Adjusting to Shreveport LA (Bossier City, Minden: buying a house, transfer, buying)

[BeenThereDunThat]

Here's my 2Cents on Shreveport-Bossier: Bossier is a bedroom community comprised mostly of sprawling suburbs and lacks a core central biz district. It is more readily identified by Barksdale AFB than anything else. It has a very good community college, good local schools and while the politics in Bossier are conservative...at least they seem to accomplish a lot more than their counterparts in S'port. ( Building projects: CenturyTel Arena, Teague Pkway, Benton Rd Overpass). There's a saying: "Shreveport Meets & Plans....Bossier Builds!" That's the perception anyways. Demographics in Bossier are mostly white but a lot of middle-class Af. Americans live here for the same reasons:
Better Schools, Better Neighborhoods, Better Police protection...etc. Some feel that Bossier is more on the ball because many former military retirees have gotten involved in the political or civic administrative opportunities. These are well-rounded men & women who've been around the block and don't have the burden of Shreveportitis. One of the most progressive things Bossier did back when the casinos came to town was to take gaming tax revenues and place them in a financial account to where the interest had to accrue to a certain level before they could be spent.
Shreveport wasn't as lucky as they had a tendency to spend as they went.

Shreveport is a cluster___K politically speaking. White-conservatives, fractured Af-Americans, and apathetic in-betweens. It has a majority Af Amer population ( 54% +/-, not necessarily a bad thing but disproportionately lower-income) Perception of local politics: not real good. And some of the Af. Amer council members were convicted felons and yet they still got elected: (Joe Shyne, Hilry Huckaby for example). The new mayor there seems to be a nice enough guy but opinions are that he's like "the dog that finally caught the car", if you appreciate the analogy. And that he's more about PR than governing. Same with the chief of police...lots of media attention and some positive efforts ( i.e. Operation T-BONE)... but goes out of their way to spin info about crime in the central biz / riverfront district.

This area is very, very church-oriented. In fact the second question you're often asked is "What church do you go to?" Very Southern-Baptist and yes...very single/closed minded about religious tolerance. I know this from too many first-hand accounts. Religion is big-bidness down heah... with some churches spending thousands to erect crosses as promotional testaments to their church/faith. Not knocking that but it indicates a strange sense of priority as far as church spending goes... Churches are developing their franchises to Super-Churches complete with bigger campuses, religi-tainment, etc.

S'port's downtown may be the central biz district but it's an eyesore in many instances. A lot of the old history of the area has either been demolished or left to demolition by neglect. The last major metropolitan master plan was in 1957...they are just now addressing a new master plan but many of the players are mostly politically contracted and not the best folks for the job IMHO. Downtown convention ctr / hotel was forced on public by a stubborn mayor (previous admin) who bypassed public input (vote) and got bond issues passed. Nice facility but is still losing ( and will continue to lose) money as the math doesn't add up.

Riverfront Entertainment District another issue former mayor forced, costing the city millions that won't be paid back. It is probably 80 to 90 percent empty because of high rents and perception that area isn't safe ( it's had its share of bad PR and mismanagement ).

Some bright spots are WestEdge Arts district ( well one or two places actually) and Robinson Film Ctr. The Strand is a really nice old theater but it's had financial stress lately and has threatened to close. Lotsa Arts emphasis but the market really is hard-pressed to support it.

Casinos are doing okay but not as good as before and they are a big employer to the area.

Tax incentives for film industry is positive but movie industry is fickle. A studio was slated for construction here in early 2009 but the area is growing with weeds and they seem to keep pushing things back. There are 3 films being shot here compared with the 20 or so they had the year previously. Lack of direct flights to L.A. is one thing people complain about. Nice place to shoot but L.A. types seem to prefer bigger venues like New Orleans.

Major economic players are hospitals, BAFB, School Systems, casinos & Haynesville Shale. Majority of top 50 privately held biz here are automotive related. Lots of folks think area is insulated from recession...not true as GM is closing in 2012 (probably sooner as orders for Colorado trucks slow) and Hummer plant sale is iffy to Chinese.

Employment prospects? Well most college grads leave because there aren't enough decent base-salary jobs to support their degrees. You can sell cars, deal blackjack, become a nurse or medical tech as area is big for healthcare. While Haynesville Shale is big...they've slowed down and some Nat. Gas firms have actually laid people off as price of Natural Gas has dropped from $13mcf in summer '08 to less than $4mcf summer '09.

