BusinessReport.com

CAM-Don’t

To the publisher:

CAMD is a missed opportunity? I dubbed it SCAM D!

Bernie Pinsonat, Baton Rouge

Fewer NIMBYs, more HIPPIES

To the editor:

What type of potential homeowner wouldn’t check out the zoning requirements before spending thousands and thousands of dollars on a new home? If they’re willing to be that uninformed before making such a huge investment then they should forfeit all future NIMBYism rights in my opinion. Mr. Stutes’ contention that neighborhood crime will soar because a police officer is killed at a Wal-Mart is comparable to the Democrats blaming President Bush for everything from the war on terror to the lives destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. It’s best to look at the plank in our own eye before looking at the speck in our brother’s. Perhaps if we had fewer NIMBYs and more HIPPIES (helpers in putting peace in every situation), not only our city but our world would be a safer place.

Stephanie Triche, Baton Rouge

To the editor:

JR, please tell me you went to LSU because your writing is so sharp and crisp, that even when I don’t agree with you, I love reading your work. This is a tough issue, though as I’m currently building in Lexington Estates (not too far up the road), my only complaint is that I wish it were a Target because, frankly, I don’t shop at Wal-Mart. I don’t oppose the development for the same reason I don’t oppose the new casino...the convenience factor of having what I need/want nearby. For someone who drives 74 miles each way to work every day, having my local in-and-out store nearby is not that bad of a deal. I just wish it wasn’t a Wal-Mart. The way to deal with the NIMBY issues is restrictions (i.e., no trash pickup before 0600, enforcement of sound and crowd ordnances), actual crime control by police and neighborhood crime prevention districts and good ol’ fashioned people taking care of what they own. I hate Wal-Mart probably more than the next guy, but you can’t blame them for a neighborhood’s demise when a community can band together and take care of what they own just as well with or without a Wal-Mart. Community development aside, our planning commission has got to be the most moronic, unreasonable group of people I have ever watched on television (and I’ve accidentally watched Survivor or one of those stupid shows). The only way that group can change is if good people run and better people vote.

Thanks for some great entertainment on a Friday.

Susan E. Nelson, New Orleans

Media Watch watch

To the editor:

Ms. (Stephanie) Reigel made several comments in the article (“Media Watch,” July 17) that I would like to address.

With regard to Michael Paul, I would like to inform the public that while he was previously publisher/editor La Vie Magazine, he was never an owner or officer of the company. La Vie is owned by WJM Interest LLC, which is owned by the Johnson family. However, the magazine is run and produced by Team La Vie, an extremely talented existing group of local Louisianans.

Regarding the comparison of advertisers from past and present issues, the summer months typically have fewer advertisers. As anyone in the publishing business knows, these months are slower because many retailers choose not to advertise due to the large number of people on vacation.

It is the hope of myself and Team La Vie to grow the magazine into a true regional publication for Southwestern Louisiana. After all, La Vie is about capturing the spirit of Louisiana, which is what we are aiming to do by gradually expanding our subscription base, advertisers and content.

We look forward to continuing to bring our readers the excellence that they are accustomed to. On a side note, you can expect something exciting to be unveiled in the new year.

Sherry Johnson. La Vie Magazine

On pit bulls

To the editor:

Sometimes I don’t participate in the polls (Daily Report, July 19) because my answer isn’t listed; such is today’s case.

If people want to own a pit bull, they should be allowed to, but as with all rights there are responsibilities involved. Because this breed is associated with more attacks and injuries to people than any other breed, the owner of a pit bull should be held liable for any injuries/damages caused by their dog. So if you think you can “handle it,” then by all means, go for it! However, should your dog injure someone, your dog will immediately be put to death, and you will be thrown in jail and ordered to make restitution.

Billy L. Clark, Baton Rouge

National lists

To the publisher:

You are correct (“Publisher’s View,” July 17). It starts with the people of this state. The first thing the people must do is to think differently than what they were brought up to believe. You have to accept that things must change because they do. You have to accept nothing less than a higher achievement than what you are used to and you must expect more of yourselves. Once you begin to accept more of yourself, you will expect that from everyone else.

Here’s a saying that I dare every one to say every day: If you want something different, you must do something different.

Start now.

Sherry Luquette, Gramercy

To the publisher:

We need to clean house in the Legislature, but to say the new crop will be any better is a long shot. Until we adopt a set of virtues that our state and federal government should not be about promoting businesses and economy as the sole purpose of their existence, we will never get off the bottom of these lists you do not like. The reason no companies want to come to Louisiana is because companies are made of people. They are made of people who want a good public education for their children. They are people who want an educated recruitment pool. They are people who want a city with low crime. Yes, this is about taxes and the belief in Louisiana that we should pay none. If you want good schools, then be willing to pay for them. If you want low crime, then educate your populous well. You can blame desegregation all you want for the problems with our school system. The schools in Louisiana were not good before the desegregation suit. The suit has just allowed for the end of white flight. White folks can’t go anywhere to get away from the black students now, so they simply put their kids in private schools.

