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I know, there are probably several Louisiana threads on these three metropolitan areas, however, aren't most threads nothing more than a variation of another subject?
According to residents of the three metropolitans listed in the title, these three could be so much more than what they currently are.
EXAMPLES
I know that as a resident of Lake Charles, I know this area could be way more than what it currently is. I want to know what residents of these three areas could do to make their area better. Outside of N.O., these are the most populous, though LC's population has not grow much since the 70s. Others living in Shreveport say that their area is slow in thinking. I've seen members on this forum who live in Baton Rouge who'd like to have a loop.
Do you consider the area you live in to be stagnated?
What would you like to see as far as improvements in your area?
What do you think is preventing this area from being what it could be?
How are race relations in the area that you live?
What are some positives about the city or metropolitan that you live in?
Location: New Orleans ⏩ Houston ⏩ Seattle ⏩ New Orleans ⏩ Houston ⏹
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Do you consider the area you live in to be stagnant?
All Louisiana cities are stagnant. Even Lafayette is slow compared to other sun-belt cities. With the exception of a few other southern states (Ark, Miss, Ala) every other southern states' cities have experienced large scale transformational growth in the past few decades. Louisiana with it's offshore oil resources, ports, mouth of the Mississippi and extremely unique culture SHOULD have been the wealthiest state in the south. Period.
What would you like to see as far as improvements in your area?
New businesses, locally owned or national chains, doesn't matter, preferably both & new residents which bring new ideas.
What residents of these three areas could do to make their area better:
1. Take pride in their community with regards to cleanliness, upkeep and appearance. I cannot say how many times I've seen Louisianans throw trash from the windows of the cars without a care in the world (people don't do this in other areas and I travel for work A LOT) or how many medians, highways or streets would look 300% better if they were clean and maybe a LITTLE effort were put into landscaping.
2. Be more open to outsiders and community ideas that they may bring. ex: NOLA is heavy on the pride but also heavy on a natives-only clique mentality. Just because someone isn't from your city doesn't mean they do not want the best for it....especially if they've moved there. Also, hometown pride also doesn't mean that Louisiana should be so prideful in itself and what it already is, that it is unwilling to change. Growth=Change. No other way around it.
3. Become involved. If you have a passion and love for your city/state and would like to see it become all that it can be, get involved....run for an office....mayor....council.....city planning commission.....hell, volunteer trash pickup. Usually, multiple degrees aren't necessarily a requirement for some of these offices.
What do you think is preventing these areas from being what they could be?
1. Corruptionand ineffecient governmental processes - If a potential new business is attempting to move into a Louisiana market and are met with a ridiculous amount of hoops, regulations and processes JUST to get an approval for their business....they just might walk away. If a potential new business is attempting to move into Louisiana and discover that they must bribe or pay off someone just to do business? They very likely will walk away. I think these two reasons are the absolute main reason Louisiana and it's cities are held back. The excuse being "This is how things have always been done".
2. Resistance to change.
3. Crime (which I think is tied to education). Louisiana's crime is far above the average. "It takes a village" still rings true to this day. Private and public schools won't keep everyone separate forever. We should want ALL of our kids to do well and have the best educations possible. If they ALL do well, our communities will do well.
4. Lack of ambition - See #2 & #3
How are race relations in the area that you live?
I don't believe that Lousiana's race issues are any better or worse than the other southern states. Which is to say....there are issues. But since they all have these issues, and the issue of race has not stopped Texas, Florida, North Carolina or Georgia from becoming prosperous population magnets, it shouldn't stop Louisiana either. Racial issues could and should be improved but it's not an excuse.
What are some positives about the city or metropolitan that you live in?
I'm originally from right in the middle of the two largest metros in LA, NOLA & BR, but the positives can apply to nearly the entire state of Louisiana: an EXTREMELY unique culture, cuisine, music and language found no where else in the world, our willingness to party and enjoy life to the fullest even in the face of adversity, and the fact that Louisianans seem to be some of the most resilient people ever.
I know, there are probably several Louisiana threads on these three metropolitan areas, however, aren't most threads nothing more than a variation of another subject?
According to residents of the three metropolitans listed in the title, these three could be so much more than what they currently are.
EXAMPLES
I know that as a resident of Lake Charles, I know this area could be way more than what it currently is. I want to know what residents of these three areas could do to make their area better. Outside of N.O., these are the most populous, though LC's population has not grow much since the 70s. Others living in Shreveport say that their area is slow in thinking. I've seen members on this forum who live in Baton Rouge who'd like to have a loop.
Do you consider the area you live in to be stagnated?
What would you like to see as far as improvements in your area?
What do you think is preventing this area from being what it could be?
How are race relations in the area that you live?
What are some positives about the city or metropolitan that you live in?
Do you consider the area you live in to be stagnated?
I live in New Orleans now, which is stagnated in a way. Baton Rouge as well. The whole state is.
What would you like to see as far as improvements in your area?
