EBR bond plan gets political backing

• By BILL LODGE AND JAMES MINTON
• Advocate staff writers
• Published: Nov 4, 2009 - Page: 5A

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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.