Attitudes of folks here? Well don't discuss religion if you wish to keep your sanity. Seriously folks here have never looked past their King James to even consider tolerating another point of view. Baptists view Catholicism with desdain and they don't have a clue about Judiasm other than bible-stories. And if you mention to a die-hard Baptist that Jesus was mentioned as a holy-man in the Koran...they'll look at you like you're from Mars. So forget any balanced conversation on religion, theology, etc. .. even some folks with advanced degrees will get their panties in a wad if you bring it up as they've already drank the Kool-Aid.

Sorry if my observations tick locals off... I'm actually from this area and moved away after HS thanks to the military and world exposure, I have a different take on things. I came back to care for elderly relatives and after they leave this planet, I'm out of here too.

It's a nice place if you're looking for pockets of neighborhoods to raise a family, get the 3BR/2Bth modified ranch and find the right schools. Churches can be used either for spiritual fulfillment or social networking ( which seems to be the case in many instances ). I get sick of biz-folks who slap Fish icons on their businesscards and yet manipulate undereducated folks into bad loans, extra amenities they can't afford / don't need and after they screw them good with a contract, tell them to "Have a Blessed Day". Seriously. . . this has been my experience many, many, many times.

So good luck. And while all southern states have their issues, I will say that Dallas at least has the economic & cultural diversity to be a better place than Shreveport as far as a more metropolitan setting goes. Frisco & Plano have their Bible-toters to be sure but at least there's more zip codes to choose from that aren't as fanatical as others.

[hindsight2020]

Originally Posted by BeenThereDunThat

Here's my 2Cents on Shreveport-Bossier: Bossier is a bedroom community comprised mostly of sprawling suburbs and lacks a core central biz district. It is more readily identified by Barksdale AFB than anything else. It has a very good community college, good local schools and while the politics in Bossier are conservative...at least they seem to accomplish a lot more than their counterparts in S'port. ( Building projects: CenturyTel Arena, Teague Pkway, Benton Rd Overpass). There's a saying: "Shreveport Meets & Plans....Bossier Builds!" That's the perception anyways. Demographics in Bossier are mostly white but a lot of middle-class Af. Americans live here for the same reasons:
Better Schools, Better Neighborhoods, Better Police protection...etc. Some feel that Bossier is more on the ball because many former military retirees have gotten involved in the political or civic administrative opportunities. These are well-rounded men & women who've been around the block and don't have the burden of Shreveportitis. One of the most progressive things Bossier did back when the casinos came to town was to take gaming tax revenues and place them in a financial account to where the interest had to accrue to a certain level before they could be spent.
Shreveport wasn't as lucky as they had a tendency to spend as they went.

Shreveport is a cluster___K politically speaking. White-conservatives, fractured Af-Americans, and apathetic in-betweens. It has a majority Af Amer population ( 54% +/-, not necessarily a bad thing but disproportionately lower-income) Perception of local politics: not real good. And some of the Af. Amer council members were convicted felons and yet they still got elected: (Joe Shyne, Hilry Huckaby for example). The new mayor there seems to be a nice enough guy but opinions are that he's like "the dog that finally caught the car", if you appreciate the analogy. And that he's more about PR than governing. Same with the chief of police...lots of media attention and some positive efforts ( i.e. Operation T-BONE)... but goes out of their way to spin info about crime in the central biz / riverfront district.

This area is very, very church-oriented. In fact the second question you're often asked is "What church do you go to?" Very Southern-Baptist and yes...very single/closed minded about religious tolerance. I know this from too many first-hand accounts. Religion is big-bidness down heah... with some churches spending thousands to erect crosses as promotional testaments to their church/faith. Not knocking that but it indicates a strange sense of priority as far as church spending goes... Churches are developing their franchises to Super-Churches complete with bigger campuses, religi-tainment, etc.

S'port's downtown may be the central biz district but it's an eyesore in many instances. A lot of the old history of the area has either been demolished or left to demolition by neglect. The last major metropolitan master plan was in 1957...they are just now addressing a new master plan but many of the players are mostly politically contracted and not the best folks for the job IMHO. Downtown convention ctr / hotel was forced on public by a stubborn mayor (previous admin) who bypassed public input (vote) and got bond issues passed. Nice facility but is still losing ( and will continue to lose) money as the math doesn't add up.

