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My point is that Shreveport used to not be such a bad place, according to my Dad who lived there for what, 30-40 years? It has gone down the tube. It's going to have to hit rock bottom before it gets better, and it's not at rock bottom yet, as you note. There is a lot going on:
Casinos are starting to falter.
Shale oil deal dried up.
GM left.
AT&T moved (I think?)
About the only industry there is WK Healthcare and LSU (University) and Libby Glass.
.
FWIW -- AT&T morphed into Lucent Technologies which eventually became defunct in 2006. The huge plant sitting off Mansfield Rd that used to employ upwards of 6,000 plus during its heyday is mostly empty. It is used primarily as a warehouse / storage for retail goods like soap and household products. The plant had seen some use as a movie studio (aka: Mansfield Studios) but has since been inactive as most tv/film production has gone to New Orleans.
GM shuttered a few years ago... they keep saying that Elio Motors ( basically a 3-wheeled motorcycle) will start production sometime. They keep pushing back the start date because the company can't get any investment from the private sector and keeps pushing for Econ Development money from the feds & state. I think this won't happen. If it does, it will be a scaled-down version of what they've been promoting. Gas prices will continue to drop and so will the interest in a glorified motorcycle enclosed in fiberglass.
I personally think that infrastructure issues in Shreveport will continue to worsen given that there isn't a lot of money available for what needs to be done. The city has $600 Million in backlog repairs that keeps growing with every quarter. People are upset that their water bills have gone up to help pay for a failing water & sewer system. You only need to look back at the Hightower administration when so much emphasis was placed on building the new Shreveport Convention Center and then adding the city owned hotel costs on top of it. That and the shifting of $20 Million in bond money to finance the Red River Entertainment District which was poorly managed and failed miserably within 3 years after its launch. Meanwhile city infrastructure was left with band-aid measures in favor of the more sexier projects like the convention center, hotel and RRED. All the money was focused on the riverfront... SciPort, etc. Nice to be sure and yes the riverfront is improved but at the sacrifice of other more fundamental projects necessary for sustaining long-term growth.
Ahh but this is Shreveport afterall where the focus for years has always been style above substance. That and how can my buddies get a taste of the public cash when it comes to building projects. How little has changed through the years.
I believe Shreveport had a heckuva chance at growth back in late 1970's.... Oil & Gas money was pouring in like crazy. I recall secretaries getting year-end bonus checks and buying sports cars, cowboy hats were on about 3 out of 5 heads, the Shreve Square was jammin' with parties.... and downtown was as busy as it ever was. The University Club was where up & comers in the biz world would have their meetings... it closed about 5 years ago as younger business folks quit paying the $500 yearly membership. There's still the Petroleum Club but that's become a de-facto society group/private supper club more than anything. After the O&G bust of '85, Shreveport lost its drive as companies left for either Dallas or Houston and people left in droves, allowing the cronies who stayed to step up and take over. Now we just swap out the same faces from the city council to the Caddo Commission, to the C of C, schoolboard, etc. etc. etc. Vicious cycle has taken control or so it seems.
FWIW -- AT&T morphed into Lucent Technologies which eventually became defunct in 2006. The huge plant sitting off Mansfield Rd that used to employ upwards of 6,000 plus during its heyday is mostly empty. It is used primarily as a warehouse / storage for retail goods like soap and household products. The plant had seen some use as a movie studio (aka: Mansfield Studios) but has since been inactive as most tv/film production has gone to New Orleans.
GM shuttered a few years ago... they keep saying that Elio Motors ( basically a 3-wheeled motorcycle) will start production sometime. They keep pushing back the start date because the company can't get any investment from the private sector and keeps pushing for Econ Development money from the feds & state. I think this won't happen. If it does, it will be a scaled-down version of what they've been promoting. Gas prices will continue to drop and so will the interest in a glorified motorcycle enclosed in fiberglass.
I personally think that infrastructure issues in Shreveport will continue to worsen given that there isn't a lot of money available for what needs to be done. The city has $600 Million in backlog repairs that keeps growing with every quarter. People are upset that their water bills have gone up to help pay for a failing water & sewer system. You only need to look back at the Hightower administration when so much emphasis was placed on building the new Shreveport Convention Center and then adding the city owned hotel costs on top of it. That and the shifting of $20 Million in bond money to finance the Red River Entertainment District which was poorly managed and failed miserably within 3 years after its launch. Meanwhile city infrastructure was left with band-aid measures in favor of the more sexier projects like the convention center, hotel and RRED. All the money was focused on the riverfront... SciPort, etc. Nice to be sure and yes the riverfront is improved but at the sacrifice of other more fundamental projects necessary for sustaining long-term growth.
