The face of change in Baton Rouge looks a lot like Dan Kahn—a 26-year-old, Harvard-educated public school teacher in a sharp business suit with a goal of improving the community through hands-on involvement. He is not a native. He does not bleed purple and gold. And he doesn’t live in the suburbs. Instead, he works for systemic change, lives in an eclectic downtown community and believes the monumental change will take more than just fixing the city’s traffic problems.
Kahn is just the type of person that city/parish leaders have talked about since the brain drain began in the 1980s. He is a committed and optimistic young professional with the ingenuity, humility and drive to extract the best from a city desperately trying to catch up with the rest of the country. But he’s one of the few Baton Rouge has.
In 20 years, the city will have the chance to reflect on how its decisions have impacted economic growth. What it will undoubtedly have to consider is whether or not it lost the Dan Kahns of Baton Rouge. “I believe in this city,” he says. “I believe in the people here. On a personal level, for myself, this is exactly where I want to be.”
Photo by Brian Baiamonte
Dan Kahn
If it chooses not to fight to keep him, it could lose a generation to the faltering job market, the battle for the “center” of the parish, stagnation in downtown growth and a community fiercely opposed to individuals who are different from the norm. But if it chooses to fight to keep Kahn and others like him, the city could emerge stronger, more united and with a better chance of sustaining economic viability in a fiercely competitive global market.
To reach that point, Baton Rouge must understand that actions speak louder than words. It must follow through on developing and sustaining a higher quality of life, it must accept the challenge of diversifying the job market so the city can offer high-tech, exciting careers to graduates. And it must realize that constantly suppressing the hopes of progress through parishwide feuds over libraries and capital improvement packages is chasing away the very individuals who hold the key to the future of Baton Rouge. Lose this generation, let them move to other cities and never come back, and Baton Rouge could slip farther behind the rest of the country.
Acknowledging that change must happen doesn’t mean the abandonment of values and business practices that have gotten the city to where it is today. A brief look into the history of Baton Rouge and Louisiana reveals times of great wealth and prosperity as well as those of slow and moderate growth. That slow growth, be it socially or economically, has left the parish with a failing public education system and the state in a quandary about how to balance a budget that relied too heavily on oil and gas revenue. Couple those realities with perceived corruption in politics and business practices, and it’s clear the city, parish and state face phenomenal challenges—whether they are true or just perceived from the outside.
But the opportunity for extended self-examination has passed, and little time remains to consider how to improve, how to become a viable player on the national level. Because while Baton Rouge contemplates the best way to catch up, the rest of the country continues to exceed, widening the gap that already exists. Baby steps of progress aren’t enough to keep up with the leaps and bounds being made by other metropolitan areas.
Jamie Griffin
Cities like Birmingham, Ala., Chattanooga, Tenn., Nashville, Tenn., and Richmond, Va., received the memo long ago. They grasped that change must happen swiftly so that when they are left to account for their actions, they will still have a place in the economic future and continue to be culturally relevant. Baton Rouge needs to learn from the successes and failures of those metropolitan areas that have risen above stagnation and intolerance.
“I live in a world that is tolerant and inclusive of all people,” Kahn says. “I will love my students the same; I will respect all society members the same. Like Patrick Henry said, I may hate what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. We need a more inclusive community, and we’re going to get there.”
So the challenge remains. Baton Rouge must alter its self-perception and acknowledge what it will take to join the ranks of its peers. It doesn’t have to change its core values, but it does have to change its behavior. The message it sends to the world needs to be a positive, coherent one of acceptance and excitement. Baton Rouge has to get over the idea that progress is sometimes inconvenient. And it must back up the bold and visionary leadership it willingly elects but has yet to follow.
Who’s at the party?
Before Baton Rouge decides how to act to attract and retain young professionals, it needs to know who they are. But knowing that demographic might be difficult considering many of these people are on their way out.
Gov. Bobby Jindal recently said outmigration has been a serious issue for the past two decades. And to further exacerbate that information, respondents to the Forum 35 membership survey indicated that while 37.7% plan to stay in Baton Rouge for the long haul, many more plan to leave. In the next one to four years 14.3% said they planned to move away. Some 6.5% are planning to leave within the next year. And there are 42.2% still undecided about whether or not to make Baton Rouge a long-term home.
The Forum 35 figures are increasingly discouraging when you examine the entire membership survey, because most of the membership, which is divided almost equally between males and females between the ages of 21 and 40, have at least a bachelor’s degree. The metropolitan area, according to the 2007 U.S. Census American Community Survey, only has 16.8% of residents over the age of 25 with a bachelor’s degree. And a mere 8.2% hold graduate or professional degrees. So young professionals bring the intellectual capital the region desperately needs to compete in a global market.
And with that high level of education, young professionals bring progressive qualities to the table. The Wall Street Journal and International Business Times describe them as highly educated, highly energetic and highly demanding. They are more politically liberal and often take for granted the modern advances with which they have grown up. At the same time, they are team-spirited, diligent workers, eager to take on challenges and far more demanding of social and workplace equality.
Keeping them here, bringing them back or attracting new young professionals cannot be ignored and it cannot be done with typical tactics. Baton Rouge has to get smart about what it is saying to this demographic and how to shape that message for its own benefit.
Show them the money
Matt Dawson is another example of why highly educated young people are leaving Baton Rouge. A lifelong resident, Dawson moved last spring to Houston for work. Though he was employed at Joseph Furr Design Studios even before graduating from LSU’s landscape architecture program, he began searching for a more challenging work environment.
“After working there for a year,” Dawson says, “I realized pretty quickly I had no career growth opportunity. Plus, I wasn’t making any money.”
Dawson looked to New Orleans, Atlanta and Houston. He eventually accepted an associate position at Clark Condon Associates in Houston.
But Dawson didn’t want to leave Baton Rouge. “I was really looking to stay there,” he says. “I was dating someone, I have a single mom and I just like Baton Rouge.”
THE NEXT GENERATION: In order to attract and retain highly-educated young professionals, Baton Rouge must offer high-tech, exciting careers to graduates.
Ultimately, it wasn’t enough to keep him here. Nor will it be enough to bring him back. “Someone in my position can’t make any money there,” Dawson says. “If I would have stayed and worked for Joey, there wouldn’t have been a chance for promotion.”
