The role of local government is to provide basic services and protections to its citizens. That's the reason for public funding of police, fire, EMS, and sanitation. And in today's world, local government should insist on COVID safeguards to protect its citizenry.
The Highland Jazz and Blues Festival is a great event held in Columbia Park.
Its free and the largest numbers of those attending just walk to the event. The park can be entered from Line Ave., Creswell Ave., Columbia Street or Rutherford Street.
The park is NOT fenced and unless barricades are installed and appropriately manned, festival goers are not subject to any COVID enforcement measures, i.e. proof of vaccination or a COVID negative test result rendered within 72 hours of the event.
Like it or not, its time to institute these safeguards for events in Shreveport parks, Festival Plaza, the Convention Center, Riverview Theatre, Riverview Annex, and Expo Hall. This mandate should also apply to scheduled activities at Caddo Common and Asian Gardens.
Usually the upcoming Labor Day weekend has several celebrations in public areas such as the Shreveport Blues and Southern Soul Festival at Festival Plaza.
Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins should lead the way with an executive order mandating COVID safeguards for entry into events held on public property. This action will not be a popular decision to many, but it is the correct decision for the public good of all citizens. Elected officials are charged with making the "hard decisions", not the easy ones.