Editors note: This column has been updated since original print version.
The Daily Report e-newsletter reported last week that renovations should start in the next few weeks on a 1,500-seat live music club downtown. Todd Chamber says he plans to open a House of Blues–type club that would bring in national and local performers. The club will feature two stages and a rooftop deck wrapping around the Coca-Cola sign. Scott Ritter, the architect who is designing the bar, says the plan is to make big changes that will break with the past use of the space.
This follows previous news from Daily Report that Lucy’s of New Orleans is also going to open on Third Street. And then there’s Stroube’s Chophouse, now open at Third and North Boulevard, and Varnadoe’s, coming to the Kress at Third and Main. Puncher’s and The Office are other new additions to Third Street.
Downtown also sports new residential space. One Eleven, the new condos between the Shaw Center and the Roux House, are about full. I am told all of the apartments and condos in the Kress at Third and Main are spoken for as well. And there could be more residential space on the way, which is key.
Davis Rhorer of the Downtown Development District tells me that the arts and entertainment area has been designated and design standards have been set. Outdoor dining has been allowed for some time. And recently a cultural district has established incentives for galleries. Rhorer says things are moving ahead on the town square design for North Boulevard and discussions continue regarding the library.
Andres Duany, who in 1998 began the charette process for Plan Baton Rouge and spurred the rejuvenation of downtown, was back in town recently for the Smart Growth Summit. In The Advocate he said about our decade of progress, “What’s been done here is a model of what other cities can and should do. Cities make all the sense in the world. They have the best location. The infrastructure is in place. Their competition is not with other cities. It’s with their own suburbs.”
According to Rhorer, since that time in 1998, $2.36 billion in downtown projects have either been built, are under construction or in the planning stage, with more than 65% being by the private sector. We need all of our parish to realize and embrace one downtown on the river. There is no “downtown Zachary” or “downtown Central” or “downtown Baker” or “downtown area” on O’Neal or Siegen Lane. They don’t exist and never will. Baton Rouge is one of 50 capital cities and it has one downtown. Let’s all support ours and enjoy it like other cities do.
Advocate shows true colors
I have already written about the antics and reporting bias of “M&M” [Mark Ballard and Marsha Shuler] at The Advocate's Capitol Bureau. But I think I may have to make it “M, M, M&C”—adding Michelle Millhollon and Carl Redman, the executive editor.
No newspaper in the state has amassed as large a volume of negative ink on Gov. Bobby Jindal, who has maintained a majority positive rating since he took office. But I have come to chalk that up to the arrogance of this news staff, who somehow believe because they are the daily newspaper in the capital city they have some privilege and deserve unlimited access. Get over yourself.
Let’s take, for instance, the Sept. 3 Advocate. The top story on the front page, with a five-column headline, regarded a letter from a pastor asking for the governor to reimburse the state for helicopter expenses. The Times-Picayune had basically the same story, but ran it on page A-2, with a one-column headline, middle of the page. Ironically, in the same Advocate was a letter to the editor from another pastor, a retired chaplain, in support of Jindal’s travels; of course, it appeared as the last letter at the bottom of page 8B.
And what was the reason The Advocate didn't give any background on this minister and the Interfaith Alliance or the Alliance of Baptists, which he is affiliated with? I think the readers would be very interested in the context and their agenda. The Advocate always goes to great lengths to give backgrounds and information on political donations for anyone connected to or appointed by the governor. Why not the detail on the Rev. Gaddy? Bias or just bad reporting?
Since this was worthy of a front page story, you would think The Advocate might include information on this denomination [Alliance of Baptists] and refer to their statements on climate change, economic justice, Cuba, racism and repentance, conscientious objection and same-sex marriage. Or the writer could have shared some of the commentary written by Gaddy in his blog about the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. He wrote, “Our nation has lost a visionary patriot, Interfaith Alliance has lost a courageous colleague, and the poorest and weakest people in this land have lost a vigorous advocate... My first association with Senator Kennedy came in the early 1970s when I worked with him on early initiatives to secure national health care.”