As young professionals struggle to find work outside of the legal, medical or petrochemical industries in the Capital Region, state officials continue to cite statistics that there are 90,000 vacant jobs. But these aren’t the kind of jobs that young professionals are seeking. Rather, they are looking for those like the few new white-collar positions that will come as a result of EA Sports’ quality testing facility at LSU. They also might be interested in the jobs that could result from Baton Rouge’s plans for a Digital City or in the fledgling local film industry.
Keep them entertained
Finding jobs that fit the needs and desires of young professionals won’t completely alter the pattern of outmigration. It will take a little something called entertainment. Baton Rouge has already worked diligently to improve commercial availabilities like Perkins Rowe and Towne Center at Cedar Lodge, but young professionals often look for the heart of the city—downtown.
Shaping the way downtown has grown and developed is a focus of many people within the community.
“The question we have had to ask is: If there are vibrant downtowns all across the United States, why isn’t there one in Baton Rouge?” says Michael Trufant, the spokesman for A6, a group a group that says its sole purpose is to improve the Baton Rouge area.
Chad Ortte
Trufant and A6’s new, young leadership—Chad Ortte of Donnie Jarreau Real Estate and Tiger District owner Jared Loftus—recognize the attitude regarding downtown is one reason for that area’s slow growth. “The center of Baton Rouge is an attitude,” Trufant says. “The center is where things are happening.”
Mayor Kip Holden’s focus on the region is undeniable. But while the dedication to downtown development remains, there is still a gap between what is said and what is done.
“The downtown entertainment district started five years ago, and it didn’t happen,” Trufant says. “We are going to call people together and ask why it didn’t happen.”
The Downtown Development District and community leaders have made improvements, but they still fall short of the aspirations of a thriving, livable community. And it isn’t difficult to see why. The same young professionals the city tries to attract and retain by flaunting downtown development become frustrated when the reality of the situation is revealed.
There is little to no housing downtown that is affordable on the young professional’s salary. Swanky apartments, condos and lofts might be sound investments for those professionals with a sizeable income, but studio apartments that rent for more than $1,000 month are incredibly impractical.
The build-it-and-they-will-come attitude applies only when developers and city planners construct what young professionals actually want and can achieve, rather than what they think is reasonable and trendy.
Jared Loftus
Kahn, who lives in Spanish Town, teaches at Belaire High School and is a co-founder of the Baton Rouge Youth Coalition, is drawn to downtown. At the same time, he is frustrated by the way in which development is occurring.
“It all seems quite haphazard, doesn’t it? An empty building next to places where I have to follow a dress code, next to a somewhat vacant office space,” he says. “It doesn’t all seem to fit in a city that has so much potential.
“I really hope to see a much more coordinated effort in taking a long-term strategic outlook about where this city needs to be, because if we don’t start building for the future, we’re only going to be facing these same problems again.”
While most community and city leaders would agree with him, there is little done to set Baton Rouge’s downtown development on a cohesive, energetic path to change. Unfortunately, it will take that change to become an exciting city for the young professionals Baton Rouge claims to want.
Fake it until you make it
At the end of the day, while jobs and entertainment are priorities, quality of life is an even bigger issue. One of the other attributes of the desired young professionals is tolerance and social acceptance. Millennials and Generation Y are far more progressive as a demographic—regardless of whether they are gay, straight, conservative Christian or atheist—and tend to be far more open. And they expect that from their leadership and their communities.
Electronic Arts
THEY’VE GOT GAMES: EA Sports, which brought a testing center to Baton Rouge, has a perspective on tolerance that is typical of major companies that employ workers who are part of the creative class.
That expectation makes the debate over One Baton Rouge even more relevant. The nonbinding resolution that would have welcomed all residents despite age, race, gender, religion and sexual orientation was a failure of the community to understand that economic growth with young professionals behind the wheel needs equality.
C.D. Wright, EA Sports’ project manager for the company’s LSU location, says, “That’s a huge factor for me. The city needs to be open. They need to be able to accept.”
EA Sports spokesperson Mariam Sughayer, reaffirmed Wright. “The tenets of equal-opportunity employment are something that as a corporate culture we hold very near to our hearts.”
EA’s perspective on tolerance is a typical view held by major companies that employ workers as a part of the creative class. “I’m used to an industry where I can wear shorts and T-shirts,” Wright says of the company’s culture. “It’s not as traditionally conservative as people are used to in the Deep South.”
In order to attract and retain the young professionals and companies that would employ them, expressing a commitment to openness and tolerance is a major factor. Joe Traigle, the president of Sterling Studios and one of the founding members of the organization that became One Baton Rouge, insists this is very true.
“Culturally, we’ve always been a very segregated and, let’s put it like it is, an intolerant state,” Traigle says. “I always say the city-limits sign for Baton Rouge for the past 30-something years has read, ‘Baton Rouge, nonstandard people not welcome.’”
And it is difficult to deny that the city is culturally, if not racially, segregated. Florida Boulevard still serves as the dividing line between primarily black north Baton Rouge and the rest of the city. The failure of the One Baton Rouge proposition only reaffirms the city’s reluctance to accept the idea that tolerance doesn’t mean the end of social capital.
Rather, tolerance and acceptance serves as a path to a healthier community—one that makes a strong argument of a high quality of life to young professionals and companies looking to relocate to Baton Rouge. The mayor, Downtown Development District and Forum 35 understand and embrace that concept. It just hasn’t been widely accepted throughout all levels of government and community leadership.
The message that the city sends to those people it attempts to retain and attract is that you must fit the mold in order to be accepted. That’s not to say that the entire community is intolerant. It’s just that there’s a vocal group in opposition to anything and anyone they deem unfamiliar. If Baton Rouge plans to advance on a national level and truly become America’s next great city, it will have to make an effort to accept and tolerate those [law-abiding] individuals with different lifestyles and beliefs.
ANOTHER CHAPTER: The debate over the main branch of the parish library was divided by those who wanted to talk about where it should be located and those who wanted to see the entire purpose of the library change to fit the needs of the future.
Forum 35 diversity co-chair Eric Lewis, who is the president of Ephod Business Solutions and the president of the Baton Rouge Black Chamber of Commerce, says the link between acceptance and economic development doesn’t seem to be a loose one. “In my last job, I traveled to the West Coast a lot,” he says. “From observation, it isn’t a coincidence that the cities and states and regions that have embraced diversity and proactively embraced diversity are the same cities that a lot of us are leaving and going to.”
