[Music] [Applause]
talk to you today about we’ve all been
talk to you today about we’ve all been through an extremely tough tough year
through an extremely tough tough year
through an extremely tough tough year Great Flood was something that nobody
Great Flood was something that nobody
Great Flood was something that nobody really expected right there were a lot
really expected right there were a lot
really expected right there were a lot of factors that went into it I’m not
of factors that went into it I’m not
of factors that went into it I’m not gonna get into today but we all know
gonna get into today but we all know
gonna get into today but we all know that it was hard what’s gonna happen on
that it was hard what’s gonna happen on
that it was hard what’s gonna happen on the other end where are we gonna go from
the other end where are we gonna go from
the other end where are we gonna go from here so I’m gonna invite you all for a
here so I’m gonna invite you all for a
here so I’m gonna invite you all for a second to sit down with a seven-year-old
second to sit down with a seven-year-old
second to sit down with a seven-year-old version of me and my mother and father
version of me and my mother and father
version of me and my mother and father or breakfast-table and my father was a
or breakfast-table and my father was a
or breakfast-table and my father was a large intimidating man ask you what are
large intimidating man ask you what are
large intimidating man ask you what are your thoughts on Bill Clinton I’m seven
your thoughts on Bill Clinton I’m seven
your thoughts on Bill Clinton I’m seven I say he’s a pretty cool guy
I say he’s a pretty cool guy
I say he’s a pretty cool guy I play saxophone my dad says what the
I play saxophone my dad says what the
I play saxophone my dad says what the hell is that what do you think about his
hell is that what do you think about his
hell is that what do you think about his policies the things that he’s after and
policies the things that he’s after and
policies the things that he’s after and it was at that point that I realized
it was at that point that I realized
it was at that point that I realized that fact or what my life’s gonna be
that fact or what my life’s gonna be
that fact or what my life’s gonna be based on because I wasn’t me to
based on because I wasn’t me to
based on because I wasn’t me to participate in conversation with to
participate in conversation with to
participate in conversation with to business owners and to flip the 74
business owners and to flip the 74
business owners and to flip the 74 without them facts are interesting back
without them facts are interesting back
without them facts are interesting back to the puzzle pieces right we build
to the puzzle pieces right we build
to the puzzle pieces right we build things on facts some people like to
things on facts some people like to
things on facts some people like to change the way the piece looks that as
change the way the piece looks that as
change the way the piece looks that as we’ve seen if you change the way a piece
we’ve seen if you change the way a piece
we’ve seen if you change the way a piece looks the pictures up right so fat for
looks the pictures up right so fat for
looks the pictures up right so fat for something that I was given earlier not
something that I was given earlier not
something that I was given earlier not just a singular fact the multiple facts
just a singular fact the multiple facts
just a singular fact the multiple facts you’ve got to know all the facts right
you’ve got to know all the facts right
you’ve got to know all the facts right and that’s my latest publisher along
and that’s my latest publisher along
and that’s my latest publisher along with my mother of our local newspaper
with my mother of our local newspaper
with my mother of our local newspaper now the interesting thing you’ll see
now the interesting thing you’ll see
now the interesting thing you’ll see here is this there’s more than one
here is this there’s more than one
here is this there’s more than one section to our paper
section to our paper
section to our paper there’s more than one section to this
there’s more than one section to this
there’s more than one section to this community all the information we put
community all the information we put
community all the information we put except for my opinion of course and our
except for my opinion of course and our
except for my opinion of course and our paper is based upon facts that we
paper is based upon facts that we
paper is based upon facts that we collect the right but there are all
collect the right but there are all
collect the right but there are all important by all members of the commune
important by all members of the commune
important by all members of the commune or their perception may be a little
or their perception may be a little
or their perception may be a little different from someone else they may
different from someone else they may
different from someone else they may hang their hat something different some
hang their hat something different some
hang their hat something different some somebody else personal living right next
somebody else personal living right next
somebody else personal living right next but it’s still important it’s still part
but it’s still important it’s still part
but it’s still important it’s still part of what makes us a community now here’s
of what makes us a community now here’s
of what makes us a community now here’s the interesting thing what was a lot of
the interesting thing what was a lot of
the interesting thing what was a lot of time you were staying and having a
time you were staying and having a
