The Caddo Alliance for Freedom has aggressively lobbied the Caddo Commission to repeal the United Development Code (UDC) that regulates land use in the 5 mile area of the parish extending from the Shreveport city limits. The Shreveport Caddo Metropolitan Commission (MPC), a separate government entity funded by the city and the parish, has the enforcement responsibilities of the UDC.
Unhappy with the responsiveness of the Commission, the Alliance went to Baton Rouge. State Representative Danny McCormick introduced legislation that will effectively take the parish out of the jurisdiction of the MPC and place parish zoning totally within the jurisdiction of the Commission.
The House of Representatives approved McCormick's legislation. The Senate will soon vote on this bill.
Commissioner Steven Jackson has introduced a resolution for Commission approval that opposes the enactment of McCormick's legislation. The Commission will vote on this resolution today at its 3:30 p.m. meeting.
In pre-Covid days, the Alliance would literally fill up the chambers at Government Plaza to protest the UDC. And on at least one occasion the city fire marshall required those attending who could not find seats to exit to the lobby area.
Today's meeting will be by ZOOM, which is probably to the benefit of Commissioner Jackson and those that oppose the resolution. Five of the commissioners took office in January and were not on the commission during the many meetings that the Alliance had a large and vocal presence.
Nonetheless the Alliance has had a very active lobby of the Commissioners--and most likely the state senators. The Alliance membership crosses racial and economic bounds and is probably the most diverse lobbying group in northwest Louisiana.
In basic terms the vote is one based on "the power of the people" versus "the power of elected government." The vote is expected to be a close and thus the impact of the resolution, if approved, is very questionable.
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.