EBR bond plan gets political backing
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Mayor-President Kip Holden picked up support Tuesday for his proposed $901 million capital improvements bond package from U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, two state representatives and several Baker officials.
Holden and Walter Monsour, a special assistant, also campaigned hard Tuesday night for additional support from the Baton Rouge chapter of the American Institute of Architects. The architects provided lots of applause, but their executive director, Kathleen Gordon, said individual members will study the plan and decide how to proceed in the run-up to the Nov. 14 election.
Holden’s $225 million plan for the Alive riverfront development was applauded by Landrieu for its green space, educational features and entertainment opportunities.
“It will set the stage for the region to be a leader on issues that confront our area,” Landrieu, D-La., said in a written statement.
The senator added that Alive “would be a major shot in the arm for economic development for East Baton Rouge Parish and the surrounding region.”
Alive has drawn opposition from such critics as the Baton Rouge Tea Party, whose leaders say they would have preferred only the approximately $775 million in infrastructure improvements in the proposed bond package.
Two Democratic legislators in Baton Rouge, state Rep. Avon Honey and state Sen. Sharon Weston Broome, announced support for the package.
Baker’s mayor, police chief, fire chief and three officials of the Union of Police told Holden they approve of Alive and the capital improvements in the package.
“We’re looking forward to a long cooperative relationship,” Baker Mayor Harold Rideau said, adding that city-parish officials have promised to cooperate with Baker on several drainage and sewer projects outside the scope of the bond issue.
Baker Police Chief Mike Knaps noted the bond proposal includes $135.4 million for a new Parish Prison west of Baker and $44 million for a juvenile facility that will focus more on rehabilitation than incarceration.
“It will give those kids a better opportunity to live a better life, to learn from their mistakes,” Knaps said. “We’re going to teach them how to re-enter society.”
“We feel very confident that this tax project is going to benefit us greatly,” Baker Fire Chief Danny Edwards said.
The plans also includes building new parking garages and a public safety complex — as well as consolidation of city-parish government offices, drainage system improvements, traffic light synchronization and an expansion of the Baton Rouge River Center.
At their meeting at the Lyceum Dean Ballroom, Holden and Monsour really pushed the architects to drum up support for the bond program.
“All across America, it’s really grim,” Holden said, adding: “We want to make sure we keep our (local) economy robust and thriving.”
“This is an extremely critical time,” Monsour told the group. “We’re at a crossroads in Baton Rouge.
“What happens if this doesn’t come to pass?” Monsour asked. “Our economic activities come to a screeching halt.”
He said the plan’s 30-year bonds, funded by a half-cent sales tax and 9.9-mill property tax, would be paid off in 18 years because of revenue expected to be generated by Alive.
“Cash flow is not going to be a problem,” Monsour said. “This (Alive) is the economic driver of the entire package.”
Monsour, who used to be Holden’s chief administrative officer, is now president and CEO of the East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority.
The Parish Prison and nearby juvenile detention facility are both at Metro Airport, and both are overcrowded and rapidly deteriorating, Monsour said.
He said both facilities should be moved west of Baker because their current locations could be better used as an industrial park.
“This is the best use for that (airport) property,” Monsour said.
“If I am preaching to the choir, then I say, ‘Go out and sing the gospel,’” Monsour said in reaction to applause.
But Gordon said individual architects will decide for themselves.
“That choir is a highly educated group of individuals who won’t blindly drink the Kool-Aid,” Gordon told Monsour.
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