We are a week out from the vote on the Bond Issue in EBR. How do residents feel about it? I will likely vote for it because the capital improvements are sorely needed. I am not a fan of the Alive project being crammed into the bond issue but I reviewed the economic development projections and the methodology was solid.
Vote against. We've already turned the damn thing down once and the mayor brought it right back like a fool. We need the improvements but we definitely don't need the Kipland Boondoggle. It needs to be voted down. Then Kip had better drop Alive quickly and permanently and reintroduce the improvements package. If he doesn't then obviously the only way to get rid of Alive is to get rid of Kip. He's done a fairly good job as mayor, but this Alive thing is political suicide. If he forces it down our throats on a small margin of victory people will resent him. And if it doesn't prove to be a moneymaker (alomost certain) then Kip will shoulder ALL of the blame.
yeah Alive is the big reason why I am against it. I like Kip and think he has been a very good mayor, but this love of Alive is hurting him big.
I think Alive has some real upside to it, and while I am philisophically opposed to it the private capital investments that are committed to downtown if the bond issue passes are really attractive. Two more hotels, more parking space, and a good sized corporate relocation all on the front end have me more open to the idea. I think this thing could legitimately drive alot of economic development. This bond issue stands to cost me about $300 a year. I would vote for the capital improvements anyway which is about $225 of the $300. The real question is "Am I willing to gamble $75 a year for 30 years if things go bad or $75 for 18 years if things go good on Alive." I started out saying no, but as the big dates get closer I am thinking more and more it is yes. I am willing to take a chance on something better than our crummy downtown. With all the development going on betwenn LSU and downtown and 2 billion poured into downtown since Catfish town I am optimistic that this thing could work. If I am completely wrong we still have a better infastructure and a more welcoming airport. I think I'll role the dice with Kip on it.
I'm against the Alive project and any improvements to River Center that come out of taxes to residents. This state needs to focus more on encouraging businesses to come to the area similar to what's been done with the film industry. That way, we can pull this kind of money out of the General Fund rather than raise property taxes on EBR residents.
Catfish town was a failure, only the casino saves it from being a warehouse district again. Downtown development has been largely a failure. Retail store have not returned. Restaurants can't do enough business except for lunch. People don't stay in the downtown hotels unless they are there to gamble or for an event in the centroplex. For the economic benefits of this they calculated 3.2 million people in a 100-mile radius that would attend Alive. Well most of them live in New Orleans which already has an Aquarium, Audubon park, museums, restuarants, etc. It's phoney. There aren't enough locals to support this and tourists aren't pulling off he interstate to see Alive when New Orleans is an hour away. The site is too small, parking is non-existant, and the state doesn't even have clear ownership. I'd love to see Baton Rouge reborn, too. But Alive is Dead.