Traigle and Lewis are reaffirmed by the research work of Richard Florida at Carnegie Mellon University’s Urban Institute. Florida asserts that “overall diversity is a strong indicator of a metropolitan area’s high technology success”—a key area of focus by LSU, Louisiana Workforce Commission, Baton Rouge Area Chamber and numerous other city and regional entities and officials.
Raise your hand if you like progress
One of the simplest ways Baton Rouge can show the community and young professionals the city is welcome, open to change and on the way up is by speaking out for progress. The city has had opportunities in which to do that over the past 10 years, including the debate over the main library and most recently over Holden’s $989 million capital improvements package.
The debate over the main library was divided by those who wanted to talk about where it should be located and those who wanted to see the entire purpose of the library change to fit the needs of the future.
Photo by Brian Baiamonte
Eric Lewis
Davis Rhorer, executive director of the Downtown Development District, saw “young people expressing their need, their hope, their desire for downtown.” In particular, the debate became less about location and more about the philosophy of community growth and investment.
But the young people Rhorer talks about were met with opposition over the location. It was hardly a conversation about progress; it became muddled in self-interest and the failure of portions of Baton Rouge to see the long-term implications of a name change and new community center.
Add the failure of Holden’s bond issue, which would have provided for economic development, infrastructure and public safety, and the message to young professionals is mixed.
“What was disenchanting was that it failed by 3,000 votes,” says Jamie Griffin, Forum 35 president and business development manager for Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers. “That was a slap in the face. But that it was that close was amazing. I could not have been more pleased with someone [Holden] making a bold visionary statement about what we can be.”
While on one hand Baton Rouge almost passed a bond issue, on the other it failed to embrace a tangible piece of progress. That emphasizes the city doesn’t know what it wants or what it’s willing to do to get it.
Ultimately, Baton Rouge is left with incoherent messages to young professionals. It says Baton Rouge doesn’t want to modernize libraries and make them community centers if it means it has to give up a title or a little convenience. It says Baton Rouge will try to improve downtown, but not so much to rock the boat. It says Baton Rouge will give you jobs, but not the ones that you want. It will accept and love anyone like family, unless you are different—because that’s scary and unfamiliar. And when the city is faced with making tough decisions about how to shape its economic future, it will back down and let opportunity pass it by without stepping up to the plate with a valid alternative.
The best way to judge where the city is and where it needs to go may be to ask the Dan Kahns and the Matt Dawsons. When Kahn spoke of his future in Baton Rouge, it was optimistic but unsteady.
“I want so much for this city to grow, and I want to build on that change,” Kahn says. “But it would take such phenomenal growth. It would take such huge transformative shifts for that to happen. I love the food, I do love the people. I love the Third Street promenade feel on a Saturday night. I love LSU football games and The Chimes and dancing at Chelsea’s.
“There are incredible things to cherish about this city. But to raise a family in a town that wants to, or at least it is forced to, remain close-minded in a world as global and as big as this one, I just can’t see that. That said, I am young and I’m not planning on doing any of that just yet. Who knows how much we can change? If we can, then we’ll see.”
ELITE EIGHT
The top eight cities identified by Generation Y respondents as the most desirable places to work and live, according to a survey by Experience Inc., a provider of career services for college students and young alumni:
1. New York
2. Washington, D.C.
3. Chicago
4. San Francisco
5. Seattle
6. Atlanta
7. Boston
8. Charlotte, N.C.
Is Baton Rouge cool?
Rebecca Ryan of Next Generation Consulting says there are seven indexes that a city can use to see if it is cool enough for Generation Y members to live there.
1. Vitality This is the community’s commitment to the environment.
2. Earning Does the city have a breadth of occupational options?
3. Learning Great K-12 education and options for continuing education are a must.
4. After hours How much is there to do after 5 p.m.?
5. Around town How easy is it to get around town and stroll from one place to the next without having to drive from location to location?
6. Cost of lifestyle Can Gen Y afford to live there?
7. Social network Does the city have a rich social fabric, including a diversity of backgrounds and cultures?
ABOUT GEN Y WORKERS
High expectations of self They aim to work faster and better than other workers.
High expectations of employers They want fair and direct managers who are highly engaged in their professional development.
Ongoing learning They seek out creative challenges and view colleagues as vast resources from whom to gain knowledge.
Immediate responsibility They want to make an important impact on Day 1.
Goal-oriented They want small goals with tight deadlines so they can build up ownership of tasks.
SOURCE: Bruce Tulsan, Rainmaker Thinking
Comments
Posted by betterbr4me on December 16, 2008 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think this article is a very important step in the right direction. Still, we're all good at more talk than action in Baton Rouge. Groups like BRAC, the Mayor’s Office, A6, Forum 35 should come together and develop a strategy for retaining and attracting all citizens with an emphasis on young professionals. Collaboration and alignment would go a long way in combating all issues. Retention of smart young people is a much bigger community challenge then just building downtown... its also about the open exchange of diverse ideas... a community that's truly /welcoming/of all [law abiding] people... having everyone share their voice and rejecting apathy one person at a time.
Posted by longtooth on December 16, 2008 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is BR cool? Scale of 1 to 10
1.Vitality: 4
2.Earning: 4
3.Learning: 2
4.AH: 7
5.AT: 3(on average)
6.col: 8
7.Social Net.: 5
8.Recreation: 2
Posted by betterbr4me on December 16, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Scale 1 to 10 with ten being GREAT or 10 being SUCKS?
Posted by pmccarron on December 16, 2008 at 1:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
DISAGREE about the "One Baton Rouge" Resolution that came before the Metro Council last year and failed.
EBR is open to ALL.
Not
EBR is open to all despite age, race, gender, religion and sexual orientation - blah blah blah...
If we continue to categorize people as being members of different groups - race, age, sexual preference, etc. - then HOW is Baton Rouge supposed to become ONE?
That proposed clause did more to DIVIDE people then UNITE people.
WE ARE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
NOT THE GAY, STRAIGHT, CHRISTIAN, MUSLIM, ELDERLY, HANDICAP, WHITE, AFRICAN, & NATIVE, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH STATES OF AMERICA.
