Glover win was unexpected
 

Was Glover's win an unexpected upset?

Somebody, and Im not gonna mention any names, is miffed because Jones didn't win. The people who wanted Jones to win are probably the same people that voted for Keith Whitepower, (cough cough) uh, I mean Hightower! And look how much that guy did for the city!

I thought it was going to be close.. that he won, didn't necessarily surprise me, but by HOW MUCH he won DID surprise me.

Shreveport's got some issues, and I hope he can maybe do something about them.

I did not vote for Hightower. Tell me what is wrong with Hightower? What did he do right?

What do you know about Jerry Jones?

Why do you think Glover will be a better mayor than Hightower or Jerry Jones?

The only thing that made me nervous about Hightower was the construction of an expensive hotel on the heels of the contruction of an expensive convention center.

Jones said in his campaign that Shreveport is $1B in debt. If true, those facilities alone might account for as much as 10% of that debt as I recall. I might be wrong but the hotel was $60M alone if I recall. I hope it brings in big money into our economy to make it worthwhile. One driveby shooting on the front steps, and it could be all over..... (happened to the old convention center right?)

rhertz, wow that is a lot of debt! Does anyone know why Shreveport has that much debt?

I thought the hotel was a bad idea. Does the city own it?

Whats wrong with Hightower? Well, lets talk instead about whats right with him...first of all, he has that nice head of hair that we all admire so much...oh yeah, and he can sell the hell out of them Hondas...and he can spend the hell out of the city's funds...did I leave anythin out?

What do I know about Jerry Jones? Well, I happen to know that he's a great guy...go ahead, ask me how I know that;)

Guess we'll just have to wait and see what kind of a mayor Glover turns out to be!

My *****in rights have been temporarily suspended so I cant complain...at least, not directly

Yes it is.

Most cities issue bonds for bridges, roads, convention centers, etc. (Infrastructure)

I believe so, in whole or part I do not know. It was determined by a study that the city owned convention center would fail without an ajoining hotel. So as an afterthought, a new hotel was built. Nobody in the private sector wanted the fund the whole thing so the city jumped in as I recall.

Naw, somehow your b!tchin is very entertaining compared to my wifes! (ducking)

But let this be a lesson to just remember to vote next time! ;) (ducking again) LOL

Trust me, this time, it was overrated.. I have never lost so bad. I think I won on one thing I voted for - no higher sales tax. I lost big time. Wish I stayed home.

Hotel
 

The hotel was not an afterthought, it was always planned.

Ok, then maybe the "afterthought" was in regard to who was going to pay for it.... ;)

Hotel Payment
 

It was always part of the plan, but only if the city couldn't get it privately financed. You have to remember this whole project started in 1998, the hotel didn't break ground until 2005.

Well, I sure would hate to be the owner of the Holiday Inn or The Chateau who invested in our downtown area and now must compete with a tax dollar funded hotel a block or two away. In fact, the "free enterprise" hotels will be taxed and those dollars will go (in small part) to pay bonds that fund the competition. If they fail to pay taxes, they could go to jail.

I am about as excited by a city being in the hospitality business as I am a city being in the Internet business. Things like this should be left to the private sector IMO. First I would like to see clean water at high pressure at an affordable price before they "branch out". I won't even mention the smell of our Lucas wastewater plant in South Shreveport.

Doesn't the CITY run a boat launch and some restaurant down by the Stoner/Clyde Fant River front area ?

and good point.. not sure I agree with the City diving into such areas. Never thought of it like that.. but you have folks paying taxes.. FUNDING the competition.. that's a bummer.