Columns & Opinions

It’s a very good question.

Do you remember the media campaign last March in Shreveport, led by architect Chris Coe, to install decorative light poles at the intersection of Kings Highway and Line Avenue in front of two notable buildings in the Highland Historic District? Just when it seemed to be a settled issue in favor of the residents who protested the erection of ugly, steel-grey poles in front of two of Shreveport’s historic treasures, there is new drama developing at City Hall downtown.

There is in Greensboro, N.C., a most improbable club. It has members but no membership roster, no leaders, no meetings and no rules.

Is your house ready to handle the hot, humid days of summer? Don’t sweat it. With these simple steps, you’ll stay cool and save all season long. 1. Get a tune-up. Hire a qualified professional to inspect and clean your air conditioning

I would like a review of the Gilmer Bayou Watershed by any local authority. We lack any local contacts to get such scored for a future flood risk project affecting West/South Shreveport. For many years it is not publicly known, what local government has authority. Gilmer Bayou Project removed the flood risk from West Shreveport by increasing water flow towards Wallace Lake Watershed, a controlled detention Lake. Is Gilmer Bayou a city or parish project? How does the authority of state and U.S. Corps of Engineers fit into this equation?

Decades ago, I had a summer job as a SPAR lifeguard at the Airport Park Pool in the Mooretown neighborhood of Shreveport. The city budget was tight then, the local economy was weak, and the municipal pools were extremely popular on hot summer days. The Airport Park Pool was crowded and leaked water, which meant extra chemicals were needed every day to keep the water within acceptable levels.

The streets of Shreveport are deplorable, and trash pickup is not much better. That’s right, I said it, and it should be shouted from the steps of city hall by the mayor every day in his effort to get a new bond proposal passed. This is not a reflection on the workers, but a reflection on leadership. Shreveport is never going to attract the types of businesses needed to move forward if the infrastructure and services are not up to par. That is why the mayor should personalize the issues in order to sell his new bond proposal to a wary and reluctant public.

I was visiting with a colleague last week. Enjoying a “good cup” of coffee at a local restaurant, our conversation shifted to the Shreveport/Caddo area(s).