(The Center Square) – President Stormy Gage-Watts attributed the parish’s reduction in crime to the Safe Summer Program during commission discussion of providing an additional $50,000 in funding to keep the program running.
The Caddo Commission voted to amend various budgets to provide $50,000 to the Safe Summer Program and another $50,000 to the Christmas in Roseland event in Shreveport during Thursday’s commission meeting.
While the commission voted in favor of these ordinances, it did not come without questions raised beforehand.
Commissioner John Atkins raised the question of what they are funding since it is now October and summer has ended.
“The name may not be indicative of the program,” said Chief Administrative Officer Erica Bryant. “It’s programs that we’re funding year-round through our parks and recreation department for various events. It helps keep students involved in activities, youth involved in activities. So, we’ve recognized that this is actually a year-round necessity.”
Since the program is now a year-round operation, additional funding is needed. Watts said the idea of changing the program name has been discussed several times.
Watts credits the program with having decreased crime in the area.
The Safe Summer Program “is credited to a lot of the reduction in crime that we see across Caddo Parish that spills over into the cities of Shreveport and likewise,” said Watts.
The commission voted in favor of providing the additional $50,000 to the Safe Summer Program. This ordinance amends the estimated revenues and expenditures for the Riverboat Fund and the Oil and Gas Fund for the appropriation.
After hearing from two residents who spoke in favor of Ordinance 6565 during a public hearing, the Caddo Commission voted to allocate $50,000 to the Christmas in Roseland event.
Residents Allison Richardson and Marilyn Wellen, representing Christmas in Roseland, addressed the commission during the public hearing on Ordinances 6563 and 6565 related to budget amendments.
Both residents spoke in favor of the funding and detailed the benefits it would bring to the event.
The commission voted to appropriate the $50,000. This ordinance amends the estimated revenues and expenditures budget for the Economic Development Fund.