No, Gaddy is not just some Baptist country preacher from Monroe—oh, the contrary. In fact, his hometown daily, the Monroe News Star, disagrees with him and defends Jindal. Its editorial said, “No governor in recent memory has traveled so frequently and with such unabashed enthusiasm to remote corners of our state as Bobby Jindal has. We've welcomed Jindal to chamber of commerce functions, where he's talked about business and the local economy… We've welcomed him to our churches, too... The church visits appear to trouble some Louisianans, who believe they cross the line of separation that should be drawn between church and state. We respectfully disagree. No one has ever demanded that Jindal reimburse the state for travel to civic group luncheons or chamber of commerce functions. We've heard no complaints that he should pay his way to college commencements… Why should churches necessarily be different, more controversial destinations, than other institutions? In all cases, Jindal meets Louisianans where they live their lives… There's a value, too, in his example of service that far outweighs the price tag.”
The fact is, this governor is going to travel the state; the citizens love it. So the helicopter is going to fly to these cities, regardless of whether it is on a Wednesday or a Sunday. The fact is, the governor is working on Wednesday and giving up his Sunday—and if by that he can get to more places and see more of the folks he serves, and who pay his salary, then all the better. I can assure you none of those folks will be talking about helicopter expenses.
In addition to the weak story overplayed on the front page, in the same Sept. 3 issues of The Advocate and Times-Picayune there was the really important story on streamlining government in the face of future budget cuts. The Advocate gave it four columns on page 12A. The Times-Picayune had the same story on streamlining as a three-column on page A-2. Is this just a case of differing news judgments, or a clear case of bias and a grudge against Jindal?
In its Sept. 4 edition, The Advocate again went with a 5-column headline at the top of the front page on the same topic, repeating Gaddy's claim and quoting Jindal as saying his actions were "appropriate." This time the story gave a little more info on Gaddy and his organization and even quoted the editorial above from the Monroe News-Star. As if a second lead story was not enough, in that same edition The Advocate also ran an editorial on the issue, saying, "Ostentatious political piety is as old as the Republic. Jindal is not the first offender, nor will he be the last." Not to let a dead horse go unkicked, they added an editorial cartoon. Meanwhile, the Times-Picayune had no follow-up story, and their editorial on Sept. 5 was on the downsizing of the state auto fleet, which they applauded. What a contrast.
As a friend of mine said last week, "It seems The Advocate has written more about Jindal going to church than about all of Edwards' philandering when he was governor."
I have shared on a number of occasions my relationship with the governor, and so has The Advocate. The difference is I have been straightforward, and I share my opinions in my opinion column. What about The Advocate?
Comments
Posted by GuitarSavant on September 8, 2009 at 8:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Concerning the matter the music venues downtown, as a working musician, I have yet to see any viable gigs for local musicians who don’t fit a narrow “style” coming from that “Promised Land.” I don’t see a larger “House of Blues” style establishment improving the situation for local players either. This town is the pits when it comes to supporting the arts and no amount of building will improve that.
Posted by IBFreeman on September 9, 2009 at 7:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Shooting the messenger---why do you criticize the Advocate? They didn't fly around on the state dollars campaigning at churches on Sunday.
Just because the Governor is polling good does not give him the power to abuse taxpayers.
We never would have heard about it in your publication.
Posted by citizen on September 10, 2009 at 11:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Rolfe,
We don't owe downtown anything, they have to compete for my dollar just like everyone else does.
Don't take this the wrong way because the wife and I do frequent some of the downtown establishments and have enjoyed a good meal there, entertainment, or just a cold beer or two. In fact as establishments have opened, we have given them a look see and we return if we enjoy ourselves.
But downtown has to compete with the burbs, midtown, neighborhood haunts; and that's just the way it works.
For years downtown decayed, not because I didn't go there but because they didn't have anything downtown for most people to enjoy. Why didn't the property owners improve their properties? Why didn't they do something to get us downtown? Why did they have to wait for the state and city to lead the way?