Additionally, it does not help our state that we are again a laughingstock to the nation, as another one of our elected officials is caught—this time with his pants down instead of with freezer burn. I don’t know where you or this magazine stands on this Vitter thing, but I have not heard too from you or the Business Report on taking a stand against this sort of activity in the national spotlight. If you want to clean the politicians out, then name the ones that need to go—starting with Vitter and Jefferson, and let Jindal know that we are watching how he chooses to lead by who he chooses to protect (ignore) and who he chooses to press on.

Bryan Piazza, Baton Rouge

To the publisher:

We lived in Nashville from 1987-1998 when Lamar Alexander was finishing his second term as governor of Tennessee. He passed a one- or two-cent gas sales tax for their Interstate 840 loop around Nashville, which is huge. It came to pass as the money went where it was supposed to go without years of delay. Then he did great works for their education system.

Phil Bredesen became the new mayor. He was said to have been a millionaire before entering office. His mentality wasn’t taking kickbacks to build his own personal wealth, which seems to be the theme of our state here. Both of these men’s mentality was to turn the state of Tennessee around from leadership by the previous governor, who went to prison, instead of the “good ol’ boy system.” They portrayed a different image than our state has, yet they succeeded previous leadership having similar issues as us. Then Bredesen became the governor and progression has continued. My parents live in Florida and I receive a magazine promoting their state and stating they are a business-friendly state. Louisiana is not. They make it more difficult than other states with their numerous taxes. I wish our leaders would adopt policies from these states. Maybe if we had successful business officials we could better the image instead of being a “crooked political state” where officials have to be bought to do business here. I think William Jefferson’s example is the only image our state has. Either our roads being substandard, our public schools and the poor image we have, automobile plants won’t move their facilities here like they have in Alabama with the exception to the GM plant in Shreveport.

Susan McKey, Baton Rouge

Playing 20 questions

To the editor:

While I fully understand that Mr. Ball’s apparent role at your publication is that of flamethrower, I feel his “question” regarding “spinner rims for Cleo Fields’ Leadership Academy buses” in his list of questions for candidates goes over the top. The quandary in my mind is whether his intention in posing it is pure racial hate or simple racist ignorance. Does he have an answer? Regardless, as an executive at the so-called premier business publication, he (or the publisher) should realize by now that racism is bad for business. Duh.

Since its mere existence is obviously a burr in this publication’s saddle, may I suggest that you send one of your ace reporters to do a straight-up story on the program and the role it plays in the lives of the roughly 2,500 young citizens who are the Louisiana Leadership Institute, as well as its public-private funding mix. Once published, the readers can decide for themselves whether it is worthwhile and beneficial to our community and state. While I understand this is a novel approach, perhaps it’s time for Business Report to think outside the box and embark on a more objective path.

Michael Bailey, Baton Rouge

To the editor:

Your 14th question is another stab at state workers. Some of them do an excellent job and deserve the pay they get—plus even more. I used to be one of them in that category. How much money do you make? I expect it is a great deal more than I ever made before I decided to retire.

David Roach, Baton Rouge

To the editor:

In the words of John McEnroe, “You cannot be serious!” You’re way off on No. 12, eliminating the industrial property tax exemption. I would argue this is the one program we can least afford to jettison. The other states we’re already having a tough time competing against for new industry would eat us alive. We don’t operate in a vacuum here. New modern manufacturing would dry up in our state, and the new revenues you assume will flow will never happen. State revenues would fall as a result of shrinking manufacturing payrolls. By the way, I agree with most of your views but please rethink this one.

Rick Ward, Baton Rouge

To the editor:

I enjoyed your “20 Questions” for the future governor. In this day and age, is it still possible for someone to get into office that will do the “right thing” and not owe some special interest group that helped get them elected some special favors?

Stephen D. Clark, Baton Rouge

To the editor:

Add to Ball’s 20 list: welfare reform. Can we do it more efficiently and effectively? Cooperate with feds to combine all programs under one department. Contract with private companies to design, build and operate a complete community or communities on a suitable acreage around the state. Make them self-contained with diverse housing, education, primary health care, security, day care, etc., with the aim of training everyone for employment. We must begin to find better ways to deliver health care because there is going to be more need in the future.

George Wilson Banta, Sunshine

Keep EWE in the pen

To the editor:

From someone who was on the “good guys” side, which sometimes gets to be very confusing, I feel very strongly that EWE needs to serve ALL of his time. Some of us who were extorted by cronies of EWE and have had the pleasure of spending countless hours with the FBI and Department of Justice and very large sums of money paying attorneys to defend our position are saddened that some folks would like to see this convicted felon get out early. I readily agreed to cooperate with the good guys, would do it again in a minute and believe that EWE and the others got what they deserved, but I am disgusted with the ex-politicos who think their opinion, that he should get a pardon, matters. They have never once considered the ones like me, and others, who suffered greatly for doing the right thing. Not that I am looking for a pat on the back, but LET IT GO. The man was convicted in federal court and must do the time or I personally will lose all faith.

Mark R. Bradley, Baton Rouge