When Good Men Do Nothing, Evil Triumphs…

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edmund-burke-good-men-evil-succeedsby Marion Marks

You would expect that Donald Trump couldn’t keep doing the same thing, behaving the same, denying the state of affairs as he explains history and expect the public to change their perception of him. Certainly problems of his opponent make his record less troubling to supporters.

But, the truth is that there are no other politicians who have the history of corruption, double-dealing, and fraud that Donald Trump has clearly established. The record, including court documents, deserves more articles that detail staggering data will appear before November. This is a partial list of Trump tragedies that would each cripple a normal candidate:

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Caddo Parish Gave Away GM Plant

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Caddo Parish-hope-in-our-handsby Marion Marks

Everyone, including the Caddo Commissioners, has been re-examining the transactions regarding the General Motors plant and how & why we don’t have any manufacturing jobs at the plant. There is a clear chain that all should understand. Here is the Cliff Note version of how the transactions transpired in the 2013 give-away of the facility. But it all started at the 2013 meeting and the clear facts start at 1:49:00 of this video. You have to start at this point to see the key discussion of the GM give-away.  

  1. Racer sold to Shreveport Business Park[IRG Subsidiary 100% owned by Stuart Lichter] who in turn sold it to IDB.   However, before doing so they granted Elio the right to mtg. the fixtures, equipment, etc. and the right to have access and remove the equipment.
  2. The IDB executed the landlord waiver and access agreement after they purchased the property.
  3. All of the following documents were recorded on Dec. 27,2013. 
  4. Quit Claim Deed from Racer to Shreveport Business Park LLC  bk. 4713 page 469  at 3:41 pm 
  5. Landlord Waiver and Access Agreement to Elio at 3:51 p.m. 
  6. Quit Claim Deed from Shreveport Business Park to IDB    bk.4713  page 594   @  3:54 pm 
  7. Landlord Waiver and Access Agreement which the IDB executed at 4:03 pm  (instrument number 2486687). [Here is a link to all Sales documents]

The 2013 act, ORDINANCE NO. 5330 OF 2013, creating the industrial Development Board of the Parish of Caddo(IDB), was slowed on two votes by Commissioners Stephanie Lynch, Matthew Linn and Lyndon Johnson, but finally approved, with the same dissenting votes.[Video at 1:49:00][The ordinance-supplements & explanation]

Never has so much authority regarding Caddo Parish industrial development been put in the hands of a single non-elected official. Even though the elected commissioners were asked to approve many of Wilson’s actions, at no time were the commissioners ever offered access to all documents without demands or Read more

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It’s Time For A Conversation

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Councilman Corbin
Councilman Corbin

by Michael D. Corbin, Shreveport City Council – District D

To our credit we have numerous dreamers, cheerleaders and entrepreneurs who have big plans for Shreveport. Shreveport Commons, sports teams, new businesses and employers, neighborhood revitalization, completion of I-49 North, bicycle and pedestrian lanes, historic preservation, downtown living and The Riverfront/Cross Bayou Corridor. Who would have believed 20 years ago that the big hole in the ground downtown would become Festival Plaza and host numerous festivals and a very successful Farmers Market? Big Red by 80! – We all laughed at the idea of recreation and boating on the Red River. Despite our ups and downs, we continue to dream big and plan for a better Shreveport.

Dreams & Plans...
Dreams & Plans…

Dreams and plans cost money and Shreveport needs to both grow its population and control spending. It is time for an honest and open conversation about available revenues and living within our means. Citizens and business owners know this struggle all too well as many have had to adjust their budgets to accommodate the increasing costs of needed goods and services and prioritize where monies are spent. This conversation should not be derailed by politics, race or by singling out specific neighborhoods over the city as a whole. Quite simply, your elected officials need to hear what services citizens Read more

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Examining the Ugly Side of GOP

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by Marion Marks

Charlton Lyons, 1921
Charlton Lyons, 1921

Growing up in the South is both a blessing and a curse, particularly for those who peel back the layers of the past and examine the evolution of the politics and the modern Republican Party. For those who have been here since the 1950’s 2015-2016 has been a stressful and often painful year.

