Mayor Holden to hold public meetings

Read this story at the advocate:
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/politics/38682507.html


You should all try to make it to these meetings. Talk about how there are no sidewalks in our city. Talk about how the newly opened Perkins Road near Perkins Rowe is built to interstate standards and has no accomodations for bikes (how wide is too wide for a car?) Talk about how a man got killed on Evangeline after he was hit by TWO seperate cars that drove away after hitting him. That is unacceptable! Let's get out there, make our voices heard! We want smarter, safer, healthier streets. We want a smarter, safer, healthier Baton Rouge! Not just for us, but for our future generations.

In my opinion, top issues would include:

1) making Baton Rouge a safer city (crime reduction, increased social awareness, foster a sense of community and social responsibility, help to create a sense of respect for your fellow citizen whether you know them or not)

2) making Baton Rouge a healthier city. As Louisiana is one of the only 2 states in the entire country with an obesity reate over 40%, Baton Rouge should take a charge and make an example of how to live a healthy lifestyle. This should include physical activity, eating healthy, and improving the general quality of life. This includes making Baton Rouge a walkable and bike-able city. We need to create a system of off-street multi-use paths that will let our city walk, rollerblade, jog, run, walk our dogs, ride bikes, or whatever we want to do without having to do it on a public street. We have the capability to convert the land alongside our many water-ways to create such a system. It just needs to be seen as a public health issue and put into practice. We also need to make our streets safer for people to ride bikes and walk on. A comprehensive system of sidewalks needs to be put in place. Bike lanes should be striped on roads that are able to be modified to accept bike lanes. Where bike lanes are not able to be installed, signage needs to be implemented to inform drivers and bike riders that the road is legally both of theirs, and a mutual respect is warrented. Bikes May Use Full Lane!

3) Arts and Entertainment: Baton Rouge needs to create a demand for and a space to accomodate a full spectrum of arts and entertainment. We need a large amphitheatre like venue to attract big name acts. Baton Rouge-eans shouldn't have to drive to New Orleans to Metallica of The Eagles. They should stop in BOTH cities. Baton Rouge is getting better with some areas of art. The Shaw Center has been a great addition to the arts scene in this city. The improvements around City Park and the Baton Rouge Gallery have been a great addition to the arts scene in this city. We need neighborhood art walks, smaller venues for mid-level acts, and venues for our young people. There is especially a need for an All Ages venue that will attract groups that young people are interested in, AND attract the young people to it. This will keep them interested, engaged, and into something that isn't drugs, alcohol, sex, fighting, or other things that can get young people into trouble.

4) Environment. The overall environment in Baton Rouge needs help. In this instance, I mean environment in several ways. First, the earth needs our help. Despite being an oil rich state, we need to work to end our states dependence on the oil industry. The overall environment of our city needs attention too. We need to make Baton Rouge a beautiul place. It is the capital city of our state. It needs to be the best. It needs to be green. It needs flowers. It needs trees. It needs grass in public areas so people can lay in it and enjoy the beauty that is the Louisiana weather. Less trash, a comprehensive city wide recycling system. If possible, feed into recycling systems that are already in place. Budweiser has one of the largest recycling programs in the country. Could we get our recyclables, crush them, and ship them by rail to budweiser so that they could recycle it for us?

These are the types of thinking that we need to implement in order to make Baton Rouge the flagship parish of our state, and an example for other cities to emulate. At least in my opinion. I will be at as many of these meetings as I can make it to. I hope that those of you that live in the city/parish will make it to at least one as well. If you don't live in the city, talk to your local council persons, mayors, representatives. Get Ascension parish to begin doing these things. Get Livingston Parish to start doing these things. In a nation of 300 million, we have got to start living in harmony with those around us. We have got to start leading better, healthier, more productive lives.