Can't compare Shreveport to Bossier City (Many, Haughton: middle-class, apartments, crime)

[dmethvien]

I have lived in the Shreveport/Bossier area for many years and Shreveport has changed quite considerably. The schools have declined, many of the neighborhoods have gone down, many people have moved away or have moved to Bossier and communities outside the area.

If you are considering moving to the area I would definately consider North Bossier or Southeast Shreveport, or the Youree Drive area and Broadmoor areas.

As far as education, Bossier has the very best schools from elementary up high school. Bossier spends alot of time and money on their education system.

I moved to North Bossier a year and a half ago, and we love it. There are many stores, restaurants,
The Boardwalk, Casinos, the Red River, Cyress Lake Recreational Park, now Jimmy Buffet Margaritaville Casino, Bass Pro, just many things to do and see! Also Barksdale AFB is located here. Many military families. There are also many hospitals and medical offices here in Bossier.


There are many new communities coming up, some are for families, some are like town homes, and also
apartments in the area.

Airline Drive and Benton Road are the hotspots for everything in North Bossier.

Traffic does get a little congested from time to time but they are adding roads and more things everyday!

Also Benton is a great small town nearby with many new subdivisions popping up all of the time.

Pick North Bossier over Shreveport is my recommendation!!!

[hdwell]

Strange, for so long the Shreveport newspapers have been encouraging the idea of merger between Shreve and Bossier. That would be a disaster from the gitgo. Hope it never comes to pass.

[annie_himself]

Annexation?

[BeenThereDunThat]

It will never happen. (Shreveport annexation of Bossier).

As to Bossier's traffic situation. It sucks big time. Airline Drive is a joke and this is because there was no development for decades and then "poof" the Airline corridor is going nuts. For years, Bossier looked at itself as a "little town next to an Air Force Base" and the infrastructure pretty much stayed that way for decades. Because of the AF Base location... Bossier's expansion is pretty much North or South with a little Haughton to the East for good measure.

I had to go to WK Bossier (hospital) recently and it was around noon. Trying to get out onto Airline was insane. And across the way, traffic to the Chick-Filet drive through was backed up onto the exit lane on Airline. The I-220 / Airline transition is a headache at peak traffic times.
Seems there's no where else to go except on Airline and Benton Rd if you're going North or South.

I see N. Bossier blending with Benton. Now there's an annexation for you: Benton into Bossier, it practically is part of N. Bossier as it seems now.

[hdwell]

First, BC would Have to vote on it. It is already an incorporated community.

Second that would never happen as Bossier likes its freedom and independence

[Chance and Change]

I don't think Bossier is any better than Shreveport in the big picture of things. I think the matter is more one related to Bossier being a destination of the "white flight syndrome" as if the concept of social thinking patterns which pushes the delusion measurement as to whether Bossier City is Better than Shreveport, based on white population majority.

In the overall national spectrum of things, we are still " A Southern Regional City Plex", and both cities have to dispel the concepts of how we are viewed across the nation. To become better viewed as a place of unity, more than one that emphasis segregationist tonality. That should be our collective aim as twin cities, divided by a River.

Both Shreveport and Bossier are linked whether they want to recognize it or not. Yes, they are in different Parishes, which is its own matter, and they have their different styles of city governance. As to people, its all still people of NW Louisiana.
The same mentality of age old and backwards trending segregationist divides exist on both sides of the River. We should be concerned with how to dispel this negative connotation to our cities and region, if we expect to grow and prosper in a true global related sense and nature.

I do think the fact of the Military Base should have an influence on both sides of the River cities to get over this segregationist mentality in how communities are populated. As well as the silliness of skin color mentality based divisiveness is something that is best left in the past. Unfortunately, too much of this segregated mentality continue to invade both side of the River Cities.
Most of the people who hail and preach Bossier City, covertly are implying "white dominance in population numbers" as being the overt implication.
When it comes to 'economic divides", this exist on both sides of the river, and much of that transcends skin color, because many well to do whites, don't want much to do with the poor whites, as well as the same thing with well to do blacks, don't want much to do with the poor blacks. This is a "economic class" based segregationist mindset.
The south is good at finding means for promoting segregation's of many sorts. The sooner we get over that, if we ever get over that. Then both sides of the River's Cities may well perform and grow better in the over-all of their potentials.

Crime exist on both sides, There are crazy crimes by whites and there are crazy crimes by blacks, enacted in the respective cities on both sides of the River, as well as within their countryside and adjoining areas.
We have youth disenchantment, on both sides of the River, we have industrial growth challenges on both sides of the River. We have a continual decaying situation which does not motivated youth to remain or return to these cities when they have become skilled and aim to develop growth opportunity for themselves and their families. We should consider strongly how to be more appealing and embracing of the young people.

