Congratulations are in order for Gov. Bobby Jindal, Stephen Moret of Louisiana Economic Development and Mayor Kip Holden for landing the corporate headquarters of Albemarle, a Fortune 1000 company.
This is the kind of news you dream of announcing—a big corporation moving in—versus the dread of those packing up and leaving. We are glad to welcome the Albemarle headquarters to our growing city. They will be a fine addition.
This means Jindal’s choice for secretary of economic development was the right one—and he’s proving his worth already by landing a new corporate headquarters for the Capital City. No surprise to me.
The headquarters is moving from Richmond, Va., to Baton Rouge and joins other public companies such as The Shaw Group, Lamar and Amedisys. Albemarle, which already has offices in Baton Rouge, will add about 30 highly paid executives with the move, and plans for future acquisitions could steadily add to those numbers, according to Moret.
My bet is this won’t be the last announcement of this kind. Jindal and Moret are just getting started, and Moret’s salary is an investment that will pay big dividends for the state.
They’re at it again
The same group that whined and complained about the concept of a signature library downtown until it got to keep its “main branch” on the beautiful soccer fields of Independence Park is at it again. This time, Stan Bardwell and John Berry are pushing to kill the idea of the Southdowns branch in Rouzan. They want to return the new branch to the swampland donated on Burbank Drive—where it could stand alone as an icon to Louisiana’s welfare mentality that free and cheap are always best.
Library board members Bardwell and Don Browning advanced this idea at the last meeting. It is a bad one and should be discussed no further. Berry, who opposed the entire Rouzan development, is clearly trying to use the library to force a change in Rouzan’s plans, which would require the developer to return to the Metro Council for approval. This would give Berry one more chance to publicly whine and complain some more. Enough already.
Reject St. Gabriel racetrack
Sen. Rob Marionneaux has a bill to let the folks of Iberville Parish vote on establishing a new horse racing track, which would include a slot machine casino, in St. Gabriel. [The senator introduced a bill to take away TOPS from some and now wants to bring us a “racino.” Who needs a college degree when you can get a job cleaning horse stalls?]
The senate committee forwarded the bill, but Marionneaux says he won’t bring it to a vote if Jindal plans to veto it. While the governor has not commented on this bill, his press secretary, Melissa Sellers, reiterated the governor’s opposition to any expansion of gambling. Right on, Governor. Wrong idea, Senator. Let the “racino” idea die.
Modeling Louisiana
On April 24, we were honored to have Sen. John McCain and Gov. Jindal as speakers at our 25th anniversary of the Business Awards and Hall of Fame banquet. The event, presented in conjunction with Junior Achievement, drew almost 1,000 guests. For many, it was the first time to hear McCain, the apparent Republican nominee for president. Jindal, who has been mentioned as a possible running mate with McCain, spoke first and then introduced the senator.
McCain had some strong words about the failings of government and the changes he hopes to bring. But one part I found interesting and a point of pride for our state was this statement by McCain: “Bobby Jindal has had some very able predecessors in office. But last year, after all this state had been through, the moment was right and the people were ready for breakthrough reforms. He stands for a new way of doing business in this state, and it’s a model I intend to apply elsewhere. Some people think that it’s just our youthful vitality that the governor and I have in common. [He pauses to wait for the laughter to subside.] But we share important convictions as well, and it starts with an intolerance of ineptitude, waste and self-dealing of any kind in any agency of government.”
The next president could model national policy and federal reforms after Louisiana. Look out the window and tell me if you see donkeys flying.
Get the job done
I don’t want to say, “I told you so,” but I smiled when I read the headline in The Advocate, “EBR hires out grass work.” For decades I have been proclaiming the advantages of privatization. Walter Monsour, Mayor Kip Holden’s chief administrative officer, who has experience in the private sector, understands the benefits, and I applaud this move to keep the grass mowed. If a firm does not deliver, fire them. If they do a great job, reward them with more work. There is motivation to get the job done right—and the public benefits.
Privatization has worked with our garbage collections, management of the River Center and now cutting grass. There are a lot of other areas Holden and Monsour should explore in an effort to get the best service for the best price. Privatization works for taxpayers.
National spotlight
If you watched The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Monday, April 28, you might have done a double-take and said to your wife, while lying in bed, “Honey, that guy talking to Jay Leno looks just like Bobby Jindal.”
