SHAME ON CADDO COMMISSION PRESIDENT GREG YOUNG FOR INSTITUTING NON-TRANSPARENCY IN COMMITTEE MEETINGS

His publicly stated rationale was to have meetings in the back conference room at Government Plaza so Commissioners could be “more candid”.
 
Today the fourth Commission committee meeting was held in the back room, sans smoke although it could have been for all practical purposes.
 
To her credit last year’s president Stormy Gage-Watts directed committee meetings be the chambers where all commission members where at the horseshow with microphones along with key Administration employees and a speaker’s podium.
 
The first committee meetings on Monday had NO microphones and those attending had difficulty hearing many people speaking and they had the opportunity to look at the back of many at the conference room table. Even reviewing the recorded streamed meeting provides little assistance in ascertaining many of the comments.
 
Today the Economic Development Committee meeting was streamed with NO audio on the stream.
 
So much for transparency in government.
 
So much for Greg Young’s early pronouncements about progressive government, etc. etc.
 
So much for good government.
 
Greg Young’s edict tracks the refusal of Caddo Parish Attorney Donna Frazier in responding to a public records request.
 
Young’s move of committee meetings to the backroom certainly provides campaign fodder for his reelection campaign next year.
 
The Administration’s blatant refusal to answer a public records request will be a factor in any future bond elections by the parish and any tax renewals.
 
There will be an Audit and Finance Committee meeting at 2:30 p.m. If one can read lips, it may be worth streaming.
 
Hopefully this message along with the one earlier today on the public records request gets down to Baton Rouge and the Attorney General's Office.