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Monday, March 17, 2014

WRAPPING UP MARDI GRAS

More residents are becoming concerned

Well, another Mardi Gras season has come and gone and there were no disasters – at least that we know of. It’s not likely that some of the media who pander to the krewes would report it anyway. But the complaints just keep coming from citizens in the residential neighborhoods impacted by the Centaur and Gemini parades. And, oh, there are those who complain about my complaining. All I can say is get used to it. I am not going away and will continue to fight for the safety of those living in the residential neighborhoods.

Let me be clear. I am not opposed to the Shreveport Mardi Gras. I will admit it is not my thing and I see it as a waste of my time to go to the parades and fight drunk 20-somethings and older-somethings – some sitting on someone’s shoulder or even standing on a ladder – for a plastic bead that has no value. If that is what you enjoy, go far it. But I don’t think those opposed to being locked into their neighborhoods on those two Saturdays should be put in peril so you can have a good time.

This year, I heard from residents in the neighborhoods who actually like being able to walk to the parade route, but they expressed concern about the number of drunks who  populate the parade route on East Kings Highway. And they were concerned about cars speeding down their streets where children were playing, alleging that some of the drivers must have been drinking. In addition, they said their yards, after each parade, were littered with trash – the city does not clean that up – and said they saw some individuals actually doing their business in people’s yards.

On the surface, the parades seem like a family-friendly event, and the krewes, city officials and the media continue to promote it as such. But we all know that is not exactly true. The Shreveport Police Department reported that their were only eight arrests at the Centaur parade and 10 at Gemini (really?) for public intoxication, disturbing the peace by fighting, underage drinking, etc. But remember that a former police officer told me that when he was on the force, they were told not to make any arrests except in extreme circumstances. Of course, a lot of arrests would hurt the family-friendly image.

Here is another interesting statistic. The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control did a sting for underage sales of alcohol to minors by alcohol beverage retailers along Mardi Gras parade routes across the state. And guess what? Shreveport came in at No. 2 – behind Baton Rouge, but ahead of New Orleans – with 46 percent of the retailers checked selling alcohol to minors.

Almost everyone will admit that Shreve City along Shreveport- Barksdale Highway is the worst area of the parade route. Businesses are disrupted and those that stay open have to hire numerous security guards to protect their property and curtail shoplifting.

A few years ago, I mentioned in my column that I had been invited to appear before the Shreveport City Council’s Public Safety Committee to discuss the parade route. A business owner on Shreveport-Barksdale Highway – and a supposed friend – who shall remain nameless, called me and said he wanted to go with me because he had taken a survey of the businesses in that area and 95 percent wanted the parades to find another route. But a funny thing happened on the way to the committee meeting. When we walked in, this businessman got called over by an old buddy who was also there and who just happened to be representing one of the krewes. So when he was called on to speak, his entire story about the opposition from businesses changed to satisfy his krewe friend.

That was the meeting where then-Fire Chief Brian Crawford and then-Police Chief Henry Whitehorn expressed concern about the safety of the residents who were impacted by the parades. Of course, all of the information that was negative about the parades fell on deaf ears. Pleas to have the krewes keep the parade route entirely on Clyde Fant Parkway went unheeded.

Now there is a rumor that the krewes may return to Bossier City for part of the parade route. I don’t think that is going to happen. As one Bossier City official told me, they now have the best of both worlds. They don’t have to put up with the crowds, trash, disruption of businesses, and extra expense for law enforcement officers, but still benefit financially from sales of Mardi Gras items and out-of-towners staying in their hotels.

There was a time when the parades began in Bossier City. But when city officials asked the krewes to move up the start of the parades by one hour to get them out of the city before dark, their arrogance prevailed and they refused. So Bossier City kicked them across the river to Shreveport.

Most residents I talked with in the affected areas believe Clyde Fant would be the ideal route and so do some of the residents who like Mardi Gras. So do I. And finally, let me say that I do not believe the economic impact figures that are thrown out, nor do I believe that only eight people were drunk enough to be arrested.

ON STANDS NOW!

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