225BatonRouge.com

The Metro Council did it again. They caved in to pressure from a bunch of loud-mouthed citizens—pit bull owners this time—who don’t represent the views of the parish as a whole or the community’s best interest. Yet this small group screamed loud and long enough to get their way, proving that you don’t need consultants or lawyers to make the Metro Council whimper and do your bidding.

As if by magic, any collective spine the Metro Council may have simply melts away, their government body slumps and the loudest side wins. It happens with other public bodies as well.

The City Park debate by the BREC board set the precedent a couple of years ago. The moment some older, wealthy, influential homeowners found out their view of the sub-standard golf course might be spoiled with a new signature park for the entire city, the loud and the savvy jumped into action. Day after day. Phone calls. Meetings. The small group of white neighbors on one side of the park badgered the BREC board and got their way, easily protecting their fabulous private views of public land.

Then it was the mayor and the Library Board. After taxpayers voted to support the library tax renewal—with the board first declaring they would locate the main library downtown—a small, vocal group of Goodwood Boulevard-area residents kept hammering Mayor Kip Holden, despite the fact the public had expressed its opinion for the Library Board’s plans. Eventually the mayor buckled and gave in to the noise and the minority opinion, and then the Library Board gave up the fight.

And now, just as the Metro Council was addressing our city’s alarming spate of pit bull attacks and skyrocketing pit bull ownership with a measure of regulation, a small but vocal group of dog owners has the Metro Council cowering like frightened puppies. This time, Metro Councilman Ulysses “Bones” Addison has taken up the cause of pit bull owners, defending their right to remain free from onerous public safety provisions.

This spineless habit of elected officials and public appointees caving in has denied our city the opportunity to have a magnificent central park, a significant library in the heart of our city, and now—possibly—laws to protect our citizens from dog attacks.

Next year, thanks to term limits, we will have a chance to replace about half of the Metro Council, maybe more. That council will also make appointments to the BREC and Library boards.

Here’s a novel requirement for all new candidates and board appointees: a backbone.

We want to hear what do you think. Submit your letters to the editor via e-mail to editor@225batonrouge.com.

As if by magic, any collective spine the Metro Council may have simply melts away.