Ahh but this is Shreveport afterall where the focus for years has always been style above substance. That and how can my buddies get a taste of the public cash when it comes to building projects. How little has changed through the years.
I believe Shreveport had a heckuva chance at growth back in late 1970's.... Oil & Gas money was pouring in like crazy. I recall secretaries getting year-end bonus checks and buying sports cars, cowboy hats were on about 3 out of 5 heads, the Shreve Square was jammin' with parties.... and downtown was as busy as it ever was. The University Club was where up & comers in the biz world would have their meetings... it closed about 5 years ago as younger business folks quit paying the $500 yearly membership. There's still the Petroleum Club but that's become a de-facto society group/private supper club more than anything. After the O&G bust of '85, Shreveport lost its drive as companies left for either Dallas or Houston and people left in droves, allowing the cronies who stayed to step up and take over. Now we just swap out the same faces from the city council to the Caddo Commission, to the C of C, schoolboard, etc. etc. etc. Vicious cycle has taken control or so it seems.
Yep. I say call the code and walk out. Let the coroner and mortician deal with it. This one is dead and the stench is overwhelming.
I think Shreveport "could" have a chance. I read recently the filming director of Bossier, was looking at the nature of business, industry and other elements. That's expansive to think in such terms, because even though we have many locations for film, but filming requires a great deal more when we look at the broad spectrum of the potential filming content.
I think film can also promote areas, depending on what and how its depicted. If it shows positive function in a variety of ways.
We are missing the perspective potential of Shreveport. GM plant has infrastructure existing which could not possibly be financed to build in today's dollars. the railway in and out alone is worth more than is being acknowledged. The large facility structures and the vast 'cement covered lands" at the facility.
Shreveport could become on of the best known "TRANSFER HUBS" in the South, with direct access to the Midwest, the West and the East as well as deeper South. We just don't have people who think in these terms nor acknowledge the value of what exist. The truck stop up the street could expand, to become and offer to trucker the broad base of amenities that trucker seek, including 'quick over-haul and part change out work". other attributes in the general areas.
The potential is "huge" and it more simple than it is complex to make it work.
We have reasonable weather year round when it comes to the requirements of Transportation Hubs.
Allowing this to sit waiting on Elio is not as practical, when Elio cannot ramp up productions to make use of these vast facilities. One building is more than enough for Elio, maybe if it acknowledge those type things it could benefit their own bottom line remapping and they might get the thing off the ground.
If we lag some place in Texas or Mississippi will beat us to the modeling, or some other location which has similar structural infrastructure and attributes.
I think Shreveport "could" have a chance. I read recently the filming director of Bossier, was looking at the nature of business, industry and other elements. That's expansive to think in such terms, because even though we have many locations for film, but filming requires a great deal more when we look at the broad spectrum of the potential filming content.
I think film can also promote areas, depending on what and how its depicted. If it shows positive function in a variety of ways.
We are missing the perspective potential of Shreveport. GM plant has infrastructure existing which could not possibly be financed to build in today's dollars. the railway in and out alone is worth more than is being acknowledged. The large facility structures and the vast 'cement covered lands" at the facility.
Shreveport could become on of the best known "TRANSFER HUBS" in the South, with direct access to the Midwest, the West and the East as well as deeper South. We just don't have people who think in these terms nor acknowledge the value of what exist. The truck stop up the street could expand, to become and offer to trucker the broad base of amenities that trucker seek, including 'quick over-haul and part change out work". other attributes in the general areas.
The potential is "huge" and it more simple than it is complex to make it work.
We have reasonable weather year round when it comes to the requirements of Transportation Hubs.
Allowing this to sit waiting on Elio is not as practical, when Elio cannot ramp up productions to make use of these vast facilities. One building is more than enough for Elio, maybe if it acknowledge those type things it could benefit their own bottom line remapping and they might get the thing off the ground.
If we lag some place in Texas or Mississippi will beat us to the modeling, or some other location which has similar structural infrastructure and attributes.
Who is that, Acree? She's a nice lady. She did a lot of that town. Sadly, I couldn't "see" any of it. It was a stop-gap. But it was solid work!
The GM plant is being held up because the idiots who run Shreveport are infatuated with Elio, who finally found someone dumb enough to listen to them. It wouldn't work and they had to leave the north and go to Shreveport for it, but they made the trip it seems.
Vegas is a town. In the middle of the desert. That is madly successful. Why? Idiots didn't have the helm. You can make ANY venture successful, if you're smart. Shreveport doesn't have that luxury. It used to. It was an up and coming town at one time. At one time.
