(The Center Square) – Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux ‘s annual State of the City leaned on a message of revitalization together with a call for unity in support of the city as he prepares to ask voters for another four years in office.
In the November election, the Republican mayor will face four challengers. Fellow Republican Caddo Parish Commissioner John-Paul Young has announced his candidacy, as did Democrats Stormy Gage‑Watts, also a commissioner, and Rep. Tammy Phelps, a state legislator. Newcomer Michael Mays touts himself as a younger voice.
Whichever candidate secures the mayor’s office, the challenge of addressing its blight epidemic and ensuring public safety continues. Shreveport has an inordinate number of abandoned or dilapidated buildings, vacant lots, trash, graffiti and aging infrastructure. And residents routinely name crime as one of their main concerns.
“Redevelopment restores hope,” Arceneaux said on Thursday during a prepared video presentation aired live on KSLA.
Shreveport’s 4.4% unemployment rate signals a strong labor market that is “even getting better.”
Arceneaux also believes the tax base is strengthening in light of recent announcements of manufacturing expansion, G-Unit Film & Television Studios $124 million commitment to downtown revitalization and Amazon’s $12 billion investment in multiple data center campuses.
The mayor touted the possibility of 450-600 high paying jobs, around 1,000 construction jobs and millions of dollars in water and sewer revenue.
Shreveport undertook business-friendly regulatory reforms, attracted private investment through economic development incentives, and improved opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses, according to the mayor’s office.
The city needs “citizens who speak well of our city and business leaders who invest in our future,” Arceneaux said.
On violent crime statistics and public safety initiatives, he noted murders decreased by 24%, from 52 in 2024 to 42 in 2025. New police substations are being built, police recruitment and retention are stabilized, and the city purchased 60 new patrol vehicles and 12 new fire engines.
“Ten fewer homicides means 10 fewer mothers grieving,” he said. “People are still hearing shots fired so I want to make sure that people know that we’re not stopping.”
A citywide ordinance strengthened enforcement against squatting in vacant buildings. In 2025, 186 arrests were made against squatters.
“We promised advances in public safety. We’ve kept our promise,” Arceneaux said.
Neighborhood cleanup programs resulted in more demolitions and successful cleanup efforts. Around 225 dilapidated structures were demolished last year; Arceneaux’s block by block initiative removed more than 3,000 tires and netted 1.78 million pounds of trash.
“Abandoned structures invite drug dealing and other kinds of nefarious activity, and we need to get rid of as many of those as we can,” the mayor said.
Shreveport is in the final year of a federal consent decree to fix its failing sewer system. The 12-year plan to address sewer overflows and aging infrastructure carries a November 2026 deadline.
Arceneaux said Shreveport has “already spent $600 million on compliance, double the original estimate.” City leaders are negotiating to adjust timelines and the EPA plan, which must be accomplished this year.
