Congratulations to the 2014 Legislative Champion of the Year!

Congratulations to Shreveport's own Patrick C. Williams, the 2014 Legislative Champion of the Year!

Creating Meaningful Dialogue

Patrick Williams is all about transparency. In order to maintain it, he must give the citizens of Shreveport the politically balanced information that they need about issues concerning our city. Patrick keeps this transparency by using the power of social media for his campaign.

More Shreveport citizens are becoming aware of how strongly Patrick maintains his online presence. As such, people are starting to bring their concerns to him through various social media platforms – and he isn’t shy about responding. He knows that creating meaningful dialogue about the state of the city requires communication across the board. His multiple social channels allow citizens to address him directly and keeps the dialogue flowing.

Stay tuned over the next five weeks to follow up with the latest news, updates, and information Patrick will provide to the citizens of Shreveport. If there's something that you would like to ask Patrick, contact “I Am With Patrick” via any social media handle or email iamwithpatrick@gmail.com and Patrick will personally address your questions/concerns.

Edited by Keaton Roberson

I Am With Patrick is up to 300 likes on Facebook!

We've made it to another milestone! As always, we thank you, the people of Shreveport, for your conitnued support!

Patrick Answers Again

Recently Patrick Williams was contacted by a concerned citizen of Shreveport about the future of the Broadmoor area. This was his question and Patrick’s reply to this local citizen:


“Dear Patrick, I live in Broadmoor and I am very concerned with the neglect of road and street maintenance as for as the weeds, leaves, water and dirt (from the gas line construction) piled up on the sides of the streets and intersections that is making not only our neighborhood but the city look trashy and dirty. Several of the streets in my area have water standing on each side of the road all the time….what do plan to do to clean up our streets, and help keep our area safe?”


Dear Concerned Citizen of Shreveport, Thank you very much for taking the time to share your concerns with me. The two issues you have brought to my attention are definitely part of my vision in making Shreveport a better place to live. Shreveport discontinued street sweeping many years ago. This service was not only something that kept our streets looking good, it was also good for the environment and something that needs to be re-implemented again. It will be part of my overall plan when I am elected on November 4th. As for as your question about keeping your area safe, Public Safety is one of my top 3 priorities for the City. It is my intent to address the way public safety priorities are set today and implement changes that will ensure that community oriented policing becomes an even bigger part of our police department. I would also like to increase patrols in our neighborhoods to enhance citizen safety. Even though this was a quick and short response to your concerns, please understand that I really care how our City looks and is kept up. I want to see all of our citizens feeling safe in their neighborhoods and anywhere they go in our City. Sometimes I believe that our elected officials have forgotten that they are public servants and that they work for all the citizens and this attitude needs to change. It is my intent and promise to place emphasis on doing a better job in taking care of our 6 basic services to ensure our neighborhoods are safe, our fire department is the best and most efficient it can be, our garbage is collected and disposed of in the most efficient and environmentally sound manner, that our streets and drainage have an efficient preventative maintenance program in place, that we ensure we have sufficient and safe drinking water and that our sewer system is operating environmentally safe. Hopefully, this addresses your concerns and I humbly ask for your vote on November 4th. Should you have additional questions or concerns, please check out my web page at www.patrickcwilliams.com.

-Patrick

Edited by Cadie Hancock

Walking the Walk

For years now, Representative Patrick Williams has been focused on helping children within the Shreveport community raise awareness about childhood obesity and autism. Through this passion of helping children, Williams helped fuel a walk in which he named “Walking the Walk” which hit its seventh year as an annual event. 

        

“Walking the Walk” begins at the start of every legislative session and is a 226-mile trek from Shreveport to the steps of Louisiana’s State Capitol in Baton Rouge. The walk helps raise awareness about childhood obesity and autism with the help of participants’ registration fees.  Sponsorships within the community, such as Blue Cross And Blue Shield of Louisiana, and the Odyssey Foundation have also helped every year to raise money that goes directly to families who are living with individuals of the Autism Spectrum Disorder and who are living with obesity, to help provide and assist them with the latest resource materials. The money also continues to help fund the Autism Resource Library located in Shreveport.

 

For the walk, Williams worked closely with the Odyssey Foundation, which is committed to “reducing childhood obesity and illnesses that affect the growth and development of children.” These words are what Patrick Williams continues to work by when it comes to children illnesses.  