Riverfront Entertainment District another issue former mayor forced, costing the city millions that won't be paid back. It is probably 80 to 90 percent empty because of high rents and perception that area isn't safe ( it's had its share of bad PR and mismanagement ).

Some bright spots are WestEdge Arts district ( well one or two places actually) and Robinson Film Ctr. The Strand is a really nice old theater but it's had financial stress lately and has threatened to close. Lotsa Arts emphasis but the market really is hard-pressed to support it.

Casinos are doing okay but not as good as before and they are a big employer to the area.

Tax incentives for film industry is positive but movie industry is fickle. A studio was slated for construction here in early 2009 but the area is growing with weeds and they seem to keep pushing things back. There are 3 films being shot here compared with the 20 or so they had the year previously. Lack of direct flights to L.A. is one thing people complain about. Nice place to shoot but L.A. types seem to prefer bigger venues like New Orleans.

Major economic players are hospitals, BAFB, School Systems, casinos & Haynesville Shale. Majority of top 50 privately held biz here are automotive related. Lots of folks think area is insulated from recession...not true as GM is closing in 2012 (probably sooner as orders for Colorado trucks slow) and Hummer plant sale is iffy to Chinese.

Employment prospects? Well most college grads leave because there aren't enough decent base-salary jobs to support their degrees. You can sell cars, deal blackjack, become a nurse or medical tech as area is big for healthcare. While Haynesville Shale is big...they've slowed down and some Nat. Gas firms have actually laid people off as price of Natural Gas has dropped from $13mcf in summer '08 to less than $4mcf summer '09.

Attitudes of folks here? Well don't discuss religion if you wish to keep your sanity. Seriously folks here have never looked past their King James to even consider tolerating another point of view. Baptists view Catholicism with desdain and they don't have a clue about Judiasm other than bible-stories. And if you mention to a die-hard Baptist that Jesus was mentioned as a holy-man in the Koran...they'll look at you like you're from Mars. So forget any balanced conversation on religion, theology, etc. .. even some folks with advanced degrees will get their panties in a wad if you bring it up as they've already drank the Kool-Aid.

Sorry if my observations tick locals off... I'm actually from this area and moved away after HS thanks to the military and world exposure, I have a different take on things. I came back to care for elderly relatives and after they leave this planet, I'm out of here too.

It's a nice place if you're looking for pockets of neighborhoods to raise a family, get the 3BR/2Bth modified ranch and find the right schools. Churches can be used either for spiritual fulfillment or social networking ( which seems to be the case in many instances ). I get sick of biz-folks who slap Fish icons on their businesscards and yet manipulate undereducated folks into bad loans, extra amenities they can't afford / don't need and after they screw them good with a contract, tell them to "Have a Blessed Day". Seriously. . . this has been my experience many, many, many times.

So good luck. And while all southern states have their issues, I will say that Dallas at least has the economic & cultural diversity to be a better place than Shreveport as far as a more metropolitan setting goes. Frisco & Plano have their Bible-toters to be sure but at least there's more zip codes to choose from that aren't as fanatical as others.

^^^^ sticky worthy The most complete and honest portrayal of the Sherveport-Bossier area on this forum to date by far.

We live in Shreveport now after renting in Bossier, going on 2 years in the area and I really do think the area is not for everybody. Like everywhere else, it all depends on what stage in life you're in and what your life expectations are. I know if full time employment doesn't materialize on base for me we're not going to be happy campers if we choose to continue our homesteading plan. The compensation for college degree holders in this area, outside of certain medical positions and the oil business, is outright dismal. Which is why there is a gap of college graduate mid-20 to mid 30s folks demographically.

Again, really honest and complete overview of the intricacies of the area by the poster above.

[Innotech]

Segregation? the north is the most segregated placE I have ever visited.
White flight has created vast sprwals up north where some suburbs have upwards of 90% whites and inner cities are almost entirely black. Down here we seem to be much more balanced. As a result, sometimes our cities and towns are a bit messier, more crime ridden, and less educated, but it also means we are far more accommodating of ALL walks of life. I saw some truly beautiful communities up there, but under that facade was staleness and a lack of adventure. It was TOO perfect to be real, and it often isnt. Personally I cant live like that. I know there are people less fortunate than myself, just trying to scrape by a living, and they deserve to live in a community as well. The south really does seem a lot more able to offer that diversity, for better or worse.

[joetownmom]

Innotech has pegged it. Up North, cities are far more segreated and racism more rampant, believe it or not.

