St. George: Louisiana’s Newest City Amid Controversy
State Supreme Court Gives Green Light to St. George
The predominantly white region of Baton Rouge, Louisiana has now been inaugurated as the city of St. George. This decision comes as the state Supreme Court sets aside lower court decisions, a move that has drawn emotions from various corners, including the NAACP of Baton Rouge which has dubbed this change as “modern-day secession.”
St. George Transition District Chairman, Norman Browning, lauded this outcome as a “historic and exciting day for the City of St George citizens” pledging to mould and grow an efficient and thriving city in the Parish of East Baton Rouge.
NAACP Voices Concerns Over Education
On the other hand, the NAACP has raised concerns over the potential implications of the St. George plan, decrying that the new city could have adverse effects on education facilities, jeopardize key programs and challenge community representation.
This controversial decision concludes a lengthy legal dispute between advocates and critics of the new city, the latter being previously triumphant in court.
St. George: A Brief History
Baton Rouge leaders initially challenged the idea of St. George, taking the organisers to court in 2019 shortly after a majority of voters within the city boundaries voted in favor of the incorporation.
The cause for the brouhaha? Baton Rouge leaders argued that the new city would hinder Baton Rouge’s city-parish services financially and could instigate layoffs, due to a potential $48.3 million decrease in annual tax revenues. Their concerns were upheld by the court twice. The challenge to form St. George precedes the 2019 election by a decade, and started as a quest for a separate school district evolving over several years into a drive to create a new city.
Those advocating for St. George, primarily white and wealthy residents of the southeast parish, had accused the existing city-parish government and school system of administrative inefficiency and desired a more localized control of tax dollars.
St. George population is approximately 68,000, about 12% of whom are of Black ethnicity. Critics perceive the new city creation as veiled segregation and latent racism.
DPH Hot Take
Ultimately, the Supreme Court granted approval for the creation of St. George, ruling that the organizers had followed due process for incorporation and would provide suitable public amenities for its residents. However, an outstanding dilemma lingers: the potential costs for Baton Rouge’s remaining residents. This contentious event underscores the ongoing racial and societal divisions that persist in the United States and presents a complex conundrum concerning self-governance and its broader impact on the community.