Holden’s uphill battle – Editorial

You’ve got to admire Mayor Kip Holden’s persistence, but his communications skills need some work.

After voters twice rejected taxes to fund his vision for civic improvements, he has again presented plans for voter approval. This time, he has carved them into three packages Baton Rougeans will be asked to vote on separately, something many critics said he should have done before.

The first package, which will cost $366 million, will pay for repairs and construction of new bridges. The second package, at $350 million, will fund new juvenile and adult prisons, police headquarters and city hall consolidation. The third package, at $31.9 million, will fund improvements to the River Center.

Missing from the new packages is Alive, the riverfront entertainment attraction, criticized as an extravagance Baton Rouge can ill afford in hard times.

Still, the mayor has a difficult job ahead to win approval. The measures will require cash-strapped voters to say yes to additional sales and property taxes.

The last time Holden failed to sell his vision, he wasn’t nearly forthcoming enough about the details. Judging from some recent spats the mayor has had with the sheriff and the Metro Council, he’s still not on his communications A-game.

The mayor will have to find the affable, persuasive voice that endeared him to so many voters when he took office, and he’ll need to open up like never before if he is to realize his vision and ensure his legacy.

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