Transparency is often bandied about by council members, especially when they do not like what the administration is or is not doing.
It’s one of those bully sticks that they wave to express displeasure or to support long winded good government speeches.
Never mind that council president James Green handpicked the last clerk of the council Kendra Joseph without a job posting. No transparency in that process.
Never mind that Green has again selected a new council clerk Shanerika Fleming without a job posting. No transparency in that process.
This the same Fleming that illegally changed the city's insurance carrier right after former mayor Adrian Perkins was sworn into office.
The latest example of council hypocrisy was at the Tues. Feb. 28 council meeting in the selection of RJ Johnson as the new Director of Council Affairs.
RJ is one and the same as Ralph Johnson who was tagged with a $7500 fine in 2021 by the Louisiana Ethics Commission for illegal activity while a member of the Baton Rouge Alcohol Beverage Control Board in 2011.
Conveniently enough Ralph Johnson aka RJ Johnson pulled up stakes in Baton Rouge and moved to Shreveport in 2013.
RJ was nominated by councilman Alan Jackson for the Director position.
Jackson did not disclose that he is a big-time fraternity brother of RJ, that his 2022 council campaign spent money with RJ, or that the Caddo Democratic Executive Committee chaired by RJ endorsed him for the council seat in last year's election.
Just convenient oversights not disclosed publicly to the council before the nomination and vote for RJ.
No transparency by Jackson who coincidentally preached that he wanted accountability for persons speeding in school zones in the same meeting.
Hmmm..I guess the accountability mirror along with transparency mirror does not reflect this image when held in front of his face.
And how about newbie council member Ursula Bowman and her vote for RJ.
Bowman also serves on the Caddo Democratic Executive Committee along with RJ. And guess who that committee endorsed in last year's council race?
You got it--Bowman!
So much for transparency.