Now that the Louisiana Legislature's Special Tax Session has adjourned, the fate of many tax matters has been somewhat resolved. And now all the passengers on the Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson's special "save the film tax credit train" can deboard and take their Jackson kool-aid with them.
The Legislature's compromise on the film tax credit may help save the Big Easy. What it will do here in Shrevesville is an open question. The last big film production boom in Shreveport was fueled by hurricanes in south Louisiana. And that was before competing states provided more lucrative tax packages for film production.
Jackson was treated as royalty when he announced that he would be Shreveport's economic king by coming to Shreveport. He now owns a dirt lot downtown, a city block parking lot, and four downtown buildings that need repair to be utilized.
Jackson is now in the Downtown Empty Building Club with many others. His purchases rival in square footage the long closed Slattery Building and the Johnson Building. There are many other empty buildings in the downtown footprint that are in much better condition and in better locations than Jackson's holdings. And then there are many other downtown buildings with a paucity of tenants.
The lease of the Millennium Studios had an effective date of Jan.1 of this year. The only film action at that location since that date was the eviction of a local start up film company. All the swag, bright lights and glitter of the Humor and Harmony Festival is just a memory of a golden brick road that disappeared with the downtown event tent.
So, what can the 50 Cent Club members expect in the next few months from their idol? Probably nothing—it’s Thanksgiving week with Christmas and New Year’s just a few weeks away. Maybe they get discount tickets to Jackson's six performance gig in Vegas at year end when he will pocket $15 million. If any members do go, one hopes they will book 50 Cent to come back with the loot in early January and start making some discounted "I Bought Elio Stock" tees which can be purchased as stocking stuffers. And soon, Amazon will be offering a Shreveport special set of "Where is Waldo" books with "Where is 50 Cent" coloring books in a combined gift package. Prime members get first dibs on this soon to be collector's item.