Columns & Opinions

It’s probably a good thing that Bossier Councilman David Montgomery, aka King David, missed the council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 16.

How often have we heard this statement from various officials: “These monies cannot be used for (whatever) because they are in a different pot!” Or, these monies can only be used for this or that because of the pot they are in.

Policing is hard, and being the leader of a police department is even harder than that. Shreveport is a moderate-sized city with a fairly diverse population that has its own set of problems. One of the main problems today is the crime in some neighborhoods, especially predominantly black neighborhoods. The recent change in leadership of the Shreveport Police Department is being watched very closely. Citizens want to have confidence that something is being done to bring down the crime in their neighborhoods.

It started last week, and it has intensified this week.

After recently attending the celebration for Centenary Professor Dr. Andia Augustin-Billy, it became apparent what a milestone this really was just a little over three years before the college will celebrate its 200-year anniversary.

The continuing saga over the Mardi Gras parades of the Krewes of Gemini and Centaur has yet to be resolved. The 10-year contracts of both krewes with the city of Shreveport have expired.

See original Mardi Gras column below ...

The city of Shreveport's 10 months' sales tax receipts are running at a record pace. October's $13,297,236 gives a YTD total of $122,437,016. This sum is 16.7% over 2020's 10-month figure of $104,897,747. Next month's number will easily surpass the appropriated amount. Then the final month's receipts will be on top of that. Such revenues indicate the method by which the mayor and city council should award public safety first responders a long overdue and badly needed pay raise of 12-13%.