The fundamental purpose of local government to provide basic public services.
The short list is clean water, public safety, streets, and roads, functioning sewer services, garbage and trash pickup.
Shreveport had now had two winter episodes of busting water lines that left many citizens with no water, no potable water, and/or low water pressure. And even when the temperature is more moderate, water line blowouts occur on a regular basis resulting in the same challenges of providing safe potable water to Shreveport citizens.
The city continues to have sanitary sewer overflows and the EPA Consent Decree is still a looming monster that is growing.
Bad streets are nothing new, but seemingly the list of continues to grow versus lessen.
The shrinkage of Shreveport police personnel is becoming a desperate situation.
Outgoing chief administrative officer Henry Whitehorn has advised that the current garbage fee is not covering the costs and that an increase in the garbage fee is needed.
And everyone acknowledges that the city has too much trash, litter, and debris.
Incoming mayor-elect Tom Arceneaux and his council which has three new members need to recognize these realities and temper their governmental aspirations with these factors being foremost.