Uh oh, where'd the money go?

Today marks the creation of the Baton Rouge Blog. These comments will be mine and mine alone unless I have "guest bloggers" or borrow things as examples. I've lived here all my life and seen the city in various stages. Baton Rouge is a great place to live. Our weather is fabulous many times of the year (like today) and the times it is so hot and humid you can't breathe? Well, I just go inside into the air condition. Everyone has air condition in their homes and cars.

As a child I can remember my father telling me that in 20 years Jefferson Hwy would be widened to a 4 lane Highway. He was correct. He must have seen the plans or known who was involved. Currently 4 lanes with a middle turning lane, the road is a nightmare of a traffic jam beginning at 3 in the afternoon. But most of Baton Rouge is gridlock during some part of the day. That goes for our overloaded interstate as well.

We are saddled with a 9% sales tax but with a very low property tax. I remember years ago being at the now defunct United Companies in the President's Office. I asked him about Property Tax and he pulled out an envelope stuffed full of cash that was earmarked for the Assessor's Office! It was no surprise to me when the Assessor committed suicide years later. That office is setup for under the table money just as was the Commisioner of Insurance's. Louisiana politic's is notorious and well deservedly. Just look at Edwin Edwards and his son finally being sent to prison. Obviously they were guilty, amazingly they were "found guilty and sentenced".

If the money we raise through taxes and the like hasn't been spent on our streets, then perhaps it has been spent on our schools you say? Anyone from here knows that we are at the bottom of the rung when it comes to public education. No, our school system in Baton Rouge is really a parochial/privatized system with a lame public system. Our money hasn't been put there.

We've been though Dumas, Screen, McHugh and Simpson in my lifetime. That is three from outside the Greater Baton Rouge area and one from within. It appears that, looking at the city today, someone didn't have much long range vision. I don't believe that was Pat Screen in my heart of hearts. He had many problems but lack of vision didn't seem to be one of them.

We have a mayoral election coming up. I'm truly not sure who I will vote for at this time. We don't have 20 years to fix the problems that are here today.

If you remember how quickly that company came in and fixed (UNDER BUDGET) the interstate a few years ago, then you'll agree with me that someone can help us now. I also don't think traveling to all of these cities is the answer. I personally think that is funny. As an marketing consultant for over 20 years I never had to look at other things to get ideas for my client. I suppose if there were specific systems that worked in various areas or cities that would be one thing, but Baton Rouge is Baton Rouge. We have to concentrate on coming up with our uniqueness and not trying to copy that of other cities.

Later.