John E. Settle, Jr.
Opening one's water bill has not been much fun since the rates increases were implemented to pay for Shreveport's compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency Consent Decree.
For those that cringe in despair as the open the spiffy envelope from Department of Water & Sewer, there is some good news in the recent mailings.
"Good" if you like reading an insert entitled "Mayor Adrian Perkins Crime and Economic Development Update."
The insert has information on several topics;
CHIEF'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND COMPREHENSIVE CRIME PLAN
SPD HIRING 50 OFFICERS AND ADDING 75 AUXILIARY OFFICERS
THE REAL TIME CRIME CENTER IS FULLY OPERATIONAL
AMAZON ROBOTICS FULFILMENT CENTER OPENS IN 2022
CALL CENTER BRINGS 900 JOBS TO SHREVEPORT
AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER INVESTS $100 MILLION
FINANCE DEPARTMENT AWARDED FOR HIGH REPORTING STANDARDS.
And if you receive more than one bill in the DOWUS envelope, you get as an extra bonus with an insert for each bill!
Citizens are asking questions about the inserts which are appearing for the first time in the Perkins' administration:
a. what is the cost of the insert
b. Is the insert appropriate as a public education medium
c. is the insert really campaign literature for this year's mayoral election
d. Is the insert a violation of campaign ethics utilizing public dollars.
Hmmm.
Seemingly the questions are valid.
If nothing more, the insert is another advantage of the incumbency of a mayoral candidate.
Most politicos agree that Mayor Ollie Tyler failed to take advantage as her mayoral seat when campaigning for re-election. It appears that Mayor Perkins is not going to make that mistake.