News Views takes a look at the stories of interest in Baton Rouge during the past week (Nov. 3-8) and offers views on what the stories really meant.
The power of regional collaboration
The news: A 175-member delegation from south Louisiana travels to Orlando and Tampa to get a first hand view of how the central Florida region is using collaborative partnerships to 1) address infrastructure and transportation challenges, and 2) grow its medical, research and digital media economies, and knowledge-based workforce. Organized by the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and GNO Inc., the group is expanding its Southeast Super Region to include Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lafayette and the Houma-Thibodeaux region.
The views: Many transportation ideas were discussed (highway expansion, new roads, dedicated bus lanes along with light- and commuter-rail) — as well as how to pay for them (toll roads, higher gas taxes, vehicle mileage taxes, public-private partnerships and combinations of federal, state and local funding) — but all are dependent upon public buy-in. Moreover, it was remarkably impressive to see how entities in both Orlando and Tampa are using strategic corporate-nonprofit-government partnerships to expand and enhance the region’s knowledge-based economy. The bottom line, however, is this: None of it happens in an atmosphere of parochialism; the region’s success in becoming the nation’s 10th-largest economy is directly tied to a willingness by the four counties and 86 cities that comprise the central Florida region to embrace a belief of the “greater good.” Making that happen requires vision, leadership and, yes, a lot of public and private money. It also requires residents to not only support the “all for one” concept, but also to demand elected officials embrace it as well. Keep that in mind the next time you are deciding on which candidate to support in an upcoming election.
Holden gets mad as hell and doesn’t take it any longer
The news: Mayor Kip Holden stuns a south Louisiana delegation in Orlando by lashing out at an executive with EA Sports, accusing the digital game development company of not honoring promises officials have made to him regarding its LSU-based testing center. The outburst, though but a minute in length, became a major talking point for those in attendance during the three-day trip to central Florida. Back in Baton Rouge, LED’s Stephen Moret almost immediately challenges Holden’s accusations, saying EA has honored every agreement its made with local and state officials, and that the company still has plans to expand its operations. By the end of the week, Holden, too, was backing away from his Florida words, claiming he wasn’t directing his comments at EA, but at an official with the city of Florida.
The views: Those who were in Orlando are still uncertain as to what might have triggered Holden’s angry rebuttal. Regardless, it was an incredibly embarrassing moment for everyone who was on the trip. The point of being in EA’s Tiburon studio was to learn about digital media workforce development strategies, not to challenge a company’s strategy on its home turf. Frankly, the mayor owes the company — and, in particular, Alex Chatfield, EA’s director of operational development who caught the brunt of the attack — a public apology.
Landscape Architecture school remains one of the best
The news: Once again, the undergraduate and graduate programs at LSU’s Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture are named as two of the best in the nation. The undergrad program is ranked second by “America’s Best Architecture Design Schools,” while the graduate program comes in at No. 3. Both programs have been ranked in the top 5 in their respective categories for the past decade, and in the top three since 2008. The undergraduate program has been tabbed No. 1 four times since 2007, according to LSU.
The views: Given how this outstanding school has managed to maintain excellence during a time of turmoil on LSU’s campus, it would be wise for other entities at the flagship institution to study the landscape architecture program for best-practice ideas. Maintaining excellence in a climate of budget cuts, brain drain and an evolving higher education model is even more admirable than the achievement itself.
An important search is taking place in Baton Rouge
The news: With long-time planning director Troy Bunch retiring, efforts to find a replacement are underway with the goal of filling the position by the beginning of 2014. Tara Wicker, a member of both the Metro Council and planning commission, is heading a search committee comprised of other commission members and city-parish staff. Wicker says making the process complicated are 1) the surprise resignation of Ellen Miller, who was expected to fill the job on an interim basis, and 2) a starting salary for the new director of $100,000.
The views: The average person might not realize this, but the planning director’s post is one of the most important positions in local government. For evidence, look at some of the haphazard and ill-conceived development and growth that’s been allowed to happen in East Baton Rouge Parish over the past 30 years. Not only must the new director reverse the relatively hands-off attitude of Bunch, but the person must also embrace and enforce the guidelines of FuturEBR, the parish’s long-range planning guidelines. Given what’s at stake, it defies logic that officials from Baton Rouge’s Center for Planning Excellence are not being asked to spearhead the search. This group is nationally recognized as experts in forward-thinking planning and yet their services aren’t required here in Baton Rouge? Wicker says CPEX wasn’t invited to the group because that would also require her to include representatives from the Growth Coalition and various civic neighborhood associations. Really? Says who? Would adding a member of the Growth Coalition and someone from an organization of national planning excellence bog down the process? Is Wicker suggesting the W.T. Winfield, a planning commissioner only because he’s politically connected, is more knowledgeable than CPEX executive director Boo Thomas or the incredibly talented Rachael DiResto? Given the importance of the search, those tasked with finding a visionary leader should be selected based on what they know, not who they know.
State treasurer blocks EBR’s bid to ship grant money to noncompliant NGO
The news: State Treasurer John Kennedy is refusing to approve an agreement that would transfer taxpayer money from Baton Rouge city-parish government to a noncompliant NGO with ties to state Sen. Yvonne Dorsey-Colomb, of Baton Rouge. Mayor Kip Holden’s office signed an agreement last month to transfer $19,000 in grant money to nonprofit Serenity 67 for the purchase of billboard advertising warning north Baton Rouge youth of the consequences of crime. In 2011, Holden’s office granted the group $45,000 to help several residents over the age of 50 make repairs to their homes. Kennedy rejected the latest cash transfer because Serenity 67 — along with the Colomb Foundation in Lafayette, another NGO with ties to Dorsey-Colomb — remain out of compliance with state regulations. Dorsey-Colomb says both organizations are legit despite problems satisfying the rules and argues Kennedy and the media are unfairly targeting her and her husband, Sterling.
The views: Let’s make this short and sweet: Any government entity that gives either of these organizations money is guilty of wasting taxpayer dollars, and any elected official who approves the transfer of public dollars to Serenity 67 or the Colomb Foundation should be charged with malfeasance and run out of office. Enough said.
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This opinion piece is written by JR Ball, the managing editor in Baton Rouge. He can be reached at jrball@nola.com
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