Upside down and downside up

After returning home recently from a vacation overseas, I was reminded that no matter where you go in the world—or where you stay—there is no place like home. Everything in life has an upside and a downside. This got me thinking about some of the issues we face in our community that are a problem, but also present an opportunity.

Traffic. The downside: Traffic continues to get thicker and slower in our region. I hear lots of people complaining that we now have longer drive times. Sorry to say it, but I don’t see much reduction in travel time coming down the pike. The fact is, we need to invest in more roads, more ideas, more technologies, and we need to proceed with creating a highway loop now.

The upside: As with any city wrestling with traffic woes, it usually means a community’s commerce is robust and growing. That’s a good thing. Unfortunate though it may be, no community survives and grows without bustling commerce. New and expanding businesses continue to open in the Greater Baton Rouge region and hire folks. People move here for jobs, which they must commute to; these same families must then get their children to schools, and buy groceries, housing and services. They need transportation to do this, to participate in their community and lead fulfilling lives. And because of our metro area’s sprawling nature, most of us rely on personal automobiles to get around.

The next time you’re stuck in traffic, rather than feeling frustrated, just think about all the people you see who are contributing to the advancement of our community.

The Legislature. The downside: Too many old-school thinkers who have set their sights too low and who lack vision for the future. For too long many of them have shared the perception that the purpose of gaining power in government is to get at the trough. They lack the will to change our tax structure, and they lack the discipline to reduce government spending or to truly improve higher education, to boost research and development or restore national confidence in the perception of our state’s politics.

The upside: This fall we get a chance to elect a new governor, and thanks to term limits, a new generation of legislators. The time is right for significant change. Voters are better educated than ever, and populism is losing its hold on our state. You and I can make a difference if we engage in the process, inform ourselves on the key issues and get out and vote. If we’re to help change and advance our state, it starts with all of us voting this fall.

A cover story that’s more than all bark

In this month’s cover story, staff writer Jeff Roedel explores the subject of pit bull ownership in and around Baton Rouge (page 40). What our research found is that the number of these powerful, sometimes dangerous animals is increasing quickly in Baton Rouge, as are the number of attacks in which they are involved.

Some owners of these animals raise and train these dogs with care and love. The problem is the growing legion of owners who encourage their dogs to fight or to become aggressive, which can lead to vicious attacks.

One especially gruesome attack on a suburban teenager caused permanent injury and scarring, but perhaps more importantly, helped to spark a movement to regulate pit bull ownership in Baton Rouge to avoid similar attacks in the future. Also, contributing writer Chuck Hustmyre tells us in a related story that illegal underground pit bull fighting continues to go on around Baton Rouge, a blood sport in which most of the dogs involved eventually die from their wounds, all for the sake of entertainment and gambling. With the Metro Council set to consider measures to tighten regulation of pit bulls, the story is as timely as it is powerful.

Are you ready for some football?

Hard to believe the LSU football season kicks off this month. The Tigers start things off Aug. 30 at Mississippi State on ESPN. Local sports personality and contributing writer Lee Feinswog takes a fresh look at the season ahead through 10 key questions (page 36).

Will the new offensive coordinator, Gary Crowton, open things up? Will Matt Flynn live up to his dominant performance of two years ago when he helped stomp the Miami Hurricanes 40-3 in the Peach Bowl? Will LSU make another run at glory and a national championship this year? Which players have made pre-season lists to win national awards?

With a talent-packed squad and some veteran returning starters, the Tigers are poised for a thrilling season, and there’s no better way to get the ball rolling than this month’s issue of 225!