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Politics and Deficit Shadow Louisiana's Special Session
By JEREMY ALFORD
Published: November 3, 2005
THE NEW YORK TIMES

BATON ROUGE, La., Nov. 2 - Having called a special session of the
Legislature for this weekend that will be pivotal to Louisiana's recovery, Gov.
Kathleen Babineaux Blanco has prepared an ambitious agenda for lawmakers,
with issues including tax incentives for redevelopment, better management of
levees and a possible takeover of some New Orleans schools.

But a looming hole that may exceed $1 billion in the state's current budget could
overshadow all else during the 17-day session, which begins Sunday evening.
Layoffs and early retirements of state employees are expected, as are severe
cuts to programs and services.

The session is likely to be the first major test of the state's ability to transcend
political and regional divisions and reach agreement on plans for recovery.

Some federal and municipal officials wonder whether lawmakers are up to the
job, and the governor has made it clear that she does not want to be bogged
down in politics as usual.

"I'm asking legislators to put aside partisanship, historical and regional
differences and take a fresh, new look at the recovery," Ms. Blanco, a first-term
Democrat, said Tuesday.

The Legislature's Republican minority has made a show of opposing her
administration's priorities in recent sessions, but Ms. Blanco was careful to
include a few Republican initiatives in her agenda for the special session, thus
broadening its scope significantly and possibly gaining allies. To help
businesses get back on their feet, she has proposed eliminating sales taxes on
new machinery and equipment, exempting new debt from the corporate
franchise tax and reducing sales taxes on electricity and natural gas.

But the idea of reducing revenue through tax incentives in a state already
starved for cash is drawing both skepticism and optimism.

"I don't sense they have a good handle on what the financial ramifications will
be," said Barry Erwin, president of the Council for a Better Louisiana, a group
that monitors the activities of state government. "But they know some of these
things need to be done to start the recovery and stimulate the economy."

Steve J. Scalise, a Republican legislator from the New Orleans suburb of
Metairie, said most of his colleagues were willing to compromise in the hope that
the end result would send a clear message to Congress as to what Louisiana
needs.

"From our perspective, we've been working with the governor on several
proposals already," Mr. Scalise said. "I think it's critical that we move beyond the
politics of the past and send a message that we're dealing with these problems."

But earnest declarations, especially this early, may be nothing more than wishful
thinking, said Jim Nickel, a Baton Rouge lobbyist and former chairman of the
Louisiana Democratic Party, who foresees plenty of political maneuvering.

"Everything that goes on in that building is political," Mr. Nickel said of the state's
high-rise Capitol. "Whoever tells you it's not is lying."

Among the more contentious issues expected to be discussed during the
session will be a set of proposals to overhaul state oversight of levee boards,
some of which have histories of corruption. Some critics have said the New
Orleans levee operators share responsibility for the recent flooding, and the
Orleans Levee Board president resigned last week amid accusations that he
had awarded contracts to relatives.

"Some of these levee board commissioners would sell their mothers' gold teeth
to keep their positions," said Warren J. Triche Jr., a Democrat who is vice
chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. "This brother-in-law business
has been going on for years, and it has to stop. We need one person in an
authoritative position to be responsible to the people."

The governor also wants more control over New Orleans public schools.

Current law already gives the state this authority, but only for schools that are
failing on the basis of statewide test scores. Ms. Blanco's proposal would allow
the state to take control of schools falling anywhere below the statewide
average.

Officials say charter schools and university partners would play a major role in
the plan, which as a concept has already won some support from Mayor C. Ray
Nagin of New Orleans and the local school board.

Dan Juneau, president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry,
one of the state's most influential lobbies, said voters were expecting an
efficient and high-minded response from legislators.

"If we don't see some real leadership in this session, if people don't step up," Mr.
Juneau said, "there's going to be blood in the streets during the next elections."

