re: BRSA & Chris Mitchell.. What's the deal?

I've had a bad week and feel like being a dick. So, even though I generally agree with you, I'm going to show how shitty your argument is.

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But BRSA pays into (and by pays into, I mean, probably pays the majority of the upkeep of) the system.

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I would bet money that this is a requirement of the CEA that BRSA has with BREC in order for BRSA to use the fields. This is where the politics gets involved and the issue becomes whether BREC should give exclusive use of the fields to a single entity, namely BRSA.

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I'm not a big fan of the Messicans rooting up the same fields I pay to play on either, because I'm sure their contribution to the field upkeep is somewhere between 0% and 0.0%.

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Yeah. Mexicans don't pay parish sales taxes and/or parish property taxes that fund BREC. Parishes are funded solely by sales and property taxes, NOT income taxes. Here is where BREC gets its funding:

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Operating Funds Money for financing land purchases, construction of facilities, maintenance, and the operation of many varied programs is obtained from taxes voted by the citizens of East Baton Rouge Parish and from income from facilities, concessions and programs. Other funds come from local governmental agencies and the Federal Government.

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A. Live in EBR, want to play on the fields that BRSA maintains? Pay BRSA for the privilege.

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Why should people pay BRSA for the privilege of playing on BREC's fields? Once again, BRSA does not own the fields. BRSA had the land and the money to have their own private facilities on Burbank back in the late 1990s, but they chose to enter into the CEA with BREC instead.

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LSU students don't get to play basketball in the PMAC, even though (I'm sure) some portion of thier tuition goes to its upkeep. They can play at the rec center.

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Wrong. The LSU athletic department is self-sustaining and does not use LSU student tuition for the athletic program or facilities. And, TAF pays for any major upgrades to facilities.

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I'm a taxpayer. Does that mean I can mosey over to Burbank park, and set up a BMX track on field 5?

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Now you're just being retarded. There's a big difference between using the fields for their intended use and using them for a BMX track.

Finally as to everyone's argument that the Lafayette Futbol Club teams don't pay taxes, try reading the Advocate article again. Here are direct quotes from the article:

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He said he decided to start his own league in Baton Rouge, and he had to join the Lafayette League as an affiliate to be eligible to compete for “state honors.”

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“But it’s all Baton Rouge kids on these teams,” Mitchell said.

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For background, here is the purpose and history of BREC, the owner of the fields:

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The Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge was created by a State Legislative Act in 1946 as a separate and distinct body whose purpose is to develop, maintain and operate public park and recreational properties and facilities for all the people in East Baton Rouge Parish. BREC is a political subdivision of the State of Louisiana and does not operate under the City-Parish Government.

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Now, reconcile that with BREC's description of their soccer activities:

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BREC works with the Baton Rouge Soccer Association to provide opportunities for everyone in the Greater Baton Rouge Area to play at their particular age and skill level. Independence Park and the BREC Burbank Soccer Complex are dedicated almost entirely to soccer matches. The BREC Burbank Soccer Complex contains 12 fields of varying sizes to accommodate youth, high school and adult soccer leagues. Independence Park contains seven fields and is available for league play and practices. Use of all soccer fields at both Independence Park and the BREC Burbank Soccer Complex is controlled by the Baton Rouge Soccer Association. BREC also maintains a host of multiple-use fields with soccer goals at several sites throughout East Baton Rouge Parish. Please note that BREC does not register children or adults for soccer programs. Registration is handled by the Baton Rouge Soccer Association. If you live in the Zachary area, another group exists in that area. Please visit the Zachary Area Soccer Association web site for more information.

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Finally, nothing in the article states that they want to use the fields for free. Everyone has simply be making that assumption.