Quit with the Political Correctness - it's not correct, it is insulting.
Posted by pmccarron on December 16, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In other words I supported the Metro Council Representatives that voted against the "One Baton Rouge" Resolution, and glad it did NOT pass.
I understand that the authors and Mayor Kip Holden meant well by trying to pass the resolution, to welcome all people, but I felt that the clause did more to recognize people as different groups instead of as one people.
It was a "Regressive Resolution" not a "Progressive Resolution"
Posted by betterbr4me on December 16, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I like the clear thought pmccarron exhibits in the above posts. I find using all capital letters and not actually giving thought to my posts in advance a great way to make a point. Just because we're from Baton Rouge doesn't mean we have to represent our opinion in such a way that echos a cow town sentiment.
What would a "Progressive Resolution" speak to? I can not tell if you're against tolerance or if you'd just prefer the resolution have read... Baton Rouge is open to all [law abiding] people.
Posted by Diva on December 16, 2008 at 2:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great article, and right on the money!
Pretty disheartening to read the comments, though.
McCarron's comment is similar to those I hear when a person of color appropriately recognizes racial discrimination and speaks out about it. As a white person, I'm privy to the snide comments made by white people who then claim that the person of color is playing the race card, or worse, being a racist him/herself. It's just as ridiculous and just as wrong. Ass backwards.
I'm also getting pretty sick of encountering people who still believe that gays and lesbians "choose" a "deviant lifestyle." Or who think it would be great if creation science could be taught in the public school system after kids are forced to pray and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Go educate yourselves, people! Or better yet, support ways to educate the kids who are stuck in the public school system.
The One Baton Rouge resolution is a welcome mat so to speak, but the naysayers in BR don't really want to roll out the welcome mat to anyone but white, conservative, straight religious zealots like themselves.
I've criticized the current mayoral regime before and I'll do it again. Those who think Holden has done a great job are fooling themselves. He's done little to move Baton Rouge in a progressive direction before or after the election. Anyone with the chips he got by winning such a huge majority in the last election ought to be able to push through an aggressive agenda that includes alternative transit options, complete streets, a bigger vision for downtown (including a huge state-of-the-art library), and a willingness to back progressive projects like Rouzan and reject regressive projects like Pinnacle.
Instead, he spends most of his time posing for pictures at garden club meetings while the grandchildren of those in attendance at those meetings flee to other cities.
My family has been here for generations, but my kids have left and I'm going to follow them as soon as I retire. I just don't see Baton Rouge ever making the hard changes necessary to turn things around.
Posted by pmccarron on December 16, 2008 at 3:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Most welcome mats just say "welcome"
Welcome Mats don't say "welcome despite your age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation - etc..."
Posted by Being_Stupid on December 16, 2008 at 3:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All these comments are good discussions. Good that we are open with our opinions. I think we all agree on the same goal - just different ways of accomplishing that goal to end racism, sexism, age-ism, etc. We all want to end sin.
But what about Stupid People?
What is wrong with attracting more Stupid Old Professionals to Baton Rouge? With everyone trying to attract the young smart professionals - we could start attracting the old stupid professionals instead. What's wrong with these people?
Posted by betterbr4me on December 16, 2008 at 3:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
pmmcarron... again.. I welcome you to speak on what language a "Progressive Resolution" would include. Last time I checked... welcome mats don't use the N word or discriminate against people for any reasons. They are a passive sign of good will. While you might be playing off of some general theme offered by someone quoted in this article, you're failing to realize that we're talking about the people who live in the housed behind that /welcome/ mat who like making jokes about people taking it from behind or calling their new neighbor a N.
Intolerance happens actively every day and is a hot button issue for our community. We have to address this community issue in some constructive and intelligent way or it will continue to seed in future generations.
Further, our interactions here, in an open community Forum are an important window into our ability to discuss these issues. I'm asking you to entertain an intelligent discussion about your concerns with the One Baton Rouge resolution. You simply reject my dialogue and continue to spout ignorance. What's most disheartening to me is that your kind of arrogant and unintelligent squeaking is the wheel that gets greased in Baton Rouge. All the while, the people who have an opportunity to life you up are exiting in mass every year from BRCC, SU, and LSU.
Posted by fourx5 on December 16, 2008 at 6:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow...someone just rewrote all my comments from JR's stories over the past year and ran them as an article! (Just kidding.)
I appreciate this story, but I frankly don't have a lot of hope for Baton Rouge. Along with four other members of my family (siblings, cousins) I'm living quite happily in a region far away, both geographically and philisophically.
As for our resident "everything is just fine the way it is whiner", he says "Most welcome mats just say "welcome"
No kidding. Which is all the more reason why Baton Rouge, with its rich history of intolerance (both religious and secular) should man up (pardon the expression), step formward, and declare loud and proud that intolerance and discrimination isn't welcome in the city.
"Welcome Mats don't say "welcome despite your age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation - etc..."
"Despite", hunh?
Freudian slips don't get much more telling than that, pmccarron.
Posted by mdawson on December 16, 2008 at 8:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
wow, I was completely taken out of context
Posted by longtooth on December 16, 2008 at 10:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As a community it's our duty to embrace all people regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation. For those of you out there that still believe real success can be achieved while excluding some for perceived "differences"...
Well, I'm not even going to venture what sort of dark, angry, alienated demons are floating around in your empty brain cavities.
Fortunately most people who frequent these forums tend to have more or less valid opinions. Unfortunately, some people are just happy with things the way they are and selfishly assume they speak for everyone.
Baton Rouge is my home and always will be. I Love this town and it breaks my heart to see all the wasted potential here! For those of you who are thinking of moving because you are tired of this @#$%! I understand completely, but realize that you are smarter than the wing-nuts driving this town down the same sidewalk-less road. Stay and help create the course correction this city desperately needs.
Posted by EmptyNesTTer on December 16, 2008 at 11:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My children and children-in-law live on either coast. My son and his wife really tried to find work here 18 months ago when the economy was hot - believing what they'd read and heard. But it's incredibly discouraging to be treated rudely by prospective employers, told you are over qualified, and our favorite - "we've put a hold on that position for the time being." Oh, and - "why have you worked for so many different firms in the last two years?" (Because Silicon Valley was in recovery and we each did as much contract work as we could to pay bills - an alien concept here.) When they decided to head back out West, each was gainfully employed in six weeks. Now tell me, who really wants ya, baby? BR wants you, but only if you fit in our tight little idea of what we think you should be...not what you really are.