Austin field trip inspires Baton Rouge

Louisiana's capital city looking to duplicate entertainment district,
lure young professionals

By JEREMY ALFORD
Published: November 1, 2004
D ALLAS MORNING NEWS

BATON ROUGE, La. -- City officials here have a vision for their downtown
area that is both tragically hip and urban chic: jazz bars that swing until the
wee hours of the morning, sidewalk vendors that dish up Cajun fare and
intoxicating spirits right in the streets, ultra-modern studio apartments to rest
your head and even tax breaks for the bohemian type looking to open up
shop.

If it sounds remarkably similar to Austin's famed entertainment district, that's
because Baton Rouge urbanites are banking on the same formula made
popular by the so-called "Live Music Capital of the World."

By implementing its own entertainment district, Baton Rouge is hoping to
create a cultural Mecca that will beckon a demographic already being wooed
by a number of other second-tier cities around the nation: young
professionals.

And to jumpstart this recruitment process, about 120 business, government
and community leaders from Baton Rouge ventured into Austin last month for
a fact-finding mission to research the topic, among others. They hit the hot
spots along fabled Sixth Street, participated in discussions with the locals
and took detailed notes on how to build a bayou version of the Lone Star
entertainment district.

Davis Rhorer, executive director of Baton Rouge's Downtown Development
District, contends it was once an easy task B decades ago, before the
high-tech boom forever changed its landscape B to compare Austin to Baton
Rouge.

Today, however, only the obvious comparisons remain, such as being the
capital city and home to a major university.

"We have no natural Sixth Street or Fourth Street here," Mr. Rhorer said.
"There isn't a condensed spot where people gather here. But the private
sector is taking steps to make it happen. What we do have are the bones for
a very workable entertainment district like we saw in Austin."

The 550-acre skeleton of downtown Baton Rouge already consists of two
casinos, 42 restaurants, 13 entertainment venues, a planetarium, a large
format theater and live concerts on Friday nights. There's even a trolley
system online and a tax incremental financing scheme for new
developments.

But a quick visit to downtown Baton Rouge on an average evening will often
reveal nothing but empty streets, a dark contrast to the normally hopping
Austin.

"If you know downtown like I do right now, even Saturday afternoons won't
draw a lot of people," Mr. Rhorer said.

Pam Price, 33, a freelance consultant who attended the Austin workshop,
argues this trend could change if Baton Rouge would appeal to the working
class chic of her generation the way Austin does.

"It's all about biology," Ms. Price said. "People want to hook up... When you
get 18- to 20-year-olds together, it's about dating. Young people are
interested in a variety of options to find a partner."

Peter Couhig, 31, president of Forum 35, a Baton Rouge nonprofit group
boasting a membership of more than 400 civic-minded young professionals,
said the Austin trip allowed community leaders to see how an abundance of
bars and clubs, operating with late-night drinking hours and no open
container laws, can help their mission of drawing upon 20- and
30-somethings.

"Our bars close at 2 a.m.," Mr. Couhig said. "But if they keep these
businesses open until 4 a.m., maybe more people would come downtown.
That's why Austin was important. It allowed the leadership to see that an
entertainment district is critical to keeping young professionals at bay and
attracting more."

And while it is paramount to the city's success, Mr. Couhig adds that Baton
Rouge will need more than just a thriving nightlife in it's entertainment district
to attract young professionals. He points directly to Austin's strong suits in
this area: High-tech jobs, an independent film scene, expanded sidewalk
dining, trendy residential lofts and creative outlets such as community
theater and literary publications.

One believer is Baton Rouge Mayor Bobby Simpson, a rural conservative
dedicated to a hipper downtown scene. While it will admittedly be a
challenge to convince the city council to tread new ground and adopt loser
drinking laws, as well as tax breaks for artists, Mayor Simpson vows he is
ready.

"As we heard presentations in Austin, we were all asking ourselves why
we can't do that," Mayor Simpson said. "It won't happen overnight, but we
will have an entertainment district. We can make this happen B with the
caveat that we can get it through the council."

Mr. Rhorer expressed little concern over the mayor's apprehension.

"Baton Rouge has reached a tipping point and the ball will keep rolling now,"
he said. "This is a new urbanist philosophy with smart growth. It's all starting
to come to fruition... And now we have a new type of residential dwelling, a
convergence of existing downtown buildings into lofts."

