Life

When I ran for City Council four years ago, there was this question about the $588 million budget that would fall short of funding the many services the city provides. Some also running for office indicated they wanted to cut back on staff to balance the books. I tended to look at how to increase the revenue stream not only to cover the existing outlays but to increase the quality and quantity of services the city was obligated to provide. Addressing this issue is one of the top priorities, I think, the next mayor should have in his/her first 90 days. The strategy is to put in place a plan/policy that would effectively target the 7,000 vacant lots in the city. It has been estimated that close to a billion dollars is lost because of the vacant and blighted properties. “The Public Affairs Research Council, PAR Guide to the 2014 Constitutional Amendments, notes that in Shreveport ‘officials estimate the city spends $2.2 million a year on maintenance of adjudicated, blighted and abandoned properties. That is money that could be spent on other, more needed city services.’' The quote was taken from the East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority Business Plan (2015). The dedicated unit aforementioned is the Property Management Section of the city of Shreveport. Property Management is responsible for monitoring and regulating the city of Shreveport’s interest in real property. At present, PMS is understaffed and would be unable to complete some of those duties that include oversight of the Adjudicated Property Program. This includes properties adjudicated to both Parish/City. Current plan /policy appears to address everything save for a clear title to adjudicated properties. As the next mayor plans out his/her 90- to 100-day task list, there needs to be a comprehensive effort to change the policy to allow developers to build homes that the banks can finance for homeownership, that through the increased revenues, the cost of adding 125 more SPD officers and other city services can be met.

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is pleased to announce an exhibit of three prominent Natchitoches artists, Bill Bryant, Clyde Downs and Michael Yankowski, at the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum. The exhibit, “Old School,” will be on display in the West Wing Gallery from Wednesday, November 10 through Friday, Dec. 2. There will be an artists’ reception on Sunday, November 20 from 2–4 p.m. with light refreshments provided by the Friends of LSEM.

United Way of Northwest Louisiana (UWNWLA) is launching the United Way Book Club to gain support in an effort to expand Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library into Louisiana’s poorest zip code, 71103. The expansion of the Imagination Library will provide books to more children across Northwest Louisiana, giving them the social and developmental tools necessary to be successful in school and in life.

Two sheriff's deputies from Caddo and Bossier parish are the recipients of te 19th Annual Trey Hutchison Award.

The Louisiana Rodeo Cowboys Association (LRCA) Finals Rodeo presented by Hebert’s Town & Country, RAM RODEO and Shreveport- Bossier Sports Commission are returning to the Louisiana State Fair for another year.

Members of Whitetails Unlimited and the National Wild Turkey Federation met with Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian Whittington in the Sheriff’s Conference room at the Bossier Parish Courthouse on Monday morning to make a generous donation for the sheriff’s hunting programs that benefit wounded veterans and handicapped children.

The Community Foundation of North Louisiana has just released its 2020 Community Counts report. It serves as a report card on the quality of life for the Shreveport-Bossier area.

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