Several residents used the Shreveport City Council’s public‑comment period to urge the council to reconsider Ordinance 18 of 2025 and to pursue housing‑first solutions for homelessness, and to seek answers after gunfire near a Cedar Grove block party during National Night Out.

Mark Black, a Highland resident, urged the council to repeal Ordinance 18 of 2025, which he said makes it easier for people to be displaced when property standards or landlord failures arise. “Housing insecurity is an increasing problem in Shreveport,” Black said, adding city and federal statistics he cited about poverty and rents. He argued the ordinance “criminalizes homelessness” and urged the council to pursue housing-guarantee or Housing‑First approaches instead.

Belinda Rose, speaking about the Cedar Grove National Night Out, said seniors and children at a nearby event were shaken after gunfire and that residents want explanations and apologies for the lack of officer presence at the block party. “The residents deserve answers and apologies,” she told the council. Rose said she was not aware of any officer present at the park during the disturbance and said a newsletter handed to seniors after the incident was “not appropriate.”

Council members who heard the comments acknowledged the concerns. The council did not take any formal action or make legislative changes during the meeting; several members said they would pursue follow‑up with the police department and staff about incident response and about legal and policy options to address homelessness raised by speakers.

No vote occurred on Ordinance 18 at Tuesday’s meeting; the public‑comment speakers asked for further review and alternative policies focused on housing access rather than criminal enforcement.