America is a great country, people go where they choose to go, and if you give them something to see and do they will choose downtown. If you don't they won't.
citizen
Posted by CentralMom on September 10, 2009 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In a time when people are loosing jobs, can't pay bills and loosing houses, additional taxes for a downtown playground is not in the best interest of this parish. The projects vote should have been split, necessary (like the prison) from the unnecessary (downtown).
As for the Advocate, they are against whatever the majority are for.
Posted by tadpolenbr2 on September 10, 2009 at 12:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I personally think the governor is using the churches as a means of political showmanship. He needs to stay home and attend church with his family. I think many other Louisianians feel similarly. In times of budget constraints, there is no need for this type travel...period.
Posted by fourx5 on September 10, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Here goes Rolfe using the same tired conservative trope again: "I don't agree with the Advocate's spotlight on my wonder-boy's field trips on the taxpayer's dime; therefore everything the Advocate says and does is suspect in the extreme, probably because of the sinister motives of very few people."
What was it Freud said about ascribing one's motives to others, Rolfe?
Posted by Tigeronthemove on September 10, 2009 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As far as Baton Rouge has come from where it was years ago, it is also is that much further behind every other city in america. Its very much a "I got mine, you go get yours" attitude here. I want nothing more than to see BR prosper, but the people in BR and surrounding areas will never see eye to eye on making it a better place for college grads, young professionals, older people or anyone for that matter.
Its a tragic situation that will be the demise of Baton Rouge.
Posted by bradartigue on September 10, 2009 at 4:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In reading your article I came up with the following points (I live in the city limits if some context is necessary) -
Mr. Duany sounds as if he has never visited Baton Rouge. Although we have made substantial progress from the slum like conditions of downtown I experienced here in the early 90s we have a long way to go before we are an example of anything. I doubt any city in this country is looking at Baton Rouge and thinking "that's how I want us to be, just like that." Your article apparently exposes the same posture shared by too many people here, that we're somehow ahead of the curve when we are woefully, shamefully, and inexcusably behind.
It is pathetic and dishonest to accuse the relatively tiny communities of Central, Zachary, St. Francisville, Prarieville, etc., of contributing to issues in Baton Rouge. Baton Rouge suffers because of political pandering, an embarrassing school system, lack of any sort of business vision, lazy disinterested (except in LSU football) citizens, and a tolerance of crime that is rivaled only by New Orleans and Detroit. These issues come into play long before the fiduciary impact of the residents of Zachary.
I wish the state had the money to fly the Governor around as he wishes, but apparently the Lt. Governor AND the Governor can't both fly around in helicopters. Flip a coin guys, you can't both be #1. You can, however, both be #2 if you keep trying hard enough.
In my opinion Baton Rouge needs to be saved before you start talking about how you're going to continue the progress. When we're a shining city on a hill you'll know it because people between 23 and 35 will move here, educate their children, start families, and NEVER LEAVE.
Posted by brgirl on September 10, 2009 at 9:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You say let’s embrace downtown. Embrace this!
We have a Mayor who wants to introduce a nearly 1 billion dollar proposal on November 4th, to build an entertainment complex by the river along with some infrastructure improvements, including drainage, but omits the most pressing issue of all, the failing sewer system. Did you know that the flood water we experience every time it rains is a mixture of sewer and drainage water? We track it into our homes, it’s in our soil, our children play in it and people are getting sick. In fact, staph infections are at an all time high in Baton Rouge. In addition, it’s a known fact that Baton Rouge has been pumping raw sewerage into the Mississippi River, after heavy rains, because the sewer treatment plant on Gardere can’t handle the capacity. People from New Orleans get their drinking water from the Mississippi.
