A press conference was held Tues. at the North Louisiana Criminalists Laboratory by Mayor Perkins.
He was joined by council chair James Green, council public safety committee chair Grayson Boucher, council member Tabatha Taylor and Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith.
As stated in the press release, the group was "to discuss legislation that will allocate funding to the North Louisiana Criminalists Laboratory."
The council's agenda for the Mon. work session and the Tues. regular meeting had a line item to appropriate $400,000 for the crime lab.
This ordinance is a two reader, which means it the earliest it can be adopted is Mar. 22.
The executive director appeared at the work session when the agenda item was briefly reviewed. He explained the work of the crime lab and the parishes it served.
No council member expressed any concern over the funding and no meaningful questions were asked of the executive director.
In other words, it was apparent the funding would be approved.
The fact sheet for the ordinance explained that the funding was due to a major decline in operating revenue generated from court costs, fines, and fees. This decline was due to the COVID court closures which resulted in less case volume.
What was said at the press conference could have been said at the Tues. council meeting, or for that matter at the Mon. work session.
In reality, the press conference was not needed other than to give free airtime to the mayor and to feature council cheerleader Tabitha Taylor who is becoming a TV camera star.
This press conference should be reminder to those who may run of the powers of the incumbent mayor who can call them virtually at any time on any subject.