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Posted on October 19 at 9:53 p.m.

By the way, my comment from last week was about three times as long as the one posted. Somehow it was 'condensed' upon posting. I'd edit it but I forgot what I had said. Sorry.
If you'd like to view Chicago or other major cities to get a 'view' of the street life and civic appearences, try Google Maps new "Street View". It allows you to virtually "walk" down the streets and see building facades, parks, cars, houses, restaurants, bars, etc. Great for those of you who are relocating, and also for investors and real estate professionals. Or, folks like my wife and I who've just about hit our limit with the supposed Louisiana 'renaissance' and may have to look elsewhere. With business investments, product developments, active lifestyles, and two kids under 6 yrs old for which we'd like to have a good education with great cultural and multi-cultural influences along with prosperous lives and many diverse opportunities; well, we've had just about enough of the post-Katrina 'renaissance' and 'boom' that we can take.

On Defining ‘greatness’

Posted on October 19 at 9:38 p.m.

Fourx5,
I have heard your plight all too often. After spending the time over the past two weeks in Chicago, I returned to New Orleans Sunday night to an empty airport, a dirty baggage claim area, and obnoxious drunks returning from the LSU game in Kentucky (although this is not indicative of most LSU fans, just these). I thought to myself the juxtaposition of the young professionals I had just spent time with in Chicago and the dynamic place that Chicago is. I have to say, I do think many in Baton Rouge and Lafayette are not just thinking about making them clean and attractive ciites, but actually doing something about it.
However, after Katrina, many around here liked to say, "it's the people that make the place so great". Well, I beg to differ, I think there are far too many in Louisiana that are the problem. It's the leaders, business, civic, and political, but leaders are chosen, directly or indirectly, by the followers, the people. We have failed, repeatedly, at that. Parochial, xenophobic, staid, conservative, pious, conformist. Do any of these values associate with the progressive growth cities of the country? No. But they sure do apply in ole' Loooosiiiaaaannnnaaaaaaaaa! Sad.

On Defining ‘greatness’

Posted on October 13 at 12:05 p.m.

I agreecities around the country that were 'hell-holes' back in the 70's and 80's are gorgeous and prosperous today; Chicago (I love this city!), Pittsburgh, New York, Miami (Southbeach was a crime-ridden dump well into the 80's, look at it now!), Boston, etc.
I'm looking over the skyline right now from my 19th floor condo at over 12 building cranes putting up new skyscrapers in Chicago (adding to over
They can coexist, unlike what many of my neighbors back home would say...as they get in their SUVS to drive from one mall to another, and have to cross the Causeway every day for work.
I think if anyone can make BR the "next great American city", Kip Holden can. God knows, our Ray Nagin, or even Aaron Broussard or the small town (and small minded too) mayors on the Northshore are woefully underequipped with either intellect, temperment, or vision to get anywhere close to such a lofty goal. I wish BR luck.
But, I continue to hear from professionals and business people I work with and know around the country about LA and BR's "bible-belt, Jimmy Swaggart's home town" mentality (finance and technology are well populated with Jews, Muslims, and Buddhists. will they feel welcome in BR, or anywhere else in LA? I don't think so), the lack of mass-transit, the populist traditions in tax policy and politics, the fact that business in LA is either the 100 yr old agriculture culture or the 50 year old oil/gas/chemical business culture. Where does tech, advertising, publishing, design, arts and crafts manufacturing, etc. fit in? What kind of finance or busrs. Chicago's, Miami's, or new New York's,; Houston sucks! Ask most people in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, or other parts of LA about a city with high rises and they'll say Houston. Have you ever seen a park in Houston? any waterfront? how about cultural attractions? None. Chicago, Boston, Portland, etc. they excel on all these fronts. They also have two other essential points that cities need to grow today: good public schools (however, you can get started down the right path by recruiting the "TINKS"/ two income no kids couples. Either same sex or heterosexual couples. They have money, create restaurants and bars, renovate property, but they don't need schools right away), and the other essential is a good international airport! It's tough to be a great American city today without these essentials. But, an obstacle to getting them is to continue with the same parochial, red-neck, born-again, racist, sexist, classist (New Orleans is the worst with this; any sane person today would force Rex, Comus, Momus, Proteus, the Pickwick CLub, and Boston Clubs, along with New Orleans Country Club to allow hispanics, jews, blacks, etc. But they won't. It's a slight against all of us who are trying to make the region grow), and other parochial and xenophobic and anachronistic ways.
I'm taking the "El" now to downtown Chi' town to watch the LSU game. Bye.

On Defining ‘greatness’