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Started By
Message
Baton Rouge long term outlook
Posted on 4/24/26 at 11:09 am
Posted on 4/24/26 at 11:09 am
Almost 40, I have young kids. I do love a lot about Baton Rouge, and it's home. But all my extended fam beyond my folks, are from or live elsewhere. I know places have their ups and downs. I know BR isn't rated super high on the best places to live and I'm really not keen on living anywhere else in the state. But man yesterday shook me, I have a little girl. I can't imagine the grief and anger that family is feeling. Pain / Tragedy can find you anywhere I get that, but my mind works logically and you don't want to overexpose yourself to being unsafe. To be frank Baton Rouge just "feels" so different than it did even 20 years. I know everyone says that as they age but I don't think it's just because I'm older.
Ive pretty much stopped going out at night to places besides restaurants a few years before COVID. It was so expensive and a hassle with young kids. But geez so much of culture hubs / city life has become just miserable or unsafe feeling. Almost creepy and seedy. Nothing feels beautiful, nothing feels happy. My favorite remaining parts of BR are Highland Road Park / LSU lakes, nature helps with that.
But I'm thinking I might not stay. I don't want to raise my kids, thinking every-time they go out when they are older, they are at MORE unneeded risk, than if I were in another place with less crime. It's all so depressing. Our life and home is in a pretty safe bubble. But I am growing tiresome of what's outside.
Is there any feasible hope for BR to improve in the next 5 to 10 years?
Ive pretty much stopped going out at night to places besides restaurants a few years before COVID. It was so expensive and a hassle with young kids. But geez so much of culture hubs / city life has become just miserable or unsafe feeling. Almost creepy and seedy. Nothing feels beautiful, nothing feels happy. My favorite remaining parts of BR are Highland Road Park / LSU lakes, nature helps with that.
But I'm thinking I might not stay. I don't want to raise my kids, thinking every-time they go out when they are older, they are at MORE unneeded risk, than if I were in another place with less crime. It's all so depressing. Our life and home is in a pretty safe bubble. But I am growing tiresome of what's outside.
Is there any feasible hope for BR to improve in the next 5 to 10 years?
This post was edited on 4/24/26 at 9:09 pm
43
Posted on 4/24/26 at 11:16 am to Outback Ray
Don't cry about the past, cry about the future, it's only going to get worse.
Posted on 4/24/26 at 11:18 am to Outback Ray
Sadly, I don’t see much hope for BR. I see a continued downward spiral. I see a larger Jackson, MS. The surrounding areas will also decline as BR does, just at a slower rate. I say this as someone who has lived here 48 years.
Posted on 4/24/26 at 11:19 am to Outback Ray
Only worse
This post was edited on 4/24/26 at 11:21 am
Posted on 4/24/26 at 11:20 am to Outback Ray
Urban environments in the US have passed beyond redemption. Cultural degeneracy will continue the ruin. Cities like Huntsville AL are precious and rare due to military and high performance engineering jobs galore. I presume it too will give way to the hoards of leeches currently populating too much of society.
Posted on 4/24/26 at 11:22 am to Outback Ray
Many on here made it seem the St George thing would destroy Baton Rouge. I assume the loss of taxes will hurt some but it doesn't seem like it was catastrophic, so far at least.
Posted on 4/24/26 at 11:26 am to Outback Ray
quote:
Is there any feasible hope for BR to improve in the next 5 to 10 years?
hell no. You cannot undue all the years of cultural rot plaguing this area's society- civilian or political. That is a long term recovery. And it will face resistance every step of the way.
IF you are worried about the immediate future, move. I've been in Louisiana my whole life, save a few brief stints out of state for work. I'm as "native" as it gets, but I have no delusions that BR and Louisiana are lost with no realistic expectations for improvement that will take less than generations to accomplish. The good things about living here are dwindling quickly and it is more and more difficult to justify staying.
Posted on 4/24/26 at 11:31 am to Outback Ray
quote:
Is there any feasible hope for BR to improve in the next 5 to 10 years?
No.
BR, to the extent it is not already there, will go the same way as cities like Jackson, MS, Memphis, Birmingham. The only question will be to what extent do the suburbs thrive. Namely, St. George. Most productive, law abiding citizens with means have long bailed out of the cities of Jackson (Madison, Flowood, etc) Memphis (Germantown, Southaven, etc); Birmingham (Mountain Brook, Vestavia, Homewood, etc). That will continue to happen for BR.
