The 318: Shreveport begins Universal Basic Income program, local NAACP president resigns

Good evening, Shreveport. This week the city took applications for its Guaranteed Basic Income program, the NAACP's local leader resigned, and federal funding was announced for a local bridge.

Shreveport begins taking applications for single parent guaranteed income program

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins on November 24, 2021.
Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins on November 24, 2021.

A new city initiative giving select single parents and guardians $660 a month began taking applications Monday.

The program will begin with assisting a chosen group of 110 families for its inaugural year.

Shreveport received $500,000 for the program from Mayors for a Guaranteed Income. MGI granted 30 cities including Shreveport with a $15 million donation they received from Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey.

Shreveport NAACP president steps down

Michael LaFitte Jr
Michael LaFitte Jr

Michael Lafitte has stepped down as president of the Shreveport chapter of the NAACP.

In December, some members of the local chapter called for Lafitte's resignation following allegations he was involved with Woodlawn Terrace, an apartment complex residents say have substandard living conditions.

More on Woodlawn Terrace: Tenants raise concerns about living conditions at Shreveport apartments

Shreveport, Bossier City bridge among many to receive federal infrastructure money

The effort to replace the Jimmie Davis Bridge connecting Shreveport to Bossier City has been allocated even more money.

The bridge is among 400 in Louisiana and 15,000 across the nation set to be assisted by The Bridge Formula Program, which is a program made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed late last year.

Louisiana will receive $1 billion from the program over five years. In year one, the state is set to receive $202.6 million.

Across the board, salary raise approved for City of Shreveport workers

File photo of a city worker putting sand on the road on Kings Highway.
File photo of a city worker putting sand on the road on Kings Highway.

The Shreveport City Council voted Tuesday to grant 13% salary increases to all city employees.

Five of the seven Shreveport council members voted to approve the increases. The two dissenting votes came from councilmembers John Nickelson and Grayson Boucher.

Nickelson said “serious fiscal consequences” will come from an across-the-board 13% raise.

Bossier City, SporTran discuss "confusion" over bus route implementation

SporTran representatives spoke at a City of Bossier workshop Tuesday about their plans for bringing a southern route to Bossier City.

“Adding the south Bossier route will cost the city zero dollars,” SporTran Chief Executive Officer Dinero Washington said.

“It gives non-traditional riders the opportunity to get acclimated to riding the bus,” he added.

Washington specifically addressed concerns over property values decreasing, citing a study that suggests the opposite is true. He also spoke to concerns over "undesirable" people using the service.

"We find these notions appalling and antithetical to the spirit of our community," read a SporTran presentation slide displayed at this time of the conversation. "Nor should SporTran riders be labeled as criminals simply because they lack a personal vehicle or otherwise find themselves in need of public transit."

Check out The 318 every Sunday for a summary of the biggest headlines of the past seven days.

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Kendrick Dante writes for the USA Today Network and is a government watchdog reporter in Shreveport, Louisiana. He enjoys cooking, concerts and content. Email him at kdbrown1@gannett.com or connect on Twitter @kendrickdante.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: The 318: Shreveport income program starts, NAACP president resigns