It’s time to move on and give Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson what he wants.
He has a key to the city, a lease of Millennium Studio, a pending lease of an auxiliary building adjacent to Millennium, and lotsa downtown real estate.
Today, the Shreveport City Council should approve the Expo Hall lease.
Expo Hall is basically a white elephant on the riverfront. It's another building the city does not need to own or manage. The lease to Jackson should save the city approximately $60,000 per year.
Assuming the Expo Hall lease is approved, then the clock starts for Jackson on utilization of the building. Of course, the clock never really started on the Millennium lease, but that's a different story or is it?
The only remaining excuses for non-action by 50 Cent will be possible negative legislation coming out of the upcoming session of the Louisiana legislature. The verdict on that will not be known until adjournment in June.
And if the council wants to really clear the deck for future constructive action, go ahead and approve the three controversial resolutions directed at the Trump administration. Hopefully, future council actions will be absent of grandstanding with a focus on local versus national politics.
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.