Sure it has potential. But...
...Potential? What IS potential? It's wasted energy. It's the young punk who says "I could be a lawyer one day!" It's the guy on the bus that got beat down by the old man holding his bloody nose yelling "Hey, come back! Next time!" as the white-bearded veteran hobbles off, having smashed the punks face. Potential...isn't anything. It's the easy excuse. It's the hollow promise. It's a check you never have to cash..."Potential..." Taste the word. That's the taste of a debt noone will ever collect on.
Developing Stragety is very important to address the many various communities. If the council people are up to awareness on the actual nature of communities in their district, and have a visionary concept they can and will communicate. It may go a long ways when they plan budgets, pass code allowances and other such things they have controls to do.
Who are the voices within various communities? can this be improved by improvements in how Neighborhood Associations function as to informing and addressing the community?
Without "Collective Voice", there is stagnation, non adherence to codes among various other elements, all too often such distortions ultimately leads to community deterioation.
Yes, Crime and Imporvished Community have a common link; this is well documented information across the nations. There are various models in various cities to address this. There too is various models equally so in foreign nations that have some semblence of democratic society, Is it possible we can learn from them as well.
One thing is certain. We cannot continue to do what we have done and expect things to change !!!!! It has demonstrated thing only get worst.
We've seen the cycle of people running for State Office, but they have not delivered- they put on the spin, but the condition both at the state level, and the regions they represent continue to decline.
We may need to look closely at our labor practices, if we focus on labor fairness, promote it, as well as acknowledge that sustainable living wages, produces a better workforce, it leads to community improvements, and in turn, attracts other business that look for these among the aggregate positive's when they consider location, re-location and start up.
We can learn better to market ourselves as a city, as a people, and as citizens of community - "WE ALL HAVE A STAKE as well as, a role and responsibility WITHIN THE INPUT AND OUTPUT OF WHAT BECOMES OF THE CITY AS A WHOLE". Whether you are a day laborer, regular work schedule employee, student/worker, business owner, professional or semi-professional.... you are a component of what makes up the citizenry of a city.
Unity as Americans may well be a good start point, then we can work on the other areas of unifications which makes up a well performing and beneficial and sustainable city that progresses.
This INCLUDES, acknowledging the realization of " young people and their lives"; they are the hope, they are the elements of persons who become the players within the visions delivery and outcome. Therefore, we can no longer be so 'cram focused in struggle mentality, that we forget to build for youth involvement in what is the city.
We get older people in position, the same as with the schools, and suddenly they become amnesiac as it relates to what is "youth, and how important the value of youth is to the vitality of what becomes a city, and its functioning communities.
How do we as a people become less self-centered and less self consumed to address the powers of what we can contribute in being simpley people who want to make a community of better city.
Yes, we can all slam many things, but negative slamming definately is not going to fix anything, so what can we do in the positive direction to make a better city. to identify issues and challenges, is always a ongoing reality, but lets do so with following ideas of what can make for a better future.
It's for sure we see negativity has not been our friend. Let's try: Developing Stragety as a very important concern to address the many various communities and what the future can bring for improvements.
The GM plant needs to review its standing. Elio is not doing anything, instead of building what they can and growing slowly, they are claiming the need for a windfall, that is not going to be forthcoming. Yet, they are holding peoples money, rather than build units, sell them and grow like any other business. Rather than expecting to have a massive triple digit millions before they can do anything. A Performance Clauseshould have dominated the Agreement with Elio_ within 24 months produce of contract terms change and penalty is assessed.
They should have been relegated to a very small section of the facility, and only if they perform and show stable growth would they be allowed to utilize more space.
This area is SUITABLE for a Multi-Corporate Campus Function; No one today could afford to build the eloborate rail structure, nor the expanse of the facility which GM Built. We don't grasp the gravity of what a magnifigant facility complex this is, therefore, WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO MARKET IT.
We have every means to meet the New York Standards, 10 yrs, Tax Concessions !!!!! the money generated and circulated will be a positve for the city,but also the performance and quality wage standard will improve work environment mentality and that translates into people being able to fix up their homes,buy stagnated property and patronize other merchants.
We will end up with some 'stuffed shirt Economic Person" who is hung up on protocol games, rather than looking with open eyes and making progressive agreements that "build and have means to grow". We ignore the wide nature of support industry that sprangs up when we have Industrial Performers in our region. We ignore so many things until our prime properties sit there, deterioating by the day.
