Despite what Mr. Milwaukee thinks, Baton Rouge is not fighting the Civil War. This so-called racial issue to which he refers is overblown and a typical knee-jerk reaction to a southern city by a northerner who obviously hates it, although many snow birds live here. Having said that, he is right on many other points. BR is littered, dirty, unkept except in some neighborhoods and shopping areas and those in charge of its upkeep are a joke. The traffic is horrendous for a city its size. Most city leadership is a tragic comedy of stupidity making BR a home for most outsiders unlikely. I have lived here 43 years and it was dirty 20 years ago and it never changes. Planted trees are unattended or dieing and the highway grass is cut infrequently. This is a city of around 250k (despite one claim of 40k before the hurricane Katrina/Rita period...BR has not had 40k since 1920). The metro area has approaching 800k. The parish (county) has a pop. of 500k. It's not NYC, but it's not small either with 3 universities, hundreds of restaurants, about 6 hospitals and countless shopping areas. Crime is an issue for everyone here as the FBI has BR ranked No. 7 nationally for murder rates in 2010. The northern half of BR is forgettable and to be ignored (LSU is in the SE corner). Public schools struggle with an apathetic student pop. which is heavily impoverished. The heat is unbearable from May-Sept. Winter nights can be very cold 3 -4 nights per week from Dec.-Feb. (Low 20s, highs in 50s), but snow and ice are rare. We have a brain drain here as many of our college graduates flee for opportunity elsewhere, which prevents the city from improving and cripples the tax base. Entertainment is fine for younger folks; New Orleans is just 1 hour away with pro sports and an array of festivals (Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, etc) and Florida's beaches are just 4 hours away. Hurricane season can be unnerving, but locals are numb to it all. The food is great, people are nice, but like anywhere know where you are going and be aware. Having said this, I plan on retiring elsewhere. BR is not nearly clean, safe or progressive enough for my taste and I have given up waiting for it to be so.
dean | Baton Rouge, LA | Report Abuse