Shame and blame on the history of St. George

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Every time I see another story about the Mayors’ lawsuit against St. George or the Metro Council vote on another annexation request, I feel like shouting, writes Business Report editor Rolfe McCollister in his new opinion piece.

All this madness could have been avoided so easily. The current division and anger all trace back to the failure of our legislative delegation, including then Senator Sharon Weston Broome, who refused to let residents of East Baton Rouge Parish vote to establish a district. independent school for their children.

Twice the bill has been defeated, each time with lawmakers like Broome saying that if an area wants an independent school district, it should first form an incorporated city. The constituents of St. George did just that and now Broome is fighting them in court, claiming the parish city government cannot afford the resulting financial blow.

These lawmakers forced the hand of parents, believing they could never petition or pass it. More concerned with protecting union-backed jobs in a failing public school system, politicians have underestimated these parents’ commitment to caring for their children, McCollister writes.

Also in his column, McCollister asks how many elite or community leaders in Baton Rouge who now oppose St. George have lobbied to pass the independent school district bill?

Either way, now our community is paying the price. Were a parish struggling to navigate drama, anger, division, and the costs of lawsuits for the foreseeable future.

All because of the lack of good leadership and good judgment on the part of many of our lawmakers at the time, McCollister writes. They put special interests ahead of community interests and voted twice wrong.

McCollister also writes about how President Joe Biden appears to be falling apart. So much for the hero of the Democratic Party and savior of the American dream. What I see in Washington, DC, looks more like a nightmare, writes McCollister. I still can’t believe Biden is the best Democrats can come up with to challenge and beat President Donald Trump (who has had his own moments of crisis).

The question about Biden was not so much whether he could defeat Trump, but was he strong and fit enough to lead and serve effectively? For a majority of Americans right now, the answer is no. Read the full column here. Send your comments to [email protected].

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