time you were staying and having a conversation with somebody and you heard
conversation with somebody and you heard
conversation with somebody and you heard them say let me tell you something and
them say let me tell you something and
them say let me tell you something and you do that this person had the answer
you do that this person had the answer
you do that this person had the answer they were about to tell you the answer
they were about to tell you the answer
they were about to tell you the answer to that problem the one singular answer
to that problem the one singular answer
to that problem the one singular answer that was going to answer that question
that was going to answer that question
that was going to answer that question and all questions that would come after
and all questions that would come after
and all questions that would come after that
that
that well we all know that usually that’s not
well we all know that usually that’s not
well we all know that usually that’s not true right there are many many many
true right there are many many many
true right there are many many many facets to every question the authority
facets to every question the authority
facets to every question the authority says it the best way to get the answer
says it the best way to get the answer
says it the best way to get the answer is to continue to ask questions right
is to continue to ask questions right
is to continue to ask questions right let’s build the point facts so there is
let’s build the point facts so there is
let’s build the point facts so there is no one puzzle piece I would posit to you
no one puzzle piece I would posit to you
no one puzzle piece I would posit to you that there are multiple puzzle pieces
that there are multiple puzzle pieces
that there are multiple puzzle pieces the interesting thing about what our
the interesting thing about what our
the interesting thing about what our community leaders have done is that they
community leaders have done is that they
community leaders have done is that they have sort of latched on to this
have sort of latched on to this
have sort of latched on to this unbridled growth post-katrina right
unbridled growth post-katrina right
unbridled growth post-katrina right we’re trying to happen devastate cause
we’re trying to happen devastate cause
we’re trying to happen devastate cause people to move a lot of people into
people to move a lot of people into
people to move a lot of people into Baton Rouge a lot of those people moved
Baton Rouge a lot of those people moved
Baton Rouge a lot of those people moved in here so we have a lot of new people
in here so we have a lot of new people
in here so we have a lot of new people here but there are a lot of good things
here but there are a lot of good things
here but there are a lot of good things happening right responsive we have
happening right responsive we have
happening right responsive we have innovative in improving schools this
innovative in improving schools this
innovative in improving schools this particular picture is of a nice lady
particular picture is of a nice lady
particular picture is of a nice lady from Iowa showing a kid from denim a
from Iowa showing a kid from denim a
from Iowa showing a kid from denim a rival high school where he needs to go
rival high school where he needs to go
rival high school where he needs to go in the morning when they had to put
in the morning when they had to put
in the morning when they had to put tunes together after the flood it was
tunes together after the flood it was
tunes together after the flood it was great it was a good picture it was hard
great it was a good picture it was hard
great it was a good picture it was hard it was hard on us it’s hard on those
it was hard on us it’s hard on those
it was hard on us it’s hard on those parents it’s hard on our community but
parents it’s hard on our community but
parents it’s hard on our community but we made it right it’s good stuff we have
we made it right it’s good stuff we have
we made it right it’s good stuff we have the Teacher of the Year in the house so
the Teacher of the Year in the house so
the Teacher of the Year in the house so we talk to you later constantly
we talk to you later constantly
we talk to you later constantly involving shopping opportunities right
involving shopping opportunities right
involving shopping opportunities right around the train we got a spur right
around the train we got a spur right
around the train we got a spur right that’s pros
that’s pros
that’s pros the words to all sorts of things right
the words to all sorts of things right
the words to all sorts of things right do the cross war shopping around Bass
do the cross war shopping around Bass
do the cross war shopping around Bass Pro people are continuing to come here
Pro people are continuing to come here
Pro people are continuing to come here which we all know makes the people who
which we all know makes the people who
which we all know makes the people who use our tax dollars community this
use our tax dollars community this
use our tax dollars community this beautiful library very yeah expansion of
beautiful library very yeah expansion of
beautiful library very yeah expansion of interest rate employed I know that our
interest rate employed I know that our
interest rate employed I know that our friends is Linux and economic
friends is Linux and economic
friends is Linux and economic development love this one and it’s good
development love this one and it’s good
development love this one and it’s good too because it keeps people here right
too because it keeps people here right
too because it keeps people here right keeps people in joy this particular
keeps people in joy this particular