Mr. Rhorer uses words like "urban" and "funky" to describe the new lofts
going up in Baton Rouge's proposed entertainment district. In all, there are 20
spaces in various stages of development, ranging from 600 to 1,200 square
feet and up to $1,200 in rent. The goal over the next four years, Mr. Rhorer
said, is to have 500 additional units in the area.

Rick Brown, 32, an architect currently working on a set of downtown lofts
with his wife, is in the process of putting the finishing touches on his own
unit.

"Hopefully, this will be the trick for downtown," Mr. Brown said. "We can't
wait to move in. Actually, we've always wanted to live down here. It will
make my life easier. My office is a mile away down the road and all of our
friends like to come here to go out."

Mr. Couhig hopes the lofts will also play another role.

"In Austin, they offer sales tax abatements to artists who live above their
galleries," Mr. Couhig said. "We're pushing for something like that, too."

To usher in this new arts community, most hopes are pinned on a project
simply referred to as "The Arts Block," expected to debut in 2005. The
centerpiece would overlook the Mississippi River and be home to a theater
for visual and performing arts, a museum, art classes, a digital studio and
gallery space. There are also ongoing negotiations with a digital animation
studio interested in hosting an annual animation festival, which could help
the city build on it's only other film festival, the Outhouse Festival at
Louisiana State University.

"It's hard to believe this can happen in Baton Rouge, but we're going to have
an arts incubator where we can help our artists build capacity," said Ms.
Genny Nadler Thomas, executive director of the Arts Council of Greater
Baton Rouge.

City officials are still working on a master plan for Baton Rouge's
entertainment district B developing ways to recruit new businesses and
keep construction levels up B but high profile supporters such as Mr.
Rhorer and Mayor Simpson contend it will all come to fruition in about two
years.

All of these efforts, the two argue, will hopefully dispel the myth that the
only thing to do in Baton Rouge is to head down I-10 to New Orleans.

"I would just love for Baton Rouge to be described as hip," Mr. Rhorer said.
"And I think we have the anchors to make that happen."

Jeremy Alford is a freelance writer in Baton Rouge.

Got game?

When recruiters aren't calling, high school athletes are marketing
themselves--with a little help.

By Jeremy Alford, Contributing writer
Published: April 4, 2005
BATON ROUGE BUSINESS REPORT

While most of her classmates were partying hard during their spring and
summer breaks last year, 17-year-old Rebecca Lunceford was busy stuffing
into envelopes a bid for her future. She included a brief biography, a transcript
of her grades and a professionally produced DVD of her volleyball skills.

"It's been really nerve-racking, sending out all the videos and waiting to see if
any of the coaches wanted to know more," says Lunceford, a senior at
Dunham High School. "We sent out 20 packages to see who would bite, and
we got feedback from about a third who said they were very interested. For
some of them, I had to sell myself a little more through phone conversations
and e-mails. And it's getting tougher because I'm looking at six schools now,
and they all have good programs."

Not bad for a high school athlete who wasn't even on the radar screens of
college recruiters less than a year ago. While Lunceford has always enjoyed
the confidence of her coaches and peers, it took some extra effort to get
noticed at the next level.

That's where Lee Feinswog came in. In addition to being executive producer
for a group of local cable shows under the banner of Sports Monday and
covering regional sporting events for USA Today and The Washington Post,
Feinswog has branched out to packaging DVDs for student athletes to use for
marketing purposes.

The service isn't really geared for the college sporting world's Holy Grails of
football and basketball. Instead, Feinswog's new venture helps high school
athletes who play second-tier sports, mainly women, find a place in smaller
collegiate programs without big recruiting budgets. At the core of his strategy
is a video skills resume.

"The blue chip players don't have to do anything," Feinswog says. "I mean,
how many times did you see LeBron James on ESPN when he was in high
school? It doesn't always work that way. If little Suzie wants to play bad
enough, she should get a video skills resume and flood the market."

For about $400, a student-athlete can receive an hour-long shoot with
Feinswog's crew. The only thing the athlete must provide is a venue, other
players to help out and, of course, the talent. A menu on the DVD allows
coaches to jump between individual skills, a personal interview and statistics.

