By: Tom Arceneaux • Mayor of Shreveport
As 2024 ends, I welcome this opportunity to reflect on the challenges and achievements of the year. I am proud of what the Arceneaux team has accomplished.
Early in the year we faced a logistical challenge to provide security for two major parades on the same day. On February 3, both the African American History parade and the Krewe of Centaur Mardi Gras parade fell on the same day. Providing security for a single Mardi Gras parade is a huge undertaking without a second parade on the same day.
With the cooperation of the Krewe of Centaur and Visit Shreveport-Bossier, and with the hard work of the Shreveport Police Department, SPD brought in help from Louisiana Probation and Parole, the Louisiana State Police, and other agencies to provide security staffing. Both parades rolled on time on the same date and without incident.
The most significant achievement of 2024 was the overwhelming passage of three capital bond propositions on April 27, after a spirited and effective campaign led by Renew Shreveport and the Citizens Capital Improvements Committee appointed by me with some recommendations from the City Council.
The three propositions authorized $256.1 million in new capital projects. Voters approved Propositions 1 and 2 with over 80% of the vote, and they approved Proposition 3 with over 78% of the vote. The vote is a mandate for the city to begin work on needed infrastructure additions and improvements.
The first bonds, in the amount of $88 million, went to market successfully on November 20 with an effective interest rate of 4.598% instead of the stated 5% rate. The good rate will result in additional capital dollars being available for projects.
The projects that will use those initial funds include upgrades to the Amiss Water Treatment Plant and $28 million in other street improvements throughout the city. The construction, which will begin in 2025, will add much needed construction jobs to the city’s economy.
Fighting crime occupied significant time and effort in 2024. Overall violent crime decreased in the city, led by a significant reduction in the number of homicides for the year compared to 2023. While one homicide is too many, community cooperation,
technology, and effective policing all combined to produce a better result in 2024 than in 2023.
During 2024 the condition of the remaining occupied portion of SPD headquarters at 1234 Texas Avenue became intolerable.
While awaiting design of the new headquarters to be built on the same site, the city determined to move the remaining occupants of the building to better quarters even before the time to vacate for the construction of the new headquarters building.
SPD, particularly Police Chief Wayne Smith and Deputy Chief Antwoine White, along with SPAR Director Shelly Ragle and CAO Tom Dark, worked diligently to locate alternative space both until the location of permanent substations and the completion of the new headquarters building.
Together, the team procured or identified five temporary locations for police personnel who currently work at headquarters. The relocations will begin next month and should be complete in the first quarter of 2025.
During 2024, the city engaged the architect for the new police headquarters, funded by bonds passed by Shreveport voters in 2021. The city anticipates construction of the headquarters to begin in 2025, and the remaining bonds approved in 2021 will be sold in the first quarter of 2025.
Multi-family property standards violations, and the attendant consequences to tenants and the city, occupied much attention in 2024. The owners of at least six apartment complexes essentially abandoned the complexes and their tenants during the year.
They even failed to pay their utility bills, resulting in the termination of utility services, leaving tenants in distress and utility vendors, including the city, without payment.
In addition to property standards citations and cleanup efforts, the city’s Community Development Department, led by Director Bonnie Moore and her staff, worked around the clock to assist tenants in finding alternative housing. While this is not a historical city function, the department took on the task because of its commitment to the underserved.
The Shreveport Fire Department had to answer numerous fire calls in the abandoned complexes, and SPD maintained patrols to evict and arrest squatters from the complexes.
The city continues to explore additional remedies, enforcement mechanisms, and means of financial recovery for the violations and extraordinary measures resulting from the abandonment of the complexes.
From an event standpoint, nothing approached the efforts and success of the Humor and Harmony Festival sponsored by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson in August.
Planned and executed in less than 120 days, the festival featured multiple venues, including the Municipal Auditorium, StageWorks, Festival Plaza, and an inflatable dome.
The success was no accident, as SPAR, SPD, SFD, Information Technology, Property Standards Water and Sewer, and Public Works employees acted with coordination and diligence to produce a wonderful series of events, proving what Shreveport can do when it works as a team.
On the economic development front, after a year-long search, I appointed, and the City Council confirmed Bill Sabo as Economic Development Director for the city. Sabo has significant experience in developing local business.
One of Sabo’s first tasks is the implementation of the recommendations of the Mayor’s Small Business Task Force Report, issued in October. The recommendations include ways to make doing business with and in the city more efficient and effective. Sabo has already dug in to the task, especially examining permit issuance.
Finally, I was accepted as part of a cohort of 40 mayors from around the world in the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative. At no cost to the city, I have received in- person and virtual training in how to be a more effective mayor and leader, and the city is receiving additional assistance in developing a plan to address blight and redevelopment.
As you can see, 2024 has been an eventful and successful year. I thank the City Council for its cooperation during the year. I look forward to 2025, and I continue to be honored and blessed to be your mayor.