BusinessReport.com

Brains of steel

To the editor:

I experience the same combination of frustration, pity, anger and compassion (“Brains of Steel,” Business Report, May 22) that I have always felt since graduating from LSU in 1968 and ’75. We moved to Florida in 2003 after spending most of our lives in the Baton Rouge area. Although we have many fond memories and relatives (including a son and family) in Louisiana, I continue to be amazed at the level of outrageous conduct the elected officials exhibit in failing to compete and provide for a better standard of life for present and future generations. We always were aware that others in this country had a dim view of Louisiana, but it really has been a true awakening since leaving the state. I have always applauded the efforts Rolfe, JR and a few others who have exhibited in attempting to enlighten and arouse the electorate, but with depressing results.

The loss of the German steel plant was heartfelt, but expected considering the lack of progress since the Long-Edwards legacy. But, we have a heavy heart for our son’s family and all the other hard-working good people of Louisiana who hope their future is in good hands. While the state continues to lose so many young educated minds while tolerating the outlandish grandstanding of self-gratifying, greedy career politicians, Louisiana continues to lose ground with many more progressive, knowledge-based states. The Greater Orlando economy is growing, for example, because of local commitments and dollars to build a biomedical-technology base that will enhance the quality of life. The local people didn’t just want to depend on a Mickey Mouse economy. Although we sincerely wish the best for our home state, unless radical change comes from the culture of populist government, Louisiana will continue to suffer more than just hurricane damage.

Richard Reina

Maitland, Fla.

To the editor:

I agree with most points in your article. However, I am not sure that I agree that the Louisiana site was superior. As you stated, Louisiana currently has “a transportation network that’s crumbling and ill-conceived.” This is an attribute of the site and one that likely weighed heavily in the choice of Alabama. While hoping to land the steel mill, many have cited the fact that the Louisiana site would not require cargo to be off-loaded to barges. This certainly sounds appealing, and would likely have helped our site. On the other hand, people have overlooked the fact that to get to this site, the company would have been at the mercy of the riverboat pilots on the Mississippi River. As has been documented in the past, the riverboat pilots are perhaps the most corrupt entity in the state. This surely impacted the decision. In this case, cleaning up corruption and improving transportation go hand in hand and likely would have helped our state.

Edward Tatum

Baton Rouge

To the editor:

The Alabama governor talked to ThyssenKrupp every day. He managed the process.

Gov. Blanco spent no time managing and there are questions as to how engaged LED secretary Mike Olivier was in the game.

They out-hustled and have a better track record of delivering.

Wilfred Barry, P.E., P.L.S.

Baton Rouge

It’s a wonder

To the editor:

Re: (“Gone Fishin’,” Business Report, May 22)

My niece, a recent graduate of a prestigious Catholic school in Memphis, is a Baton Rouge native and wanted very much to attend LSU. She posted a score of 27 on the ACT, earned a 3.7 grade-point average, and completed enough advanced placement classes in high school to enter college as (very nearly) a sophomore. She garnered serious interest from every Tennessee public university, having earned that state’s HOPE scholarship. The University of Arkansas, the University of Alabama, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and Florida State all offered scholarships and/or waived out-of-state tuition to get her on their campus. She still wanted to attend LSU. So what did the Baton Rouge campus offer her? Nothing. They refused to even waive out-of-state tuition. They were as polite as they could be, but LSU made it clear if she wanted to attend LSU she was on her own while the other respective campuses contacted her daily.

I understand LSU’s difficulty with attracting and retaining outstanding students, but they failed miserably with my niece. LSU simply could not compete so she will happily attend another Southeastern Conference university and enroll in its honor’s college. Good luck to LSU. In my family, LSU is no longer held in high regard.

The LSU folks can be quoted in the Business Report saying whatever they like, but they failed a native who wanted very badly to return to Louisiana. How many intelligent 18-year-olds can one find wanting to come back to the state instead of fleeing it?

Dean Caputa

Baton Rouge

Trouble with ICF

To the editor:

Your story (“ICF’s mess,” Business Report, May 22) relies on an anonymous quote from “a lawyer close to the selection process” as support for your proposition that the “process for selection was a joke.” This conclusion is insulting and not based on fact.

As the former Executive Counsel to the Commissioner of Administration, I indeed was a lawyer close to the selection process, but was not interviewed for your story. My observation was that the selection process, though conducted quickly due to the urgency of the situation, was handled fairly and impartially. There was no bias

towards any particular contractor on the part of the selection committee. Rather, based on detailed written submissions and rigorous interviews of the finalists, an independent-thinking group of 10 persons made a unanimous selection of the most qualified vendor.

As you acknowledged (then discounted), four members of the 10 were out-of-state housing experts. When those members were not present in meetings they participated via phone or video conference. Five committee members were state governmental officials who brought their expertise of state law and common sense to the selection process. A banking official rounded out the group. These committee members took their jobs very seriously, spending hours pouring over boxes of documents, listening to presentations, and asking relevant questions.

One of the selection committee members was Suzie Elkins, director of the Office of Community Development. Your characterization of Ms. Elkins as a “dealmaker” implies that her role was to somehow force a predetermined outcome. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Ms. Elkins is a career public servant with extensive knowledge of federal housing regulations whose only agenda was to select the contractor best qualified to conduct an unprecedented program.

As for conflict of interest issues, it was the selection committee that insisted that several finalists obtain an opinion from the Board of Ethics prior to an award of the contract. These issues were addressed directly by the committee and the finalists and not “uncovered” by the Ethics Board.

You might validly criticize language of the Road Home contract and details of its implementation. However, your criticism of the selection process was not fair.

Maris E. LeBlanc

Baton Rouge

Isn’t it ironic

To the editor:

Two things struck me as I read Daily Report (May 30):

1. How ironic that your opinion poll subject is financial disclosure and ethics laws, sitting next to an article about investigations into corrupt practices to lure filmmakers to the state. How can there be any doubt that this state needs the strongest enforceable ethics laws possible?

2. What with all the talk about “One Baton Rouge,” unity, and tolerance, why do we have, or need, a Black Chamber of Commerce?

Michael G. Youngblood

Baton Rouge