re: Mall of La / BR General petition for Annexation into City

quote:

---

No. Heck is arguing that the city of Baton Rouge is attempting to exploit the self-determination rights of very few to interfere with the right to self-determination of 107,000.

---

Ok, so we got this straight.

Some people in the minority should be denied their rights for the benefit of the majority.

quote:

---

I am all for repealing the CATS tax, but believe CATS should be funded. It should come from the same bucket as roads(which SEBR would be even more against)

---

I agree with you here, but I don't know if you are an old timer or a newcomer or whatever; but my main reason for opposing a lot of these issues is because of the way things are run.

Let me give you some for instances;

I voted for the large tax increases the EBR school board requested nearly a decade or so ago. I was lead to believe money was the biggest part of the solution, and that we had neglected our schools. However, several years later now the same people who said the problem was money are telling us it's the parents, its social issues, etc. and this is about the best we can do.

Now keep in mind after a decade we have seen numerous schools taken over by the state, Central and Zachary bolt, and we are in the midst of a school administration scandal and scores are barely (if at all creeping up).

Look at BREC. I love parks, and I believe we in EBR have done right in that area. But there is really little accountability, and we hear that there is a 30 plus million dollar surplus just sitting there. Why?

Look at the bus situation. We need buses, but if there was a race to see who had the worst management the schools or CATS I don't know who I'd pick. Scandals hit CATS hard too.

The system we have in EBR permits BREC, the Library, and CATS to work almost as stealth entities. If the word park, or library is on the ballot, it's almost like its un-American to oppose them. But in the perfect world these entities should work together with the city.

The schools should too. Why can't schools serve as parks in the Summer if they aren't being used? Why can't BREC cough up some money when Kip needs it for a police academy in tougher times?

Stand a lone is good to a point, but when things are not coordinated we get great this or great that; while other more important agencies can suffer mightily.

And don't get me started on the sewer program. I doubt there is any end in sight, and despite assurances that Kip had plans to reengineer things way back when you never hear how tha tis going.

Now I don't want a free lunch, but 40 dollar a month sewer charges for my business and another 40 dollars a month or so for my home is a lot of money to be charged to really not know what is going on.

Just another example of a program run amok IMHO. Is it ever going to end?

Strawman argument reply to my post. Try again, joke.

Kip didnt create the sewer problem. That was around before he took office.

I believe everyone wants reform. You only get true change by working at it, not trying to take the easy way out by running. Baton Rouge has to pay for the mistakes, neglects, and abuses of its predecessors, there is no way around it. SEBR trying to bail on the responsibility lets them maybe live in a bubble for a few years, but the time will come to pay the piper.

quote:

---

Strawman argument reply to my post. Try again, joke.

---

While a few capitalists rush to join BR, few citizens are, and in fact as parish population increases the city population does not.

Kip back from lunch yet?

quote:

---

Kip didnt create the sewer problem. That was around before he took office.

---

No argument there, he just had a new approach.

Wouldn't you like to know when its going to end and what's the bottom line???

quote:

---

I believe everyone wants reform. You only get true change by working at it, not trying to take the easy way out by running. Baton Rouge has to pay for the mistakes, neglects, and abuses of its predecessors, there is no way around it. SEBR trying to bail on the responsibility lets them maybe live in a bubble for a few years, but the time will come to pay the piper.

---

SEBR isn't bailing on BREC, the Library system, the Sewer System, the Sheriff or the Green Light Plan.

First and foremost they want to bail on the EBR School system and form an ISD. The reasons are obvious and I won't beat them to death.

Second, is the desire for a city. I don't think anybody is that upset with the services we receive; our fire comes from SG, or police service from the Sheriff, and garbage, etc. comes from the parish.

If MOST in SG could just get the schools, I'd be shocked if the desire for a city would be there.

And the people wanting schools have tried as best they can working in the system, but you read the papers. The schools aren't getting that much better if at all.

If you keep doing things the same way you've always done it, you'll keep getting the same results. EBR Schools is an example of that.

quote:

---

Kip didnt create the sewer problem.

---

quote:

---

Wouldn't you like to know when its going to end

---

quote:

---

Call him. He'll remember you from the campaign contributions you gave him to get elected. I contributed to Mike Walker's campaign.

---

I voted for Walker too big guy, and we were both losers that time.

If you remember, I said I voted for Kip twice.

quote:

---

Can someone explain to me how creating a budget shortfall for the PARISH is good for the PARISH as a whole? Whether you believe sketchy Rainey or the independent LSU Economist, both have said there will be a budget shortfall likely ranging between $20-$56 million. That's the City-PARISH budget people.

---

It couldn't be good, but blindly accepting a budget because the mayor or governor or president submitted it; isn't healthy either.

But at face value it means there would be a cutting back on services.

What would that be? No one has said.