Can Baton Rouge become the New Austin (crime, taxes)

[imaterry78259]

I was just wondering with the pool of educated students can Baton Rouge become the new Austin. Surely, the city has the tools

[darylwi]

Short answer, no. It's hard to match Austin. Certainly BTR has the potential to become a great city, but I think this state and politics and even some of its people will try hard to prohibit that from materializing. That's why this city needs to just rise above the state and say 'to hell with the rest of y'all. We really want something different.' If you don't like that or want to criticize us for our shortcomings, then continue to move to the suburbs with everyone else and keep your mouths shut. With enough will from actual determined citizens, we can fix our own problems. Therein lies the major problem, WILL.
It's worth noting that Austin has an extensive suburbia as well. Not to mention that city rose and fell just like BTR with the dot com era and now it's rising again. We fell with the last oil bust. Will we rise higher this time? Once again, the potential is there.

[LSU Tiger Z71]

Perhaps if it gets that loop.. and becomes more responsive to business.

Lower taxes.
Build the loop.

Baton Rouge is hampered by crime and demographics though.

[imaterry78259]

Originally Posted by LSU Tiger Z71

Perhaps if it gets that loop.. and becomes more responsive to business.

Lower taxes.
Build the loop.

Baton Rouge is hampered by crime and demographics though.

What loop? Do you have an aggressive mayor who solicits companies to move there?

[LSU Tiger Z71]

Originally Posted by imaterry78259

What loop? Do you have an aggressive mayor who solicits companies to move there?

A loop to alleviate traffic that goes around Baton Rouge that has been proposed for many years.

Kip Holden is a decent mayor and I do think he is trying his best to get more economic development in the city.

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by LSU Tiger Z71

Kip Holden is a decent mayor and I do think he is trying his best to get more economic development in the city.

Kip isn't perfect, but he's WAY more attentive towards moving BR forward than his predecessor. And the mayor before that. And the mayor before that. And.....

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by imaterry78259

I was just wondering with the pool of educated students can Baton Rouge become the new Austin. Surely, the city has the tools

If LSU had the stable funding, maybe. Realistically, we should be looking for those industries/companies that can compliment what we have now (Pennington, the Miss River, being on a major east-west interstate, petrochem manufacturing).

[champa]

...basically before this city even hopes to compare itself to Austin in needs to embrace the need for emerging businesses. I was very hopeful with all the work from the governors office to try to bring companies to BR, but after reading the latest from LSU I got a cold slap in the face. This city needs to build on emerging technologies and become a hub for emerging companies in these fields, and where does LSU chop funding first? Its AVATAR program which was a hope for bringing such companies to BR.

True, LSU produces an immense amount of talent but who really stays? I personally work with emerging concepts and technology but if I didn't work with out of state companies I would have no prospect of staying here.

I guess we'll just remain stuck in the 19th century until people get a backbone around here.... We need to change the world's perception that BR is a third world country. I really have high hopes for this city and I am sure many are working hard to make this a great place but the third world politics have to go...

[MetroBTR]

I don't know If i care for Baton Rouge to become like Austin. Austin Is a tad liberal for my taste. I would prefer to see this city become more like Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The thing that is for certain is that Baton Rouge has a TON of potential to attract business if it can market itself right and provide a good environment for business.

[LOUISIANA'SLEGEND]

Originally Posted by MetroBTR

I don't know If i care for Baton Rouge to become like Austin. Austin Is a tad liberal for my taste. I would prefer to see this city become more like Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The thing that is for certain is that Baton Rouge has a TON of potential to attract business if it can market itself right and provide a good environment for business.

I have to agree, Austin is very liberal. The technology advancements are way to strong for Baton Rouge. lol...... and I looked at the map before I said this but, I cant really compare Baton Rouge to anywhere. Colorado Springs, Co? I think vacations, resorts, gettaway spot, beauty? Can Baton Rouge really be that? I just held back a strong laugh thinking about it. Baton Rouge is Baton Rouge as Louisiana is Louisiana, we definitely are one of our kind.

I gotta thread in mind for a better question, follow me to the BR link........