Public investment and a near full divestment from big business, particularly oil and gas subsidies so that we can lower taxes for the middle class and give us more buying power to start businesses and patronize others. I'd like to see transportation and infrastructure in general be at the forefront of the next decade. Public transit, new freeways, rebuilding the roads in New Orleans, facade and home improvement grants for the poor, a focus on cheap improvements like bike lanes, landscaping, and lighting. I'd like to see an aggressive push for density and urbanity where it counts, so that's all of our downtown and inner city neighborhoods.
This is my light-rail map for Baton Rouge: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?m....13868355&z=12
What do you think is preventing this area from being what it could be?
Racism, corruption, political divide, bribery, low wages, low minimum wage, high taxes on the middle class and low taxes for the rich, etc.
How are race relations in the area that you live?
The whole country has terrible race relations. America probably always will. Louisiana is the exact same.
What are some positives about the city or metropolitan that you live in?
Positives about New Orleans includes the culture, the fact that people are dying to move here but there are no good paying jobs here prevents them. I love the people most.
I'm from Lake Charles and this area is very backwards in their way of thinking. There are a lot of chemical expansions taking place, which I really hope will bring this city to what I know it can truly be. It's going to take locals being a bit more open minded to outsiders. For the longest time, they've fought to keep any and everyone out.
I'm hoping whoever out next mayor is, that he invests in ALL of the Lake area and not just parts of it. This area has some beautiful spots that could only be enhanced with shopping, dining, and the like.
I'm from Lake Charles and this area is very backwards in their way of thinking. There are a lot of chemical expansions taking place, which I really hope will bring this city to what I know it can truly be. It's going to take locals being a bit more open minded to outsiders. For the longest time, they've fought to keep any and everyone out.
I'm hoping whoever out next mayor is, that he invests in ALL of the Lake area and not just parts of it. This area has some beautiful spots that could only be enhanced with shopping, dining, and the like.
I always thought Lake Charles could be the retirement capital of Texas/Louisiana. With the lake, casino, low COL, and a potential for a really nice downtown, it seems like a good fit. That doesn't sound very sexy but it could be money making considering how large Houston is and the workforce there.
Do you consider the area you live in to be stagnated?
I live in New Orleans now, which is stagnated in a way. Baton Rouge as well. The whole state is.
What would you like to see as far as improvements in your area?
Public investment and a near full divestment from big business, particularly oil and gas subsidies so that we can lower taxes for the middle class and give us more buying power to start businesses and patronize others. I'd like to see transportation and infrastructure in general be at the forefront of the next decade. Public transit, new freeways, rebuilding the roads in New Orleans, facade and home improvement grants for the poor, a focus on cheap improvements like bike lanes, landscaping, and lighting. I'd like to see an aggressive push for density and urbanity where it counts, so that's all of our downtown and inner city neighborhoods.
This is my light-rail map for Baton Rouge: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?m....13868355&z=12
What do you think is preventing this area from being what it could be?
Racism, corruption, political divide, bribery, low wages, low minimum wage, high taxes on the middle class and low taxes for the rich, etc.
How are race relations in the area that you live?
The whole country has terrible race relations. America probably always will. Louisiana is the exact same.
What are some positives about the city or metropolitan that you live in?
Positives about New Orleans includes the culture, the fact that people are dying to move here but there are no good paying jobs here prevents them. I love the people most.
N.O. Is more appealing to me during the fall than it is souring the summer. The culture kicks ass. Where would new freeways be built at in the area?
N.O. Is more appealing to me during the fall than it is souring the summer. The culture kicks ass. Where would new freeways be built at in the area?
That's the whole gulf coast lol.
I-49 needs to be completed from Lafayette to the westbank expressway, LA 1 needs to be upgraded to a freeway al the way from Port Allen to Donaldsonville, then 3127 should get the same treatment. I think a freeway from Houma to Pine Bluff should be built, I-51, it would go through the eastern part of EBR/Livingston up to Natchez and Monroe.
I-49 needs to be completed from Lafayette to the westbank expressway, LA 1 needs to be upgraded to a freeway al the way from Port Allen to Donaldsonville, then 3127 should get the same treatment. I think a freeway from Houma to Pine Bluff should be built, I-51, it would go through the eastern part of EBR/Livingston up to Natchez and Monroe.
I-49 is North/South, I'm guessing a I-49 SPUR going East/West would need to be built? Even at that, how the hell would DOTD pull that off? It just seems like, you'd have to tear down a lot of communities in order to do that, and truth be told, I see too many people protesting it for it to come to fiction.
Anyway, I think in my area, the LA-14/US-171 corridor needs to be updated to a free way and I-210 should connect to a new alternate route of US-171 ending at LA-3059. I was reading an article in the American Press regarding what some young leaders want to see regarding the growth that is supposedly taking place in the future in SWLA, one said, a I-210 loop would be needed running North in the city, though, I see that as out of the question (too many neighborhoods would have to be torn down).
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