The Shreveport City Council has its work session today, Monday.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, is its regular session.
One can expect many citizen comments as well as debate among council members on four items, which in reality are two issues.
Council resolutions 43, 44, and 45 are one readers, which means they can be adopted on Tuesday. These three deal with national politics--opposing cuts to national aid programs, opposing mass firings of federal employees and opposing cuts to tariffs.
It’s rare that the Shreveport Council weighs in on national resolutions for obvious reasons. The first is that they will be meaningless. Secondly, advising other governmental entities on how to do their job can provoke unwanted "advice" on council matters. Lastly, such a proposal can lead to meaningless, divisive debate.
The second matter that will likely provoke extensive discussion by citizens and council members alike is the proposed lease of Expo Hall to Curtis "50 cent" Jackson. This ordinance has been delayed since the end of last year.
The resolutions are sponsored by council Democrats Tabatha Taylor, James Green and Ursula Bowman. It is expected that council members Grayson Boucher, Jim Taliaferro and Gary Brooks will oppose these actions. Councilman Alan Jackson will be the swing vote, and it is likely he will vote with his fellow Democrats.
The Arceneaux administration is sponsoring the proposed lease to 50 Cent. One can expect racial politics to be underlying motivations for votes. This vote, much like the vote to lease Millennium Studios to Jackson, could be major factors in the 2026 council and mayor elections. The reality of an out of town millionaire rapper's influence on critical races next year is precedent setting and not necessarily in a good way.
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.