Posted on 4/24/26 at 11:31 am to Outback Ray
We are from New Orleans area and raised kids on the Northshore. Having lived all over US (and in EU), this was important to us (family!, S LA culture, New Orleans soul beamed brighter the farther we were away from it). Literally yesterday felt big “right decision” reflecting while here in LA for FQ/Jazz Fests, etc with family enjoying some of that culture).
However, cost/benefit has changed. Both kids (post college / in college) out of state because opportunity and personal growth better elsewhere. Outlook much brighter there. Both regularly visit LA as family rooted there, as do Wife & I (I’m retired) and both grew up on Jazz Fest, Mardi Gras, etc and valued it greatly).
When I drive thru BR, the place looks and feels like another ‘city that care forgot’. “Pride less” beams BR bridge to College on I-10 (tire remnants, soot colored concrete, bridge/over passes railings missing, etc)…the State Capitol crown jewel (?).
What keeps me loving LA are the people. BR included. But the rest of it is diseased.
A point of view to your point of question.
I don’t run my life on fear. There is disproportionate fear on this board of safety / rooted in racial tension in views of Nola and LA. There are great people of all colors and socio economic means. Many judge before they can even begin to realize this. I’m not fan of those types of folks.
However, they are not totally wrong. There are elements that make LA dangerous at times and in specific places. Although, those places are more widespread than ever (case in point yest). That is reality given LA historical context, racial tension, economic limitations, on and on.
Do what’s right for your family. Can’t go wrong! All the best for your family no matter what you decide.
However, cost/benefit has changed. Both kids (post college / in college) out of state because opportunity and personal growth better elsewhere. Outlook much brighter there. Both regularly visit LA as family rooted there, as do Wife & I (I’m retired) and both grew up on Jazz Fest, Mardi Gras, etc and valued it greatly).
When I drive thru BR, the place looks and feels like another ‘city that care forgot’. “Pride less” beams BR bridge to College on I-10 (tire remnants, soot colored concrete, bridge/over passes railings missing, etc)…the State Capitol crown jewel (?).
What keeps me loving LA are the people. BR included. But the rest of it is diseased.
A point of view to your point of question.
I don’t run my life on fear. There is disproportionate fear on this board of safety / rooted in racial tension in views of Nola and LA. There are great people of all colors and socio economic means. Many judge before they can even begin to realize this. I’m not fan of those types of folks.
However, they are not totally wrong. There are elements that make LA dangerous at times and in specific places. Although, those places are more widespread than ever (case in point yest). That is reality given LA historical context, racial tension, economic limitations, on and on.
Do what’s right for your family. Can’t go wrong! All the best for your family no matter what you decide.
This post was edited on 4/24/26 at 11:40 am
Posted on 4/24/26 at 11:33 am to Outback Ray
quote:
Is there any feasible hope for BR to improve in the next 5 to 10 years?
There needs to be a well organized, grass roots campaign that isn't afraid to absolutely put these judges on blast, publicizing every single thing about them. Put their faces on billboards. TV, everywhere. If they've released virtually any offender that appears likely to offend again, make them famous. Do expose's on them - anything that you can somehow keep out of the realm of harassment or threats. If there's one thing at fault here, it's the judges. They are fricking up everything because the majority of them are complete worthless pieces of shite. MAKE THEM put people and keep people in jail.
Second off, there isn't enough police in BR. I can drive all over this town for miles and miles, and never see a single police car. We need more stop-and-frisk. We need more cops in places with large public spaces. And they need to be seen walking the beat. We need more cops that walk around, talk to people, say hello, ask how you're doing, etc. Shady looking people need more attention. I know there's civil liberties issues that you cannot violate, but just being around is a huge deterrent. If there's a horde of teens walking around somewhere jawing at each other, get some cops around there.
There needs to be more EBRSO presence all over the parish, including BR city limits. If BRPD can't hire enough union cops, the city-parish needs to supplement it with more deputies.
Other than that, man... I don't know. When you see an area in decline, there's a pretty good chance that it can't rebound. I've told all my kids that I'd like to see them eventually leave this town once adulthood permits. The future here is pretty bleak.
