JOHN PERKINS

Contributing Columnist

Oh, boy, this column practically writes itself. All I have to do is provide the coffee and computer. The Shreveport City Council met this week. The well-attended meeting included discussion of Mayor Perkins’ bond proposal, which the council accepted for a vote by the citizens.

The meeting lasted over four hours, a butt-grueling stem winder, if our watches still had stems to wind. Since the house was packed and my backside is still sore from my injuries, I decided to watch on Facebook in the recliner.

Tempting here to use classic pro-wrestling descriptors like “Pier Six Brawl” and “Donnybrook,” the meeting rarely was boring. I hate smoking. I hate that I started smoking as a young teen in Shreveport. I hate going to funerals for friends who died of cancer. So, the discussion was important to me, and it even spilled over onto Facebook afterwards. There were people like me who care deeply, and a few are now considering out loud running for city council as a result of yesterday’s frustrating discussion and vote. 

The vote to repeal portions of the smoking ban that goes into effect Aug. 1 was tabled but not before the partial repeal for Shreveport casinos passed 4-3. Then one council member wanted to change their vote, and the repeal was eventually tabled, which means it will go into effect Aug. 1 after all. No one was happy.

The anti-smoke crowd was grumpy because Councilman Boucher, who had supported the ban before he was against it, had flip-flopped. He has no doubt been reminded by now that he has 182,616 bosses that live in Shreveport. But there are also other bosses here, too.

Currently, the Nevada Clean Air Act bans smoking in all indoor establishments, excluding casinos, tobacco retail stores, strip clubs, brothels and stand-alone bars.  Nevada politicians probably recognize casinos, strip clubs and brothels as bosses, too. They are also huge contributors to the state economy. You may remember that New Orleans banned smoking in the land-based Caesars Casino. Caesars reported that their Harrah’s New Orleans property suffered a $70 million loss over a two-year period after the ban.

Bossier has no such ban in their gaming facilities. Though smoking didn’t keep DiamondJack’s open, it is a safe bet that banning smoking in Shreveport gaming establishments would bump up revenues at Bossier gaming properties. One can still pull off I-20 at Caesars Louisiana Downs and smoke all night on the floor of their slot casino.

With Shreveport still struggling financially and considering borrowing more money, is this the time to send smokers across the Red to gamble in Bossier properties? With the ban upheld by the tabling of the partial repeal, we will see soon enough. By the way, Charles Marohn will be here in mid-September. His new book on Infrastructure can be pre-ordered now and will drop Sept. 8. Order now and read the first chapter now. More info? PerkWrites@gmail.com