Posted by LiberatedTiger on December 17, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As long as BR relies, as it does now, on the votes of the folks in Zachary, Baker and Central to support and achieve progress, it will fail.
Posted by pmccarron on December 17, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Fourx5, The word "despite" is used in the Resolution and Article above.
Resolution Stated: "..welcomes all residents despite age, race, gender, religion and sexual orientation.."
Mayor Kip Holden's "One Baton Rouge" Resolution was denied by the Metro Council (1 vote short of passing) last October-2007.
I oppose it because - why continue to make stereotyping an issue?
Most main stream people do not stereotype in 2008.
Stereotyping is no longer an issue.
Why make it an issue?
Posted by pmccarron on December 17, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Very skeptical that government can stimulate economic growth and improve stability in the private sector through more taxation and public projects.
More Taxation does not stimulate economic growth.
Collectivism leads to totalitarian abuses.
Government fixes usually become expanding government programs, which stifle the private sector. Reduce some of this current taxation and unecessary programs, quit rolling millages forward – then maybe we will vote AND CAN AFFORD the necessary parts of the Mayor’s Plan to Build a Better Baton Rouge.
A sales tax over 9% is unacceptable.
We can't afford it.
Posted by CowboyinBRLA on December 17, 2008 at 1:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Pmccarron,
For better or for worse, people DO classify others into groups. It may be true that some people can look at another and not notice that person's race, ethnicity, or sex, but those people are few and far between. So we see people through the prism of having identified them as X or Y or Z. And any preconceptions we have about how "those" people behave, or what they want, or how they perform at work are going to spill over into our treatment of them - without a conscious, unending effort to compensate for that.
But that only works when people try, and try hard - and most people don't. And so African-Americans, Hispanics, gays, women, and handicapped citizens see differential treatment every day - not necessarily treatment with evil intent, but different. We can't help but notice it because it's right there in front of us.
And more importantly, that different treatment often DOES have a negative bias behind it-something we can also see. African-Americans can see they're being watched closely in stores because a clerk has the idea that blacks are likely to steal things. Women can see they're being condescended to when talking with contractors and car salesmen, because they assume concepts like insulation R-value and turning radii are of no interest to females. You can say "Most main stream people do not stereotype in 2008," but people are blind to their own stereotyping and preconceptions unless they look hard - and to say "stereotyping is no longer an issue" is ludicrous.
THAT'S why telling these people, specifically, that they are welcome - despite the fact that we know they'll encounter treatment that wouldn't be handed out to able-bodied heterosexual white males. The resolution isn't creating the divide; our community is, and the resolution is about acknowledging that they occur, and a commitment to bridge the divide.
And you can't do that if you don't acknowledge what kinds of divisions are out there. Picture a wall in an old house, with big cracks where plaster has fallen away as the house has settled. Each section of the wall is separate from the others. You can't ignore the cracks; they are there. Namby-pampy statements like "Baton Rouge is open to all" is like papering over the crack with contact paper. You can look at it and pretend it's gone, but it's not.
Fixing the crack in the wall means shoring up the foundations, and replastering the wall so that the edges of the crack grow towards each other and meet up. No one part of the wall can remain unchanged; one part can't decide that it's where the wall "ought" to be and expect the rest to meet up with it there. ALL of the wall is askew.
Likewise, fixing the divide in Baton Rouge will take a lot of work too, and it starts with admitting that the crack is there and deciding what to do about it. If we can't do that, then the wall's going to continue to fall apart until there's not enough left to save.
Posted by LiberatedTiger on December 17, 2008 at 1:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Pmmcarron has been consistent on this subject for a long time. I agree. He/she has set me straight a time or two on the subject of racism (which tends to creep into way too many of my comments) - to which I owe much gratitude.
The idea here is that if we keep bring up the differences (even in an attempt to do good) through the use of public resolutions, etc. what we are doing instead is perpetuating the issue that there are these differences. This may seem naive to some here.
But is it any less naive to think that by means of some paper resolution you are going to eliminate the long-standing biases that many here have?
Posted by Diva on December 17, 2008 at 2:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
While it may be true that a paper resolution won't eliminate the long-standing biases in BR, what message does it send when such a resolution is introduced and then defeated after an all-out opposition effort by the so-called Family Forum and a former judge who needs to put his energies into something more positive and productive than hate-mongering and fear generating?
Leaders of businesses which have strong anti-bias policies do indeed look at the tolerance levels and policies of the areas in which they consider locating their businesses.
I encourage McCameron and others who agree with him on this issue to enroll in one of the YWCA's six week Dialogues on Race. Their eyes will be opened in ways they never imagined.
Posted by BatonRougeForward on December 17, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
People keep falling back on this "not an open" city thing and I have to say that I don't see it. We live in a state where the three largest cities have African American mayors. The Supreme Court Justice is a female. Our governor is an Indian-American that is thirty-seven. We have a large African American college, the state's flagship university, and one of the fastest growing community colleges in the country. Personally, I'm sick of the negative publicity that Baton Rouge receives from the disgruntled folks that live here. I honestly would rather people that want to continue to focus on making this a better community than those that lay blanket statements that are ill-founded. Why do we continue to compare our city to cities with seven to eight times as many people. Is it that big of a shock that we can't offer what Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston can in regard to demographics, salary, job opportunity, etc? They have five million people in their MSA, we have 750k. Baton Rouge is growing in our MSA and I think we have the local and state leadership that hold a vision for Louisiana that we often lack. I was very upset over the bond issue failing, but I still have hope that it can pass if it is brought up again. That type of community action is something that most can see as a step in the right direction instead of lamenting on the past.
Posted by LiberatedTiger on December 17, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Diva: This was my point. It never should have been introduced in the first place. It was a no-winner for either side. What self-respecting city (or state for that matter) needs to boast that they are not bigoted? Let's be completely honest here. The underlining principle for many of the resolution's most staunch supporters was the Almighty Dollar - not diversity, tolerance or acceptance. These three words themselves wreak of bigotry. We're all created equal, right? "Yes, we will tolerate you." That'll sure make someone feel welcomed.