In the meantime, our sewer user fees continue to rise. But never enough to pay for repairs this city so desperately needs. Then there's the Consent Decree filed by the State of Louisiana and the EPA because our sewer system is not in compliance with government standards. In addition, some of those fees are being used to pay fines. How do I know? I’ve had conference calls with officials of the EPA and the Department of Justice. Before it’s over, we will be paying more for Sewer User Fees than for utilities. The last guesstimate to rehab the system was $1,200,000,000 (that’s billion) and climbing.
All this hoopla brings back memories of “Catfish Town” which was a dismal failure. Who cares, as long as Mayor Holden is able to pass this cost on to us and leave himself a legacy for the next administration to deal with?
As for the Shaw Center, I took a visitor from Seoul Korea there to see an art exhibit. She was not impressed. In fact, on the Sunday afternoon that we visited the Center there was barely a soul downtown. Why would visitors to Louisiana want to spend a weekend in downtown Baton Rouge when New Orleans is so close?
While the Mayor is busy pushing his downtown development, we have a public housing disgrace in mid city, where a Baton Rouge Housing Authority Public Housing Development still sits untouched after three buildings at Turner Plaza on North Street between North Foster Drive and Acadian Thruway caught fire on February 2007 caused by a ruptured gas line that made that part of the complex uninhabitable. On January 19th of this year the Advocate reported that the Housing Authority planned to remove the burned units. It is now September and they still sit, untouched, dangerously close to occupied units. I’m sorry, but Baton Rouge will never be another San Antonio. We have too many infrastructure problems that need to be address before we could ever seriously consider trying to pass ourselves off as a tourist destination. To ignore these problems will only dig us deeper into debt and confirm the fact that we are indeed a banana republic.
Posted by Radical_Independent on September 10, 2009 at 9:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Brilliant opinion, Rolfe, just brilliant. You're as predictable as the sun. For some odd reason, I expect some original thought from the publisher of various periodicals, aside from its real mission - selling advertising space.
If Edwards' philandering was on the public dime, then I would care. Otherwise, he is just another politician doing what so many of them seem to believe to be their real public service. As for Jindal, flying around so frequently to religious services not of his own faith may actually be just meeting his constituants. However, I'll believe that when I see him attend more than one Islamic Mosque or Buddist Temple. Until then, he is just campaigning.
As for downtown, I agree with your commentary about one downtown and its vital impact on a metropolitan area. Having said that - wouldn't you having kept your office downtown instead of moving to suburbia lend a little more credence to our otherwise empty screed?
Empty screeds, platitudes, not an original thought since you started publishing, reactionary support of a governor who is a good man but who is an empty suit when it comes to ideas, originality, leadership, etc, is so much garbage. Good luck. I don't look forward to your next collection of paid advertisements...I mean your various, scholarly, journalistic, entertainment publications.
Posted by Denee246 on September 11, 2009 at 11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Mayor’s $901 million bond proposal is misleading. According to the bond proposal’s revenue estimates, the proposal’s revenues from property taxes are $930,000,000 and $1,245,000,000 from the ½¢ sales tax for a total of $2,175,000,000. Read the numbers, that 901 million bond translates to over TWO BILLION. The 2009 bond proposal is almost identical to the 2008 bond proposal with the exception of the $820,000 the Council already approved to purchase the land for the parking garage proposed in the 2008 bond issue.
Please tell me how many aquariums/educational attractions must exist before the public’s interest becomes saturated. The proposed tourist attraction isn’t anything new…there are similar facilities across the country. How many of us are all that interested in seeing another presentation about aquatic life or the eco-system of the Mississippi? With False River, Old River, the Amite, and Blind River within an hour’s drive from Baton Rouge, why doesn’t Baton Rouge promote themselves as they are, a Sportsman’s Paradise?
According to the bond proposal, only $178,290,771 of the total bond proposal is directed to drainage improvements. The 260 Traffic Signals would cost $175,939 each, which translates to about $321,000 per signal once interest is included. Surely, the City Parish can design LED lights/generators/battery backups for less dollars.
