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Opinions on Kip Holden
Posted on 12/16/14 at 10:25 am
Posted on 12/16/14 at 10:25 am
I met Kip this weekend at Bergeron's in Port Allen. Super polite individual who was as friendly as anyone I've ever met. Given his affable demeanor, what do you citizens of EBR think of him? How would you rate his tenure in office?
15
Posted on 12/16/14 at 10:27 am to tigerinthebueche
He's a hell of a politician.
Posted on 12/16/14 at 10:44 am to tigerinthebueche
Very good mayor, grew arrogant as many do the longer they serve.
He likes to spend money, but that isn't bad at the mayoral level. In fact that's where money should be spent, where taxpayers can see what's going on.
He needs to be reeled in once in a while, but all in all he's been a very good Mayor for the Parish.
I do believe he let the St. George thing get out of hand, but maybe he had to placate his base so he had to choose sides. And some would also say, like Lincoln in 1861, he had no real choice.
He likes to spend money, but that isn't bad at the mayoral level. In fact that's where money should be spent, where taxpayers can see what's going on.
He needs to be reeled in once in a while, but all in all he's been a very good Mayor for the Parish.
I do believe he let the St. George thing get out of hand, but maybe he had to placate his base so he had to choose sides. And some would also say, like Lincoln in 1861, he had no real choice.
Posted on 12/16/14 at 10:45 am to tigerinthebueche
Elected by people who live in Baton Rouge. How good could he be?
Posted on 12/16/14 at 10:47 am to Blue Velvet
quote:
Blue Velvet
So tell us where Baton Rouge touched you
Posted on 12/16/14 at 10:50 am to tigerinthebueche
Great guy, great personality, heck of a sense of humor, great cheerleader for Baton Rouge and the state. I would never want him in charge of anything important as he is prone to tax and spend and race-bait when he doesn't get his way. However, he is literally the most perfect candidate for Lt. Governor since Louis, the trumpet-playing alligator from "The Princess and the Frog" ran for reelection in 1937.
ETA: My mom was in journalism school at LSU with him. Both of my parents have some pretty funny stories about the Kipster.
ETA: My mom was in journalism school at LSU with him. Both of my parents have some pretty funny stories about the Kipster.
This post was edited on 12/16/14 at 10:52 am
Posted on 12/16/14 at 10:51 am to tigerinthebueche
He's been a good Mayor (just look at downtown for evidence of that), but a shitty Parish President (the office is Mayor/President).
I think that of the current crop of folks running for Lt Gov he would do the best. But he can't win the race because of his skin color and because he's pretty much unknown outside of Baton Rouge.
I think that of the current crop of folks running for Lt Gov he would do the best. But he can't win the race because of his skin color and because he's pretty much unknown outside of Baton Rouge.
Posted on 12/16/14 at 10:53 am to tigerinthebueche
Good candidate with vision, but he's kind of gone off the deep end the past 5-6 years. The few times I've dealt with him personally, he came off as a good politican.
I think he had a chance at higher, statewide office had he not made some mistakes in the more recent past.
Downtown Baton Rouge is head and shoulders better than it was when I started undergrad at LSU. It turned around rapidly to the point where I've seen media in other parts of the country use Baton Rouge as an example of how to property reinvigorate a downtown setting. LINK
I know a lot of that started under Bobby Simpson, but I think Holden has a good vision for the city even though he's taken the wrong stance on numerous things.
I think he had a chance at higher, statewide office had he not made some mistakes in the more recent past.
Downtown Baton Rouge is head and shoulders better than it was when I started undergrad at LSU. It turned around rapidly to the point where I've seen media in other parts of the country use Baton Rouge as an example of how to property reinvigorate a downtown setting. LINK
I know a lot of that started under Bobby Simpson, but I think Holden has a good vision for the city even though he's taken the wrong stance on numerous things.
This post was edited on 12/16/14 at 11:01 am
Posted on 12/16/14 at 10:55 am to Radiojones
On the rectum. It's the worst city I've been to that isn't in the rust belt. My life's biggest regret was going to LSU in that shite hole.
Posted on 12/16/14 at 10:56 am to Blue Velvet
Tell us how you really feel. 
Posted on 12/16/14 at 11:11 am to tigerinthebueche
looks like an old woman
Posted on 12/16/14 at 11:14 am to Blue Velvet
quote:
On the rectum. It's the worst city I've been to that isn't in the rust belt. My life's biggest regret was going to LSU in that shite hole.
damn.Posted on 12/16/14 at 11:15 am to Blue Velvet
quote:
On the rectum. It's the worst city I've been to that isn't in the rust belt. My life's biggest regret was going to LSU in that shite hole.
If you were in college in the late 90s-2007 or so, I can completely understand your opinion. However, Baton Rouge has done a complete 180 since then. It's actually almost ironically cool now. Downtown is unrecognizable compared to 10 years ago. Murders are down, food choices are up, entire neighborhoods are being gentrified all over the place, government street is booming, Nicholson is completely transforming and getting a street car (so is Government St), even the bar scene is improving! The suburbs and ghettos still suck arse, but that's kind of par for the course.
