re: Mall of Louisiana, Baton Rouge General are in talks with city of Baton Rouge

Y'all don't pay any attention to Russian. He's lied about me personally, made up statistics regarding 9+2+2=11, and generally wants us to think that Bodi White is dirtier than Kip "Billion Dollar Boondoggle" Holden and is somehow more dangerous than a guy who has put a billion dollar tax package (oh wait, bonds) on the ballot. Twice (once after being destroyed at the polls).

He thinks we need to worry less about a dude trying to build an amphibious fricking theme park in downtown Baton Rouge using a billion dollars, and who coat tails Jindal on the Water Campus and IBM but whose own idea of economic development for downtown BR is begging Nike to build a Niketown store downtown (LOL) than we should Bodi White.

We should worry about a guy trying to pass legislation and lead a group of citizens motivated by better educational outcomes for kids over a guy who hasn't lifted a single fricking finger to or said a single fricking word about educational improvement or accountability, or trying to improve services for citizens of the Parish he's elected President of by annexing them and their neighborhoods but instead focused on big business interest and turning the former group into a boogeyman.

Just wait till Kip taxes the hell out of them...Russian won't say a peep about it, either.

I know for a fact that it is. The detractors have made it into something else. Perhaps the supporters that have attached along the way may have their own interest as well. But this was started by altruistic people who wanted better for children.

All you'll hear from Russian is Bodi White. But he's mentioned the man truly behind St. George that has been in the trenches, and even he respects him. He was there-fighting-long before anyone in this thread or in the St. George discussion. He was there for better education for kids.

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...turning the former group into a white boogeyman.

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FIFY

I hate how this has been the ignorant average Joe's take on it.

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I am against consolidated governments such at EBR Parish and Lafayette Parish form of government.

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The other end of the spectrum is the situation in Kentucky. They have some of the smallest counties in any state of the country. What that means in practical terms that nearly every county is perpetually broke.

This is what the risk is with St. George. Two cities, both hurting, whereas the current situation has Baton Rouge on fire in terms of development.

We have population in the Gulf South and a strong oil/gas/petro chemical industry, medicial industry, and the service industry followed.

If the city of St George becomes a city they will do fine.

Baton Rouge will just have to use its money wisely or they will be in trouble.
If we were a real consolidated government we would have one sheriffs office not BRPD & Sheriff.
We also would have one Fire dept for the whole parish not fire districts & City of Baton Rouge Fire Dept.
Seems like the consolidated government only works to Baton Rouges advantage.

Houston and a lot of larger cities that have a strong market are trying to redevelop their older parts of town such as downtown areas to attract people from the suburbs.

You still have areas such as Pearland, Woodlands, Belaire, Sugarland, and Clear Lake that incorporated years ago due to the citizens wanted more control over their government. Last I checked all these areas still have housing and commercial construction projects going on which means development.

You don't hear of any of these cities going bankrupt.

Houston is doing fine and still growing along with all its suburbs which Houston does not get their tax dollars.

You're right the people will vote. What you don't mention is the people will pay too. Businesses will defect to the City by droves. Someone mentioned Towne Center they will be one of the first to jump ship. Someone also mentioned why BR never annexed in neighborhood s? Well the answer to that is the people have to vote businesses dont. As long as land touches city limits the business has a choice. Hence why it will become a connect the dot process until all major businesses join the city. It's sad I admit but this is the way the world works now. I to agree our children do deserve the best as I have two girls myself. So my advise to you is move out of Baton Rouge there are four school districts that rank in the top 10 in the state 20 miles in every direction. And no this is not me being a smartass.

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You sound very knowledgeable but to say it's about education and the kids is a straight faced lie.

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I support St.George strictly for kids, education, and the school system. I supported the SEBR school district before Pat Smith said we had to incorporate first. Incorporation was just the hand that was forced. I don't like some aspects of it, but I will vote "yes".

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Y'all don't pay any attention to Russian. He's lied about me personally, made up statistics regarding 9+2+2=11, and generally wants us to think that Bodi White is dirtier than Kip "Billion Dollar Boondoggle" Holden and is somehow more dangerous than a guy who has put a billion dollar tax package (oh wait, bonds) on the ballot. Twice (once after being destroyed at the polls).

He thinks we need to worry less about a dude trying to build an amphibious fricking theme park in downtown Baton Rouge using a billion dollars, and who coat tails Jindal on the Water Campus and IBM but whose own idea of economic development for downtown BR is begging Nike to build a Niketown store downtown (LOL) than we should Bodi White.

We should worry about a guy trying to pass legislation and lead a group of citizens motivated by better educational outcomes for kids over a guy who hasn't lifted a single fricking finger to or said a single fricking word about educational improvement or accountability, or trying to improve services for citizens of the Parish he's elected President of by annexing them and their neighborhoods but instead focused on big business interest and turning the former group into a boogeyman.

Just wait till Kip taxes the hell out of them...Russian won't say a peep about it, either.

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try to take the emotions down a notch and your arguments might convince a few people instead of just coming across like you're drunk and angry with your lot in life.

Really? The guy saying that the north baton rouge area should incorporate into its own city so that the rest of us don't have to deal with it? There's a few people that bring it up every time this conversation starts. I'm not sure how I'm being prejudiced saying that they deserve the same rights and services that everyone else does.

Eta to be fair the post on question was removed. It had been up for a day when I posted that comment.