BRForward: I feel much the same way as you. As you put, not only do we have Southern University, but our flagship university, LSU, was recently voted near the top of major universities for student and faculty "diversity."
Anyway, I am curious on how all this census data is gathered to determine who is coming and going in our state (and their IQ). I left BR in 1987 (another time of so-called brain drain here) after graduating LSU, then returned in 1996. I don't recall ever filling out a questionnaire (or taking a test) when I left or when I returned to the city.
But then again, I have never really been good with statistics, either.
Posted by condor22 on December 17, 2008 at 3:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We cannot survive and florish because our leaders are not paying attention. The power is not in the out front guys like the mayor. Now I do not believe this holds true for the state as I believe the governor is in charge.
The mayor repeatedly shruggs off education saying he is powerless and refusing to wield the bully pulpit.
If you leave the education to the same old then you get the same old you must demand better.
This city of ours does not need the 1 billion project that's being foisted on us as a testament to what? We are not a destination city and will not be when it is completed.
Our government on a local level ignores local business and continually does business out of area. Workers of course have to leave to get jobs. My company is one affected by these city hall snafu's, my competitors continually throw in my ciustomers face that we cannot even get the busines of our local community and this is wrong we were never given a chance and repeatedly asked for an opportunity. The Mayor went so far as endorsing a rival firm they choose as the chosen firm for the black mayors council of which Holden has a lead position. This was done giving no thought to the local business such as ours and we are one of the leading companies in our field. If the city had supported us we could have added more clients and more jobs, they curtailed our growth and have no conception of local support.
We love our town and this community and the people here, we are very frustrated that the actions of our leaders make us fight harder than usual to maintain and increase our market share. Should the time come we might have to consider leaving Baton Rouge and continue our growth and hiring elsewhere. This is the biggest flaw and what keeps Baton Rouge from flouring and why we continually send our brightest and best elsewhere. We shall probably see you there soon.
Out local leaders see giving business to local companies as a loss of their power and their power base what we really lose is any opportunity for better.
Posted by mikeebr on December 17, 2008 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Gawlee y'all! Be nice to each other. Baton Rouge is doing just fine. Things are looking WAY better than 15 years ago.
We are more diverse, we have more to do, better infrastructure, less corruption(we hope), and a bright future.
Let's celebrate the progress and improvements rather than being a bunch of cynical Debbie-Downers focusing on slogans for the city or our own agendas.
To boot, it's Christmas in the Red Stick and the city is festive and positive as ever.
Maybe my head is in the sand for being naive enough to believe in our leaders(from Governor Jindal to Chief LeDuff and Mayor Holden).
Sure, we should continue to use proven examples from other cities to improve education and commerce while reducing crime.
But at the end of the day, I wouldn't trade our town for Seattle, Austin, Boston or any other 'cool','hip' city.
Praise the progress b/c YOU are BR!
Posted by brgambling on December 17, 2008 at 3:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think the list for BR should be a little different:
1) Education - BR is horrible. Why don't I live somewhere with decent public schools and save myself $6k/yr.
2) Downtown - it's a sad place. Perkins Rowe is a happier place. Why is that over there anyway? Why isn't that downtown?
3) Libraries - Really? You think these young professionals hang out at libraries? Let's try and think a little beyond an outdated institution.
4) Infrastructure - how about some sidewalks BR? how about cleanliness? parks?
Give people a reason to stay here already -- good educational system, downtown nightlife, parks, etc. Make it a nice place and companies will move here along with people. Maybe Pinnacle will start the wave.
Posted by LiberatedTiger on December 17, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
People will stay (or come) here if there are well-paying jobs that they want. Look at what it took to bring the motion picture industry here, and BassPro and Cabela's - tax incentives. Now, I think this can be taken too far, but when the overall climate changes to favor business to stay or move here, the people will not be far behind.
Posted by brgambling on December 17, 2008 at 6:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Motion picture industry?? Where are they? Shreveport or New Orleans maybe. I thought we were supposed to have all these studios built here in Baton Rouge. Now there's no mention of them at all.
Posted by Bozzman on December 17, 2008 at 7:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We have to market Baton Rouge just like any business. We should concentrate on attracting professionals like engineers, lawyers, doctors. We cannot continue to lose young professionals to other more affluent areas like Austin, Dallas that offer better opportunities for career development. It all starts in the Public School system which is currently broken in East Baton Rouge Parish and we need to perform a major restructing. The leadership at the top is suspect and the inefficiencies and lack of accountabilities with the teachers, administration is tremendous. Second, we need to fix and expand our roads and infrastructure. Our population has grown but the roads and bridges have not been invested in to keep up with the current growth. Third, we need to build a loop around the City ASAP to relieve the congestion on side streets. Fourth, we need to bring in new industry/markets to the Baton Rouge area to insure future job growth.
Posted by Bozzman on December 17, 2008 at 7:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
PMMCARRON offers the deep insight we need in Baton Rouge. More people should get involved in local politics and make their voice heard. Too many people do not even know their Local Councilman. We need to take action to make Baton Rouge a better city for our children.
Posted by pmccarron on December 18, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Agree with Bozzman's first comment only
(not his second comment so much):
Failed Public Schools is the main problem.
Pastorek should start giving vouchers to those parents who have kids trapped in failing public schools. Start with them - then vouchers for all parents later.
Young Professional Parents want affordable, yet excellent schooling for their children.
As for the Loop and Toll Roads, it will never happen - The NIMBYs will never allow a loop through their area. And the politicians will not oppose the NIMBYs for fear of losing votes.
Posted by LiberatedTiger on December 18, 2008 at noon (Suggest removal)
I just read this article again.
Did you say Harvard-educated public school teacher? In Baton Rouge? Harvard? Really?
Tell this guy there is a $300K/yr job that recently became available leading our parish's school system. No experience necessary.
Posted by BatonRougeForward on December 18, 2008 at 2:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What does going to Harvard have to do with being a good public school teacher? Think about it, what is the correlation between those two? Being a good teacher has to do with a myriad of things and a person's undergraduate education isn't at the top of that list, even if it is one of the premier institutions in the country.
