We had a primary election Saturday. As I have mentioned in a previous entry, we had several Republican candidates, four considered serious and one Democrat, who want to be the next Governor. The challenge for the eventual winner is that they are left to try to figure out how to save this state from the financial disaster that term-limited Governor and woeful presidential candidate Bobby Jindal left behind and the projected deficit in the next budget.
This morning we find that there will be a runoff. The Democrat, John Bel Edwards, and the Republican David Vitter, currently a US Senator, will face off. Vitter suffered a horrendous attack by his own party contenders during the race. He survived because of his reputation as a staunch conservative and the truckloads of money spent by his Super PACS.
Bel Edwards is a West Point Graduate, former army ranger, and minority leader in the state legislature. As a "southern" Democrat, he runs on credentials that feature pro-gun, pro-life, fiscally responsible aspects. ( They used to call them "blue dog" democrats.) It didn't hurt him that he was the only Democrat because, like Wisconsin, there is a base of Democrats whom he could count on supporting him, particularly in the New Orleans area. He got a shade under 40% of the vote.
Vitter did not look particularly strong in the primary (23%) but strong enough to make it to the next bout in November. While he looks like the typical boxer in the locker room after a tough fight, according to the pundits, he can count on a lot of the primary opposition vote on the republican side coming over to him.
The other big "if" in this election is the results. According to the polls, the outcomes were pretty well known. The turnout was very light. So it begs the question, who will vote in the November election? Will, the independent voters come out for the election, and if they do, will they go left or right? Will, the democratic base get out their people? Will the Republican voters hold their nose and vote for Vitter?
I have been faced with some pretty poor choices in my life as a voting citizen. In my youth, none of them were pure enough. There was always one thing or another I was upset about my candidate's platform. Later, I found that there was never going to anyone pure enough, and I focused on the bigger picture. In this state, this parish, I will have to withhold my vote for certain offices because I have no choices. Either I am faced with objectionable candidates running unopposed, or neither of the candidates is someone I can support. It's frustrating and disappointing.
Public Service, The first meeting of BAPAC
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BAPAC) met last Wednesday evening. We were given a ton of background material. In this packet were studies, proposals, and suggestions that date back to the early 2000s regarding the need for bicycle trails and pedestrian rights of ways in the City of Mandeville.
As I have noted in previous entries, the layout of this city is dominated by The Causeway, or as it is better known, The Pontchartrain Bridge. This 25-mile long bridge, spanning historic Lake Ponchartrain, is a major gateway to metropolitan New Orleans. The North Causeway Approach extends to a link with I-12. This extension is joined from the west and the east by the other two land feeder routes. All of these roads are divided into four-lane highways. The east and west approaches have many grade-level accesses. These feeder highways are usually bustling and controlled at many locations by traffic lights. This roadway plan effectively divides the city into various islands of residential and commercial activity.
This morning we find that there will be a runoff. The Democrat, John Bel Edwards, and the Republican David Vitter, currently a US Senator, will face off. Vitter suffered a horrendous attack by his own party contenders during the race. He survived because of his reputation as a staunch conservative and the truckloads of money spent by his Super PACS.
Bel Edwards is a West Point Graduate, former army ranger, and minority leader in the state legislature. As a "southern" Democrat, he runs on credentials that feature pro-gun, pro-life, fiscally responsible aspects. ( They used to call them "blue dog" democrats.) It didn't hurt him that he was the only Democrat because, like Wisconsin, there is a base of Democrats whom he could count on supporting him, particularly in the New Orleans area. He got a shade under 40% of the vote.
Vitter did not look particularly strong in the primary (23%) but strong enough to make it to the next bout in November. While he looks like the typical boxer in the locker room after a tough fight, according to the pundits, he can count on a lot of the primary opposition vote on the republican side coming over to him.
The other big "if" in this election is the results. According to the polls, the outcomes were pretty well known. The turnout was very light. So it begs the question, who will vote in the November election? Will, the independent voters come out for the election, and if they do, will they go left or right? Will, the democratic base get out their people? Will the Republican voters hold their nose and vote for Vitter?
I have been faced with some pretty poor choices in my life as a voting citizen. In my youth, none of them were pure enough. There was always one thing or another I was upset about my candidate's platform. Later, I found that there was never going to anyone pure enough, and I focused on the bigger picture. In this state, this parish, I will have to withhold my vote for certain offices because I have no choices. Either I am faced with objectionable candidates running unopposed, or neither of the candidates is someone I can support. It's frustrating and disappointing.
Public Service, The first meeting of BAPAC
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BAPAC) met last Wednesday evening. We were given a ton of background material. In this packet were studies, proposals, and suggestions that date back to the early 2000s regarding the need for bicycle trails and pedestrian rights of ways in the City of Mandeville.
As I have noted in previous entries, the layout of this city is dominated by The Causeway, or as it is better known, The Pontchartrain Bridge. This 25-mile long bridge, spanning historic Lake Ponchartrain, is a major gateway to metropolitan New Orleans. The North Causeway Approach extends to a link with I-12. This extension is joined from the west and the east by the other two land feeder routes. All of these roads are divided into four-lane highways. The east and west approaches have many grade-level accesses. These feeder highways are usually bustling and controlled at many locations by traffic lights. This roadway plan effectively divides the city into various islands of residential and commercial activity.
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| The Islands of the City of Mandeville LA |
- This is a complicated, mostly cul-de-sac residential area
- A mixed cul-de-sac residential - commercial district with destination retail such as drug stores, grocery, etc.
- Mixed cul-de-sac residential - commercial with destination retail. Defined by Highway 190, North Causeway Approach, and East Causeway Approach
- Old Mandeville grid layout bordered by a lakefront park and East Causeway Approach
- Mixed cul-de-sac is residential and commercial. Defined by the St Tammany Parish (County) boundary to the North and East. Highway 190 to the West and South.
This layout was influenced by sudden spurts in growth caused by the post-Katrina and white flight from New Orleans. A closer examination of the layout shows that cul-de-sacs mapped are not even connected to each other. This condition results in even heavier traffic because the city is by definition auto-dependent, so each trip out of the neighborhood means accessing one of the major roads.
The city is on a great recreational bike trail. However, it does not serve anyone trying to shop, for recreation, or receive medical services.
Except for taxi service, there is no mass transit. There are patches of bike trails (striped lanes) on roads. There are stripes of sidewalks that also do not connect. Often these sidewalks are used by bike riders for safety reasons. Another factor we have to deal with is many of the residential roads are very narrow.
As I look at some of the documents I've been given, I recognize the issues and some work toward a solution. However, there is a lot of work to do. The biggest job might be public education. It's plain to me that most people in this community are very used to getting in their car and driving wherever they wish. Getting them to visualize anything else will be difficult.
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