Council members Boe, Cascio, and Wilson voted to divide the bond. I applaud their financially sound decision. Sales taxes of 9-1/2¢ plus more property taxes is not going to attract young professionals and will encourage retirees to move to less expensive cities. Plus the sewage mandate has NOT been fully funded and no monies were allocated to maintenance of existing CP structures and schools.
Forty-five percent of the proposed bond is dedicated to downtown Baton Rouge leaving only fifty-five percent for all the other areas combined. Is that equitable? The “Alive” attendance estimates are optimistic, and Monsour’s quote of an unnamed economist stating that “between 22,000 and 24,000 jobs over the next 10 years” would be created causes me pause. The New Orleans Six-Flags rebuild is expected to create 600 new jobs. Why such a difference?
Future generations should be able to choose their options, not inherit debt incurred by another generation…particularly for a theme park. Should this redundant bond be defeated, then maybe the Mayor/the council/and the taxpayer can truly work together on a prioritized plan with Phase I, Phase II, etc. to address the most critical needs of EB
Posted by citizen on September 11, 2009 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Denee,
Very good letter, and you posed some great questions that the powers that be need to answer.
BR is the state capital of La., and the home of LSU, and Southern. We have a large port which handles cargo from all over the world. We have a huge petro/chemical industry, but we have a small downtown.
Do we have to have a large downtown? Maybe not, but it would be great to have a place that folks could gather, could enjoy themselves, and experience some of life's different things.
Why BR's downtown hasn't developed more would probably make a great study for city planners, but I too find it hard to believe that Baton Rouge will ever become a big tourist destination and the Alive project smells of a big government experiment.
The city and the state have spent billions on new building, new streets, and new improvements for the downtown area, and while we have seen some private development; we have seen a lot of demolition without construction too.
I think the ticket to building downtown lies largely with the private sector and with the downtown property owners who have let their properties decline.
citizen
Posted by Being_Stupid on September 11, 2009 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We have two (2) downtowns.
Don't forget Perkins Rowe.
Posted by richyb on September 15, 2009 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It seems as though Baton Rouge is being punished and at a disadvantage not having it's CBD in the "Geographic-Center" like Atlanta; Houston; Dallas; Charlotte, Austin, Nashville, Columbus, etc... Imagine if Downtown BR was at Independence Park or somewhere near the 10/12 split??
Being a "river city" downtown is tucked away on the far left side...many miles away from most new growth. + the barrier that is Exxon to the north...
Downtown is the heart & soul of BR...left for dead in the mid/late 80's it has sprung back to life over the past 10 years! All the New State Buildings around Capitol Park and new state museum; Shaw Center for the Arts; Planetarium at LASM; River Center Expansion; 2 Full-Service 300 room hotels Sheraton atrium & historic Hilton Capitol Center; + recent addition's like II City Plaza & new Courthouse + too many renovations to count..downtown has come a long way!
Downtown is also the Cultural Core of the region! North Blvd Town Square near the cool-looking Old State Capitol will be a great new focal point for all to share!
Posted by Being_Stupid on September 16, 2009 at 6:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Agree with some of richyb's points
The best thing they could do to promote downtown, is build more bridges across the Mississippi, so that downtown becomes the center of activity, not the left side.
Government's role is to build roads and bridges, not entertainment facilities, botanical gardens, museums, etc.
Even if they build another museum, Downtown will still be on the left(west) side of where all the action & activity is. Our Interstate (The Split) is how people get around nowdays (not the Mississippi River).
The mayor needs to focus on the Loop & Bridges, not the Adubon Alive Project, if he wants to promote Downtown.
Posted by fourx5 on September 18, 2009 at 5:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I, Rolfe McCollister, do solemnly swear to uphold the principles of a socialism-free society and heretofore pledge my word that I shall strictly adhere to the following:
I will complain about the destruction of 1st Amendment Rights in this country, while I am duly being allowed to exercise my 1st Amendment Rights.
I will complain about the destruction of my 2nd Amendment Rights in this country, while I am duly being allowed to exercise my 2nd Amendment rights by legally but brazenly brandishing unconcealed firearms in public.