Is it better than New Orleans? Of course not, but few places are. However, it went from being a terrible, boring, one-horse small city, to being a bustling, fun, hip mid-size metro in less than a decade, and it's getting better every day: Nicholson Corridor, Government Street Project, street cars, new LSU South, IBM, ect. It's a great time to be in Baton Rouge.
Traffic, crime, and public schools are still atrocious, but that applies in most urban metros (New Orleans especially)
This post was edited on 12/16/14 at 11:16 am
Posted on 12/16/14 at 11:18 am to kingbob
'06-'10
Posted on 12/16/14 at 11:27 am to Blue Velvet
Ah, you were there for the tail-end of the dark ages (i.e. when all of NOLA and Chalmette's finest came to BR) and left right as the revitalization was really taking off. You'd enjoy it a lot more now.
Posted on 12/16/14 at 11:27 am to tigerinthebueche
Kip is really very accomplished. He was able to get White Republicans to vote for him and feel relatively good about it. It has been impossible to live here without bumping into him all over town and his old-school Pol instincts are impeccable. He returns calls, kisses babies, attends ribbon-cuttings, patronizes businesses, etc. He probably makes 5 football games per Friday night each week. So people admire his optimistic energy.
His primary appeal is that he actually likes the people of Baton Rouge and he is a BIG TIME Cheerleader/ Advocate for Baton Rouge. People sense that he honestly wanted the best for Baton Rouge.
The problem is that over time, he has been on the wrong side of so many issues that he has lost support.Many People (for right or wrong) now view him as largely indistinguishable from other black Democratic -Machine Mayors-minus The Hate Whitey Shtick. And there is a sense that just below the surface there lingers a scandal in the making as often happens in these parts.
Almost every person I know likes Kip on a personal level. And I'm talking people that may not even vote for him. On a message board he'll get the typical Blue-Velvet-Baton-Rouge-Sucks-level- broad criticism. But I really like Kip. Doubt I'd ever vote for him above the local level under any circumstances though.
His primary appeal is that he actually likes the people of Baton Rouge and he is a BIG TIME Cheerleader/ Advocate for Baton Rouge. People sense that he honestly wanted the best for Baton Rouge.
The problem is that over time, he has been on the wrong side of so many issues that he has lost support.Many People (for right or wrong) now view him as largely indistinguishable from other black Democratic -Machine Mayors-minus The Hate Whitey Shtick. And there is a sense that just below the surface there lingers a scandal in the making as often happens in these parts.
Almost every person I know likes Kip on a personal level. And I'm talking people that may not even vote for him. On a message board he'll get the typical Blue-Velvet-Baton-Rouge-Sucks-level- broad criticism. But I really like Kip. Doubt I'd ever vote for him above the local level under any circumstances though.
Posted on 12/16/14 at 11:38 am to kingbob
quote:No, I wouldn't. You're wrong. I visit. Siblings live there. It is a desolate wasteland. It is the epitome of shittiness.
You'd enjoy it a lot more now.
Posted on 12/16/14 at 11:47 am to Blue Velvet
quote:
No, I wouldn't. You're wrong. I visit. Siblings live there. It is a desolate wasteland. It is the epitome of shittiness.
Well, aren't you just a barrel of sunshine
Where do your siblings live in town? Prarieville? Denham? Shenandoah? The entire city isn't a wasteland. Capitol Heights, Southdowns, Garden District, Lakeview, Old Goodwood, ect are all awesome.
Posted on 12/16/14 at 11:47 am to Blue Velvet
I have lived in Baton Rouge, New York (native), Japan, Guam, Mississippi, Colorado (10+ years), Indiana ETC. I prefer the people of Louisiana to any other place. In many ways, it is a fetid shithole quality-of-life-wise. But it's easy-livin' here, because there are so many fun, creative, laid back people. There is a certain charm.
That said, I hope my kids do as they say they will, and move somewhere more dynamic post-college like Boulder or Austin. I can't imagine living in Baton Rouge in my 20's. That would have been depressing. It's great in my 40's-seeing all my friends for drinks and dinner that I've known a lifetime, tailgating at LSU games, listening to live music in Nola. That's soul-sustaining in your 40's in a way that annoys you in your 20's. There is a time to get away and a time to come home.
My 2 cents.
That said, I hope my kids do as they say they will, and move somewhere more dynamic post-college like Boulder or Austin. I can't imagine living in Baton Rouge in my 20's. That would have been depressing. It's great in my 40's-seeing all my friends for drinks and dinner that I've known a lifetime, tailgating at LSU games, listening to live music in Nola. That's soul-sustaining in your 40's in a way that annoys you in your 20's. There is a time to get away and a time to come home.
My 2 cents.
Posted on 12/16/14 at 11:52 am to kingbob
quote:I can be happy and still admit that BR sucks and you may have Stockholm syndrome.
Well, aren't you just a barrel of sunshine
One in Stanford Place and one in Southdowns.
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