keeps people in joy this particular picture I happen to like because I know
picture I happen to like because I know
picture I happen to like because I know to the gentleman in it made it very
to the gentleman in it made it very
to the gentleman in it made it very uncomfortable this is Mark Brown who is
uncomfortable this is Mark Brown who is
uncomfortable this is Mark Brown who is the distribution facility from
the distribution facility from
the distribution facility from McDonald’s opening at the industrial
McDonald’s opening at the industrial
McDonald’s opening at the industrial park in Walker now the very interesting
park in Walker now the very interesting
park in Walker now the very interesting thing about this is since they opened
thing about this is since they opened
thing about this is since they opened that it opens the door for grants for
that it opens the door for grants for
that it opens the door for grants for them to expand the industrial park
them to expand the industrial park
them to expand the industrial park bringing more employment opportunities
bringing more employment opportunities
bringing more employment opportunities more companies here very cool stuff
growth is not without its negatives who
growth is not without its negatives who sits in check we all sit the trend
sits in check we all sit the trend
sits in check we all sit the trend Chapman’s created right it’s a lovely
Chapman’s created right it’s a lovely
Chapman’s created right it’s a lovely fun it’s very interesting if you get on
fun it’s very interesting if you get on
fun it’s very interesting if you get on the interstate the morning to go back
the interstate the morning to go back
the interstate the morning to go back people were much resigned to their fate
people were much resigned to their fate
people were much resigned to their fate the most impressive scene I’ve ever seen
the most impressive scene I’ve ever seen
the most impressive scene I’ve ever seen was a lady putting on her makeup eating
was a lady putting on her makeup eating
was a lady putting on her makeup eating a sausage biscuit and facebooking right
a sausage biscuit and facebooking right
a sausage biscuit and facebooking right and it’s part training this is another
and it’s part training this is another
and it’s part training this is another problem and not just blood folks this
problem and not just blood folks this
problem and not just blood folks this picture is from an afternoon and evening
picture is from an afternoon and evening
picture is from an afternoon and evening rain about six weeks ago that’s eight
rain about six weeks ago that’s eight
rain about six weeks ago that’s eight hours after the rain stopped right the
hours after the rain stopped right the
hours after the rain stopped right the parish council recently is put on the
parish council recently is put on the
parish council recently is put on the ballot and approved it for photo by the
ballot and approved it for photo by the
ballot and approved it for photo by the we the people in the fall on new
we the people in the fall on new
we the people in the fall on new drainage districts there’s taps that
drainage districts there’s taps that
drainage districts there’s taps that comes with that you know it’s pretty
comes with that you know it’s pretty
comes with that you know it’s pretty anti-tax right now but our drainage is
including a lot of people that have been
including a lot of people that have been here for a while or lack of culture
here for a while or lack of culture
here for a while or lack of culture right we do have some good things that
right we do have some good things that
right we do have some good things that we can like talk to library for instance
we can like talk to library for instance
we can like talk to library for instance our schools but what about the culture
our schools but what about the culture
our schools but what about the culture about keeping people here a lot of
about keeping people here a lot of
about keeping people here a lot of people haven’t moved here into those big
people haven’t moved here into those big
people haven’t moved here into those big sprawling new neighborhoods to send
sprawling new neighborhoods to send
sprawling new neighborhoods to send their kids to school or to find a nice
their kids to school or to find a nice
their kids to school or to find a nice house big bang for their buck but then I
house big bang for their buck but then I
house big bang for their buck but then I can’t they don’t you know there’s a
can’t they don’t you know there’s a
can’t they don’t you know there’s a perception problem with Livingston
perception problem with Livingston
perception problem with Livingston Parish a variety of different reasons I
Parish a variety of different reasons I
Parish a variety of different reasons I know Thomas to talk to all about that
know Thomas to talk to all about that
know Thomas to talk to all about that later but there’s something missing
later but there’s something missing
later but there’s something missing there’s something missing between the
there’s something missing between the
there’s something missing between the core people that live here and the
core people that live here and the
core people that live here and the people who have moved here
people who have moved here
people who have moved here the woman age right it’s daily 20 so
the woman age right it’s daily 20 so
the woman age right it’s daily 20 so having them take that 80% and try to get
having them take that 80% and try to get
having them take that 80% and try to get one hundred a thousand to reengage even
one hundred a thousand to reengage even
one hundred a thousand to reengage even after the flood they’re still over
