BusinessReport.com

Posted on April 26 at 8:55 p.m.

I agree wholeheartedly, JR. Recently my church created a public schools task force and has adopted 2 EBR public schools in an effort to improve what the system clearly cannot. We had a discussion with a facilitator who was gathering information from the community. She was African-American, the committee was all white. Inevitably, the subject of race came up when asked what was the biggest problem our community faced. It was the first honest discussion of race I have ever had in a group setting among different races. What was particularly striking was that we all were good people with well-meaning objectives but I am sure to our facilitator we all seemed very racist without even meaning to be. I couldn't stop thinking about it for days afterward. I felt guilt and relief and vulnerable after letting down my guard and talking about things that are not usually said in front of each other. But I think it was an important discussion to have. I lived in Chicago for many years and no one even says the word "black" for fear of being labeled racist...if you think it's swept under the rug down here, it is absolutely a "non-existent" subject up there...all in the effort to be fair and unbiased and "un" racist...seems to me stifling the discussion only makes things worse.

On A dialogue on race

Posted on December 13 at 9:08 p.m.

Despite the ugliness, it is good to see that we are all so passionate about urban planning...good and bad planning affects us every day of our lives and getting it right or fixing wrongs (sewer and traffic...can't the city find a way to fix all these problems for Southdowns??) is absolutely critical. I am especially heartened by the passion shown for Baton Rouge. It's good to have this discourse, though I can see both sides of the issue.

I hope all of you vocal, passionate, articulate Southdowns people won't be completely worn out by the Rouzan issue and will still have some fight left in you come February when it's time to rally the troops against the Pinnacle casino project on River Road. That is something I think most smart, civic minded, progressive thinking people could find little about which to disagree. It is something that will affect all of us in this parish, through the loss of historic (and rarer by the day) rural space, traffic, crime, declining property values, etc. etc. Talk about the wrong project in the wrong place...why not downtown?? Why on earth would Baton Rouge need another casino, and on historic, pastoral, beautiful River Road??? With the only roads by which to reach the casino being traffic logged already? Besides, there is NO guarantee a plush "resort" will ever be built once Pinnacle gets the approval by the voters to build a casino...remember Pinnacle is based in Las Vegas...what accountability to the community do they have? At least Spinosa lives here and has to face his opposition every day. The Advocate has taken a stand: "We know little about what the casino project will bring to benefit Baton Rouge, but there is no doubt about what it will take away" (I am paraphrasing). Please JR and Business Report...get involved in this one too. It has wide ranging negative effects for our whole parish, not just the Bluebonnet/Highland/Burbank corridor. NO CASINO on River Road!!!

On What now?

Posted on October 22 at 9:53 p.m.

Mr. Crais,
Please, do us all a favor and go, go, go to Chicago or wherever it is that you choose to flee from this wretched state. Enjoy your new life in a MUCH better place, full of endless opportunities in a land of milk and honey (have you ever heard the term "the grass is always greener"???). Attitudes such as yours do absolutely nothing to improve our situation and only serve to chip away at what morale we may have left. Though our state is flawed and imperfect, my endless optimism sees the glass as half full, and I am one of those willing to work hard to see it happen. Maybe I just haven't been back long enough to feel the depths of disappointment you describe. It IS frustrating at times to see things happen that are holding us back and embarrassing to the rest of the nation, but is it really THAT BAD to live here??? I just don't get some of your rants and as I have said previously, I have seen the grass on the other side, and trust me it ain't so green all the time. I value the heart and soul of this place, which is something that perfect "parks and building facades" will never measure up to. Again, I wish you well.

On Defining ‘greatness’

Posted on October 16 at 10:03 a.m.

