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Posted on May 23 at 2:47 p.m.

So Jindal, four and a half months into his first term as governor, is paralleling the likes of Edwin Edwards? Keep establishing that credible information on this forum and I might be likely to lose a kidney in laughter.

If anyone was 37-years old and given the possibility to be the vice president, who are you fooling in saying you wouldn't be interested. If you were asked by the leading candidate for president in your own party to join him for a weekend, who are you fooling in saying you wouldn't attend?

And he's not going to be the vice president. This is a Republican attempt to gain publicity and traction for future races with the youngest and brightest governor in the country. It's a good move for all parties involved, including the state of Louisiana as we continue to demand federal funding.

Louisiana has been tarnished and brought down by our state's actions in the public sector for hundreds of years. And some still expect this to reform agenda to be an overnight success story. Sorry but righting the Louisiana ship isn't like winning the lottery. You don't succeed by buying a ticket and landing some numbers.

On Spinning the media

Posted on April 28 at 4:48 p.m.

I drive by that sign everyday and everyday I shake my head at how utterly ridiculous it is. My fellow Southdowns residents committing themselves to three months of signatures because they don't agree with a new type of subdivision. My fellow Southdowns residents acting as if they are the voice of all Southdowns residents. The sole reason I am glad that the recall did not warrant enough support is because my fellow residents decided to make a trivial situation parallel the apocolypse. Too funny.

On Total recall

Posted on April 14 at 12:42 p.m.

fourx5, my comment about being Houston rests in their economy. I like Louisiana and all of the cultural differences our state affords us compared to others. But it's tough to argue with a person that wants an economy that is similar in any way to Houston. They have many aspects, as do many cities not limited by their geography that I do not care for. I don't want to live in Houston, Dallas, or Atlanta. But I would like to have their economy. That's what I'm working towards here in Baton Rouge. And I think that is the greatest problem in this debate. Baton Rouge is moving forward with plans of becoming an economic center in the state. I don't think New Orleans has ever been concerned with wanting that same position.

On The New Orleans reality

Posted on April 11 at 2:08 p.m.

Baton Rouge will never be able to re-create the downtown of New Orleans nor the uptown environment. That is special to New Orleans and is one of the things that makes the city a tourist destination. New Orleans will never be able to re-create their business community. It has been a service sector oriented community driving away business to neighboring Houston, Tampa, Mobile, etc. for the better part of the last thirty years. The storm hasn't helped matters as businesses have left and don't plan on returning. As evidenced by the last few years following the storm, it seems as though the tourism industry is the only business New Orleans is concerned about keeping. And that's fine, but the economic benefits to your city will remain limited.

So we have two situations. A tourist destination and en emerging business center. It seems to me that both sides need to swallow their pride and any petty squable and work on capitalizing on there proximity to one another and each communities respective competitive advantage.

Someone earlier posted that Baton Rouge will become a small Houston. This statement is evidence of the difference between communities. For myself, a Baton Rouge person, the chance to become a small Houston is a wonderful compliment as I can only hope our city can possess a tenth of the economic success found in Houston. His statement was meant as a negative but for most Baton Rouge residents, that statement is our goal. So maybe that is the biggest difference between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. New Orleans would rather keep their cultural integrity than have economic success. Baton Rouge would like to have both.

On The New Orleans reality

Posted on December 14 at 10:47 a.m.

He can build almost 500 homes in the available space on Ford Pasture. But will there be a church? An elementary school? 100,000 sq.ft. of retail? A library? 13 acres of community green space? No. It will be 500 homes that contribute to the traffic and sewage without anything else of note for the community. This TND affords the citizens an opportunity to utilize this space in a fashion that is different from any other place in Baton Rouge. Once again, my support remains. I have yet to hear evidence that this isn't just a set few Southdown residents fighting to stop growth. From my perspective as a southdowns resident that's all it appears to be. This entire ordeal is so ridiculous.