after the flood they’re still over
after the flood they’re still over 120,000 people to live in this parish as
120,000 people to live in this parish as
120,000 people to live in this parish as of 2013 there is a study without the
of 2013 there is a study without the
of 2013 there is a study without the authority leave to go work somewhere
authority leave to go work somewhere
authority leave to go work somewhere else so return to this picture is there
else so return to this picture is there
else so return to this picture is there really one answer right now
really one answer right now
really one answer right now is there one reason while anticipation
is there one reason while anticipation
is there one reason while anticipation say no is there one reason why
say no is there one reason why
say no is there one reason why Livingston Parish would approve not at
Livingston Parish would approve not at
Livingston Parish would approve not at all
all
all but where do you go right well I would
but where do you go right well I would
but where do you go right well I would posit to you that let me prepare so it’s
posit to you that let me prepare so it’s
posit to you that let me prepare so it’s more like this and I’m finished possible
more like this and I’m finished possible
more like this and I’m finished possible right Maxon yourself for a second you
right Maxon yourself for a second you
right Maxon yourself for a second you come into the breakfast-room
come into the breakfast-room
come into the breakfast-room Sunday one grab cup of coffee you’ve
Sunday one grab cup of coffee you’ve
Sunday one grab cup of coffee you’ve worked deep into the night on a puzzle
worked deep into the night on a puzzle
worked deep into the night on a puzzle you caught some fire but you finally ran
you caught some fire but you finally ran
you caught some fire but you finally ran out right sounds like a lot of people
out right sounds like a lot of people
out right sounds like a lot of people like with the flood right but you come
like with the flood right but you come
like with the flood right but you come back fresh
back fresh
back fresh feeling good about what you did the
feeling good about what you did the
feeling good about what you did the picture is starting to come together
picture is starting to come together
picture is starting to come together the problem we have here is this all of
the problem we have here is this all of
the problem we have here is this all of these different sections that are being
these different sections that are being
these different sections that are being built along the edge that are coming out
built along the edge that are coming out
built along the edge that are coming out from the edge are all different entities
from the edge are all different entities
from the edge are all different entities that we have right and apparently we
that we have right and apparently we
that we have right and apparently we have municipalities the parish council
have municipalities the parish council
have municipalities the parish council economic development the chain book you
economic development the chain book you
economic development the chain book you know we even have people within the same
know we even have people within the same
know we even have people within the same courthouse who I would say probably
courthouse who I would say probably
courthouse who I would say probably don’t have a unified planning going
don’t have a unified planning going
don’t have a unified planning going forward except try to keep up it’s a
forward except try to keep up it’s a
forward except try to keep up it’s a tough thing to do it really is our
tough thing to do it really is our
tough thing to do it really is our population is almost doubled in ten
population is almost doubled in ten
population is almost doubled in ten years and is expected to double again in
years and is expected to double again in
years and is expected to double again in the next ten it’s a hard thing to keep
the next ten it’s a hard thing to keep
the next ten it’s a hard thing to keep up with what is it will require vision
up with what is it will require vision
up with what is it will require vision leadership right of course a a family
leadership right of course a a family
leadership right of course a a family someone with an idea where you’re going
someone with an idea where you’re going
someone with an idea where you’re going to go forward no I’m not that person
to go forward no I’m not that person
to go forward no I’m not that person I’m not marketing for life stuff please
I’m not marketing for life stuff please
I’m not marketing for life stuff please don’t think that but there has to be a
don’t think that but there has to be a
don’t think that but there has to be a duration there has to be some sort of
duration there has to be some sort of
duration there has to be some sort of collective idea of where we’re going to
collective idea of where we’re going to
collective idea of where we’re going to go right and then someone who can bring
go right and then someone who can bring
go right and then someone who can bring it all together all of those people
it all together all of those people
it all together all of those people because they all have a part of the play
because they all have a part of the play
because they all have a part of the play Walker and denno have their part to play
Walker and denno have their part to play
Walker and denno have their part to play the parish has its part to play the
the parish has its part to play the
the parish has its part to play the share that’s his part to play all of
share that’s his part to play all of
share that’s his part to play all of them working together now Devon Springs
