James Green's term as chairman of the Shreveport City Council ends at the first meeting of the council in Jan. of next year. Of course, he could be elected to a third consecutive term as chair, but that would be precedent setting and thus unlikely.
Assuming that his chairmanship ends at the Jan. meeting, here is a wish list for Green's last three months in that position:
1. Don't chew out Jon Glover for the third time this year.
2. Don't give any pay raises to council clerk staff without a vote of the council.
3. Don't allow any member of the council clerk's office to read a statement at a council meeting trashing council member or any members of the council staff.
4. Don't ignore any council member making a Point of Order to stop any dialogue by council members and/or members of the public.
5. Don't threaten to have a citizen removed from the council chambers for calling out that persons at the horseshoe cannot be heard.
6. Don't talk at the horseshoe without a working mike in front of you so that your voice can be heard.
7. Don't have long extended soliloquies explaining what you have or have not done in your capacity as the council chair or as a council member.
8. Don't flash a badge/commission from the Louisiana State Police and/or the Shreveport City Marshal to a law enforcement officer during a traffic stop.
9. Don't blame all Shreveport's problems on prior white council members and/or white Shreveport citizens.
10. Don't hinder in any way the investigation of Attorney Hill into all facets of the pay raise you gave to council clerk staff.
11. Don't pursue a Tax increment Financing (TIF) District since you have now delayed the vote for many, many months due to a lack of understanding of the TIF requirements and/or the unsuitability of District F for the same.
This list is not all-inclusive, but it is a good start. Despite the fact that Green likes to brag about his prior service on the council before his election in 2018, he certainly has acted like a self-centered pious demagogue for most of this year as the council chair.
There is no need to review his performance last year as chair simply because this year's antics are too much to stomach. As a self-proclaimed man of God, Green has certainly set a poor example of godliness in his actions as council chair.
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.