PRESS RELEASE : Mayoral candidates comment on bicycling in Baton Rouge
10/21/16, Baton Rouge, LA
Sharon Weston Broome, Denise Marcelle, Greg LaFleur, Bodi White, and Darryl Gissel’s responses to a five question survey of Baton Rouge’s mayoral candidates facilitated by local bike advocacy organization Bike Baton Rouge were published on Friday morning on the Bike Baton Rouge website at bikebr.org/election2016.
The responses highlight each candidate’s position on bicycle infrastructure and safety in Baton Rouge as well as their previous involvement in improving bicycling conditions in Baton Rouge. Responses from eight metro council candidates were also included.
"As Baton Rouge's bicycle advocacy organization we felt it was our responsibility to make sure each candidate had the opportunity to communicate their position on bicycling issues to our members as well as the general public," said Mika Torkkola, president of Bike Baton Rouge. "And we think the responses do a great job in highlighting what each respondent will be willing to do to make Baton Rouge a better place to ride a bicycle."
Candidates were contacted starting October 6, 2016 via email and social media and had until October 20 to respond. Torkkola says that while not every candidate responded to their request, those who did offered genuine and thoughtful comments.
Those candidates who did not respond can still do so by contacting Bike Baton Rouge. Their answers will be added to the list once they are submitted.
Mika Torkkola
225 571 2906
bikebatonrouge@gmail.com
Bike Baton Rouge is a local non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization and has been dedicated to making bicycling trips in Baton Rouge safer and more enjoyable since 2006.
August Metro Council Meetings and Green Light Plan Tax/Millage
All twelve of Baton Rouge's Metro Council Districts will be holding meetings in the upcoming weeks. These meetings will include discussion of renewing the Green Light Plan's sales tax as well as a proposed millage that will go towards road maintenance/construction as well as "community enhancement and beautification" projects which could (and some might argue should) see improved sidewalks and bicycle infrastructure in and around Baton Rouge.
It's not yet known if that will be the case, but attending the meetings and asking your metro council members is a sure way to find out.
Should the tax and millage pass through the metro council, Baton Rouge will have a chance to vote on the matter in December.
Per the official press release :
"Mayor-President Melvin L. “Kip” Holden has scheduled a series of 12 public meetings in August to gather public input about the next phase of the Green Light Plan.
The proposal calls for a proposed parish-wide 5-mill property, 30-year tax to fund an estimated $452-million in road and street improvements. An estimated $260 million of the project funding would come from bond sales, with the other $192 million coming in the form of pay-as-you-go revenue.
The proposed Green Light Program property tax would free up the existing half-cent sales tax for rehabilitation and community road enhancement projects that include neighborhood road rehab, advanced signalization, pedestrian safety features and beautification.
The proposed tax would allow the Green Light Program to continue at the same pace as it did for its first 10 years, when it used a portion of the half-cent sales tax for road improvements.
The Mayor has scheduled the following public meetings in each council district in August to get public input about possible future projects and funding for the next phase of Green Light Program. The meetings will follow an informal “open house” setting that will include one-on-one discussions and feedback between the public and the staff.
Following the public hearings in August, the proposal calls for the Metro Council to consider in September a resolution for a tax December election, when voters would make the final decision"
Each meeting will take place between 5:30pm and 6:30pm at the dates and locations below.
District 5 - Tuesday, Aug. 2
Charles R. Kelly Community Center
3535 Riley Street
District 12 - Wednesday, Aug. 3
St. Aloysius Catholic Church Parish Hall
2025 Stuart Avenue
District 7- Thursday, Aug. 4
Dr. Martin Luther King Community Center
4000 Gus Young Avenue
District 10 - Tuesday, Aug. 9
Dr. Leo S. Butler Community Center
950 Washington E. Street
District 4 - Thursday, Aug. 11
Central Branch Library
11260 Joor Road
District 2 - Tuesday, Aug. 16
Scotlandville Branch Library
7373 Scenic Highway
District 1 - Wednesday, Aug.17
Zachary Branch Library
1900 Church Street, Zachary
District 6 - Thursday, Aug 18
BREC Saia Park
855 N. Donmoor Avenue
District 11 - Tuesday, Aug. 23
Main Library, 1st Floor Meeting Room
711 Goodwood Blvd.
District 8 - Thursday, Aug. 15
Jones Creek Branch Library
6222 Jones Creek Road
District 3 - Tuesday, Aug. 30
Bluebonnet Branch Library
200 Bluebonnet Blvd.
District 9 - Wednesday, Aug. 31
Bluebonnet Branch Library
9200 Bluebonnet Blvd.
What district are you in? Check out this map.