In 1952, Charlton Lyons headed the “Democrats for Eisenhower,” but, I wasn’t old enough to appreciate that election. However, I did get to later have a better understanding of the evolution of the Republican party during that time. Prior to Lyons, it was stated that the Louisiana GOP could hold a convention in a phone booth, serve fried chicken, and there would be plenty of room to dance. Things have changed drastically since then.

Joe D. Waggonner, US Representative
Joe D. Waggonner, US Representative

In 1961 Republican Lyons, a Shreveport oilman, won 45 percent of the votes in the special election against the Joe D. Waggonner, a Democrat in Louisiana’s 4th congressional district race for the US House of Representatives. This was the closest a Republican had come in a federal race since Reconstruction and marked a high-water post for many years. The contest received Read more

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Simple Lessons for Reconciliation

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Reconciliation Dinner Shreveportby Marion Marks


Black&White_togetherThis evening’s Reconciliation Dinner in Shreveport will recognize citizens who were chosen because of contributions they made in spirit as well as demonstrated success in community racial reconciliation. “Rising Voices” (younger citizens who have made significant efforts to encourage the spirit of reconciliation) as well as some deceased citizens whose lives appropriately fit this description were also recognized. The deceased Shreveporters who blazed a path in our community and worked to create a better environment are referred to as “Pioneers.”

Learning about contributions of Pioneers who facilitated change that improved the lives of all citizens and the quality life for Shreveport requires that we learn from history. Current leaders and rising voices, our best hope to effect change in the future, live in the shadows of these Pioneers.

An immediate take-away from this event is to recognize that lessons we teach to our youngest children come alive in the images of those who seek change. Sunday School lessons should resound with the necessity of honoring the Golden Rule and respecting the rights of others. Simple truths that adults easily forget too often go without proper notice as adults over focus on material Read more

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MPC Fox in Henhouse – Bad Ethics!

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Ethics, Right!
Ethics, Right!

by Marion Marks

Mr. Ronnie Remedies, the Vice Chair and board member of the Shreveport Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC), appears to have violated the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics, and both Mr. Remedies and Mr. Alan Young, Chair and board member of the MPC, have worked together to harm the City of Shreveport, the employees of city government and degrade the standards they were appointed to uphold and support.

Ronnie Remedies
Ronnie Remedies

The MPC Board approved a commercial site plan filed by “Raley & Associates, Owner, Mr. Remedies” for the commercial establishment at 1200 Marshall Street and specific stipulations were attached to the application in 2015. The significant issues violated at this building and improvements relate to drainage and landscaping requirements for the structure. The application packet that was submitted Read more

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Caddo Commission – Aim Fire!

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SWAG-Caddo_Oarish_prisoner-barsby Marion Marks

Sometimes I allow my impulsive nature to get the better of me, I can be my own worst enemy. But this morning, I counted to one hundred several times, called and touched base with two attorneys I feel have conservative-response tendencies before penned an email to the Shreveport Times, again, regarding an article I wrote last Friday.

As I read the transcript of the Michael Williams case, I recited the mantra of patience and inner peace so many times that I was forced at the end to go for a walk to keep from blowing a gasket. The acronym YCMTSU [You Can’t Make This “Stuff” Up] was boiling over in my conscience effort to remain calm. The steady and even demeanor of the Caddo Parish representatives in the courtroom through the interrogation during the sentencing phase must have been medically induced or simply those present were under strict muzzled orders.

Caddo Parish-hope-in-our-handsThere can be no valid excuse I would rationalize for a steward of the parish, particularly a highly-paid professional, to sit through this barrage of questions and jabs without showing some defense for citizens and particularly Read more

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