Shreveport Backlash: James Green Threatens to Run For Mayor

The Mayor of Shreveport is again being criticized by several councilmembers about the new block by block initiative that's happening in the city. But this criticism has been turned up a notch.

Mayor Tom Arceneaux was put on the hot seat during the Shreveport council work session on Monday.

Councilman Grayson Boucher says it was frustrating not to get information from the administration about this initiative. He says members of the committee working on the block by block initiative called the council "clowns".

But the toughest criticism came from councilman James Green. He says he was not aware of the plan that was being put together by the team. Green says "I'm one council member and I was not aware of what was going on." He added that "I just think that it's unfair that something is going on in my district that I worked hard to get elected."

READ MORE: See more details about Council complaints.

Council Chairwoman Tabatha Taylor also expressed problems with this initiative. She told the Mayor she takes great offense to how this plan was rolled out without input from residents in the neighborhoods where we have the biggest problems. She says "we are pissed about being left out of the process." She also said the Mayor owes the councilmembers an apology for this slight.

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But Green went a step further. He suggested that this block by block initiative is not really about blight and cleaning up the neighborhoods. He says this "seems like a takeover from your office and it just doesn't sit well with me and I will not have my constituents in my district to be hoodwinked."

Green called out the Mayor saying "this is a campaign strategy. I will run for Mayor of Shreveport myself and win before I let this go on."

Mayor Arceneaux took in the concerns of the council and then apologized.

It has always been my goal and desire to include council members in the process of developing a long-term plan to reduce blight. This is intended to be the beginning of the conversation rather than the end of the conversation. I encourage full council participation and input in the process. To the extent that my announcement last week caused discomfort or made you feel left out or slighted. I apologize. It was not my intent, and I regret any offense that I caused on your part.