Maybe it's understandable.
Former DDA Executive Director and now Shreveport Bossier Advocate Business Editor Liz Swaine does not have any children. Swaine and former SRAC Executive Director Pam Atchinson are BFFs (Best Friends Forever).
Caddo Commissioner Victor Thomas does not have any children, and he always tries to align himself with so-called “powerful” people. Thomas’ commission district includes the downtown area.
Who knows, maybe they don’t like homeless parents with kids.
Both Swaine and Thomas appeared before the Shreveport Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) yesterday and spoke in opposition to a rezoning request by The Providence House, which provides interim housing for homeless parents with children.
The Providence House hopes to add housing adjacent to its current location that would include four small single-family residential units and a large housing unit to replace the crumbling facility on Crockett Street.
The property for this development is the old green shed on Crockett Street which is sandwiched between Central ARTSTATION , the old downtown fire station, and Caddo Common Park.
The MPC Board voted unanimously to approve the MPC staff recommendation to allow development.
It is expected that the MPC decision will be appealed to the Shreveport City Council.
Although current DDA Executive Director Cedric Glover and the DDA Board approved the project, neither Glover nor the DDA Board president Dryden Dunn attended the MPC meeting.
As the business editor for the SB Advocate Swaine has a platform to explain her opposition. Thomas can use the “open mic” interval at commission meetings as his forum, starting tomorrow (Thursday) at the Commission meeting.
A follow-up column will review the Providence House project and MPC staff report in detail.
Settle Talk will also provide a forum for project supporters to rebut Swaine and Thomas and to explain the merits of this project.
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.