(The Center Square) — A recent vote on two resolutions showed the Shreveport City Council’s support for bills currently in the Louisiana Legislature that seek to help the city with ongoing issues.
The council voted in favor of two resolutions Monday concerning statewide legislation. Resolutions 61 and 62 on the city council’s agenda supported Senate Bill 63, House Bill 262, and HB512. The council also added SB189 to the resolutions.
The four bills were introduced by Reps. Tammy Phelps and Steven Jackson as well as Sen. Sam Jenkins, whose districts are all or at least partly in Caddo Parish. All three are Democrats.
Resolution 61 expressed support for SB63. This bill if passed by legislation gives municipalities the ability to file liens to recover water and sewer bills that have not been paid by multifamily residential properties.
An ongoing issue in Shreveport concerns apartment complex landlords not paying rent with tenant funds. Jenkins and Jackson have been supporters of reform on this issue.
Resolution 62 expressed support for HB262, HB512 and SB189. All three of these bills specifically address blighted properties and ways for the city to handle them.
The council added SB189, which addresses blighted properties and provides for the creation of the Louisiana Land Bank Authority Act. The bill outlines economically and physically depressed areas in the state that suffer from high unemployment, substandard and deteriorated structures, and vacant lots. High crime rates are also mentioned in the bill.
Bight has caused a public outcry, specifically in the Shreveport area, leading public officials and citizens to become involved. The Shreveport Police Department has also put in place several new initiatives to address blighted properties.
Both resolutions urge the Legislature to approve the four bills. They will send their support to legislators before they vote.
