By: Enlightened Reader
Saying that it was a face off is a stretch, but the final two Shreveport mayoral candidates did appear in the same place and answered the same questions last week at what may be one of the final forums for Shreveport’s top elected position.
Though the number of people attending at the LSUS University Center Theater was larger than most prior forum crowds, a significant number were there in representing Alpha Kappa Alpha, a sorority that was one of the event’s sponsors. Many of the other people in the audience seemed to be there to support their chosen candidate, making it unlikely that many hearts or minds in the audience were swayed by candidate answers.
Perhaps it was because the candidates were worn out from the frenetic pace of the primary, but the forum was a low-key affair in which Tarver and Arceneaux agreed more than they disagreed, and neither scored a punch. At the same time, neither seemed to make a huge gaffe, which might have been the plan.
Both believe Chief Wayne Smith is doing a good job in leading the Shreveport Police Department, both agreed that there need to be changes within the city’s Economic Development division, both want the Real Time Crime Center to move into SPD, both support the I-49 Inner City Connector. Neither believes citizens will support a bond issue for the next two-three years (until there is more trust in city government) and neither believes that four years as mayor is long enough to "do the job." There was one difference worth mentioning that was a big one. Candidate Tarver brought up low-income housing multiple times throughout the evening, talking about the "city building" such housing, or funding loans that will allow persons to purchase single family homes. This would be a huge change for the city which does not build housing at present. The city can direct money through Community Development HUD grants into projects for low income residential, but that money goes to third party developers. It is not the "city" building the housing.
Tax dollars that come into the General Fund is already spoken for by Public Works, Water and Sewerage, Streets and Draining, Parks and the like. If the city is going to get into the business of building homes or funding home ownership, there would need to be more discussion about where that money comes from, what division/department will lose money (there’s only so much to go around) and who manages this "City Building" division.
Both candidates fumbled a question about what they would do with if a $100 million lagniappe fell into their laps (similar to what happened with federal funds flowing into cities after Covid). Arceneaux talked about using it for "infrastructure" with no details, and then reminded the audience that ‘$100m doesn’t really buy you a whole lot.’ Tarver talked about filling potholes and mowing grass. The problem with grass is that it grows right back and will still be growing when the $100m is long gone. Perhaps buying needed mowing equipment that could handle the problem after the lagniappe is spent would have been a better idea.
All in all, not the candidates’ finest hour. Voters can hope that the energy and ideas that were missing that night might be found between now and election day.