them working together now Devon Springs
them working together now Devon Springs in a way God FEMA has set up a community
in a way God FEMA has set up a community
in a way God FEMA has set up a community development plan with their inviting
development plan with their inviting
development plan with their inviting citizens to come to them bring ideas
citizens to come to them bring ideas
citizens to come to them bring ideas right now the neat thing about this is
right now the neat thing about this is
right now the neat thing about this is we’ve all heard of or been a part of
we’ve all heard of or been a part of
we’ve all heard of or been a part of those plans that have real pine staff of
those plans that have real pine staff of
those plans that have real pine staff of use and end up getting scrapped because
use and end up getting scrapped because
use and end up getting scrapped because it’s not happening
it’s not happening
it’s not happening one of the wonderful things about this
one of the wonderful things about this
one of the wonderful things about this is that FEMA is going to come to us
is that FEMA is going to come to us
is that FEMA is going to come to us come to the community at the end in a
come to the community at the end in a
come to the community at the end in a public meeting and say we can do this
public meeting and say we can do this
public meeting and say we can do this but we cannot do this so they’ll
but we cannot do this so they’ll
but we cannot do this so they’ll actually move forward with things though
actually move forward with things though
actually move forward with things though realistic not particularly like this one
realistic not particularly like this one
realistic not particularly like this one because they call it a tabletop exercise
because they call it a tabletop exercise
because they call it a tabletop exercise you can only imagine what it’s like for
you can only imagine what it’s like for
you can only imagine what it’s like for the mayor and the building inspector to
the mayor and the building inspector to
the mayor and the building inspector to be so you know rolling dice but FEMA
be so you know rolling dice but FEMA
be so you know rolling dice but FEMA guys in a role-playing game master it’s
guys in a role-playing game master it’s
guys in a role-playing game master it’s great but here’s the other interesting
great but here’s the other interesting
great but here’s the other interesting thing right that is Livingston Parish
thing right that is Livingston Parish
thing right that is Livingston Parish it’s huge
it’s huge
it’s huge five hundred square miles over 500 miles
five hundred square miles over 500 miles
five hundred square miles over 500 miles of have walkways there are more
of have walkways there are more
of have walkways there are more municipalities than gentlemen I thank
municipalities than gentlemen I thank
municipalities than gentlemen I thank you and it’s interesting right that
you and it’s interesting right that
you and it’s interesting right that there is so much space here but it’s so
there is so much space here but it’s so
there is so much space here but it’s so different it’s so diverse like a lot of
different it’s so diverse like a lot of
different it’s so diverse like a lot of different people much like New Orleans
different people much like New Orleans
different people much like New Orleans which is down in the bottom right there
which is down in the bottom right there
which is down in the bottom right there are a lot of different types New Orleans
are a lot of different types New Orleans
are a lot of different types New Orleans is having itself problems right I’m not
is having itself problems right I’m not
is having itself problems right I’m not going to get into that but it is that
going to get into that but it is that
going to get into that but it is that hurt our next-door neighbors has their
hurt our next-door neighbors has their
hurt our next-door neighbors has their own the problems right they’re losing
own the problems right they’re losing
own the problems right they’re losing citizens to our parish it needs to come
citizens to our parish it needs to come
citizens to our parish it needs to come live Lafayette I would say from a
live Lafayette I would say from a
live Lafayette I would say from a cultural standpoint has taken advantage
cultural standpoint has taken advantage
cultural standpoint has taken advantage of all that continuing to do festivals
of all that continuing to do festivals
of all that continuing to do festivals these kinds of things bring people over
these kinds of things bring people over
these kinds of things bring people over there unfortunately I couldn’t fit them
there unfortunately I couldn’t fit them
there unfortunately I couldn’t fit them on the map but it’s something to look at
on the map but it’s something to look at
on the map but it’s something to look at something to consider why it’s not
something to consider why it’s not
something to consider why it’s not necessarily the core thing that keeps us
necessarily the core thing that keeps us
necessarily the core thing that keeps us together here in the parish it’s not
together here in the parish it’s not
together here in the parish it’s not what is it schools
what is it schools
what is it schools this is superintendent Rick Winston
this is superintendent Rick Winston
this is superintendent Rick Winston this was a speech about eight weeks ago
this was a speech about eight weeks ago
this was a speech about eight weeks ago where he declared not only did we
where he declared not only did we
where he declared not only did we survive the Great Flood we did it ever