We have to make deals "attractive and learn how to factor benefit and gain by an aggergate volume rather than looking for a home run windfall for a single pitch.
ENTERTAINMENT AND EVENTS ATTRACTIONS:
We don't have the entertainment minded people who know how to bring acts and performance and events here. The people in the 1950's and 1960's did a hell of a better job at such things, that the current people who administer this. We don't even know how to keep the Convention Center Busy, when we have the mass of Medical Facilities in the city, but we don't focus on the value and volume of what is a "medical related convention" and how many categories of conventions that exist in the medical community.
We should also have a "Tech Expo", but what the heck, all we can do is have a quarterly "gun show".
THINKING IS A GIFT MANKIND HAS, it can do amazing things, Yet; impropery engaged it can do destructive things, and when it's ignored to be engaged it can bring deterioation and backsliding down fall to things.
MANAGING THE INVOLVEMENT OF CLERGY PERSONS:
We need to get a broad base of minds involved, and diminish the clergy dominance who want to dominate everything with secular self serving agenda. Either be a person of the clergy or be a business person, but trying to be both we often see it results into a mass of peackcock style strutting, self enrichment for the clergyman, and then they want to get funds from every social program, rather than building social programs from the funds they collect weekly.
I am not saying they don't serve a positve benefit. But if you want to be clergy, then motivate people in the church community to be positive thinker and believer in faith to build, grow and do. Stop playing on their fears and insecurities and strengthen their resolve as a contributory individual to and within the over-all community of society and city. Not one Clergy person can predict the future for anyone, but they can do more good by trying to uplift people in broad perspective, rather than those who are consume in the fire and brimestone scripts and the showmanship of pulpit dramatics. If you are not teaching, you are not preaching. but you may well be misleading and denigrating the energy people could better utilize to find means to uplift and be broad based contributory in how they live their lives.
Get over these various money wasting programming such as things like Pastors Anniversary stuff and all the money grab-fill the pastors pocket-and find out how the church can be contributory with the resources invested by the congregation. There is massive volumes of young people between 16-25 who could benfit from clergy designed programs that help them understand how to enter and deal with what is adulthood. This is a great way they can be inspiration and practical contributors to what helps make better community, citizenry and city. This is a very much needed area of concern which can benefit greatly by focused programming aims.
Yes, we have great opportunity to be a 'Game Changer in what is a Southern City", the level of challenge we have is also a point where the Opportunity to Grow and Expand can take a multitude of positive turns..
Will we see opportunity, or wallow in the debris that blinds us, when we can remove the debris and see more clearly the many things we have which pave the ways for opportunity to spread.
The Shreveport section of this site -either does not have many people who know it exist, or we have many people who are unconcerned to engage and indulge explorations of situations, thoughts, ideas, or expand on commentary to identify, reflect and expound of the subject material.
It's quite similar on the local papers as well, there is very little said by very few about anything.
It is probably for certain none of the city officials in any capacity venture to expore the site or the city section of this site, It is unlikely they read of have concerns to explore the commentary even in its limited volume of news stories or such.
Not even one topic appears in these blogs for Shreveport about the Flood of the River or any of the challenges it posed.
We have weekly, ignorance of people shooting or stabbing another,and silly people OVER AND OVER leaving guns where kids can get them, and..... it just passes like water in a storm drain ..... as if people are unaware its even moving along.
Where or where does the dialog begin and where does it go, what can inspire the region and the people, to think in terms to reflect on the world, see the advance in many lands outside of our nation, and re-develop a concept of this nation learning how to be and become again and innovator???
The Shreveport section of this site -either does not have many people who know it exist, or we have many people who are unconcerned to engage and indulge explorations of situations, thoughts, ideas, or expand on commentary to identify, reflect and expound of the subject material.
It's quite similar on the local papers as well, there is very little said by very few about anything.
It is probably for certain none of the city officials in any capacity venture to expore the site or the city section of this site, It is unlikely they read of have concerns to explore the commentary even in its limited volume of news stories or such.
Not even one topic appears in these blogs for Shreveport about the Flood of the River or any of the challenges it posed.
We have weekly, ignorance of people shooting or stabbing another,and silly people OVER AND OVER leaving guns where kids can get them, and..... it just passes like water in a storm drain ..... as if people are unaware its even moving along.
Where or where does the dialog begin and where does it go, what can inspire the region and the people, to think in terms to reflect on the world, see the advance in many lands outside of our nation, and re-develop a concept of this nation learning how to be and become again and innovator???
Just move. I've been much happier. Stop contemplating WHY the port-a-potty stinks and just get up, open the door, and walk out, lol
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