CADDO COMMISSIONER EPPERSON GETS LUMP OF COAL FOR DATA CENTER OPPOSITION

Caddo Commission Epperson has done it again.
 
Epperson is an old school demagogue. He seeks support for his political kingdom as a Caddo commissioner by appealing to the fears and prejudices of his constituents rather than using rational investigation.
 
By doing so Epperson makes himself out as a hero to his uneducated and naïve constituents with false arguments. In essence Epperson is a modern-day pharaoh trying to lead his people astray.
 
The proposed data center location is in his commission district.
 
At the last meeting of the Shreveport Metropolitan Planning Commission a special use permit for the proposed data center was on the agenda. Epperson arrived in all his glory wearing a vest with military patches, which had no relevance to the issue before the MPC board.
 
Epperson blasted the proposed data center:
 
1.  He expressed disdain for the Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) signed by many government officials and businesspersons, as if they were leaked classified nuclear secrets.
 
2.  He cited the lack of sufficient water for the center, providing no factual evidence
 
3.  He argued the lack of sufficient electric power grid for the center, providing no factual evidence
 
4.  He cited continual obtrusive noise from data centers, with no factual evidence
 
5.  He cited environmental pollution from constant 24/7 diesel generators, even though they will not be employed at  the data center
 
6.  He cited unbearable truck traffic from I-20 to Hwy. 80 that would interfere with residents of adjoining neighborhoods
 
7.  He cited decline in property values of adjoining neighborhoods, without any authorities.
 
To further his anti-data center opposition, Epperson whipped up opposition in adjoining neighborhoods with false fears. He sent many of his residents to the podium at the Council meeting after he was unsuccessful in having them hold up opposition pieces of paper that he handed out before the meeting. This time, he remained silent, presumably to avoid further public embarrassment, although he did wear his faux military patch vest again.
 
Epperson conveniently overlooked the fact the data center location had been zoned industrial for over 10 years. He ignored the prospect that a poultry processing plant, or a rock-crushing facility, could be located in the park.
 
Prior to the council meeting last Thursday, Epperson abused his position as the Chairman of the commission’s Public Safety Committee by calling a special committee meeting to trash the data center. None of the committee members bothered to show up for his one-man parade, giving him a virtually unlimited platform to foment opposition to the data center.
 
And to add the cherry on top, he made a ridiculous proposal to locate the data center in southeast Caddo Parish on a Section 16 Caddo Parish School Board tract located outside the city limits that lacked needed infrastructure.
 
It’s Epperson’s modus operandi to insist that his commissioner ring be kissed before he grants approval to projects in his district regardless of the merit of the same. His insolence is matched only by his arrogance when wearing his commissioner’s hat. In the end his constituents suffer, and eventually they will learn that his political antics do them much more harm than good.
 
Santa should drop a lump of coal down Epperson’s chimney tomorrow night. Better yet, just have a truck dump a big load of coal in his yard.