This past Tues. the Shreveport city council had it regularly scheduled meeting at 3 p.m. in the chambers at Government Plaza.

Commissioner Steven Jackson is chair of the Commission's Juvenile Justice Committee.

For some Inexplicable reason, Jackson scheduled this committee meeting at 3:30 p.m. on the same day.

(Jackson does not take my phone calls, nor return my texts or emails).

The committee met in the room behind the council chambers which has limited seating for visitors.

The committee agenda was to discuss placing an ad valorem millage on the Oct. ballot to fund the criminal justice system.

The Commission has always encouraged citizens to attend meetings of committees and the commission and to provide input.

Having this committee meeting at virtually the same time as the council meeting is certainly contrary to the notion of having public participation.

The meeting did not go well and in a huff, Jackson slammed the gavel to end it while discussions were still being held.

Caddo Commission president Roy Burrell was in attendance at the meeting. Seemingly, he could have continued the meeting.

Jackson stated that he had things to do when he abruptly ended the meeting. He did stay at government plaza for about an hour thereafter.

This is not the first time Jackson's short temper has erupted in a public meeting.