Mayor Tom Arceneaux vetoed the noise ordinance that passed the council at its Oct. 10 meeting.
Council members Gary Brooks, Jim Taliaferro and Grayson Boucher voted against the ordinance, and they will not change their votes. Thus, an attempt to override the veto will fail for the lack of the needed five votes.
Councilman Alan Jackson was the de facto spokesperson for the four who voted for the noise ordinance that actually increased the allowed decibel level. He was joined by his running buddies James Green and Tabatha Taylor along with Ursula Bowman. On the KEEL morning show yesterday (Tues.) Jackson said there would not be an attempt to override the veto at the next council meeting.
Jackson did not mention the fact any override attempt would fail in his flawed attempt to defend the ordinance. Jackson keeps referring to the downtown area, especially the area with the nightclubs, as an entertainment district like Bourbon Street in New Orleans pr Beal Street in Memphis.
Jackson conveniently ignores many obvious facts:
1. Texas Street is a state highway that has significant vehicle traffic.
2. There is residential housing very near the nightclubs in the Texas Street area.
3. There is an upscale hotel very near these nightclubs.
4. The rooftop music has drawn very large crowds of young unruly citizens to the area and there are many documented instances of inappropriate behavior such as dancing on Texas Street and on vehicles, open container public drinking, fights, property damage, etc.
5. The ordinance was passed allows for 85 decibel patio parties throughout the city at private residences as well as entertainment venues with outdoor patios.
Jackson's constant mantra that loud noise is needed to keep millennials in Shreveport and provide tax dollars to the city is ludicrous at best and totally ridiculous at worst. Jackson conveniently overlooks the significant ad valorem tax dollars paid by downtown building owners and tax dollars expended in the
downtown area by residents. He ignores, even if he knows, that the perception of safety in the downtown area has taken a major hit which has adversely affected downtown visits by locals as well as tourists.
Thankfully Mayor Tom has taken the appropriate action that will continue to be supported by three on the council. The other four council members who voted for this ordinance should stop trying to be noise police using their cell phones in an attempt to protect one club owner who happens to be their friend.
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.