Baton Rouge? (New Orleans, Shreveport, Monroe: new home, transfer, neighborhoods)

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by freddy1964

I was warned about the Baton Rouge Public School system and thought it couldn't be that bad but, boy, was I wrong.

The E. Baton Rouge school system (which includes about 2/3 of E. Baton Rouge Parish) has the problems. There are also Baker, Central, and Zachary school systems that have seceeded from the E. Baton Rouge system. Zachary has done well, Baker has issues, and the jury is out on Central (it's BRAND new), but I think it will be a good school system.

Then Livingston and Ascension also have good school systems.

So I don't agree that BR is this horrible place. I grew up there, and still run into people I went to school with, who are raising kids and paying taxes.

[technobarbie]

I was born and raised in Baton Rouge (central actually), but I’ve been in Chicago for the past fifteen years. I still have family down there, but they are slowly moving out of BR. I do love/miss the people, the culture, tiger town and the food, but I would never move back. In my opinion, the city has been going down the tubes for a long time. It’s very very sad.

The job situation is very different in BR than in Chicago. In BR the jobs are very limited and people are generally thankful to have a job. It’s really hard to explain unless you lived there, exactly what I’m talking about. In Chicago, you can be picky and have just about any job you want. It shocked me when I first moved to Chicago, how people don’t appreciate their jobs more.

I don’t know if you ever been in BR – or lived in the south in general - but there is a very distinct racial prejudice that can only be experienced if you lived there. I crack up when people in Chicago talk about racism in Chicago. Sure there is the south side, but I’m talking about middle class black and whites. In BR for the most part, black and white folks don’t mix. BR also doesn’t have the ethic diversity that Chicago has, so it’s pretty much and black and white sort of town. BR is more of a conservative town with more conservative values. For example you won’t see many gays – or least many who are flamboyant about it. In the twenty years of living in there I never met one.

Locals in BR usually view New Orleans as scummy and crime ridden. Now many of those folks have come to BR (my uncle is a cop in BR). So the crime has gone up recently, but coming from the Chicago area this is nothing to freak about. It’s still very mild in comparison – at least at the moment. . When I moved in the early 90’s we still didn’t lock our doors, that mindset has changed today though. However, I would watch the area you move too.I think I read somewhere after Katrina, the population is almost split 50/50 between black and white. The black and white thing probably won’t bother you at first, but you attitude will change regardless what color you are.

The school system in BR absolutely sucks for the most part. People in Chicago (actually the burbs) have no idea what great school systems they have. Private schools are really the way to go in BR, and it’s very common thing to send your kids to private school. BR and Louisiana school systems don’t rank very high, and are usually the worst in the states (usually behind Mississippi). This of course is not the way in Chicago. LSU of course is THE exception. It’s a great college and very affordable. If you plan on attending LSU, there is no equivalent of college life in the Chicago area. LSU is a very fun party college.

The single life is the area I have the most problem with today about Chicago. The bar scene is limited in BR, but the people are much more attractive and not as overweight as people in Chicago. They also have manners, and will lend a helping hand to strangers. Move in a good area closes to LSU - tigerland was a great place when I was there, but apparently that has changed and should be avoided. You will miss all the unique nighclubs and local music in Chicago. Even if you only go out occasionally, this will be very different and perhaps a little difficult. However, you can find a hot girl/boyfriend easily.

Coming from Chicago you are already used to the summer weather a little. All these hot humid days we’ve been having is very similar to BR, except it’s warmer and the weather doesn't change that much in BR. The winters are bliss. There have been many times around Christmas I was wearing shorts. It’s not uncommon to have 70-75 degree weather in February. We had a thing in grade school – if the ditches have ice in them it’s really really cold. Also - what Chicagoians consider a “thunderstorm” is really a normal raining day in BR. When it rains in BR – it rains, and rains, and rains. I giggle when I hear how part of the city (chicago) has flooded after only an hour of rain. In order for BR to flood, it has to rain non-stop for many days. The good thing is in BR, is it doesn’t rain for five minutes every other day. So you can wash your car, and have it looking clean for a few days. The weather is more stable and boring in BR, and the concept of Fall doesn't exist.


Sorry for all the spelling errors - I'm in a hurry.

[Vampgrrl]

FYI New Orleans is again the biggest city in Louisiana.

[CindyM]

Originally Posted by Vampgrrl

FYI New Orleans is again the biggest city in Louisiana.

Care to back that up with facts?

