I agree with WeSawThat’s comment: Perhaps most people are in the mainstream. But the illusion of real tension is politically important for those whose careers rely on elections.
Next Wednesday, I will be participating in a brainstorming session on riverfront revitalization for the Central Louisiana Visitors and Convention Bureau. I don’t have a clear idea of what exactly I’ll say, and I welcome any suggestions. Right now, I am certain of a few things:
1. Alexandria’s riverfront, particularly near the ampitheater, needs serious landscaping. Right now, it looks like we bulldozed everything and hapazardly placed cheap rocks along the shoreline. Plant some tall trees. Please.
2. It’d be nice if Pineville and Alexandria each had their own look-out point with expansive views of the river and the downtown “skyline.”
3. We should pursue a partnership with Rapides Regional, because they’re about to double in size. If their downtown presentation is not effective, then the entire downtown will suffer.
4. We need to create serious tax incentives for people interested in renovating and restoring the old plantation-style and shotgun-style homes along Lower Third. If the city would give every homeowner over there a tax credit that can only be used for restoration of their home’s facade, we’re half-way there.
5. We also need to improve the landscaping and road infrastructure along Lower Third. (The best way to approach downtown is from Lower Third). From this vantage, one is first greeted by River Oaks, the Alexandria Museum of Art, and Coughlin Saunders. It is also the only vantage from which one can see the real facade of the Hotel Bentley.
6. Screw the walking trails. While I am certain that there are plenty of residents in Sonya Quarters and Lower Third who feel it’s “unfair” (not my words) that “white people can enjoy Compton Park” (not my words), walking trails should not be a top priority. Compton Park works well, because the neighborhood in which it is situated is safe and clean. (Why is it that people don’t focus on making these areas safe and clean FIRST before they plan multi-million dollar trails?). It’s not a chicken and egg dilemma. We know which comes first: When a neighborhood is safe and clean, people will utilize the city parks and trails. When it’s depressed and in disrepair, we’re wasting money and energy that could otherwise be directed toward changes that will actually make a noticeable impact.
CenLamar 
Here is your chicken/egg dilema. The community will follow someone it trusts but how does one develope trust without performance. It’s the old problem of only hiring people with experience but how does one get experience. For the first time since Jay Bolen, you have educated professionals, at least two physicians and one criminal lawyer, in the contest. These are people who, by definition, are willing to sacrifice some of their professional income and family time to try to be of service to the community – there is nothing for them to gain except gratification (and quite likely a few enemies). These guys have no connection to any one or any thing and all have serious reputations for integrity. Some may be jerks and that may be bad but I am not sure. “Jerk” may be required in some situations. Anyway, we have a chance. If we get properly motivated people, they won’t have all the answers but hopefully they will know that and will care enough to ask the right people the right questions. I think we also owe to everyone to show that we won’t tolerate the conduct that has been shoved down our throats for several years.
“We need to throw open our windows and shout that we’re mad as hell and we’re not gonna take this anymore!”
Jay Bolen is the man!
Yes, I know we have a chance to install educated people, and I think we better shout from the freaking mountaintops as well.
I understand your chicken/egg analysis, and I think it’s a problem that exists in all levels of government. Personally, though, I don’t want someone with “experience,” if this experience is based on their history in local government. We need a fresh set of people. From top to bottom.
Based on your previous theory of needing someone to bring people together……electing a “jerk” will certainly do that. Right????
Scarlett makes it clear that she is not about a solution, she is about a particular candidate. That makes her assertions suspect in my view.
Lamar, please mention that all the road and sidewalk improvements will not last. The water and sewer systems are rotten to the core. The admin and council have ignored this for years. Yes this is fact. Most of the older sections of town are in the same shape. The exception is the portion of lower third that was redone during the 49 construction.
I am trying to make it clear that, in my opinion, a particular candidate is part of the solution.
One of the problems with a lot of the parks is the destruction of the facilities by the users. Check the yearly budget for repairs in the parks.
Scarlett’s candidate will only keep the tracks covered. Can anyone list ten new large employers that have been drawn here in the last 20 years?
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