Letters: Riverfront appearance needs upgrading

The city-parish boasts that the recent Bowling Congress’ 151-day run pumped more than $113.2 million into the local economy. I hope the Mayor’s Office can use the sales tax dollars it earned as a result of the congress to improve and clean downtown.

Downtown does not consist only of North Boulevard or Third Street alone. Granted, these two prominent streets need their own attention, but the riverfront area is deplorable with the exception of the immediate area adjoining the USS Kidd, which the nautical museum maintains.

Before the Bowling Congress came to town, repeated requests were made to the Mayor’s Office and Department of Public Works to give special emphasis to the riverfront, only to be told that because of budget cuts and limited staffing, only minimal upkeep on an as-needed basis could be done.

When the Mayor’s Office is aware of such an expected return from a convention etc., why doesn’t it invest in its “living room” and maintain it to make a great first impression?

I hope those 58,000-plus visitors understood our city couldn’t afford to prepare for them, but sure did appreciate all of their money they spent while here.

JANET RHODUS

commercial real estate broker and activist

Baton Rouge

Comments

1) Comment by Whatnow - 02/01/2013

tradewinns, you might be stepping on government workers or unions toes.

2) Comment by Being_Stupid - 02/01/2013

TIFs are tax breaks for the Politically Connected.

3) Comment by phil - 02/01/2013

And we already are spending $millions on downtown parks, paths and greenways and also taxes are helping to finance all of those downtown TIF areas? Perhaps the DDD staff needs to be reallocated to be a cleaning crew for the downtown area when that is needed. What do all of those full-time employees really do all day for a relatively small section of the entire parish? Also keep in mind that the DDD probably wants to expand and get even more tax money - and also taxpayers paid a lot in subsidies to get the bowling congress to even come to BR. How about FOLLOW THE MONEY!

4) Comment by DMJ - 02/01/2013

While I share Ms. Rhodus' enthusiasm for downtown development, I don't think the Riverfront looks that bad. It looks a lot better than it used to, that's for sure. Downtown is coming along quite nicely. Sure, it needs more...but there's only so much they can do when they offer spending proposals to the public and they're voted down.

5) Comment by Being_Stupid - 02/01/2013

Building hotels, amusement parks, parking garages, etc; building the Riverfront is not the role of Government, but the role of the Private Sector. Perhaps if EBR Parish lowered excessive property and sales taxes and relaxed the stiff zoning bureaucracy created by the Historic Preservation Commission, Neighborhood Gestapos (Like Spainish Town and Beauregard Neighborhood Associations), and the Troy Bunch Planning and Zoning Dictatorship perhaps things would start to happen more in this city and in the Downtown Area. Unfortunately there are way too many Government Obstacles and Roadblocks for the "Next Great City". FutureBR Plan will NEVER happen under the current bureaucracy. GOVERNMENT DOES NOT BUILD GREAT CITIES, THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND FREE PEOPLE IS WHAT BUILDS GREAT CITIES, NOT GOVERNMENT.

6) Comment by spqr - 02/01/2013

Funding or no funding. This city has never cared about its physical appearance. Trees planted are knocked over by lawnmowers, destroyed during various expansions and never replaced. Those still standing are not pruned. Litter has always been an issue. Grass is not cut, it is bush-hogged and left like straw. Signs are inadequate or not in good condition. Our most beautiful oaks are cut by lazy contractors who find unethical ways to destroy them despite the efforts of BR Green and the Sahara Club. Too many citizens do not care. And those that do are usually chastized. We do not live in a progressive city. Travel to other cities larger and smaller proves these things matter a great deal. Not here.

7) Comment by Hello Baton Rouge - 02/01/2013

tradewinns you should know better than to suggest something logical that would save tax dollars. How dare you

8) Comment by SuzanneMS - 02/01/2013

I'm not sure what part of "there are no funds" you don't understand. There are no funds to invest. Don't blame the Mayor. The fine people of Baton Rouge have consistently voted against any and all of his plans to develop the riverfront. The people of Louisiana don't seem to understand that we are the government; that if we refuse to pay taxes for public services there will be no public services.

9) Comment by tradewinns - 01/01/2013

we have so many prisoners that cost the taxpayers money every day. put them to work cleaning, painting, landscaping anything that's needed. if they don't work, they get fed cheese sandwiches twice a day, with an apple and water to drink. if they work they get hot meals (what they get now). shoot them if they try to escape and don't use murderers, rapist, child molester and any other physical threats to the public, feed them the sandwiches just because.