[Caa]

Originally Posted by technobarbie

I was born and raised in Baton Rouge (central actually), but I’ve been in Chicago for the past fifteen years. I still have family down there, but they are slowly moving out of BR. I do love/miss the people, the culture, tiger town and the food, but I would never move back. In my opinion, the city has been going down the tubes for a long time. It’s very very sad.

The job situation is very different in BR than in Chicago. In BR the jobs are very limited and people are generally thankful to have a job. It’s really hard to explain unless you lived there, exactly what I’m talking about. In Chicago, you can be picky and have just about any job you want. It shocked me when I first moved to Chicago, how people don’t appreciate their jobs more.

I don’t know if you ever been in BR – or lived in the south in general - but there is a very distinct racial prejudice that can only be experienced if you lived there. I crack up when people in Chicago talk about racism in Chicago. Sure there is the south side, but I’m talking about middle class black and whites. In BR for the most part, black and white folks don’t mix. BR also doesn’t have the ethic diversity that Chicago has, so it’s pretty much and black and white sort of town. BR is more of a conservative town with more conservative values. For example you won’t see many gays – or least many who are flamboyant about it. In the twenty years of living in there I never met one.

Locals in BR usually view New Orleans as scummy and crime ridden. Now many of those folks have come to BR (my uncle is a cop in BR). So the crime has gone up recently, but coming from the Chicago area this is nothing to freak about. It’s still very mild in comparison – at least at the moment. . When I moved in the early 90’s we still didn’t lock our doors, that mindset has changed today though. However, I would watch the area you move too.I think I read somewhere after Katrina, the population is almost split 50/50 between black and white. The black and white thing probably won’t bother you at first, but you attitude will change regardless what color you are.

The school system in BR absolutely sucks for the most part. People in Chicago (actually the burbs) have no idea what great school systems they have. Private schools are really the way to go in BR, and it’s very common thing to send your kids to private school. BR and Louisiana school systems don’t rank very high, and are usually the worst in the states (usually behind Mississippi). This of course is not the way in Chicago. LSU of course is THE exception. It’s a great college and very affordable. If you plan on attending LSU, there is no equivalent of college life in the Chicago area. LSU is a very fun party college.

The single life is the area I have the most problem with today about Chicago. The bar scene is limited in BR, but the people are much more attractive and not as overweight as people in Chicago. They also have manners, and will lend a helping hand to strangers. Move in a good area closes to LSU - tigerland was a great place when I was there, but apparently that has changed and should be avoided. You will miss all the unique nighclubs and local music in Chicago. Even if you only go out occasionally, this will be very different and perhaps a little difficult. However, you can find a hot girl/boyfriend easily.

Coming from Chicago you are already used to the summer weather a little. All these hot humid days we’ve been having is very similar to BR, except it’s warmer and the weather doesn't change that much in BR. The winters are bliss. There have been many times around Christmas I was wearing shorts. It’s not uncommon to have 70-75 degree weather in February. We had a thing in grade school – if the ditches have ice in them it’s really really cold. Also - what Chicagoians consider a “thunderstorm” is really a normal raining day in BR. When it rains in BR – it rains, and rains, and rains. I giggle when I hear how part of the city (chicago) has flooded after only an hour of rain. In order for BR to flood, it has to rain non-stop for many days. The good thing is in BR, is it doesn’t rain for five minutes every other day. So you can wash your car, and have it looking clean for a few days. The weather is more stable and boring in BR, and the concept of Fall doesn't exist.


Sorry for all the spelling errors - I'm in a hurry.

Remember, when talking about winters here in BR, I love them. WE had a great and very cold wnter here last year. It is all relative to what you are used to! I used to live in sotuh Florida and to me, there is a change of seasons here very much(not compared to Chicago, but all relative). I love the weather here and I think fall really does exist. I took pics of fall trees from here and sent them to my MOm who was amazed that we had a change of color! Most people I know think this palce is getting better. The downtown is getting revamped and the crime rate is not much higher then pre Katrina-no facts, I just have a friend who's hubby is on the police force here and told her the crime rate is 'back to normal'-ehatever that means! Anyway, if you look on almost nay post ,everyone thinks their city has the worst schools, the worst traffic etc. What is happening to our whole country!!