Customers receive five free DVDs and own the rights, meaning they can make
their own copies or buy additional ones for $5 each. The format itself is
perfect for coaches, Feinswog adds, because they can pop it in their
computer or use a standard DVD player.

"There is a place in college sports for athletes who really want to play and
have the talent," Feinswog says. "They just have to be willing to market
themselves. Communications and exposure are changing the way things are
done. This doesn't mean a kid will get a full or partial scholarship, but there are
opportunities out there if they pursue them."

Rebecca Lunceford's father, Lloyd, an attorney at Taylor, Porter, Brooks and
Phillips, had the same thoughts. But he knew it would take much more than a
fancy DVD. In their package to coaches, the Luncefords also included a game
tape and other background information. He says his daughter is "dancing a
delicate dance" negotiating with various colleges, such as Centenary,
Millsaps, Mercer, Auburn and Mary Washington.

"There are far more opportunities for girls athletics in college than there were
back in my day, when dinosaurs ruled the earth," he says.

The Luncefords offer three tips to high school athletes bent on marketing
themselves: Be persistent, be early and be visible. To those ends, don't be
afraid of rejection, become familiar with recruiting calendars and send out as
many packages as you can.

Bonita Johnson, a former LSU basketball standout who now coaches girls
sports at University High, says this approach to getting on a college team
--and possibly obtaining a scholarship -- is growing.

"There are a lot of coaches out there looking for specifics, so some kids really
should be doing this," Johnson says. "I think parents are becoming more
involved in helping their kids market themselves this way to get to college, and
that's a great thing."

If parents can't send their budding athlete to meet the coaches at a college all
the way out in California, "the next best thing is to send her through the mail,"
Johnson says. "You have to go out and make it happen."

While self-marketing with a little professional help producing the promotional
DVDs is cost-effective, it isn't the only way to go.

Some recruiting professionals take on student-athletes as clients and try to
match them up with the right program. Doug Ellis, the Louisiana representative
for SportsWorx, a national group that does just that, says female athletes and
those who play second-tier sports have a better chance of getting into the
game by marketing themselves than do football and basketball players.

"That's just the nature of the beast," he says. "But you have to be careful with
mass mailings and even some recruiting services. Coaches want to see
something that has been produced specifically for their school. They want to
see that some effort was put into it."

Ellis says SportsWorx is different from similar groups because they also run a
matching program for coaches who enlist their services. For students who
want to sign on, Ellis says $50 will net a do-it-yourself kit, around $250 will
grant access to their database and up to $1,500 offers more complete
services, from consulting to financial planning.

As for Rebecca Lunceford, she now has decisions to make as the May 1
college commitment date nears. When she started the process more than a
year ago, she never thought she would have so many choices. But that, of
course, is a good thing.

"I'm actually hoping some doors will close, so it'll be easier to know where I'm
going," she adds. "I just want to play, but I'll be glad when this is over."

Card Sharks, Body Rubs and Redfish

How to spend two days gambling and fishing in Biloxi — without ruining your
marriage.

By Jeremy Alford
Published: May 1, 2005
GAMBIT WEEKLY OF NEW ORLEANS

Professor Longhair was crackling in my ear as we turned onto Beach Boulevard, a
sandy, salty strip that serves as Biloxi’s lifeline for seafood enthusiasts and casino
dreamers. Huge billboards towered over us, touting unbeatable odds on craps and
promoting upcoming acts like George Carlin. The Gulf Coast has come to resemble a
mini-Vegas over the past decade, shedding its quaint beach resort skin for a sleeker
look with bright lights. Old schooners cutting through the bay’s waters, however,
serve as a constant reminder of what Biloxi once was and what it still has to offer,
aside from dice and cards.

Make no mistake — this is a casino town where shows and conventions dictate ebb
and flow. In fact, we arrived in Biloxi the same day as opera star Placido Domingo,
who was performing at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. It made it near impossible to
find adequate accommodations, but the local visitors bureau somehow worked its
magic. Tip number one: schedule your trip well in advance. There’s no telling when a
famous tenor might cause hotel reservations and traffic to stack up.

