The print edition of the Shreveport Times on Monday September 14 “featured” a front page by Ian Robinson captioned “Members that missed the most meetings.”
The first sentence reads:
"Attendance records from the past year show how often each Shreveport City Council members was present, and how often they were absent, for administrative conferences and regular council meetings.”
The copy cited absences in the period “between August 2025 and August 2026, according to meeting minutes.”
Robinson reported that both council members Grayson Boucher and Gary Brooks each missed one regular council meeting.
Both Boucher and Brooks have provided documentation that they did NOT miss a regular council meeting during the stated 13-month period.
Reportedly Robinson has made some corrections to the online edition of his copy.
If you are one of the maybe 20 (?) regular readers of the Shreveport Times you will know that many of Robinson’s columns on local government are flawed, and certainly this copy is one of the most egregious. What a slap in the face to his fellow Times reporter Mackenize Boucher!
Thank goodness Settle Talk has now ACCURATELY reported on the absences.
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.