Once they return, I am expecting the delegation that went to the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative on blight to have magic solutions for Shreveport's blight. One should expect a white paper report from the group.
Urban blight is characterized by deteriorating buildings, abandoned properties, vacant lots large amounts of litter and other signs of neglect.
Without going to the citadel of learning--Harvard--I can identify some facts that have no easy answers:
1. Shreveport and Caddo Parish have had declining populations for several years. Thus, there are less people to fill the existing housing stock.
2. Many new subdivisions have been built in north Caddo parish as well as Bossier and Desoto parishes which provide attractive alternatives for housing.
3. Older homes in the many neighborhoods suffer from delayed maintenance that renders housing units less desirable for purchase or renting.
4. Abandoned housing units have attracted a vagrant population with the resulting social problems including fires in vacant structures.
5. A very large number of dilapidated properties have absentee owners who neglect their maintenance responsibilities.
6. Another very large number of dilapidated structures are owned by tax sale purchasers whose only interest is to have rental income until such time their real estate title is perfected, if then.
7. The City of Shreveport owns approximately 9,000 properties from tax sale adjudications. Most of these are empty lots requiring city expense for moving.
The list could be expanded but this is certainly a good start. Perhaps the most obvious challenge is the lack of civic pride held by a substantial number of Shreveporters.
Litter in streets, yards, and public areas is not only disgusting but also inexcusable. Litter removable is a constant city challenge.
It is expensive to all residents, no matter the cleanliness of one's yard and street.
Let’s hope the delegation to Harvard brings back the magic genie on blight including litter. And while they are doing that I want them to deliver the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow to my home.
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.