Top Ten Reasons to Vote YES!

This list came from an e-mail that I received today from Progress Is.  It is a good list, and the only thing that I have to add is that if the "state's leading economist" thinks it will be profitable (see #7), then why should we believe people who know little about economics over him (I'm assuming they are talking about Elliot Stonecipher, but I'm not sure).

Top Ten Reasons To Vote YES!

1. Voting YES will help the city parish address public safety, drainage, economic development, and a riverfront development project. These have been neglected for decades and will not go away on November 15th if we do not vote YES.
2. Voting YES will synchronize traffic lights throughout the parish — a move that will save the average commuter $8.93 a month in gas costs going to and from work.
3. The plan will create 4,300 construction jobs and 24,000 permanent jobs. Without ALIVE and the economic development portion, construction jobs will go away and permanent jobs will be limited.
4. The proposition funds every major drainage project on the books, triggering an additional $137M in matching federal funds. YES means we will receive $137 million to assist in improving drainage.
5. The taxpayers of East Baton Rouge currently spend $3M every year to house our prisoners outside of EBR. The new prison will be built north of the landfill (freeing valuable property near the Baton Rouge Airport) and will house approximately 2200 prisoners with room to grow.
6. Baton Rouge's River Center currently ranks behind facilities in Shreveport, Biloxi, and Jackson. The expansion provided along with parking garages (both long studied by previous administrations) under the proposal will allow Baton Rouge to compete with cities more of its caliber!
7. Louisiana's leading economist estimates this proposition will have a $2.43 billion economic impact on East Baton Rouge in the next ten years
8. The ALIVE Riverfront project is an education venue that is expected to draw over 600,000 visitors to Baton Rouge and will contribute to keeping our local economy strong. The facility was programmed by world-class design firm THINC Design. For comparison, the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans saw 864,000 visitors in the FIRST FOUR MONTHS
9. The taxes associated with this proposition (9.9 mil property tax 1/2 cent sales tax) will end by law when the bonds are paid off in an estimated 17 1/2 years, which will be 12 1/2 years early.
10. Voting YES will cost the average homeowner ONLY a QUARTER a day and will be the first major capital improvements program in 50 years. The time is now to stand up for infrastructure which has long been neglected and progress forward during a time when Baton Rouge has momentum.

Okay, I know that I have already posted about the Alive project and the Bond Proposal, but I feel very passionate about this topic.  Don't worry, you won't have to read anything else about it after this weekend!  Well, maybe after when I celebrate or bitch and complain.  But that should be it.

The funniest part of all is that I am a member of Progress Is AS WELL AS the B.R. Tea Party!  Kinda funny, don't ya think?  I agree with B.R. Tea Party on alot of issues, but not the Bond Proposal.

And please, get involved.  Regardless of which way you feel about the Bond Proposal, please vote!  Join the Tea Party, Progress Is, Forum 35, or any other group you want.  Just get involved in making our city the Next Great American City!

Okay, I will get off of my soap box now!