIVER DISTRICT/EXTENDED AREA

Councilwoman Tabatha Taylor has introduced a resolution to suspend Shreveport ordinances restricting the consumption and possession of alcoholic beverages from  August 8 through August 11 in the Red River District extending to Spring Street and Fannin Street.

SHOULD OPEN CONTAINERS BE ALLOWED IN RED RIVER DISTRICT/EXTENDED AREA DURING HUMOR & HARMONY FESTIVAL?

It’s a decision that will be before the Shreveport City Council at its meetings on Monday, July 8 and Tuesday, July 9.