At the Shreveport City Council meeting yesterday (Mon.), councilman James Green wasted about 30 minutes cross examining Shreveport's bond attorney on why no action had been taken on a new Shreveport Police Headquarters. Clearly, the bond attorney has no role in the cost of a new SPD headquarters, planning efforts, or construction costs.
In December 2021, a public safety bond proposition was passed by Shreveport voters. Adrian Perkins was the mayor at that time--and he served through December of 2022. Green, along with current council members Tabatha Taylor, Grayson Boucher, and Alan Jackson were council members in 2021 and 2022.
It should be noted that these four did nothing during 2022 to push the construction of a new HQ building. The same can be said of SPD Chief Wayne Smith.
Mayor Arceneaux's term began on December 31,2022. The current council including Green, Taylor, Boucher and Jackson, also began their current term on that date. The fact that no action was taken on the SPD HQ in the first 18 months of service by the current council and the Arceneaux administration is a fault to be shared by all.
Green and the other council members should also remember that the amount of the public safety bond proposal was set by the Perkins's administration, and not by Arceneaux. The four council members serving at that time did not question the amount of the proposal. Thus, the problem of underfunding of construction costs is an inherited burden that must be shared by all.
Green's antics yesterday were very reminiscent of his interrogation of then SPD Chief Ben Raymond on the circumstances of Green's citation for barging into a retail store. Green questioned Raymond at length despite the fact Raymond was not on the scene and had only reviewed reports of the incident. This was the day Green asked Raymond what were the officers going to do--shoot him?
Green should have directed his inquiries to Chief Wayne and Mayor Tom--not bond counsel. It’s an old tactic to point a finger at an innocent party to direct attention away from the responsible party. When fussing about the SPD HQ, Green and his cronies should look in the mirror --and not at the bond attorney.
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.