All that have been missing at recent Shreveport City Council meetings are popcorn and peanut vendors. The clowns arrive in large numbers, and their antics have been anything but entertaining.
Council meetings on the west side of the river now feature T-shirt brigades of programmed speakers who clap, whistle, boo, shout and do everything short of behave. It’s a circus that has become a civic embarrassment.
The solution is not rocket science: Enforce rules of decorum, just like what is done in courtrooms and classrooms.
The Shreveport city marshals are present at these meetings.
Before court commences in Shreveport City Court, a marshal informs those in attendance of the rules of behavior with the admonition that any violation will result in automatic ejection from the chambers with no warning or prompting from the bench.
The same procedure should be instituted at Shreveport Council meetings with strict enforcement by the marshals. Those protesting or making continual comments while being assisted out of the chambers should be charged with disorderly conduct.
It’s time to stop the circus. Send the clowns somewhere else.
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.