Miserable in Monroe... (New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette: apartments, dorms, landscaping)

[FS250]

I'd take it any day over new Orleans or any other city in Louisiana! Although it in the past 7 yrs has resembled new Orleans more than any time in its existence including Fort Miro.

[annie_himself]

Monroe would be the last place I'd choose. I'd rather live in Detroit.

[FS250]

If you live in baton rouge, new Orleans, or Shreveport your in Detroit for all intents & purposes. I'm not saying by any means the current Monroe is anything close to 1984 Monroe but its better than any of those ^ cities.

[rburnett]

Originally Posted by FS250

If you live in baton rouge, new Orleans, or Shreveport your in Detroit for all intents & purposes. I'm not saying by any means the current Monroe is anything close to 1984 Monroe but its better than any of those ^ cities.

[annie_himself]

Originally Posted by FS250

If you live in baton rouge, new Orleans, or Shreveport your in Detroit for all intents & purposes. I'm not saying by any means the current Monroe is anything close to 1984 Monroe but its better than any of those ^ cities.

That's why we keep building and growing, while Monroe is unfortunately shriveling up. Shreveport is just as bad as Monroe but at least it's freeway system is up-to-date, hills, decent inner city neighborhoods, and has many more amenities.
What's better about Monroe than Baton Rouge and New Orleans?

[FS250]

Good question.

Monroe peaked in the early to mid 1980's as a lot of other US cities did. GM's Guidelamp plant was a helluva good job (AFL/CIO), State Farm paid all of its employees very nicely, the paper plant in west Monroe was another really good job to be had. NLU was pumping in millions of dollars per year into the local economy as well. Pecanland Mall was usually filled on the weekends year-round, during Christmas shopping it took you to at least 20 minutes to walk from the food court to Dillard's or McCrae's. Nowadays Pecanland is as empty as another former Monroe institution - the Holiday Inn Holidome. Although the exterior is still kept up very well surprisingly. The Holidome was another place that was filled on the weekends. The cheapest room in 1987 was $120/nite...now in two-freakin thousand thirteen its only like $80. The Stratford House Inn adjacent to the Holidome & the La Quinta are the same.

Monroe, like a lotta other other cities, was where if an intelligent person wanted to they could graduate from a local public high school, attend a local very reasonably priced public university and make a very nice life for themselves and they're family. Now its nowhere near as certain. I still believe a business degree from NLU (I hate the term ULM) is as good or better than any other similar school and can take a person far in life (at least that's what I'm hoping).

Monroe has such huge potential and rich history. I'll never let go the wonderful memories I have.

I dare say there isn't a single person who produce a single news article pre-Katrina which predicted the decline of once truly great Monroe, Louisiana.

[annie_himself]

Monroe was declining in the 80s and 90s, I don't see why you keep blaming Katrina. Some kind of complex?

[FS250]

Katrina was simply the nail in the proverbial coffin. I can VERY clearly remember a close family friend saying basically what you are in July of 1988. He lived on Georgia street and had been for almost 30yrs. He said he saw more & more evidence of the decline everyday on his way to his service station on the corner of S. 2nd street & Plum St. until he moved to West Monroe (as has basically 75% of the everyone else who lived on Monroe).

I can remember around 1976 south Monroe was probably around 85% white...now its less than 10%. Soooo much crime which happens daily in south Monroe never makes it to any record book. I clearly remember when they built the first Wendy's hamburgers on 165 in south Monroe by Wossman High school.

[SAI126]

Originally Posted by FS250

Wrong. Monroe is ****. Gone. Might as well change the name to RICHWOOD.

Here's an expert on the US economy. I'm right on both points.

This Is Just the Beginning (Economist Peter Schiff Predicts Disaster)

Economist Peter Schiff Forecasts Second Crisis to Hit Around 2013 – IVN

An "expert" on nothing. Peter Schiff has been wrong so many times about so many things I don't know why he would have one shred of credibility left with any thinking person. As for Monroe and the cities in Louisiana mentioned they are all definitely deeply into decline. At least that is the impression I get. They have lots of company all across America. One thing I do like about Louisiana is Louisianans. I've found them to be among the most interesting, accommodating, and friendly to visitors of any people in any state in the nation. Just my opinion. Yes Monroe is in many respects a bleak depressing town. The people of Louisiana deserve an economic revival.

[Innotech]

Originally Posted by SAI126;30448534i

An "expert" on nothing. Peter Schiff has been wrong so many times about so many things I don't know why he would have one shred of credibility left with any thinking person. As for Monroe and the cities in Louisiana mentioned they are all definitely deeply into decline. At least that is the impression I get. They have lots of company all across America. One thing I do like about Louisiana is Louisianans. I've found them to be among the most interesting, accommodating, and friendly to visitors of any people in any state in the nation. Just my opinion. Yes Monroe is in many respects a bleak depressing town. The people of Louisiana deserve an economic revival.

Actually, many cities in southern Louisiana are booming. Amongs the fastest growing areas in the country currently.