re: Metro Council votes for annexation of the mall

Dispatchers are proportional. If you have more calls, you need more dispatchers. It doesn't mean you do a better job because of the # of dispatchers.

I don't care what you predicted. Your grasping at straws has nothing to do with your thoughts on st.George, and everything to do with you making a fool of yourself repeatedly.

9+2-2=11, 38million, bodi whites withdrawal, and now you're trying to quote me on shite I never said, and I called you out on it, again.

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Kip can't give them their own school district. Only the State can do that.

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Indeed, 100 percent correct.

However, Kip is the chief executive of the largest parish in the state. He's in his third term. He is pretty well respected across the state.

If he stood up this morning, came out and said, we have got to get better neighborhood schools in EBR, and the current admin/board is not up to the task, therefore, I am proposing/asking for changes to be made, it would go a long way to fixing the problems.

If Kip supported a St George ISD, it would stand a much better chance of being approved by the legislature - no new city required.

I understand why Kip isn't throwing EBR schools under the bus - he'll need their votes when he runs for his next office. And no doubt it would be a big step for a mayor/president to call out a school system. But EBR is in such bad shape, it might be warranted.

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Your grasping at straws has nothing to do with your thoughts on st.George, and everything to do with you making a fool of yourself repeatedly

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In that case you should encourage me to post more, right?

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Every official within the city-parish government would have to deal with a total collapse of the EBR School System if a new ISD is formed.

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It could be argued that Katrina caused a total collapse of the OPSB. Today, no one in their right mind could deny the schools in Orleans Parish are better off (some more so than others).

I'm not so convinced splitting off a new school district will mean total collapse of the EBR system. Things would be different, to be sure. Fewer kids, fewer tax dollars, fewer schools. Would need a smaller central office and administration.

Of course, the big elephant in the room is the legacy costs. But even those can be handled. These could be dealt with in the legislation that authorized the new school district. The St George ISD could be charged with a percentage of the legacy costs somewhat approximatinng the percentage of students that are going to the new system.

Absolute worst case scenerio is that EBR school system goes bankrupt or is taken over by the state, and even then... it might not be the worst thing. It would give a chance for some decade-old problems to be worked out.

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Well that's the last time I shop at that place. Taking my dollars to Ascension at all times if possible.

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The stakes are raised.

If St. George moves forward (big if), it is now a necessity that it begin to build its tax base. That means retail development that is in direct competition to the mall and other BR companies.

Historically, new retail development destroys old retail development. Also, malls are dying and large department stores are moving towards stand alone buildings. There is a real chance that not only will the mall be competing for customers (with an entire city that is opposed to supporting the mall) but also competing for retail companies to fill the space.

The path is tough for St. George. It will be interesting to see if they are willing to take on the challenge.

The news just reported that none of the anchor stores joined in petitioning for annexation, so they are still in the incorporated area of the parish and would be part of SG if it is incorporated? Can anyone confirm or refute this? Did BR just annex the food court and parking lot of the mall or did they get the whole thing?

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The news just reported that none of the anchor stores joined in petitioning for annexation, so they are still in the incorporated area of the parish and would be part of SG if it is incorporated? Can anyone confirm or refute this? Did BR just annex the food court and parking lot of the mall or did they get the whole thing?

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Everything was included except the 5 or so big anchor stores in the center of the Mall. They have to get approval from their separate boards of directors. The plan, as I've heard, is to amend the annexation petition to add them in after they get approval.

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All of this is so speculative

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ya think?

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What incentive does a big retailer have to come move in right between the Mall of La and Tanger?

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If St. George incorporated today, it wouldn't only be trying to get new retailers in between the mall. It will absolutely without a doubt be courting those retailers leasing space in the mall today.

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It's not like SG can afford to offer any incentives that BR could not match.

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It can offer a community that is willing to invest in the companies within its boundaries because it aligns with the common goal of the city. And, it can offer new/nicer development which has proven to be the winner historically. But, you make a good point. Even the retailers who choose to stay in Baton Rouge would be doing so at some sort of discount.

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And you're fooling yourself if you think the people living in the SG area are going to stop shopping at the Mall.

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Over time, given alternatives, they absolutely would stop shopping at the mall. It's not going to happen overnight.

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Baton Rouge is one of the best cities around for business growth. Google it and you'll find countless reports, studies, rankings, etc of the Baton Rouge business climate and how improved it is. A new city right next door isn't going to do a thing to the business prospects of Baton Rouge.

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Odds that a new mall opens up in St George? Very low.

Odds that new retail that comes to the city, or additional locations of existing retail in Baton Rouge, decide to locate in St George? Much better.

There is no doubt the BR metro is in an expansion mode when it comes to business. That's the metro. There is no reason to think a city of St George would not share in that growth. Key word is share.