Superdome, Shreveport Water Fee, & Latoya Cantrell's Budget

You're listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for October 2, 2025. 0:30 We dive into the newly signed lease agreement keeping the New Orleans Saints in the Caesars Superdome through at least 2035 — and possibly well beyond. The hosts discuss what this deal means for Louisiana taxpayers, the state’s partnership with the Saints, and whether it’s smart public policy to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in a professional sports franchise.Plus, we cover the top 3 Things You Need to Know. Congressman Cleo Fields is being accused of committing insider trading.Governor Jeff Landry, and Gayle Benson, the owner of the New Orleans Saints announced a deal to keep the Saints playing in the New Orleans Super Dome through 2035.The University of Louisiana at Lafayette announced layoffs and department closures today.12:30 Get Brain Reward from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20.13:30 We break down the latest federal government shutdown — and the political spin surrounding it. We dig into the real numbers behind the vote, explaining why they believe the Democrats in the Senate are responsible for closing the government despite the media narrative blaming Republicans.We also take a closer look at what actually happens during a shutdown, highlighting which essential services keep running in Louisiana and across the nation — from veterans’ hospitals to air traffic control and schools.23:25 We tackle a new proposal in Shreveport, Louisiana — a 2% fee on water bills designed to fight neighborhood blight and tear down abandoned properties. We break down both sides of the issue: on one hand, the need for local government to address blight and crime; on the other, the strain of yet another fee on families already facing higher utility costs. Are city funds being spent wisely, or are there existing dollars in the budget that could be redirected instead of taxing residents further?28:00 We Dig Deep into Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s final budget proposal to the New Orleans City Council — a plan that raises taxes and city fees without making any spending cuts, despite a projected $100 million budget shortfall. We break down the proposed half-cent sales tax increase on restaurants, bars, hotels, short-term rentals, and online sales, questioning whether higher tourist taxes could backfire by discouraging visitors and hurting local businesses. We also discuss new fee hikes on permits, parking, and sanitation that could make it harder to operate in the city.32:30 Get NSorb from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20.33:30 We continue our discussion of Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s proposed New Orleans budget and explore a deeper question: What is government really for? Cities like Dallas, Houston, and Orlando thrive by keeping taxes low and attracting conventions, while San Francisco, Chicago, and New York have seen business and tourism leave under higher tax burdens.36:30 Plus, we have a little fun guesing the oldes active stadiums in the NFL. Play along! 40:30 And we finish off with a styudy from the University of Pennsylvania that found that when abonaded buildings were demolised, gun assautls dropped.