It’s a basic rule of government.
And seemingly it’s one that should be well known on the second floor of Government Plaza.
Admittedly, the staff of Mayor Adrian Perkins has very little real-world experience in the political world. But one member is a holdover from the Ollie Tyler administration and has a journalism background.
Seriously, did anyone think that a real estate purchase by the city of Shreveport for $9.5 million would go undiscovered?
If it’s a good deal for the city, why not shout it from the rooftops versus treat as a non-occurrence?
When inquiring minds and the media dig up significant information about an event -- or a non-event -- affecting public dollars and public officials, one can expect questions to be asked. The first of which should be why was this not disclosed on the front end versus the back end?
News at city hall has not been that good since November of last year.
First was the resignation of two-term council leader James Flurry in November.
Then the appointment by Gov. Edwards of a virtual civic stranger to fill Flurry's seat in December.
In January, former comptroller Ben Hebert held a press conference alleging a whistleblower complaint and a job discrimination complaint against the city.
Then councilman John Nickelson requested the legislative auditor visit the Perkins administration, which resulted in immediate blowback by both the mayor and new council president James Green.
After that, Green issued his council committee appointments. He did not name Nickelson or council member Levette Fuller to chair any committees. (Both Fuller and Nickelson voted against Green's council presidency.) Green's committee member assignments closed out an ignominious January.
February started with a big bang on the second floor. And it was a bad bang at that.
The prior criminal record of Kacey Brown, the acting Chief Financial Officer (CFO), was discovered and revealed. This led to the administration pulling his nomination of permanent CFO at the first council meeting in February.
Next on the list of black eyes was the misleading if not totally incorrect legal opinion given by an assistant city attorney to the council on Feb. 8 on the need to adopt a new Shreveport Metropolitan Planning Commission ordinance. (This after the ordinance was introduced without any coordination with the current MPC executive director.)
Next up on the hit parade of bad news, at least how the public was informed, was the discovery of the building purchase by the city on Dec. 2 of last year. Yes, December of 2021.
This acquisition was for less than the appraised value of $9.65 million (sales comparisons) or $10.25 million (cost approach).
The acquired facility will allow the consolidation of three city departments that have aging, inadequate facilities and provide many new amenities for these departments.
And the cherry on top is that the funds were previously approved in a bond package for a new facility.
Viewed objectively, this purchase by the city should be considered an example of good government. A prudent expenditure of dedicated funds to replace aged-out facilities, to expand the potential for needed additional government services and to consolidate governmental operations.
So-o-o ... back to the initial question. Why did the Perkins administration not disclose the acquisition the day the ink dried on the deed and the purchase check was cashed?