Baton Rouge Bond Proposal :: Please vote with your head, not your heart
I’ve spoken publicly (see:facebook) about the fact that today, I am voting ‘NO’ for the bond proposal on the ballot for East Baton Rouge parish voters. All I hope that you take a little time to do is look at this objectively.
In much of the promotion, all I continue to hear is that ‘this will make Baton Rouge the next great American city.’ As much as I want Baton Rouge to be a great American city, I disagree that this is the way we get there.
We don’t get there by taking a chance that another arts/entertainment venue will help spark a downtown revival, we get there by adding competitive jobs, industry and careers for our residents inside of our city/parish. I’ve often heard the argument that ‘we need arts/entertainment before industry will come here’ and I agree to that statement, but where I disagree is that arts come first. Industry has to be drawn and fostered first then lets compliment it where I can get a glass of wine and an art gallery.
I would still be inclined to vote for the proposal sans ‘Alive’ – we do need the infrastructure improvements and that is an investment we can afford. It is a crying shame that this has to be a package deal, even if it would shave years off the bond payback, according to projections.
I am not wholeheartedly against taxes and completely understand the idea that we need to take ownership in our future, I get that. What I will not take sitting down is what I consider a bad proposal, coupled with bad assumptions and unattainable projections that has a fancy catch phrase and an endorsement from every name and organization ‘in the know.’
You know where I stand, and I don’t expect to change your mind. I only hope I have provided a dissenting opinion that makes sense, unlike some of the other dissent I’ve heard.
GEAUX BATON ROUGE!
Disclaimers::
-I do like Kip Holden as mayor, think he’s done a great job. I just happen to disagree w/him on this one issue.
-Baton Rouge is a great capitol city and college(s) city, one of the best. However, we’ve become a commuter city because of it. Only industry and career-jobs place enough permanence in our area to maintain. Our economy does not need to be based on tourism, instead a willing commitment to reward those who live and work (therefore contributing) here.
No comments yet.