Crumbling, grumbling

Citizens love to gripe about almost everything

There is no doubt that Shreveport’s infrastructure – streets and drainage – is crumbling and in need of a massive fix. All you need to do is drive around the city and have your vehicle hit some asphalt street potholes, cracked and sinking parts of concrete streets, and see water pouring into the street from broken water lines. Sad to say, there are no easy answers or solutions to these problems.

We are talking about hundreds of millions of dollars to modernize Shreveport’s infrastructure because of neglect by past city administrations for decades. Unfortunately, the city is not alone is this precarious boat. Cities, large and small, all across the country are experiencing similar problems because of aging infrastructure. That fact, however, doesn’t stop citizens from grumbling when they hit a pothole or when their yard has to be dug up to fix a water or sewer line.

Shreveport Mayor Ollie Tyler experienced the grumbling during her campaign, and she said fixing the city’s streets is a top priority. She has street crews working six days a week to fill potholes caused by the recent cold weather and rain. In addition, $5.2 million is being spent on minor arterial streets. It’s a good start, but don’t expect the grumbling to cease. If you need to report a pothole, call 673-6330.

Grumbling is at a fever pitch over the proposed $108 million bond issue that will be on the ballot May 2 to finance the “Reinvest in Caddo” plan put forth by Caddo Schools Superintendent Dr. Lamar Goree and the School Board. The plan would close six crumbling schools and build three new ones, as well as provide gymnasiums and science labs for existing schools.

Here’s the deal. Citizens – at least those who voted – elected school board members to handle education issues for the parish. The school board chose Goree as the superintendent. The “Reinvest in Caddo” plan was spearheaded by Goree and unanimously approved by the 12-member school board. The bond issue will not increase taxes, but reallocates an existing millage.

Nevertheless, the grumbling began immediately about the plan and the bond issue. So-called government watchers, some journalists and websites have been speaking and writing against the bond issue. The hullabaloo prompted one observer to wonder why these antagonists did not seek a seat on the school board. Food for thought, to be sure. Fuel was added to the fire for the opponents of the plan when the school board extended Goree’s contract, gave him a $25,000 annual raise, plus a $10,000 signing bonus before citizens passed judgement on his plan to restructure the school system. The vote May 2 will be a defining moment of Goree’s tenure, as well as for the school board.

That brings me to the crumbling reputation of the Caddo Commission. Its once sterling reputation has been tarnished by its involvement in the Elio Motors deal, which is not working out as planned; by its participation in the Caddo Employees Retirement System, which appears to be illegal and is awaiting a court decision; and by the revelation of its high salaries compared to other governmental entities where elected officials are considered parttime employees.

The grumbling over these issues has shifted into high gear because commissioners are up for re-election in October – except for David Cox, who is term-limited. Four commissioners have withdrawn from the controversial retirement system and returned the money back to the parish – Doug Dominick, Jim Smith, Matthew Linn, and Mike Thibodeaux. But that hasn’t stopped watchdog activists who are on the hunt to find challengers for incumbent commissioners. No one has publicly declared yet, but I know that there will be some challengers coming forward soon. Qualifying is not until Sept. 8-10. Commissioners can serve three consecutive terms before being term-limited.

And we have the rumor mill reporting Commissioner Michael Williams is going to resign because of legal problems. He may have by the time you read this. That means the commissioners will have to appoint someone to fill that seat until the October election. Just ahead is a special election March 28 to fill the Commission District 7 seat vacated by Stephanie Lynch, who was elected to the city council. There are three candidates – community activist Betty Johnson Jackson, former Councilman Joe Shyne, and businesswoman and interim commissioner Stormy Gage Watts.

Crumbling seems inevitable, certainly in the case of bricks and mortar and infrastructure. It can also occur when it comes to a politician’s record or the performance of a governmental entity. Grumbling is not always a bad thing. That’s what most of us, as humans, love to do. It tends to keep elected or appointed officials on their toes. But the right to grumble should be limited to those who vote. Elections are scheduled for March 28, May 2, Oct. 24 and Nov. 21. Do your homework and take your grumbling to the polls.

Lou Gehrig Burnett, an award-winning journalist, has been involved with politics for 44 years and was a congressional aide in Washington, D.C., for 27 years. He also served as executive assistant to former Shreveport Mayor Bo Williams. Burnett is the publisher of the weekly “FaxNet Update” and can be reached at 861-0552 or [email protected].