Columns & Opinions

One of my friends remarked to me recently that he felt that some things are getting worse and not better. He was referencing some issues in our city government. Quite naturally, he is entitled to his opinion, as we all are. I remarked to him that most things don’t get better on their own. They have to be fixed.

Chief Wayne Smith has caught up with the car, now what does he do with it? In other words, he got the job. He is now the face of the Shreveport Police Department, something he has dreamed about for years. Chief Wayne Smith, a consummate professional who has devoted his life to law enforcement, now gets a chance to lead a department that he has been a part of his life for over 40 years.

Goodness, good-government advocates have suddenly awoken from the holiday siesta. Either that or they are trying to keep a New Year’s resolution to examine local government.

When the NFL announced they were expanding the playoffs to include seven teams from each conference, it was met with open arms. Most believed that the added teams would make the last few weeks of the regular season that much more exciting because more teams would still be “in the hunt” for a playoff berth.

As of Jan. 1 of this year, Caddo Parish property is no longer subject to the jurisdiction of the Shreveport-Caddo Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC). Prior to this date, the fivemile zone contiguous to the Shreveport city limits was subject to regulation by this agency.

Shreveport and Caddo parishes are going through very trying times as elections approach. Word comes through talk radio that Ellerbe area residents are getting restless and beating the drums of secession again. There is talk of de-annexing and forming a new incorporated town outside of Shreveport. The governor’s appointment of a Democrat to the council replacing a Republican may have reignited their desire to control their own destiny.

Without going through all the “high points,” positive and not so positive, of Michael Lafitte’s local NAACP presidency, let’s review his tenure.

Gary Chambers is a Senate candidate in Louisiana who should stick to his day job and leave the politics to others who are serious about winning and serving the people of Louisiana. He is not one of those people by virtue of his ill-advised stunt of smoking marijuana on camera, which shows his lack of seriousness and a lack of maturity needed to be senator from a state like Louisiana.