It’s not that many days until Christmas. All too often Santa does NOT receive a wish list from the Arceneaux administration and/or the Shreveport City Council.
Here are some suggestions for a Santa list:
a. All city council members learn to correctly pronounce councilman Grayson Boucher’s last name---its “butcher”, not “booocher”
b. Flooding issues at Millennium Studios be addressed with a contract executed to cure this problem
c. The Red River District is leased to a third party to manage, pay expenses, etc.
d. Fines be added to the SPAR special event ordinance for use of SPAR/city facilities without a permit
e. People seeking a permit to use a SPAR/city facility for a special event be required to attend SPAR permit committee meetings
f. Vape shop ordinance be amended to provide an enforceable definition of “vape shop” as in counter space versus sales tax amounts that are not broken down for vape sales
g. Scan walk through metal detector be installed at Government Plaza like at Bossier City Hall that does not require emptying of pockets, removal of belts, etc.,
h. Civilian, non-SPD officers, be hired to work in the ABO office and that regular ABO office hours be maintained
i. PowerPoint presentations be banned at Council meetings unless copies are made available to the public and the Council before the slides hit the screen
j. The old Pioneer Bank Building on the corner of Texas and Edwards, which is now owned by the City and is vacant, is sold
k. All Shreveport water problems like billing, taste, color and water pressure be cured
l. All Shreveport redlights are synchronized to provide for more consistent travel flow
m. More SPD officers be hired, and especially experienced law enforcement personnel, with a net positive gain in officers
n. Flooding issues at Fire Station on Greenwood Road be resolved.
This is the FIRST letter to Santa. No doubt readers will remind me of other “doable” tasks that Santa and his elves can handle.
I am not sure of Santa’s deadline. I hope it is not necessary for me to sit on Santa’s lap to have the list considered!
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.