State Sen. Greg Tarver: Crime and Economic Development
The City of Shreveport has a number of challenges that must be faced head-on if our city is to come out of its current position. No “one” person can solve all the problems of a city, nor should they be expected to. However, a leader is someone who sets a shared vision for everyone and calls experienced and talented people together in a spirit of unity around a common goal: the betterment of Shreveport.
It is in that same spirit that, if elected as your next Mayor of Shreveport, I will move forward on the two most pressing issues facing Shreveport: Crime and Economic Development.
Shreveport has a crime problem. Citizens from every neighborhood are afraid in their own homes. When homes are burglarized and lives are taken in senseless violence, all of Shreveport suffers. It is my plan to call together every law enforcement agency in our area to work on a comprehensive crime reduction strategy.
My plan is to have the Shreveport Police Department concentrate its resources on the hotspots within the city while engaging the State Police to work the highways and outlying areas of Shreveport. We will also work with the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office to ensure maximum coverage of all areas of the city.
In my capacity as State Senator, I have worked extensively with each of these law enforcement agencies separately and have earned a reputation as a supporter of their efforts to keep the community safe. As Mayor, I will call upon these relationships to bring all law enforcement together to create the type of safe neighborhoods that all citizens deserve.
It is important to the safety of our citizens for us to use all available, new, and emerging technologies to support the work done by our law enforcement agencies. For example, we can explore technologies like ShotSpotter and other investigative tools to help identify those causing disturbances in our communities.
As Mayor, I will also work with our District Attorney to ensure that those who are righteously arrested by law enforcement are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We can not afford a swinging door at the courthouse.
Crime and economic development are directly linked. Among its many harmful effects on the well-being of society, crime negatively impacts our economy causing a reduction in direct investments. Companies will not consider relocating to Shreveport if they don’t believe they can keep their employees safe.
Lack of employment opportunities is a serious issue that fuels crime. When jobs are scarce and those that are available are beyond our citizens’ skillset, crime becomes a more welcome opportunity. As Mayor, I will work to increase the opportunities that flow from city hall to local residents and local companies. Shreveport cannot continue to send millions in contracts to residents of New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Texas. As Mayor, I will pursue a “Shreveport First” policy with Shreveport tax dollars.
I will work with all groups and organizations across the city from the Southern Hills Business Association to the North Shreveport Business Association to explore any and all opportunities for the expansion of local businesses. I will team with both the African-American
and Greater Shreveport Chambers of Commerce to market the City of Shreveport to businesses outside the region with the goal of bringing new business to Shreveport.
The State of Louisiana and Caddo Parish came together with the City of Shreveport and the Caddo Industrial Development Board to bring the Amazon Fulfillment Center to fruition. I supported appropriating money to the Department of Economic Development in order to develop jobs and industry in the State. This type of “all hands on deck” model will be my policy and practice as your next Mayor.
Finally, as your next Mayor, I will promote a “business friendly” attitude throughout city hall. Shreveport will find ways to help, not hurt entrepreneurs who are risking their resources to operate a business. Rules and regulations are important, but they do not exist to prevent hard-working men and women from operating their businesses and hiring our citizens. As a business owner myself, I understand firsthand the frustration that comes all too often from having to call government plaza. Shreveport will not grow if we cannot attract investment and we will not attract investment if we make it difficult for business. One needs but to ride through downtown Shreveport to see what happens when businesses decide to move out. Today, many of the national banks that were located downtown have moved.
These challenges require a level of unity and cooperation that we have not musted before. If Shreveport is to be the city we pray that it can be for all people, we need to get to work together and get this done.
Greg Tarver is the State Senator for District 39 and a Democratic candidate for Shreveport mayor.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: State Sen. Greg Tarver: Crime and Economic Development
