Letters: Bourgeois deserves a second term

After reading your story concerning the runoff between Smokie Bourgeois and Attorney John Delgado I feel that I had to respond.

As a resident of Southdowns for nearly 37 years, I can honestly say that, with the exception of Carl Crane, few councilmen have been as supportive and accessible as Smokie Bourgeois.

I, along with many other residents of District 12, have spoken out at many council meetings, time and time again, regarding issues like our failing infrastructure, Rouzan, and the Downtown Library. Councilman Bourgeois has not only been willing to listen to our concerns, regarding these issues, but has actively participated in our fight against them.

As a citizen and taxpayer of East Baton Rouge Parish, I have made it a point to attend many of the Council meetings and pay close attention to those individuals representing my district.

Before endorsing any candidate for Council we need to take a close look at their background, funding base and agenda. Delgado spent nearly $60,000 in the primary race for councilman, as opposed to Bourgeois’ $9,000. This alone makes me question who is behind the purchase of this council position and why.

When it comes to choosing a candidate for councilman of District 12 that is a no-brainer. Smokie Bourgeois has always been candid about the issues and not afraid to speak his mind. This is refreshing, with so many candidates telling you what they think you want to hear.

Smokie confirms his position with cold, hard facts and a propensity for getting to the bottom of issues. He fights to support the rights of his constituents and makes himself available to us whenever we need him.

In fact, in a recent Advocate story he was quoted as saying that the Southdowns neighborhood is a “fragile” part of the city and promises to continue to fight to keep businesses out of residential neighborhoods. This issue was brought home recently, with the media attention and public outcry, concerning an attempt to rezone the Skillman property on the corner of Stuart and Perkins Road.

Smokie Bourgeois a great councilman and deserves a second term.

Janice Calvert

secretary

Baton Rouge

Comments

1) Comment by yDeacon - 27/11/2012

All of these individuals who are complaining about Councilman Bourgeois seem to be referring to District 12 as third person, as in it is not their district. It sounds like they also don't understand that an elected official is SUPPOSED to listen to his constituents. Also, why is this group so insulting to the homeowners? It seems this group is against the ownership of private property. If these overpopulated, concrete jungles like New York City and Los Angeles is what they prefer, they can move to these places that already exist. Why are they so hell bent on destroying my neighborhood? Money.

2) Comment by brcitizen2010 - 26/11/2012

Radiohead, you say I’m clueless about Smart Growth. Enlighten me. As for your criticism of Councilman Bourgeois and your statement that he “performs just the way they want him to” - actually that’s a compliment. Wish more elected officials showed concern for those of who put them in office, instead of allowing themselves to be manipulated by special interest groups, at our expense.

3) Comment by radiohead - 26/11/2012

Janice Calvert writes a lot of letters purporting to be an expert on everthing which begs the question of why she's content to work in a clerical position. As for brcitizen2010 - his/her name should be changed to brcitizen1960 because that's where his/her brain is stuck. Clueless. Absolutely clueless about Smart Growth principles. Smokie Bourgeois - I have a close friend who lives in the Garden District, very near his house on Kleinert. Everyone around him knows he lives there and not in his district but he manages to lie and manipulate the system to conceal his real residence. Shame on the officials and the judge who let him get away with it. Yeah that's what we want to represent us. A liar. Come to think of it, that's pretty much what the Southdowns loonies want. They have their dumb puppet and he performs just the way they want him to. Contrary to what the self-appointed neighborhood bullies think, they are outnumbered by enough of us who support everything they stand against. Y'all need to go have tea together somewhere and stop being obstructionist.

4) Comment by brcitizen2010 - 26/11/2012

Ahh, let’s hear it for the “smart growth” proponents!! Frankly, I’d rather support Jetrho Bodine than Judas. It’s all about money. How interesting!! Downtown Development has made its way into our residential neighborhoods. I wasn’t expecting ot hear that - or was I? Tell me, what does District 12 have to do with Downtown? What makes “smart growth” attractive to city officials is the fact that, per square foot, there is more tax base to draw from, because everyone is living on top of each other The only thing that high density developments eventually promote is urban decay, crime and infrastructure problems.. To make matters worse, those pushing the concept have also been pushing the term “urban sprawl.” This provokes images of some horrible blight, like living in a slum. Urban sprawl is nothing more than a neighborhood of single family residences with yards. I believe it’s called “The American Dream.” The Baton Rouge Business Report stated in their story, “An urban planner’s nightmare,” that “a political process has created a perception, among some, that the fix is in and that those people with money and power ultimately get their way.” That’s no perception. Take for instance, Rouzan. City officials continue to fall all over each other to accommodate the developer’s every whim. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Planning Commission approved a “Tent City” if that’s what he wanted. It’s more profitable for developers to sell a piece of property, multiple times over, as condos or multi units, than it is for them to sell a single family dwelling. But I can guarantee you that most proponents of “smart growth” don’t live in such developments. Taxpayers don’t have the luxury of knowing what goes on behind closed doors. We're not able to wine and dine our public officials or take them on all expense paid trips to convince them to sell out to "Smart Growth", against the wishes of the citizens of this community. Maybe the reason that the city has ignored our traffic, sewer and drainage problems for so long is because they realize that the citizens will begin to flee from those neighborhoods, affected by the problems, causing the property values to plummet, making the areas more attractive for developers to buy up, so they, too, can be turned in to TND’s, PUD’s or whatever else if popular at the time.

5) Comment by gary - 26/11/2012

Smokie is the Metro Council'S Jethro Bodine - still can't quiet understand why he is so against anything to improve downtown Baton Rouge.

6) Comment by Being_Stupid - 26/11/2012

This letter is obviously from one of the Self-Appointed of the Neighborhood Property Collectives. The Next Great City will never be built as long as these Property Collectives exert total control over our Metro Council and prevent good development by entrepreneurs wanting to build a better Baton Rouge but cannot because of the political control by these Neighborhood Associations to stop the rezoning of property that needs to be rezoned. It does not matter who wins, Smokie or Delgado, both will serve the bidding of these Neighborhood Collectives.

7) Comment by Being_Stupid - 26/11/2012

Just because a lynch mob outnumbers the minority, doesn't make them right. The residential use of property along Perkins Highway is obsolete. An Urban Design District or some sort of Transitional Zoning that allows for limited light retail, office, and neighborhood uses as depicted in the FutureBR Manifesto needs to be allowed for. A Medical Office ISPUD would have made for the perfect transition between commercial of Perkins Highway and the Residential of Southdowns. When you deny people their property rights, expect blight to follow.

8) Comment by DMJ - 26/11/2012

I know a few people in Southdowns who are excited to throw Bourgeois out. Here's hoping...