Bad schools? Poor infrastructure? Litter problems? No, those aren't the pressing matters for the Southdowns Civic Association. Rather, they're concerned about houses, a church, an elementary school, a library, retail, and green space. Good job Southdowns residents. I hope this project moves forward just as planned and I hope that you move to Zachary where growth is met with equal resistence each day.

On What now?

Posted on December 13 at 3:41 p.m.

I am in SUPPORT of Rouzan. I have lived in Southdowns for the last seven years and I love the area. I think this type of project is great for Baton Rouge, great for Southdowns, and a change in the way we think about development. Perkins Rowe is not a TND but a type of urban retail center that is going to be an absolute juggernaut for retail in the best way possible. If someone in our city has a vision like Perkins Rowe and wants to put their vision to use for a TND in the middle of south Baton Rouge, I am on board. The sewage and Lee Dr. problems were a problem before the TND proposal and will be after the TND proposal, regardless of the outcome. That is the city's fault. Not Southdowns. Not Mr. Spinosa. But the city. The problem associated with this is the fact that a change in Lee Dr. will provoke even more negativity than this project has sparked. Personally, we need this TND to force a change because we know that it won't be accomplished any other way, which I find quite sad.

The negative campaign that I've had to drive through everyday is ridiculous. Can I go thirty yards without having a "Don't Make Hyacinth a Racetrack" sign? Give me a break people. The fact of the matter is you want growth but not our neighborhood. It's that lack of understanding for the overall community that drives us back. Let's move forward in expressing our disdain for the sewage and Lee Dr. and then we can have a great project in Baton Rouge like Rouzan move forward.

On What now?

Posted on December 12 at 1:55 p.m.

When has any development been catered to those that can't help the developer pick up the costs at the conclusion of the project? It's not a breed of developer but simple economics.

I think that the two problems here are problems not associated with the TND at all. Problems that have been problems for quite some time already. We have a two lane road where there should be a four lane and we have sewer problems. Maybe a development like this is exactly what we need to prompt those two changes in the future. Naturally, one of those options will make Rouzan seem like a cakewalk. Wonder why that is?

On More people, same result

Posted on December 11 at 9:15 p.m.

I live in Southdowns and what pushed me to support this development more than anything were the countless signs spread across the neighborhood pressuring everyone to "Stop Rouzan". We have a two lane street that is the root of the problem and these same individuals wouldn't do a thing but complain if the city council ever considered widening the road. They complain about traffic but will complain even more with solutions to fix the traffic. I've grown to the point that these individuals don't represent this city well; rather, they focus on zero growth and no change. I live on the opposite side of Lee Dr but if anyone would like to sell me their house at a cost I can afford, I would be more than happy to live closer to such a development.

On More people, same result

Posted on December 11 at 12:48 p.m.

I like Kip. I like what he attempts to do for Baton Rouge. And I like his genuine caring of Baton Rouge. But what I don't like is a mayor that is too afraid of public backlash to take a stand. With last night's absence of Mayor Kip Holden it proved to me that he is unable and unwilling to make a tough choice that could affect a few votes. I was hoping Kip was a mayor that would make some decisions that would be tough but could prove great in the future. As it stands, I am sorry to say that we might be stuck with another lifetime mayor that does just enough to help a few voters at the unknowing expense of the whole community.

On More people, same result

Posted on November 27 at 8:12 p.m.

What facts anonymous? Seriously what facts? You're labeling a new development with the POSSIBILITY of a bar a crime magnet. No socio-economic numbers that might back up your claim. You don't even go as far as noting what liquor store or bar will be in the development. As it stands, what retail/restaurants will be in the development? I presume you know considering you are anonymously against such a despicable development that would allow grown-ups the right to make choices concerning their own body. Just admit that progressive society scares you and you will stop at nothing to disuade the possible good things associated with such a development.

The issue at hand has nothing to do with a bar. It has nothing to do with a liquor store. You, sir, are in the minority if that is your reasoning for taking a stance against this development. I can understand, but not necessarily agree, with those that talk about the impending traffic problems. But I don't understand the notion that a bar in a residential complex featuring the top 5% of the community is going to spring a crime issue. But hey, believe what you will. You obviously already do.

On Rouzan hell