Both cities want to be many things, they want to be Cities, but they also want to be like Country Towns, and much of the zoning and what is allowed demonstrates that in a wide variety of ways.

I don't see why the respective Mayors are not motivated to be in a continual "team-working" spirit.

We can look at the Texas Street Bridge... Both cities should have interest to make it look better than it does. Both cities could and should be more interested in what the River's banks look like. but they don't. In some areas the Rivers banks look terrible from both sides. No I'm not talking about their entertainment and shopping areas.. I'm talking about the actual "River's land banks'.

When one is driving across the River to Bossier City across the Texas St. Bridge. How and why did they allow the builders to create the Board Walk buildings without some type of structure to camouflage the air-conditioning units on top of the buildings. Then, coming from the Bossier Areas to the Shreveport side, highly visible is a building where a portion of the bricks have fallen from one of the non performing buildings.

Both sides, seem to have neglected to consider the value of a Pedestrian Crossing Bridge. Even a Recreational River Raft from one side to the next would be a good attraction to have installed at the Rivers banks.

[Chance and Change]

Shreveport, Louisiana - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(excerpts)

As of the 2010 census the population of Shreveport was 199,311 people. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 50.4% White, 40.2% Black or African American, 1.0% Native American, 2.0% Asian, 1.2% from some other race and 1.5% from two or more races. 4.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,526, 72.4% of the national median of $42,148, and the median income for a family was $37,126. Males had a median income of $31,278 versus $21,659 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,759. About 18.7% of families and 22.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.3% of those under age 18 and 16.3% of those age 65 or over.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 120.8 sq mi (312.9 km2), of which 105.4 sq mi (272.9 km2) is land and 15.4 sq mi (40.0 km2), or 12.79%, is water.


Bossier City, Louisiana - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(excerpts)
As of the 2010 census, Bossier City had a population of 61,315.[4] The 2012 estimate was 64,655.

As of the census of 2010, there were 61,315 people,[3] 25,200 households, and 14,901 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,382.6 people per square mile (533.8/km²). There were 23,026 housing units at an average density of 563.9 per square mile (217.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 70.44% White, 20.74% African American, 0.57% Native American, 2.73% Asian, 0.25% Pacific Islander, 1.44% from other races, and 1.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.95% of the population.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,561, and the median income for a family was $42,642. Males had a median income of $30,632 versus $22,174 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,032. About 11.4% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.9% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 43.2 square miles (111.8 km2), of which 42.4 square miles (109.7 km2) is land and 0.81 square miles (2.1 km2), or 1.89%, is water


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Political analyst and consultant Elliott Stonecipher describes Shreveport as "a far less vibrant community" than Bossier City because many lower-income Shreveport residents who pay no property taxes are heavily dependent on public services, a situation far less common in Bossier City. Stonecipher said that Bossier City economically resembles much of East Texas, more so than neighboring Shreveport.

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Two very different cities in many ways but similar in other ways. It would be in our Collective Interest to consider how to elevate the performance of both cities in a unity of program concepts for industrial and economic growth.

[SBCat]

Originally Posted by Chance and Change

Shreveport, Louisiana - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



Political analyst and consultant Elliott Stonecipher describes Shreveport as "a far less vibrant community" than Bossier City because many lower-income Shreveport residents who pay no property taxes are heavily dependent on public services, a situation far less common in Bossier City. Stonecipher said that Bossier City economically resembles much of East Texas, more so than neighboring Shreveport.

Problem: Elliot Stonecipher is a local weenie who won't even attach his name to the stupid things he publishes likely because he knows they're only meant to incite anger and aren't often built on facts.

[BeenThereDunThat]

Originally Posted by SBCat

Problem: Elliot Stonecipher is a local weenie who won't even attach his name to the stupid things he publishes likely because he knows they're only meant to incite anger and aren't often built on facts.

So give an example in support of your claim. That would be insightful.

Here's something where Stonecipher publishes on a regular basis: http://www.finish3132.com/meetings-n...onecipher.aspx

[BeenThereDunThat]

Originally Posted by Chance and Change

I don't think Bossier is any better than Shreveport in the big picture of things. I think the matter is more one related to Bossier being a destination of the "white flight syndrome" as if the concept of social thinking patterns which pushes the delusion measurement as to whether Bossier City is Better than Shreveport, based on white population majority.

.

Well I think BC used to be primarily White-Flight but in the past 10 years it has become more of a "Middle-Class Flight" more than anything else. In my neighborhood, I have Af.-American neighbors all around me and they're good folks who either have middle-class jobs, active or former military, etc. From where I see it, they've moved to Bossier for the same reasons as most: better schools, lower crime, better police & fire protection, better neighborhood values, nicer, more newer neighborhoods.

Bossier isn't perfect but when compared with Shreveport. . . it's a no-brainer really.