Patrick Williams is also a main participant in this walk and tries to encourage and maintain roughly 20 miles a day to get to the State Capitol. The journeys usually ranged from 12-15 days to completion with over 300 participants annually.

 

Through William’s efforts on this awareness and start of this walk, he was named Legislator of the Year by the YMCA and State Representative of the Year by the Louisiana Assembly on School Based Health Care. Williams understands that childhood illnesses and epidemics such as obesity and autism are growing in the state and country, and he’s committed to doing whatever necessary to move Louisiana forward if elected Mayor to resolve these issues affecting our children.

 

This April will mark the seventh year for “Walk the Walk”. Patrick Williams plans to once again participate in honor of Shreveport’s children. The Odyssey Foundation provides more information about how you can join Patrick to “Walk the Walk”! 

 

Details are as follows: 

 

What: 5K Walk/Run to benefit the Autism Resource Library in Shreveport, Louisiana.
When: Saturday, April 26, 2014 from 8:00am to 12:00pm.
Where: Stoner Boat Launch located on Clyde Fant Parkway

Registration:
$25 for Adults
$10 for Children under 18 and College Students with an ID at any age
$15 for Senior Citizens over 65

Can’t make it to the event? No matter! You can always donate.Patrick, the Odyssey Foundation,
and the children of Shreveport thank you! 

Youth Essential for Shreveport’s Progress

Question: Honestly, this question may be perhaps the least fair of the three for a random citizen to ask you; however, I still feel compelled to ask. Although your competition has not been decided officially yet, numerous names have been thrown around. Although I'm sure each candidate has different priorities, it is undeniable that other candidates undoubtedly want to address at least SOME of the issues you do.

Assume for a moment that whoever becomes the next mayor can ONLY address one issue. Which issue do you think is most important, and do you think your method for addressing that issue would vary significantly from your competitors. I realize that ideologies might vary differently, so you could assume I am only asking about your variance from others of similar ideological stances.

Answer: The issue I think is most important, even though not listed as one of my top priorities, is the issue of retaining our young people. If we lose the critical thinkers, the individuals that prioritize and make conscious decisions, we lose the possibilities of reaching the potential for growth and progression that Shreveport has been poised for, for so long.

By improving our educational system, aggressively addressing economic development opportunities, cleaning up our blighted neighborhoods, reducing crime and ensuring that the finances of the City are sound for the future, which are listed as my priorities that will give us a more educated work force and better paying jobs that will keep our young people in Shreveport and allow for us to have better social outlets for the entertainment of our citizens. This is why it is so important to keep our young people in Shreveport as a family unit that can grow and prosper together into the future and become the leaders of tomorrow.
You also ask, "Do you think your method for addressing that issue would vary significantly from your competitors". My answer is a resounding yes. Not being arrogant, but being confident and assured. I am sincere and not in it for self gain. I'm not interested in doing only that, that will assure my re-election, but I'm interested in doing what's best for people and this City. I did the walk from Shreveport to Baton Rouge, 226 miles, 4 years in a row to bring awareness to Childhood Obesity and Autism because I care, simply because I care. I love Shreveport and I want to see Shreveport Progress and we can only do that by working Together.
Thank you for your questions and I look forward to much more dialogue with you in the future.

Sincerely,

Patrick

Sustainability in our Blighted Communities

Question: Both your "Top Priorities" list and your "First 100 Days" list contain a line about "identifying and cleaning up blighted neighborhoods". I just wanted to know what you consider a "blighted neighborhood" and what "cleaning up" would entail? I realized I was curious about your criterion and specific plans for these neighborhoods.

Answer:  There are many explanations for "blighted neighborhood", The Associated Press (2009) suggested that Mr. David Brown Kinloch, of Louisville, KY went into a "blighted neighborhood", "unsightly rows of vacant homes where crime flourished into a model of urban renewal". With vision, blighted areas can become neighborhoods of renewable green energy developments. When I think of blighted neighborhoods, I think of boarded up homes, abandoned properties and slum lord properties, to include Downtown properties as well. I passed a bill in 2013 to address the issue of adjudicated proprieties to reduce the wait time from 3 to 5 years to 18 months, in order to get these proprieties back on the rolls and back into commerce. Blighted neighborhoods are eyesores that I want to eliminate and create green spaces, gardens and flourishing communities.

Thank you for your questions and I look forward to much more dialogue with you in the future.

Sincerely,

Patrick