I will foreswear the time-honored principles of fairness, decency, and respect by screaming unintelligible platitudes regarding tyranny, Nazi-ism, and socialism at public town halls. Also.
I pledge to eliminate all government intervention in my life. I will abstain from the use of and participation in any socialist goods and services including but not limited to the following:
* Social Security
* Medicare/Medicaid
* State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP)
* Police, Fire, and Emergency Services
* US Postal Service
* Roads and Highways
* Air Travel (regulated by the socialist FAA)
* The US Railway System
* Public Subways and Metro Systems
* Public Bus and Lightrail Systems
* Rest Areas on Highways
* Sidewalks
* All Government-Funded Local/State Projects (e.g., see Iowa 2009 federal senate appropriations)
* Public Water and Sewer Services (goodbye socialist toilet, shower, dishwasher, kitchen sink, outdoor hose!)
* Public and State Universities and Colleges
* Public Primary and Secondary Schools
* Sesame Street
* Publicly Funded Anti-Drug Use Education for Children
* Public Museums
* Libraries
* Public Parks and Beaches
* State and National Parks
* Public Zoos
* Unemployment Insurance
* Municipal Garbage and Recycling Services
(continued)
Posted by fourx5 on September 18, 2009 at 5:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
* Treatment at Any Hospital or Clinic That Ever Received Funding From Local, State or Federal Government (pretty much all of them)
* Medical Services and Medications That Were Created or Derived From Any Government Grant or Research Funding (again, pretty much all of them)
* Socialist Byproducts of Government Investment Such as Duct Tape and Velcro (Nazi-NASA Inventions)
* Use of the Internets, email, and networked computers, as the DoD's ARPANET was the basis for subsequent computer networking
* Foodstuffs, Meats, Produce and Crops That Were Grown With, Fed With, Raised With or That Contain Inputs From Crops Grown With Government Subsidies
* Clothing Made from Crops (e.g. cotton) That Were Grown With or That Contain Inputs From Government Subsidies
If a veteran of the government-run socialist US military, I will forego my VA benefits and insist on paying for my own medical care
I will not tour socialist government buildings like the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
I pledge to never take myself, my family, or my children on a tour of the following types of socialist locations, including but not limited to:
* Smithsonian Museums such as the Air and Space Museum or Museum of American History
* The socialist Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson Monuments
* The government-operated Statue of Liberty
* The Grand Canyon
* The socialist World War II and Vietnam Veterans Memorials
* The government-run socialist-propaganda location known as Arlington National Cemetery
* All other public-funded socialist sites, whether it be in my state or in Washington, DC
I will urge my Member of Congress and Senators to forego their government salary and government-provided healthcare.
I will oppose and condemn the government-funded and therefore socialist military of the United States of America.
I will boycott the products of socialist defense contractors such as GE, Lockheed-Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Raytheon, Humana, FedEx, General Motors, Honeywell, and hundreds of others that are paid by our socialist government to produce goods for our socialist army.
I will protest socialist security departments such as the Pentagon, FBI, CIA, Department of Homeland Security, TSA, Department of Justice and their socialist employees.
Upon reaching eligible retirement age, I will tear up my socialist Social Security checks.
Upon reaching age 65, I will forego Medicare and pay for my own private health insurance until I die.
SWORN ON A BIBLE AND SIGNED THIS DAY OF __________ IN THE YEAR ___.
_____________ _________________________
Signed Printed Name/Town and State
Posted by nightshift on September 19, 2009 at 12:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Downtown needs more residents....of the type that actually earn and spend money.
Crime and cleanliness have improved downtown a little, but there is still no basic services that only the private sector can provide: pharmacy, grocery, movie theater.
Old South is a disaster of a neighborhood. If more LSU students continue to move in, then there's a chance that downtown can in some way improve it's physical "flow" with LSU. On the other hand, safe affordable housing is really not a reality downtown.
It will happen...just be patient.
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