survive the Great Flood we did it ever
survive the Great Flood we did it ever and it’s true all of these schools here
and it’s true all of these schools here
and it’s true all of these schools here in the parents whether they flooded or
in the parents whether they flooded or
in the parents whether they flooded or not approved what income wow it’s
not approved what income wow it’s
not approved what income wow it’s amazing right then aspyn’s High School
amazing right then aspyn’s High School
amazing right then aspyn’s High School will be awarded I don’t know in a couple
will be awarded I don’t know in a couple
will be awarded I don’t know in a couple of weeks for expanding their ap program
of weeks for expanding their ap program
of weeks for expanding their ap program fastest-growing in the state how cool is
fastest-growing in the state how cool is
fastest-growing in the state how cool is that like a highly top Albany High
that like a highly top Albany High
that like a highly top Albany High Donatelli Springfield Holden horrible
Donatelli Springfield Holden horrible
Donatelli Springfield Holden horrible nationally recognized schools very cool
nationally recognized schools very cool
nationally recognized schools very cool right three pictures here tell a
right three pictures here tell a
right three pictures here tell a thousand words right all of which come
thousand words right all of which come
thousand words right all of which come different parts of our paper different
different parts of our paper different
different parts of our paper different parts of the community right Holden won
parts of the community right Holden won
parts of the community right Holden won a State softball championship one with a
a State softball championship one with a
a State softball championship one with a freshman picture by the way incredibly
freshman picture by the way incredibly
freshman picture by the way incredibly fun one
fun one
fun one Albany gross basketball went to the
Albany gross basketball went to the
Albany gross basketball went to the state championship we had all sorts of
state championship we had all sorts of
state championship we had all sorts of improvement on that it this is two
improvement on that it this is two
improvement on that it this is two different high school they graduated on
different high school they graduated on
different high school they graduated on time all the time those kids who’s
time all the time those kids who’s
time all the time those kids who’s thought that they might not get to go to
thought that they might not get to go to
thought that they might not get to go to college or going to they graduated one
college or going to they graduated one
college or going to they graduated one time this year is Tim Springs Elementary
time this year is Tim Springs Elementary
time this year is Tim Springs Elementary now this girl looks like she’s about
now this girl looks like she’s about
now this girl looks like she’s about ready to go to lunch
ready to go to lunch
ready to go to lunch sharp
sharp
sharp but this this campus was amazing too
but this this campus was amazing too
but this this campus was amazing too popped up right next to our office off
popped up right next to our office off
popped up right next to our office off had some lame students for elementary
had some lame students for elementary
had some lame students for elementary they had separated these kids into three
they had separated these kids into three
they had separated these kids into three elementary schools right while they had
elementary schools right while they had
elementary schools right while they had to put this together but it turn into a
to put this together but it turn into a
to put this together but it turn into a beautiful campus right and these kids
beautiful campus right and these kids
beautiful campus right and these kids finish school we got to come back
finish school we got to come back
finish school we got to come back together for the second half of the year
together for the second half of the year
together for the second half of the year in finish so question becomes what is
in finish so question becomes what is
in finish so question becomes what is the opportunity what is it really what
the opportunity what is it really what
the opportunity what is it really what are we really looking for here and the
are we really looking for here and the
are we really looking for here and the answer is beautify community right a
answer is beautify community right a
answer is beautify community right a unified presence here to push Livingston
unified presence here to push Livingston
unified presence here to push Livingston Parish forward not to keep up but to go
Parish forward not to keep up but to go
Parish forward not to keep up but to go somewhere and I would say that it starts
somewhere and I would say that it starts
somewhere and I would say that it starts with the schools they’re amazing they do
with the schools they’re amazing they do
with the schools they’re amazing they do great things every year and they have
great things every year and they have
great things every year and they have all sorts of abilities to help certain
all sorts of abilities to help certain
all sorts of abilities to help certain things but there has to be a leader and
things but there has to be a leader and
things but there has to be a leader and it starts today and from there we can
it starts today and from there we can
it starts today and from there we can bring the whole community together and
bring the whole community together and
bring the whole community together and hopefully one day finish the puzzle
[Music]
[Music] you
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