It was Jindal, and he was smooth. He got to tout changes in Louisiana [including our No. 1 ranking on ethics and our lower business taxes], thank the nation for its help after hurricanes Katrina and Rita—and state we are “open for business.” It’s hard to get that kind of national PR.
Jindal ended the week in Washington, D.C., where he spoke to the National Press Club. More attention on the changes in Louisiana and yet another chance to improve our state’s image and get positive press. That’s nice for a change.
Congratulations
The local business community has a new leader at the helm of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber: Adam Knapp. You might have read the interview with Knapp in Business Report recently [if not, find it online here].
Knapp has some big shoes to fill following Moret and Steven Grissom, but board chairman Jim Ellis and others are excited about this young man and the enthusiasm, experience and energy he brings to the job.
First impressions from folks are good. We want to wish Knapp the very best as he takes over at an important time in the city’s history. Carpe diem.
Comments
Posted by fourx5 on May 6, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, I'd be excited to move my headquarters to a city where there is a paucity of skilled workers, a high murder rate, and a dual standard for prosecution (I'm talking about the two white guys who were let off with small fines and probation for attempted murder and hate crimes last week).
Don't forget the terrible traffic, lack of infrastructure investment, and the constant, nearly debilitating squabble over any change to the status quo, and you've got a winner of a selection.
On the bright side, that's 35 jobs Baton Rouge didn't have before. Yay!
Posted by marctravis on May 6, 2008 at 12:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank goodness the library board decided to put the new main library branch on Independence Blvd. That is where most ppl in the parish want it to be.
And thank goodness for Albemarle. Despite those who can't see anything but the negative in BR, Albemarle realized BR is a good place to do business.
Posted by fourx5 on May 6, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Of course it's a good place to do business. We gave them a $7,000,000.00 sop to come here, labor and housing costs are still low in Baton Rouge, and there's lots of room for growth.
I see good in Baton Rouge, but it is usually ignored by the pollyannas who would like to see the status quo continue. It's nice to see the Green Light Initiative is bearing fruit, for example, but the tone of articles about it seem to suggest that soon we'll all be sailing around with no impediment; College Dr. between Perkins and I-10 is proof that there is still massive improvement needed for a more mobile and successful Baton Rouge.
Posted by Jon_Deaux on May 8, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
fourx5
Bitterness rots the soul…get a life dude!! Your postings are consistently sickening!!
Posted by richyb on May 8, 2008 at 3:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is the letter I sent to the Library Board....
A proposed new Southdowns branch library at the Rouzan TND off Perkins Road is a “GREAT” idea!! It will be within “walking” distance of thousands of residents in the surrounding neighborhoods. The village-like setting would be an added bonus.
The Burbank location for the library would be a big mistake! Only accessible by “car”. With the price of Gas going only up in the future; this would not be a good idea.
I have no agenda and I am not associated with anybody. I live across town in the Millerville/I-12 area; and only wish that a Rouzan “type” development would have been built nearby at the old Fairwood Country Club. I do work at the nearby Lee HS.
It’s a shame a few vocal people can be so relentless to the point that the Burbank site be considered once again; especially when they are the main cause for delays. Please move Baton Rouge forward and not backwards!
Posted by Papadeaux on May 9, 2008 at 6:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you Mr. McColliser for getting to the heart of the Southdowns cancer. To think that someone would sacrifice our children's future for the outside chance that Rouzan would be forced back to the Metro Council is appalling.
What makes it worse is that the “Southdowns Library” in Rouzan will cost taxpayers less than the Burbank site. The developer has not only agreed to donate the land but also do all the design for the new building. If the library is moved to Burbank, significant amount of taxpayer’s money will be required just for infill, to raise it above the flood line, and then there are the design costs for the building.
As a long time Southdowns resident, I find the continuing actions of a few of the Southside Civic Association Board members very childish.
I hope others in Baton Rouge follow Richyb and let the Library Board know that placing the new library at Burbank instead of Perkins in Rouzan is ridiculous.
Posted by rogerbarnsworth on May 15, 2008 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
For the life of me, I don't understand why they locate in Baton Rouge. They could've easily moved the entire operation to India or China, or even Mexico, and given us shareholders a nice bonus in the form of cheap labor and lower overhead costs. I think locating in Baton Rouge is a mistake.
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