As for brgambling, you pay near nothing in property taxes in Baton Rouge, and you send your kids to private school. In New Jersey you pay very high property taxes and they send their kids to public school. But throwing money at the issue isn't a fix. A complete overhaul of the school board and hiring a reform agent for the superintendant is. Tommy Spinosa is a private developer. He doesn't base his decisions on what needs to be in downtown; rather, he finds supply and demand, adequate land, and moves forward accordingly. And sidewalks and parks are quality of life features which has very little to do with businesses locating in a community. If we want to keep people in LA we need to create more jobs. End of story.
Posted by BatonRougeForward on December 18, 2008 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I really believe that finding the five or so projects that offer the greatest benefit to creating jobs in our economy should be the priorities for Baton Rouge and our leaders. We need to find an infrastructure project or a place like Pennington, and we need to continue to fund it. And then fund it some more. And continue that trend as long as we can. As it stands, we fund something, and then leave it to rot for years and years until we realize that other places have passed us by with a similar project and we've lost our competitive advantage.
Posted by LiberatedTiger on December 18, 2008 at 3:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
BRForward: Mr. Kahn's credentials (and attire) were mentioned in the article, I believe, in an attempt to illustrate that at least one highly-educated, well-dressed professional person actually resides here in BR (among the rest of us mere mortals) and may bolt if things here don't improve to his liking. I kinda found this angle offensive at first, then I got over it and had the idea about the superintendent's job. My weak attempt at humor.
I'm well aware of what it takes to be a good teacher, as my wife is one. But your point is well taken. Your true education ultimately is what you make of it later on in life. So many of those we now consider to be highly-educated (or what we used to call book-smart) are clueless in the ways of the working world. In fact, one of the smartest and savvy business men I knew had but a sixth-grade education from a small town in MS. From nothing this man built several manufacturing businesses in East Feliciana parish over the past 40 years and touched the lives of many families there.
Posted by falling_like_rain on December 18, 2008 at 7:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why aren't our leaders listening to this guy? If you named the cities where professionals WANT to be, you also name all of the most progressive cities in the country. The days have passed when cities can expect to draw professionals based on employment opportunities. Now, educated people live in the communities that make them comfortable. Seattle has a neighborhood of ~30,000people where over 70% have college degrees and 30% advanced degrees. Yes, it is expensive to live there and no it is not limited access. It is an open, walkable and very friendly area. I moved back to BR and I just don't feel at home here, so I'll take my PhD elsewhere.
Posted by fourx5 on December 18, 2008 at 11:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, mikeebr, everything is great. Nothing needs to change. Go on about your business.
As for the language of the Baton Rouge One resolution, it deserved to fail with that kind of "well, you're ok, even if you're wrong" kind of language.
Posted by fourx5 on December 18, 2008 at 11:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Look at what it took to bring the motion picture industry here, and BassPro and Cabela's - tax incentives."
Wow. A few jobs for grips and best boys, some sales jobs in an outdoor store, and whaddya know? It's economic progress time!
If a few movies and a couple of outdoors stores are your idea of hitting the target for economic development, you're playing the wrong sport.
Posted by LiberatedTiger on December 19, 2008 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
4X5: You have to start somewhere. There is nothing wrong with working at any of these jobs. Many people do, pay their bills on time and enjoy life here in the Sportsman's Paradise. My point was that incentives brought these jobs here in spite of our state's other issues. Similar incentives will bring more businesses here.
We have to be realistic, however. Working at a large steel mill or building railroad cars may not be what these young, well-dressed professionals have in mind.
Maybe you should look in the mirror (at California) and solve your own fiscal budget fiasco before chiming in here.
Posted by pmccarron on December 19, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Who cares who they nominate as the next $300K a year Superintendent? Ronald McDonald or another Bozo with a degree from Havard - it won't matter.
Socialized Systems will NEVER work.
Government can not operate schools. Leave it to Private Schools and Charitable Organizations.
More Charter School Takeovers!
Vouchers Next.
Posted by Nick on December 19, 2008 at 11:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It seems to me that we have inter-related problems that prevent BR from growing and prospering:
1. Lack of economic opportunities: Before starting a new company or moving an existing operation into a community, employers want to know there is an available workforce or a high likelihood that employees will relocate to the community.
2. Education: The Baton Rouge public education system is absolutely horrid. Employers know that potential employees want a viable education system for their current or future children. In Baton Rouge, every employer knows they start at a $6K-$20K/year disadvantage per hire when trying to attract new employees.
3. Quality of Life: I won't belabor this, as much of the article is about QOL. Is the community one they (we) feel comfortable in?
In my opinion, #1 is a symptom, with number 2 and 3 the problems, and I don't think you can jump-start the QOL without adequate education opportunities.
Unlike an earlier poster, I think public education can work. For example, see Zachary's success. And if you think Zachary is a white flight enclave, look at the demographics, their school system reflects the demographics of the area: approximately 60-65% white, 35-40% black.
What they do have is a community focused on the schools. How can you get BR to care about their schools? I'd suggest the best avenue is vouchers. What better way to empower parents than by letting them choose the school for their child? Wouldn't it be cool to see schools competing against each other based on their academic achievements?
You've probably seen Episcopals advertisement that highlights all of the National Merit Scholars they produce every year. As a parent, wouldn't you love to see advertisements from every school and be able to select Tara or Belaire based on their average ACT score, or % of students who qualified for TOPS?
Would this hurt some schools? Absolutely. The lowest performing schools should be eliminated; do it in the fairest way, let the parents vote with their vouchers.
Posted by fourx5 on December 19, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Maybe you should look in the mirror (at California) and solve your own fiscal budget fiasco before chiming in here."
Ah. The "I know you are but what am I" defense.
You're right; if our Republican actor/governor hadn't rescinded the "car tax" people had been paying for years and years, we wouldn't be in this mess. Unfortunately, the deregulated (Thanks to Pete Wilson, Republican) energy market that decimated our state treasury in the early part of this decade played a huge part in our current mess as well. (You can thank Enron and the same kind of market gaming that brought us the current mess for that situation.)
The fact that we are both a large and largely rural state hurts too - lots of roads infrastructure to maintain. Lots of people to help out. Luckily, we have a pretty diverse economy in this state thanks to decades of serious economic development - exactly what us expatriates hope Louisiana will get around to one of these days. I think we'll be OK.
