A major question on many north baton rouge residents’ minds… what about their community? Mayoral candidates were asked that question at Thursday night’s forum at the Champion Medical Center. They each had different ideas on how to answer.
“Clearly if one side of Florida Blvd. is thriving and the other side of Florida Blvd. is suffering that’s where our tax dollars need to go,” said Braylon Hyde, a Democratic candidate running for East Baton Rouge Mayor-President.
“I will create economic incentives for businesses to move to North Baton Rouge,” said John Delgado, a Republican candidate running for East Baton Rouge Mayor-President.
“What we can do with our own money is build a nice new school in the center of North Baton Rouge,” said Greg LaFleur, a Democratic candidate running for East Baton Rouge Mayor-President.
My question is “what are the people saying?”
“We had a mayor for 12 years, and we see no progress. We’ve got nothing done,” said Tyrone Thomas, who lives in North Baton Rouge.
Tyrone Thomas is a concerned citizen, now running for Metro Council. Thomas said his family has been fighting to get things done in North Baton Rouge for decades, but he tells me the flooding didn’t help the situation.
“It’s gotten worse,” said Thomas.
A new report came out even saying flood recovery resources and financial support are slow to come to North Baton Rouge that doesn’t surprise Thomas or his brother Stanley.
“It makes it a lot more obvious that we’re neglected,” explained Stanley Thomas. “I’ve had stuff stacked in front of my house, and if you don’t call the 311 or whatever that number is. Well, if you don’t call that number, you won’t get any service.”
The brothers say that’s just one of many issues facing their community, now, they say they just want a mayor who cares.
“We expect a mayor that’s going to work with people and the public and not investors. We want a mayor that’s going to return phone calls and try to get things done,” said Tyrone Thomas.
“I just want to see a mayor that’s going to work and try to make things better for us,” concluded Stanley Thomas.
If you’d like to take a look at the full report on flood recovery in North Baton Rouge, just head to the link below:
http://nxs-release.go-vip.net/wgmb/news/local-news/metromorphosis-presents-research-findings-on-2016-flood-recovery-and-reinvestment-in-north-br