Posted on 4/24/26 at 11:36 am to Outback Ray
Yep. My neighborhood has gotten awful in just 5-6 years. We’ve been in this ‘hood for about 15 years.
We can no longer go to the neighborhood park - there are gun shots often - tons of crime that is kept out of the news bc of who our council person is. My bff who lives on the next street and I can no longer go for evening walks like we have for ever.
Baton Rouge has all the problems of a big city with none of the benefits, and all the problems of a rural community with none of the benefits. Frankly, it sucks. Of course I’ve always thought that but it’s getting to where the few redeeming qualities BR had, are starting to wane.
My older 3 are graduates/attending LSU, but my younger 3 won’t go there.
We can no longer go to the neighborhood park - there are gun shots often - tons of crime that is kept out of the news bc of who our council person is. My bff who lives on the next street and I can no longer go for evening walks like we have for ever.
Baton Rouge has all the problems of a big city with none of the benefits, and all the problems of a rural community with none of the benefits. Frankly, it sucks. Of course I’ve always thought that but it’s getting to where the few redeeming qualities BR had, are starting to wane.
My older 3 are graduates/attending LSU, but my younger 3 won’t go there.
Posted on 4/24/26 at 11:41 am to Outback Ray
quote:
Is there any feasible hope for BR to improve in the next 5 to 10 years?
Not to sound pessimistic, but the city, state and even the country have already peaked and are on the downside of their historical arc. Your goal in life should be to find one of the rare and shrinking small bastions of sanity in this country to setup shop.
Posted on 4/24/26 at 11:41 am to Outback Ray
quote:
Almost 40, I have young kids.
That's exactly when I bailed out on BR and haven't regretted it one bit.
Certainly some things that I miss.. all the good people, the good food, a fall weather LSU gameday.. but overall it was a great decision.
Posted on 4/24/26 at 11:42 am to Giantkiller
Having these same types of thoughts for the past 24ish hours. Why the hell do I continue to live and raise my children here? It could have been any of our kids eating in that food court yesterday.
Posted on 4/24/26 at 11:42 am to Outback Ray
It would be a fine city if criminals were actually locked away forever. A small population of violent criminals continuously receives light punishment and that drags down an entire city of good upstanding people. It’s ridiculous that a city of this size is held hostage by a small group of thugs and judges and it’s also sad that people are just throwing their hands up and giving up. It shouldn’t be some nostalgic fantasy to want livable cities.
Posted on 4/24/26 at 11:45 am to Everyday Is Saturday
quote:
There is disproportionate fear on this board of safety / rooted in racial tension in views of Nola and LA.
How can you type this after yesterday?
Seriously. The fears and stereotypes are based in reality.
Posted on 4/24/26 at 11:49 am to Giantkiller
quote:
Second off, there isn't enough police in BR. I can drive all over this town for miles and miles, and never see a single police car.
This is also why people drive batshit crazy around here now. There’s been such a large uptick in driving like a fricking retard around here. I know people drive wild in Houston too, but everytime I go, they seem to always have a police presence on the interstate and streets around Houston, that will deter a lot of nonsense. None of that happens around here, and it enables people to do stupid shite.
Posted on 4/24/26 at 11:51 am to Outback Ray
quote:
if I were in another place with less crime
I live at the entrance to my subdivision. You can see my house and garage from the main road.
I accidentally left my garage door open overnight, with interesting stuff to rifle through, including ammo cans, boxes, my car glove box, lawn tools, etc.
Nothing was touched. Katy, TX.
Posted on 4/24/26 at 11:53 am to Riverside
quote:
Seriously. The fears and stereotypes are based in reality.
Once the present and justified fear senses die down, unfortunately it will reinforce the irrational fear that will lift realistic concerns to unrealistic and overly broad levels. All people of color will be contained in said fear. Every one of them…type of chit.
You are not wrong.
However, the ones I speak to are not right.
I’m not in a bunker today. I’m at Jazz Fest where would-be mass shooter had 200 rds ready for me. F him! And disproportionate fear.
Posted on 4/24/26 at 11:53 am to LemmyLives
Accidentally left mine open last night too.. nothing was touched. It doesn’t face the main road though, I'm on a dead end cul-de-sac.
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