Louisiana's conservative Supreme Court ruled on Friday that St. George, a wealthy and heavily white suburb southeast of Baton Rouge, could incorporate as a new city.
Residents of St. George had voted for incorporation by a 54-46 margin in a 2019 referendum, but lower courts had blocked it from going forward because of its potentially adverse effects on the finances of both Baton Rouge and St. George. By a 4-3 margin, however, the Supreme Court reversed those previous decisions and allowed incorporation to proceed.
The state capital of Baton Rouge, which consolidated its government with East Baton Rouge Parish following a 1947 referendum, oversees nearly all of the parish aside from a few small towns. According to data from the Census Bureau and VEST presented by Dave's Redistricting App, residents in the consolidated government's jurisdiction are 56% Black, 33% white, and heavily Democratic. By contrast, St. George's 81,000 residents are 67% white and just 18% Black, and the new municipality would be solidly Republican.
Critics decry the move as inherently discriminatory, alleging that it will perpetuate racial and socioeconomic divisions by segregating a predominantly white, affluent enclave from the broader, predominantly black city and school district. Voices of dissent warn of economic repercussions for Baton Rouge, with projections indicating a potential $53 million budget deficit and a halving of the unemployment rate in the new city.
@C4pitalistJayRepublican2wks2W
I’m betting St. George will have far less crime than Baton Rouge.
Their tax base probably supported whatever services Baton Rouge was providing to its citizens. Once that is removed, it will turn into another Detroit. While ST George will do just fine
@GovernmentFerretVeteran2wks2W
Not only will this be true, but Baton Rouge is a super low bar lol that place is so dangerous
@GreenPartyRickSocialist2wks2W
The parents of St. George know their kids don’t stand a ghost of a chance to see the playing field in a unified school district with Baton Rouge.
What they really want is a school district where their less athletically gifted kids can compete with smaller schools and the parents can live out their unfulfilled dreams of sports greatness.
Private schools in LA are essentially a sports program for kids who would never make the team, let alone see the playing field, in a regular school. They may claim its about local autonomy or some other garbage but it all comes down to sports.ReplyRecommend 15
@InspiringCordialGreen2wks2W
Should have know academics would take at best a minor role in the decision.
White Republicans do this all the time. In Mississippi, the state stripped power from Jackson’s municipal government because it includes — GASP! — Black people. In fact, they created a separate court system in Jackson so that the fine upstanding White residents won’t be judged by “Those people.” Don’t make them say which ones. But you know.
My recommendation to Baton Rouge is they should cut off all services to the new city of St. George immediately. Since they do not want to be part of BR then let them fend for themselves and see how they do. Deny them sewer, water, education, and all other services.
@ISIDEWITH2wks2W
@ISIDEWITH2wks2W
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