Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

The flames of disappointed, if not angry, community members, especially those living on the southside of Monroe, must continue to burn in the wake of a 3-2 vote allowing the development of a controversial city project to move forward. The Walnut St. Special District is an economic development project spearheaded by an investor group led by former city councilman Mike Echols who is now a Louisiana state representative from northeast Louisiana. Rep. Echols made a proposal to current Mayor Friday Ellis where he and his investors plan to turn a section of Walnut St. in Monroe mere steps from th...