To protect and serve
To the publisher:
I read with great interest your recent editorial on Metro Council board and commission actions [“Publisher’s View,” Feb. 10]. It is amusing in some respects [i.e., I doubt whether many of us drink Kool-Aid; green tea is the new in thing for several of us].
In an effort to make certain that the public has the facts on this process, it is important to note that in the initial candidate pool, there were about 71 candidates for 31 appointments—60% of which were only interested in four appointments considered the most prestigious [Planning & Zoning, CATS, Metro Airport and BREC].
It is unrealistic to think that only a new/young candidate would fill all of the most competitive positions, but that long-timers would be kicked to the curb and not even considered. There is certainly a great deal of value in continuity, experience, inclusiveness, diversity and prior civic engagement. One of the top officials at LSU recently remarked that diversity produces excellence, and I tend to agree. That line of thinking was further validated by at least two of the previous Metro Council members being returned to office. Their experience and time on the council has been invaluable to the 10 newcomers.
One of the more substantive questions that the public should perhaps be asking of the 271 board and commission appointments is: How many are truly representative of East Baton Rouge Parish, or are they mostly skewed in their makeup from a long history of casual re-appointments? In this council’s deliberations, we can most definitely assure the public there was—and is—nothing casual about our first-quarter appointments, nor will there be for the anticipated 36 upcoming term expirations and pending vacancies. Our approach was open, deliberate and balanced, and the end result was a far broader representation of the community.
It is not our responsibility to extend privileged appointments to new/young candidates who have never served civically, nor on a charitable or other public board. Nor is it our responsibility to protect the perceived turf of the veterans, the rich, the famous or the influential. Like one of my colleagues so often says, at the end of the day our obligation to the public is to vote our convictions and consider all of the candidates and what potential they bring to their public service.
Our expectations are still high, and the public would do well to keep theirs equally as high. According to Proverbs, “For as a man thinketh in his heart so is he.” We think well of the public, the candidates who offered themselves for service and encourage them all to stay engaged in the process as there are many opportunities for service yet remaining.
Ronnie Edwards, Metro Council, District 5
Yes, Virginia …
To the publisher:
Upon meeting with a realtor in Richmond, we were impressed with the city planning maps we were presented [“Publisher’s View,” April 7]. The map took in the current school locations, sewage treatment plants, hospitals, fire stations, police stations, etc. An overlay gave us the projected locations of the same for five and 10 years out, along with major roads. It said a lot about a city that had its act together on planning.
Miriam Juban, Baton Rouge
To the publisher:
After 30 years of studies, consultants, canvass trips, architects, the Downtown Development District and anything else you care to list, Baton Rouge still doesn’t have a permanent outdoor stage for concert events.
If you study Lafayette, New Orleans and Shreveport, we might save some money on travel and learn how to keep younger folks in Baton Rouge. Most people under 30 that I speak with don’t believe any of the stuff being tossed around.
Live After 5 proves Baton Rouge is desperate for outdoor events. But don’t you just love the Erector Set stage?
Johnny Palazzotto, Baton Rouge
Ramp it up
To the editor:
Not that I disagree with fixing up the Interstate 110 exits [Daily Report, April 9], but wouldn’t it make more sense to open up the exits and fix the lack of the ability for the streets [I-10 and I-110 included] to handle traffic? Why make them pretty when people are not able to get to and from downtown now?
Let’s fix the flow of traffic, and then worry about how nice it looks [as long as it is not too bad to look at]. With money tight [at least that is what the politicians are saying], we need to spend it wisely to help traffic flow.
I do not attend many downtown functions because I don’t want to sit in traffic for long periods of time to get to and from.
Mickey Christensen, Baton Rouge