Thankfully, my wife and I were not interested in hearing anything performed above
baritone from Jules Massent's “Le cid.” Instead, we were in Biloxi to fish and gamble.
Correction: I was in Biloxi to fish and gamble. Karron, my wife, was brought here under
the ruse that luxurious spas, fine dining and various shopping destinations would help
her fill the void during the times I would be wasting our money on poker and having
more fun with live bait than I would with my in-laws.

It was the kind of blueprint any couple could follow to construct a weekend vacation
balanced by testosterone activities and estrogen getaways.

DAY 1: Pirates and Peppermint

Upon arriving into town Friday morning, the first order of business was to grab lunch,
set up a chartered fishing trip and drop Karron off at the Spa Caribe at Imperial Palace.
In close proximity to all of this was the Ole Biloxi Schooner, a seafood joint that has
been a local favorite for generations. If you’re able to navigate through the shoulder-to-
shoulder lunchtime crowd, the Schooner’s overstuffed po-boys are a must-have. Two
can eat for less than $20, and for a mere quarter you can pull up anything from Bob
Marley to the Bee Gees on the old Rock-Ola Jukebox.

Around the corner is the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum. Admission ranges
from $3 to $5, and the short documentary on the devastation left by Hurricane Camille
is worth the charge. You can also check out how 18th century Marsh Indians pulled in
their redfish and see what Mardi Gras flambeaus have in common with flounder
anglers.

To set up the charter, we headed toward the back of the bay to Point Cadet, a harbor
where many captains dock their vessels. If you’re interested in a certain boat, then just
walk around the docks and look for charter signs. It’s advisable, however, that you
surf the net and set up your trip weeks in advance.

Overlooking the docks is Gorenflo’s Tackle and Marina Store, which opens most
mornings around 8:30 and offers everything you need for big game and inshore
fishing. You can likewise get your license here.

Our next stop brought us to Spa Caribe. For $85, Karron got a 25-minute peppermint-
rosemary body treatment and a 25-minute Swedish message. Her transformation
began in a low-lit room filled with soft music. After slipping into a plush terrycloth robe
and comfortable sandals, her body was exfoliated with an aromatic salt scrub and
then showered off. A Swedish message therapist asked Karron to point out problem
areas on her body and, within minutes, knots in the back, neck and shoulders
disappeared. Once the spa package was complete, Karron had free access to the spa’
s steam room, workout facility, whirlpool and sauna.

Our overnight accommodations were at the Treasure Bay Casino, where we landed a
last-minute room overlooking the Gulf through a spacious balcony — all at a rack rate
of only $80. The room was standard as they come, but would suffice for a quick
overnight stay. Downstairs in the lobby we found the Pirate’s Den, a 24-hour bar with
a friendly staff that didn’t laugh at Karron’s grasshopper. It’s known for having a quiet,
older crowd, but is packed with industry types after 2 a.m. If the mood strikes you,
head down there during the wee hours of the night and buy a blackjack dealer a round
of drinks. You might walk away with a few free lessons.

Across the street from the hotel is the casino itself, a land-based replica of a pirate
ship that would make even Johnny Depp proud. It’s a smaller casino than others on the
strip, but they offer everything from $3 blackjack (depending on when you’re there) to
$100 slots. The dealers were patient and willing to explain the more complex games,
and free drinks were especially easy to come by here – more so than other casinos
visited. Whether we were sitting behind a nickel slot machine or a $25 minimum table,
there was always a waitress nearby taking orders.

Dinner that night was at Jazzeppi’s Ristorante and Martini Bar, which offered some of
the best Italian-seafood fusion cuisine either of us had ever enjoyed. Drinks,
appetizers, entrees and dessert for two will run you close to $100, but it’s worth the
extra jingle. Don’t miss the “Oysters Carciofi,” roasted artichoke bottoms filled with an
oyster stuffing over angel hair pasta and a veloute sauce. And when the waiter tells
you they have the best cheesecake in Mississippi, you can take him at his word.

