Publisher comments on Metro Council ‘circus’; makes endorsements

If you wonder what will stand in the way of Baton Rouge becoming the next great American city, says Business Report Publisher Rolfe McCollister in his most recent column, just watch a few minutes of Cox cable channel 21, featuring “The Metro Circus” with ringmaster Mayor Pro Tem Mike Walker. “You will laugh … and cry,” McCollister writes. “The council meeting last week to address issues that will affect our future was a joke. And Walker, who runs the meeting, couldn’t even keep a quorum. Total chaos. Councilman Joel Boé, one of the bright spots of the council, said, ‘This is just one more situation that drives people away and promotes public distrust of government. We promote ourselves as the next great city, but you can’t tell from our dysfunctional politics. Last week it was removing committees; now we’re ending council meetings two hours early, and our leadership is promoting back-room deals. The public deserves better!’ ” McCollister says emphatically, “I agree.” Read the publisher’s full column, which includes his endorsements for candidates and constitutional amendments appearing on the fall election ballot, here. Send your comments to editors@businessreport.com.