Columns & Opinions

A retired cop was at recent Northwest Louisiana Council of Governments (NLCOG) meeting last week. I was excited to see Tracy Mendels, a candidate for Shreveport mayor in the crowded room.

PRENTISS SMITH

The topic of a Black mayor for Shreveport has been discussed before. The underlying question is of what significance would a Black mayor make? What would be the reason for a Black mayor? The growing number of central city blacks, coupled with Mayor Hussey's failed attempts to annex more areas with majority white populations presents one plausible focus point. Without sufficient planning, in the very near future, this may be the scenario of Shreveport: 1) The city has a Black population that is more than 50 percent of the total population. 2) If current trends prevail, unemployment will remain very high (15-20 percent) in the Black community, along with high crime rates.

If you attended the meeting on Wednesday, Aug 17, of Shreveport's Board of Trustees (Board) of the Health Care Trust Fund, that certainly is the impression you would leave with.

Contributing Columnist

Get involved in the local forums. There are 11 more weeks until we vote.

JOHN E. SETTLE Jr.

CITY INSURANCE PLAN DECISION HAS MANY POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS