2005 graduation gift idea

I heard that rhetorical question again and again on the opening weekend of the new Shaw Center from residents who imagined for a second that they had been "beamed" to a hip metropolis far from the Bayou State.

"I can't wait to bring my friends here. They won't believe it," said a 25-year-old.

"Can you believe we are in Baton Rouge," commented a long-time resident.

"This is going to make it easier to recruit at LSU," a university official shared with me.

"Your property value is going up," noted one businessman to a downtown property owner.

"I am jealous of Baton Rouge," said a young Lafayette woman in for the festivities.

The facility is stunning and the rooftop views are incredible. (We can finally see the river and feel the breeze.) The Manship Theater is superb, and the opening act. Take 6, sounded awesome. (Andre Mika and John Spain know how to open in grand style.)

LSU certainly made the right move to be part of the downtown renaissance and should be applauded for taking the risk. It paid off big.

Jim Bernhard, CEO of The Shaw Group, was rewarded for his generous donation that attached his company's name to the new centerpiece of downtown--a symbol of excellence. Bernhard and his executives all wore big smiles at the opening, and each was "Baton Rouge PROUD!"

There are many others who are deserving of our thanks for the success of this public/private partnership. It wouldn't have happened without former Commissioner of Administration Mark Drennen. John Davies and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Charles Landry, Jennifer Eplett Reilly, Davis Rhorer, former LSU Chancellor Mark Emmert, Laura Lindsay, Paula Manship, the Doug Manship family, Paula de la Bretonne, the Lamar-Reilly families, Jerry Jones and Roger Magendie. All are to be congratulated for giving the capital city--and the state--a gift of excellence that can be enjoyed by residents and tourists.

But the Shaw Center wasn't the only thing happening downtown the weekend of March 5th. I found the streets buzzing and cars everywhere on a Saturday night. A sorority was having its formal at the Lyceum Dean. Miss Saigon was at the Performing Arts Theater. Take 6 was entertaining a sold-out crowd at the Manship Theater. A sidewalk art show was being held at Mortorano's on Third Street. The Home & Garden Show was being held in the River Center Exhibition Hall.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The River Center also was swamped with hundreds of bowlers that evening. The new Tsunami restaurant on the sixth floor of the Shaw Center was packed with folks waiting on the rooftop terrace. The fourth-floor terrace was the site for a private party of a local law firm. People were everywhere enjoying a variety of events in a vibrant and safe downtown Baton Rouge.

This weekend was a testament to vision, perseverance and a "can-do" spirit. As my editor, JR Ball, commented, this represents the potential of Baton Rouge.

While I don't want to rain on this party, we must extract lessons for the future. Many detractors and obstructionists said this day would never come. In fact, there are many who don't even care that it has. They are the shortsighted and narrow-minded who don't understand that their very job--and that good-paying job they hope their child will get upon graduation--may depend on what is happening downtown. They don't get it that their boss and that CEO deciding whether to move a company to Baton Rouge do care about the Shaw Center for the Arts and the riverfront and parks and bike paths and high-rise condos on the Mississippi.

Remember the "cute" comment not long ago that so many laughed at and agreed with? A political candidate characterized the effort to revitalize downtown as "putting lipstick on a dead woman." Well, that woman is alive and kicking, and she is looking better every day! And many of those critics now want to dance with her.

The lesson here is this: It is dangerous to let those who cannot see lead the way. Those with vision must lead.

So do we take hold of this lesson as a community and apply it in the future, even use it as a battle call? Or do we settle for this one win against the status quo in Baton Rouge and count ourselves lucky that there aren't many NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard) living in downtown?

I believe what has happened in downtown has given many people who aspire for something better, especially the young, new hope about what can happen. But even as we celebrate the Shaw Center opening, several other developments are clear indication that the battle for change is far from over and the status quo still has many soldiers. That's why it is so important that the allies for change ban together to insure future successes like what has occurred in downtown.

Several recent events, taken collectively, should alarm those who want progress: 1) the election of Councilman Joe Greco as mayor pro tem. He admits he has opposed much of what has happened in downtown. Greco is one "who cannot see" and has been put in a leadership position. That does not speak well for our council or community. 2) The decision by BREC Superintendent Mark Thornton to yield to the NIMBYs, relegating what ought to be the crown jewel of our park system to mediocrity. 3) The strong opposition to the idea of a spectacular downtown main library.

The status quo has won on the first two items and is working hard on the third. These incidents and issues are not just about politics, golf and books--they are also about the direction we are going and who is leading.

I am afraid that some of the same folks who were in charge 25, 30 and 40 years ago still want to call the shots. Their lack of vision then left us complacent, failing to think big and take risks--and eating the dust of cities like Austin and Nashville that were both our size 30 years ago. Do we want those same people telling us what direction to go in 2005? I think not.

I have been surprised by the lack of involvement by key community organizations in these other debates.

Most remained passive (except A6) as if to avoid the fray, probably due to board member pressure. That is not leadership. Downtown would not be enjoying a renaissance if we had all taken that posture. Our new mayor was also absent from all three battles, acting more like his predecessor.

Baton Rouge has not reached its potential. Change does not stop with downtown. Many of our young people are still leaving for better jobs and a better quality of life. And we still have far too few companies and people migrating to the capital region. That won't change until more changes are made in Baton Rouge. The battles are just beginning. But having seen downtown on March 5, it is evident to me that it's worth the fight--a fight that can be won.