Wow, our experiences couldn't have been more different! Thankfully, my husband got a job with a very progressive, forward thinking, anti-good-old-boy-network company here (which, btw, he had job offers from companies in New Orleans and Gulfport and we chose BR...lucky us) where he has thrived and moved up quickly. I think it is appalling that someone would ask about your religious affiliation at a job interview!!!!! That is wrong on so many levels, not mention isn't it illegal? I would say there is something wrong with those individual companies rather than BR as a whole, though I understand your frustration and disappointment. What a missed opportunity to bring the people back home who we all say we need and want. I am in a creative field and though things are definitely more conservative here, I have been very happy to find there is a lot of good design work to be done with all of the growth happening. I hope things are changing as those who hold the power pass the torch to a younger, more inclusive generation. I'm sorry things didn't work out well in BR for you and your wife but I'm glad it's going well in CA and I hope you get to visit your father often.

On Defining ‘greatness’

Posted on October 13 at 3:26 p.m.

Ahhh...how dearly I love Chicago too. I still miss it and the big city world in which I lived. That is a city that turned itself around in a matter of about 10-15 years (who knows how much work went unnoticed prior to that...thank you Rich Daley)...it is a world class city today and no longer will accept "Second City" status. But my husband and I felt the need to move on based on the need for a lower cost of living and a more manageable work/home commute (I know that sounds crazy living in traffic-snarled BR, but try spending 1.5 hours on the Kennedy Expwy. in a snowstorm and you'll know what I'm talking about...suddenly 30 minutes on I-10 doesn't seem so bad). We sought more time for family and balance and we have (surprisingly) found it here where the smaller scale of everything and the family atmosphere has been a good fit for us. I think we appreciate Baton Rouge more because we have lived in a huge, complicated sometimes exhausting city. I LOVED the pace before kids but you know how that goes.

Anyway, as far as open-mindedness goes, I think it will take another generation for that old school way of thinking to be eradicated...it runs deeeeep here. Totally with you on the "Houston Sucks" comment...my entire family moved there after the oil bust in the late 80's but when leaving Chicago we absolutely refused to consider it as an option...much to my parent's disappointment. But they understood our crazy love for Louisiana and why we didn't like Houston (which, btw, has lots of culture, waterfront, parks etc...still doesn't make it any more appealing...it's Texas. Period). And yes, they love to rub their "great" public schools (with 3K students) in my private-school-tuition-paying face. Bring on the gay couples to bring back downtown...I am telling you they transform neighborhoods with their disposable incomes and are, as far as my experience has been, some of the greatest, most fun friends you can have.

On Defining ‘greatness’

Posted on October 12 at 9:01 p.m.

My husband and I moved our family back to Louisiana after living in Chicago for almost 9 years...we came back to Baton Rouge because we admired the authenticity of our region and the warm heart of Louisiana. We desperately missed that while we were away.

I couldn't agree more with two points made: 1. Baton Rouge needs to be what it IS, not a smaller version of Houston or Austin, but Louisiana and BR through and through. I am fearful that with all the influx of outside developers and architects putting their stamp on our city, things are going to start looking really unfamiliar (Fieldhouse Condos...Perkins Rowe...need I say more?). Be proud of what we have to offer and our own special brand of "unique". 2. Racism is a HUGE factor holding us back...not that it didn't exist in the big northern city of Chicago, trust me. But it is an unbelievable roadblock here. People here would rather see things stay exactly as they have been: poor schools, poor transit, poor infrastructure, etc. than to actually do something for the greater good...there is a very myopic view in this town that says "hey, I can afford to send my kids to private school so why do I care if the public schools are terribe? It doesn't affect me." Well, call me self-serving, but I would rather see our citizens have the opportunity to get a solid education so they can make something of themselves, rather than resort to a life of crime because they believe they don't have a lot of other options (I have been a crime victim several times in this town so I know first hand how pervasive crime is in our city...even in the so-called "nice" neighborhoods). Poor public schools affect us all and don't think for a minute that you are immune because you go to a "good private school".

Getting involved with the process and our elected leaders is absolutely critical...we are at a crossroads and we need to take advantage of the opportunity to make change happen. It gets pretty tiring to hear all the whining and complaining about what a terrible place this is to live in when half of those people don't vote and don't care...appalling. Personally, I think this is the PERFECT place for young professionals and civic minded folks...there is SO much potential for change to occur and it seems, a lot of momentum and excitement about what Baton Rouge COULD be...I am excited to be here and to be a part of it.

On Defining ‘greatness’