Good to hear everything is going well in Louisiana. I hope the collapse of oil prices doesn't hurt next year's state budget too much.
Posted by 2tigersinatx on December 19, 2008 at 1:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
From two Tigers in Austin, TX
We love Baton Rouge. At the same time, Baton Rouge has some serious shortcomings that we feel should be addressed:
1) Public schools- We both went to EBR public schools (magnet and gifted programs) and felt highly prepared at every stage of life for the academic challenges with which we were faced. We also enjoyed the diversity in class and learning about different families' and cultures' successes and struggles. What we didn't feel all the time in school was safe. Baton Rouge has severe challenges of inner-city schools, but that doesn't mean that they're all bad. Take the good models we have within our own system and run with them. Go and visit EBR public schools and please don't pontificate if you haven't made the effort to participate in them.
2) Crime - The common excuse is, oh, crime is isolated in Baton Rouge. Our neighborhood is actually very safe. But where crime exists there is a serious, serious threat to freedom for many families. Many in these neighborhoods can't live free and are left to lock-down after dark to preserve themselves and their children. Baton Rouge will only be as good as it's weakest link if this is the case, because it fails to optimize the richness of culture and unity that results from citizens who feel free.
3) Myopia - Ideas that exist already are reinforced from within. Some are great! At the same time, it's hard to bring new ideas in. If young people and young families don't feel they can change things with new ideas because they run up against a reinforced wall, they will move out as quickly as they move in. It's not about the city or businesses "creating" all these quality of life elements. It's about providing the freedom and resources necessary for your citizens and entrepreneurs to create what they want themselves. Don't be afraid, we're not all dissolute.
4) Job pay and mobility - Baton Rouge has good jobs that young professionals on the outside might enjoy. Baton Rouge employers should consider that other cities don't make young professionals "wait" and "pay their dues" for big money. Successful city employers pay high wages up front and make their entry-level workers endure long working hours. Workers do so graciously because if they perform, they are moved up quickly. No young professional wants to give tireless on-the-job effort if the path up is blocked. That being said, the entertainment options are less important than the money. If you don't make money, you can't entertain yourself. Simple.
Posted by 2tigersinatx on December 19, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A follow-up - BRBR, why don't you let one of your YPs on staff run a regular column on reform issues / hot topics for Gen Ys and millenials? Get some dialogue going at the demographic source?
Posted by Being_Stupid on December 19, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"You down with OPP?"
(Old Professional People).
I think a catchy motto for Baton Rouge would be a good idea to attract business here to employ our older work force. Maybe we can steal Westlake's motto "Ya'll come back now!" So after YPs move away - they will want to come back later once they are OPs.
Posted by Bozzman on December 20, 2008 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with pmmcarron. The public schools in EBR are broken just like GM is bankrupct in Detroit. This dog does not hunt. We need to privatize more schools in EBR parish. Until we hold our teachers accountable and hold them to minimum standards and require students to meet certain testing requirements, ie ACT, SAT scores, the system will continue to be broken. The system is mired in Democratic broken policies of years gone past. We need a total restructing of the whole school system. Let me hear from teachers or administrators if they think I am wrong. I welcome there viewpoints. Please tell me I am wrong.
Posted by Bozzman on December 21, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with Nick and pmccarron. We need to go to a Voucher system and let the parents decide where their child goes to school. That would create competition and make each school better or fail (die)!!! The bad ones would be eliminated through competition. We have accepted mediocrity for too long here in EBR. CHANGE IS REQUIRED. Even OBamo communicates CHANGE. NOW is the time to do it. JUST DO IT!. We can model the school system off the Zachary successes and go forward. Start printing the Vouchers now!!! The sooner we get started the sooner companies will start relocating the jobs here in EBR and we will all prosper.
Posted by fourx5 on December 24, 2008 at 7:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Baton Rouge has good jobs that young professionals on the outside might enjoy."
Really? Like what? Being a lawyer or a physician?
You may lose your EA site soon, too.
Posted by logic on December 30, 2008 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
BTR is a lost cause. Only a repaving project that was 4 foot deep would help. That would leave only the 'heads' sticking out for others to see what went wrong. We moved out to the swampy 'parishes' years age when civilization (??) encroached on Prairieville. It IS strange what passes for civilization these days. "civilization" by definition implies a sustainable culture. BTR would die without the support of the $$ from area people who were smart enough to leave and the state government orifices. Just wish all of the drunks and dope heads out our way would move to BTR to advance it's progress. Am I wrong, or can digression BE called progress? I don't think it can... even with the 'new math' from the 'pass them all' schools we have to have to not hurt the feelings of the students.
Sorry for using 'logic'. I invoke "freedom of speech" rights to speak the truth... I'm old and don't care any more.
Posted by hometown on January 2, 2009 at 1:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Many comments posted here are right on. As a native Baton Rougean, I left BR in 1990 for an administrative career in San Francisco. In 2004, I relocated back BR to reconnect with family (my grandchildren)and my roots. True, BR has indeed come a long, long way since 1990, however after working here for a year at $10 an hour and witnessing firsthand the ravages of two powerful storms (Rita & Katrina), I returned to my beloved bay area mid-2005 to resume my career as an administrative assistant in a global executive recruiting firm.
BR needs jobs with competitive salaries within expanding occupations and industries, and a transit infrastructure that works. What happened to the "loop" project? Why not invest in commute hour buses or shuttles from various points in the city to business hubs like downtown, Essen, Harding etc. Profitable businesses (Shaw and Jacabs?)could support this transit effort.
As for BR's downtown, it is charming in particular the area around the State Capital and St. Joseph's Cathedral. Why not bring the BR Little Theater downtown and create a cultural or theater district like Portland, a city with a small downtown.
Although BR has a unique beauty and political history of its own, I think it's unfair to compare it to cities like Washington DC, NY, Boston, Seattle, etc -- no comparison like apples and oranges. However, I think BR has a high crime rate for a city of its size. California is plaqued by an eroding education system, increased gangs and horrific crime, illegals, many jobs outsourced to China and India, overpriced housing. The cost to do business here is astronomical. Many local companies are relocating to Colorado, Idaho, Austin and currently, and we rank #3 in nation's unemployment.
Don't give up on BR - I may try it again in 2010 weather permitting.
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