[MyssaTx]

remember what I told you about Sh*tport. Just stay busy and count down the days until you can leave. The people that are from here have no idea just how bad it is because its all they know in fact they are actually quite defense about thier crappy little town lol.

[ro_vaughan]

Huge culture shock...huge. Moved here almost three years ago and my jaw still drops. I cannot believe that people have used the words progressive, sprawl, integrated, safe, tolerant in the same sentence with Shreveport. We only moved here from Dallas and I still haven't gotten over the difference. There are major class and race issues in this city...I feel like I stepped back in time 60 years. Don't move here...run in the opposite direction.

[ro_vaughan]

Originally Posted by ceejamon

I was born and raised in Shreveport and left because it is a rancid simmering cesspool that's preferable to hell only because the food is good. I hate to bash my hometown, but I've gotta tell the truth.

I made it through 12 years of school without being diagnosed as dyslexic. My teachers basically gave up on me until I taught myself to read, and then I played catch-up for a few years. Anything from 9th-grade on that I know I had to teach myself because my teachers were so unqualified. The magnet schools get all the smart kids and the rest are shuffled along to graduation. My wife was a teacher in Caddo Parish at Captain Shreve and thought she hated teaching. Having moved, she's as happy as can be and wants to do it forever.

Shreveport is horribly racist, homophobic, and uber-conservative. I say this as a straight, white male who's fairly conservative himself. If you're white, other whites may randomly engage you in openly racist conversation and will ridicule minorities when they're not around. They will just assume that you agree with this viewpoint. If you're gay in Shreveport, you either hide it or move. A gay pride bumper sticker will get your tires slashed. Everyone loves Jesus there, and if you don't you're going to hell. Asking a stranger where he goes to church is considered small talk. Many people with BA/BS degrees work jobs that don't require them. Education isn't valued much unless your degree specifies a particular career track (doctor, lawyer, engineer).

The weather sucks. A lot of the people "with money" think far too highly of themselves. The people without blame others and make excuses. There is a culture of ignorance and a resistance to any kind of change. For me, there was no adjustment. Only escape. Good luck.

Perfectly said.

[Drew1972]

I moved to Shreveport in 2002, I located there due to buisness. I was sent there to open the Funny Bone Comedy Club under the Texas Street Bridge. As many of you remember the Red River District, Everything seemed great when I got there, My favorite hang out was the Blind Tiger and to this day I can honestly say that PC was the best Bartender I ever saw. Comedy was welcomed with open arms in Shreveport though one night after a show, A group came up to me and told me that the headliner was the funniest ( N-word ) they ever saw. Thats when I knew I was definitly in the bible belted south. I remember when the police had shot and killed a black man when he got out of his car during a traffic stop with his cell phone in his hand waving it around while yelling and cursing at the officers. That sure did alot for racial tensions in Shreveport, I have lived alot of places in my life and all I can say is that racism is everywhere in some form or another. I lived in New Mexico and witnessed it towards the Navajo, and watched it in Delaware against the Hispanic people. All I can say is if it bothers you so much then try and find a place that has the lowest amount of diversity, my wife and I did, we will be moving to Bangor, Maine next year.

[imaterry78259]

Is Shreveport really this sad? Its a darn shame

[Shannon75]

Sad to say, but yes, Shreveport really is that bad. I remember my grandparents, who reared me, pushing me so hard to get educated, to find a good job. I did what they told me to do.... have two Masters degrees, just shy of writing the dissertation for a Doctorate. My 93 year old grandmother told me a few years ago " You will never fulfill your potential if you stay here. All the education will mean nothing." She was right. One of my fields of study has been education, and trust me, there's nothing more frustrating for a teacher than dealing with parents who think education is for Ivory Tower jacka****.

So, we moved. My then 90 year old grandmother picked up stakes with me and moved. We are so glad we did. The economy is tough right now, and I just got out of school again, but once I hook into something the compensation is almost a third more than what I earned back there.

As for the racial tensions, closed mindedness... fuggetaboutit. Seriously, these two things will be constants as long as the city is on the map.... always have been, always will be. While I remember the mandate for getting highly educated, I also remember both of my grandparents lamenting about how Shreveport was at least fifty years behind the times, wondering if it would ever get better? He had a great job, it was economically sound for them to stay there.... they were happy with each other, but in a general sense they were never truly happy. That's sad to me. My grandmother is just so pleased to be out.... and I have to say, I am, too.