[Caa]

Originally Posted by freddy1964

Look. Baton Rouge, like all cities has its problems. After Katrina, I now consider Baton Rouge to be the "Hub" of Louisiana, not New Orleans. The reverse discrimination- Get back at YT attitude. Inconciderate rednecks, particularly on the highways around BR leaves me with little patience. My kids have grown up here in a depressive rut. I am doing my best to keep them from the "wigger," "Thug" MTV mentallity. I have seen many of my sons freinds die because of the choices they made growing up here. Don't believe me? Check the news a few days ago and look for the name of the motorcyclist that ran into the other car here in BR. My son knew him. I have know six of his friends that have died of drug overdoses etc... Baton Rouge is "not" a place to raise a family, escpecially, if you are poor to middleclass. Trust me, I have lived here 5 years. Your best bet is to move to a small town away from Baton Rouge. I am not talking Lake Charles, Houma, Laffyette either. Sadly, they are not the best of places to live in. Before you get on your high chair and accuse me of slandering these towns. I work at these towns on a weekly basis, sometime more. I don't mean to knock Louisiana, but besides Mississippi, you are talking roickbottom on every statistic involving States accross the U.S. in quality of life, school, per capital income etc... Be sure that you want to move into Louisiana, and do your homework. I was warned about the Baton Rouge Public School system and thought it couldn't be that bad but, boy, was I wrong.

I agree with you about most everything. I think the kids for the most part are better here then almost anywhere I have lived( I have lived in 5 states-not much but..) I think becasue of the religion etc, kids can be better and do better here than other places. I hate the thugs and wigger stuff as well. I honestly do not see that much here in BR, at least in my part of town, but where I used to live, every street had them! You do have to send kids to private here, but isn't that true of many southern staes as well? My friend live in North Florida and they say the same thing s about their public schools! I think BR is a wonderful palce to raise children, you just need to be middle to upper middle like you said.

[CindyM]

Originally Posted by technobarbie

... It’s not uncommon to have 70-75 degree weather in February. We had a thing in grade school – if the ditches have ice in them it’s really really cold. Also - what Chicagoians consider a “thunderstorm” is really a normal raining day in BR. When it rains in BR – it rains, and rains, and rains. I giggle when I hear how part of the city (chicago) has flooded after only an hour of rain. In order for BR to flood, it has to rain non-stop for many days. The good thing is in BR, is it doesn’t rain for five minutes every other day. So you can wash your car, and have it looking clean for a few days. The weather is more stable and boring in BR, and the concept of Fall doesn't exist.

I'm from NE Indiana, but have lived in BR since '78 and don't remember too many February days that warm. As for rain, it doesn't take much for street flooding in parts of BR. With a heavy downpour you can pretty much predict which streets will become impassable. Summer weather is fairly predictable, but the rest of the year is up for grabs. And Caa is right, we actually do have a fall. It doesn't usually start until December, but it's fall nonetheless.

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by technobarbie

The job situation is very different in BR than in Chicago. In BR the jobs are very limited and people are generally thankful to have a job. It’s really hard to explain unless you lived there, exactly what I’m talking about. In Chicago, you can be picky and have just about any job you want. It shocked me when I first moved to Chicago, how people don’t appreciate their jobs more.

Quite true about the job situation - you learn to lower your expectations, because you have a few large companies (and, of course, the state and universities) that may or may not be hiring, with a lot of smaller companies that tend towards the dead end.

[Rosinante]

Originally Posted by CindyM

Care to back that up with facts?

I'd like to see those facts too, CindyM. My daughter and son-in-law have had enough (been down there for 13 years) and are moving out of state soon.

Heard on the news this morning that if anything is back to normal in New Orleans, it's the number of murders — which, today, were reported at 135 year to date. That's an awful lot of murders for a metropolitan area of only 190,000 residents.

Having lived in Baton Rouge for the past 28 years, I'll side with those who report the potential disappointments for newcomers who think they'll find the city to be modern, forward-thinking, and a great place to raise children. The winters are great, but other than that, this city isn't quite up to snuff.

[Caa]

Originally Posted by Rosinante

I'd like to see those facts too, CindyM. My daughter and son-in-law have had enough (been down there for 13 years) and are moving out of state soon.

Heard on the news this morning that if anything is back to normal in New Orleans, it's the number of murders — which, today, were reported at 135 year to date. That's an awful lot of murders for a metropolitan area of only 190,000 residents.

Having lived in Baton Rouge for the past 28 years, I'll side with those who report the potential disappointments for newcomers who think they'll find the city to be modern, forward-thinking, and a great place to raise children. The winters are great, but other than that, this city isn't quite up to snuff.

I have to disagree, I think this is one of the best places to raise children. A lot of BR still has the Old school respect for older people etc. That is what my daughter is taught in her school(yes, private of course). But there are more things for kids here then in south Florida town i am from! There is LASM, MonkeyBIzz, Chuck E Cheese Blue Bayou for summer and tons of BREC sports activities. I do not see a lot of Goth type kids here and for the most part, kids are great here and I think it is being that there is so much to keep them busy!