DAY 2: Captains and Crabmeat

The second day began at 6:45 a.m. on the docks of Point Cadet. Even before the boat
set out, all of my senses were piqued — saltwater and fresh bait mingled in the air
while the sound of waves and whipping Gulf winds played in concert. It doesn’t take
long for an angler to get juiced up in this kind of environment.

I had booked my inshore fishing trip with Capts. Mike and Tommy Moore of Strictly
Business. As I approached their slip, the 24-foot Open Fisherman was coming to life as
country music blared from its custom-made onboard entertainment system, which
included a satellite TV. Everything you would need is provided — rods, bait, tackle,
drinks and lunch. All you need to bring are sunglasses, sunscreen and a good attitude.
The cost: $350 for a three-hour trip, which can be split by as many as three other
people.

The brothers grew up around Biloxi’s bay. They openly share secret spots and are
willing to teach technique. The Moores are also quick with one-liners, jokes and local
history. While I took the effort to meet them at their dock, Strictly Business is willing to
pick up clients wherever they are – some casinos have docks behind their facilities.

Once on the water, it was easy to see these guys were pros. They sneak up on spots
without making a lot of noise — they cut the motor and drift in, then gently let the
anchor down. If the fish don’t bite for a couple of minutes, they keep it moving. And
before you even begin to stand, a pole is baited and thrown out for you. If you want
bigger game than trout and redfish, the brothers can take you out for shark, tuna or
anything else that tickles your angling fancy.

While I was out on the water, Karron was back at The Spa and Salon of Beau Rivage,
receiving a 50-minute European facial. It was personalized for her skin type and
carried out as she relaxed on a heated bed. Soft music and aromatherapy soothed her
senses as the session kicked off with a gentle messaging of the arms, upper chest
and neck before the face was ever touched. After applying a series of deep cleansing
creams, the therapist rubbed them off with a hot towel and placed Karron’s face into a
hydrating steamer. A décolletage massage followed and it was all capped off with a
revitalizing mask, more messaging of the scalp, and a skin reconditioner.

My wife was glowing after this one.

We enjoyed a late lunch at Mary Mahoney’s Old French House, another local favorite
for fine dining. If you’re lucky enough to get a table on a pretty day, sit outside in the
courtyard — it will no doubt remind you of many French Quarter digs back home.
Dinner for two will run you as much as $80; an adjoining 24-hour café is significantly
cheaper. A cup of oyster soup was good enough to make me want to change my
order to a bowl, and Karron’s eggplant and crab casserole was a delicate dish that
had obviously been perfected over the years. My “Lobster Georgo,” mingled with
shrimp and a cream sauce, was under-seasoned, but the environment made up for it.

One of the only rooms we could find that was still available for Saturday night was a
jacuzzi suite at the Edgewater Inn. At a rate of $219, we received spacious
accommodations spanning three rooms, including a den, master bedroom and a large
vanity/bathroom area. A balcony off the bedroom overlooked a tasteful courtyard.

Around midnight we headed back to Beau Rivage for table games and the late night
buffet — a bargain at only $9.95 per person. If you park in the public garage at night,
drive up to the top level. It offers a gorgeous view of the Biloxi strip glimmering off the
shoreline.

Inside “The Beau,” as the locals call it, there’s upscale shopping, coffee bars, dance
clubs, live music and a variety of table games and slots. In addition to roulette,
blackjack, craps and the like, it also has a new table game called “Deuces Wild,” or as I
like to call it, “How to Drop $50 in nine minutes.” Actually, it’s a great poker game based
loosely on video poker. All 2’s are wild and you’re playing for the payoff on a single
hand, not against the dealer or others.

If you want to gamble with a James Bond swagger, this your place. “TRAVEL +
LEISURE MAGAZINE" has named Beau Rivage one of the world’s top resorts during the
past three years, and with good reason. From the games to the non-gambling options, it’
s an exciting place to end your trip — or to spend an entire vacation. In fact, it was an
exact match for the getaway we both wanted. Whether looking for a “pair-a-dice” of
fishing and gambling or a more relaxing weekend of spas and fine dining, Biloxi’s new
offerings and old ways can provide the perfect venue.


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